Cross Country Road Trip

That was that, I had to give a newspaper ad so that people could join me on my cross country road trip. I was just not going on that bus, renovated might it be, alone. I called up the local neewspaper, and placed an ad for the next day.  

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"CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP"

People who wish to join me on my cross country road trip from New Delhi may contact on 123-456-789-0.

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The ad came in next Monday, because of my silly mistake. The ad was short and barely visible. I thought that no one would come up. Little did I know, I was going to be in for a surprise. It had hardly been an hour since the break of dawn on the day my ad showed up on the newspaper that the calls started coming in. I hadn't even expected A call, let alone so many CALLS. 

In the first hour itself, I had noted down the details of five people, not even counting the number of calls I had to surpass while I was busy on the line. The people were all willing to enter the bus right away, ready to leave that very day. I was not, I had to complete a few more tasks before leaving and I was surely not going to be ready by Friday, let alone today.

Then the calls just kept on coming. Before settling into bed that night, I had recorded the information about two hundred fifty people, my right hand was aching like anything. It felt weird, it was sleeping, yet a lot of pins and needles were poking me, all at ones. Don't even get me started on the way my elbow was.

All I wanted was to go on a road trip, with my new, well, scratch that, my old-new school bus. I wanted to go with people, but not these many. Then again, better with more people than alone, right?

The only problem was, by the weekend, I had received more than five hundred calls and I had to get going by Monday, else I would never be able to finish the trip by the end of my three month vacation that I had got from work. It wasn't a vacation per se, but since I was a blogger, I didn't really need to go anywhere for work, I got everything I needed within bluetooth distance of my phone and laptop!

I had to think fast. So I called the newspaper again, "Hello? This is Dhwani Jain. I had placed an advertisement in your newspaper for this past Monday." I waited a second, ADVERTISEMENT, really? Who said the whole mouthful if it was easier done with just two letters?

"Yeah...?" the person on the other end said, waiting for me to continue my statement. 

"I want to place another ad for tomorrow, is that possible?" 

"Let me just check. I am going to put you on hold."

Great, just great!

Everybody knew what being put on hold meant. I was about to hang up and retry when the person coninued, "I found a vacant spot with the ad department. But it is just a few centimeters of space. Will that do?"

"Yes!" I was desperate, I had to work with just the space she was going to give me. Quickly, I noted down the email id she gave me, reminding myself to send the screenshot of the payment this time on the first go only so that the newspaper would run my ad right away. Last time, it took me a week to realize that and that cut off two weeks from my three and a half month vacation. 

Sad.

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"CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP {PART 2}"

All interested people must meet at the Jantar Mantar at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

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I was ready for the interview round. I never thought my simple ad would lead to this. Nonetheless, I had my best friend, Anvisha, who had my back. 

"I will bring my mic and the huge speaker that you gifted me for my birthday."

"You do that, An. By the way, I never really know why I brought that speaker."

"At least it is coming handy."

"Yes it is. Did you confirm with the local police?"

"I did, actually, one of them is coming for the interview. So they gave the green light easily. Why do you plan to take this interview anyway? Can you just go on your own?"

"An, there are three reasons to this. One, I would be bored. Two, it will be very expensive and three, it would help me meet new people, since SOMEONE decided not to come."

"I have a job, remember? Not everyone can do their job like yours, from home."

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"Hello everyone! I am Dhwani Jain. I am willing to go on a road trip covering the whole of India with any three of you. Since so many of you decided to call up, I thought to take your interview and see who three I feel suitable for and comfortable with for this road trip." I said to the expecting crowd.  

Then the process began. Anvisha and I just sat there, on one of the benches, while the other people came one by one, some carrying a whole lot of their bags, and the others with their resumes as well. I started the series of questions for the first person. She was old but wanted to go on the trip anyway. She had family all over the country where I was planning to go and thought to meet them. 

A few more people came and went. Most of them had a full family, the others were just there, having no idea what I was doing. 

After what seemed like days, we were down to the last dozen or so people to be interviewed. No wonder a lot of people got fed up in the middle and started exploring the age-old Sundial and the 'modern clock-like features' of Jantar Mantar. There was a group of foreigners and a few Indians left. 

"So why do you want to join me on this trip?" I asked, intrigued by a pair of girls who were definitely not from India. 

"I want to see India the real way, and I have my kid sister with me too. This is Faith."

"Where are your parents?" Anvisha said, sounding suspicious. I however, knew that these were the kind of people I wanted to go on the trip with. They seemed young, fun and ready to embark on an adventure. 

"They are on a vacation, a world tour. They wanted us to stay with our extended family, but we don't really want to stay in one house, we want to go exploring. We are here till December."

"Okay then, Alex," I said, nodding to the elder girl, "and Faith", it was the younger one's turn, "you are in. Get ready and meet me here on Monday at 8 a.m. sharp. I will be in a modified school bus. Give me your phone number. I will message you the other details and who else will be joining us. Also, please make sure that you carry as less luggage as you can."

The girls nodded and went away happily, probably to inform their family. I interviewed a few more people, not getting to know anyone I wanted. Finally, the last person, a foreigner again, came. 

She was tall, about 5'6" and had a kind vibe to her. She said her name was Raelynaia, something I knew I could never pronounce. She was a photographer and wanted to capture the essence of India for a photography contest which was going to be held in 2025. 2025!!!! This girl was a planner. Learn Dhwani, learn, I thought to myself. 

I had found my three people. None of them were Indian, but all of them were as interested as me to travel. It was going to be fun. Moreover, An had pushed her boss to give her a month's leave, and later she could work from home, or rather, bus as well. It took a lot o courage for her to do that. She was going with.

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The day of the trip arrived. I stood there, in front of the gigantic school bus I had brought after losing a challenge from a fellow blogger. 'Koko', as I had decided to call it, was standing there, as tall and blue as a school bus could be. The remodifiers had done a good job. The seats were modified into bunk beds, there was a mini kitchen, a washroom and the driving space. It was just like a caravan, but bigger. I have checked and rechecked that I had brought my license and all the other required permits. After all, I didn't want any problem while on the go. 

I glanced at the clock, 10 minutes to showtime. I went inside and made sure that the girls would get a good first impression of Koko, as it was going to be their home for the next few months. After making the arrangements, I climbed down the stairs and took in the situration. I looked to my right. Nothing. I turned to my left side, maybe some luck there? Yes!  

I saw the sisters, Alex and Faith, jogging up to me. Just after their bags were inside, I saw Raelynaia coming up. This was good, everyone was on time. Everyone except my best friend. Anvisha was still half asleep when I called her, saying that the place where we were was way too far for her to wake and come. I was going to have to go to her home to pick her up.

Just great!  

I started the bus and we were off!

The trip had started!