On our last trip we spent a few days among people who are far removed from the modern world. No internet, not even a cell signal. And what I saw was so refreshing. Kids playing outside(in freezing cold btw), women working relentlessly while laughing and singing. Men building houses and working on the farms while smoking pipe. Everybody joined in for a game of cards in the evening, the kids were playing impromptu cricket (yes, cricket, even up there). They even included the local deity in the game (the temple door was the wicket lol). Every house looked out to the valley, so that when the clouds started wafting in, everyone knew it was about to rain.
There was so much beauty, all around, excess of it. And the people were not bothered at all. Blissfully unaware. Although I understand the concept of object permanence, but it is so difficult for me to imagine that all that beauty, the joy, and carefreeness, the sounds and smells, the small maggi shack near the waterfall... they are all still there. Sheru - the shaggy dog who followed us throughout the trek is probably following someone else. We were just another blip in their lives, even when they have left an indelible mark on ours.
Will it be the same if I ever went back there? Probably not.
