Good-Bye Salli

The wolf pack was enjoying life in the mountains. They would go up in the mountains, and from far up they would shout calling our name. Sometimes spend hours on the rocks in the stream or lie down in the garden under the Sun. I would enjoy looking at them having a great time. Everyone who would come to Salli would just get dissolved in mother nature. No matter rich or poor, Indian or foreigner, men or women, they would all become childlike playing around with big smiles. There was some magic in the air. The month of October 2018 was about to end. The weather had become pleasant with signs of the early arrival of winter. Our morning breakfasts in the warm sunshine would happen sitting on the balcony. The ladies would make some delicious Israeli food like shakshuka, hummus, tahini, toasts and salad. I would make masala chai which was my only speciality. While simultaneously boys would get busy rolling the joints for post-breakfast chit chat time. We had all the ingredients to make life a celebration.

One morning after breakfast, chai and a couple of joints we all were sitting on the rocks in the stream next to the garden. Ynon and Eden were telling us stories from their childhood and teasing each other. Suddenly, Ynon said, 'Maratha, catch my phone.' making an act of throwing the phone. I thought he was kidding. But he wasn't. And he actually threw his phone in my direction without thinking we all were in the stream. I saw the phone flying towards me in slow mode. Also, I saw Ynon's eyes spreading in fear as I wasn't moving to catch the phone. Till the time I realised that he had actually thrown his phone at me, the phone had already reached close enough to punch me in my face. I fumbled to catch the phone. While juggling it multiple times from one hand to another in a haphazard manner, finally it made its way deep-diving into the stream. Ynon screamed in shock and ran to pull out the fully submerged phone. Just like me, he was also late. The phone died an instant death. Ynon asked me how could I not take a simple catch? I told him I didn't believe you would throw it in the first place. Everyone else was laughing at our stupidity.

Our neighbour's parents would often come to our house. We would call them Amma and Baba. They were just like our grandparents. I would find it difficult to understand them as they would only talk in the Gaddi language. But their love for me needed no understanding. Love transcends language. They would also try to talk with the Israelis in Gaddi. Somehow everybody would figure out what each other would be saying. That reminded me of our talks with Russian roommates in Goa. As winter was approaching so was our plan for Goa. It was getting difficult to leave Salli. We had to search for a new house as the previous house was not available that year. The uncertainty lurking in Goa about house and business was making us sceptical to leave Salli. But we had made our plans and probably that was the last year we would be going to Goa. Next year onwards we had planned to host the winter season in Salli. Leaving Salli felt like kids parting away from their mother.

Mountains Were Unforgettable.