Before the Real Road Trip, Delhi Had Already Given Us a Week to Remember

The Days Before The Real Adventure

By the time the third day arrived, we had already spent two days fighting Delhi's summer and winning.

At least that's what we liked to believe.

The heat was still unbearable, but our excitement was somehow stronger than the weather.

A Day At Akshardham Temple

This day was a little different.

Until now, it had mostly been just me and my friend exploring Delhi together. But for our visit to Akshardham Temple, my husband decided to join us as well. He had taken a day off from work so that he could spend some time with us before our upcoming trip.

Despite the scorching heat, we were excited.

Akshardham is one of those places where photographs can never truly capture the experience. In fact, visitors are not allowed to carry their mobile phones inside, so this became one of the rare days of our trip where we created memories without constantly reaching for our cameras.

No endless selfies.

No checking photographs.

No worrying about angles.

Just enjoying the place, the architecture, the peaceful surroundings, and each other's company.

Looking back, I think that made the visit even more special.

By the time we returned home, all three of us were exhausted.

But apparently, being tired had become our normal state by then.

Movie Night, Gossip Night And A Little Less Work

Our plan for the evening was simple.

Eat snacks.

Watch a movie.

Talk endlessly.

Repeat.

The only problem was that I still had office.

Technically, I wasn't on leave.

But sometimes life gives you moments that are too precious to spend staring at spreadsheets and meetings.

So I made a deal with myself.

I would keep my laptop open and complete whatever work was necessary, but beyond that, the night belonged to us.

What followed was one of those nights that seem ordinary at the time but become special memories later.

The movie kept playing in the background while our conversations took over.

Stories from school.

Old memories.

Random gossip.

Future plans.

Things that had happened years ago but somehow still felt funny.

Somewhere between work notifications and laughter, the entire night slipped away.

When my shift finally ended, all of us went to sleep.

And honestly, sleep had become a luxury by then.

Finally Taking A Break

It had been three days since I had properly rested.

Between office work, outings, and excitement, sleep had become a secondary priority.

So I finally decided to do something sensible.

I applied for leave for the next two days.

The main trip was approaching quickly, and I wanted to enjoy every moment without worrying about office work.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made that week.

An Evening At India Gate

The next day started slowly.

For once, nobody was in a hurry.

We woke up late, took our time, and stayed indoors during the hottest part of the day.

Only in the evening did we step out.

Our destination was India Gate.

As soon as we reached, the atmosphere felt completely different.

Families were walking around.

Children were running everywhere.

Street vendors were selling snacks.

Groups of friends were busy taking pictures.

The entire place was full of life.

And naturally, we joined in.

We clicked countless photographs.

Tried different street foods.

Walked around without any particular plan.

And perhaps the most unexpected source of entertainment was a simple bubble-making toy.

Something about chasing bubbles in the middle of a crowded evening brought out our inner children.

For a few minutes, we forgot our age, our jobs, and all adult responsibilities.

It was just pure fun.

The kind of fun that doesn't need a reason.

A Day For Packing... Or So We Thought

The next day was supposed to be practical.

The plan was to stay home, pack our bags, and prepare for the journey ahead.

At least that was the official plan.

But anyone who knows us would immediately understand why it failed.

There was no way we were spending the entire day indoors.

So after finishing most of our packing, we decided to visit one of the most popular places in our locality.

The place was known for its good food, great atmosphere, and relaxed vibe.

Exactly what we needed before a long road trip.

The evening passed quickly between food, conversations, and excitement about what was waiting for us the next day.

And then came an unexpected twist.

The Anniversary Surprise

The next day was supposed to be our departure day.

But one of our friends, who was travelling with us, had recently completed one year of marriage.

Their first wedding anniversary was technically on the following day.

Since we would already be travelling by then, we decided to celebrate a little early.

The plan was simple.

Celebrate at midnight.

Cut the cake.

Dance.

Enjoy ourselves.

And then immediately leave for the trip.

Simple.

Or so we thought.

The Salon Adventure

Before the celebration could happen, we had another mission.

Fix the damage caused by the Delhi sun.

Days of travelling in peak summer had left us tanned, tired, and looking far less glamorous than we had imagined when planning this trip.

So we headed to a salon.

The original plan was straightforward.

A haircut.

Some detan treatments.

Maybe a little pampering.

Then I made a dangerous decision.

I decided to get my hair highlighted.

For the first time ever.

At that moment, I had absolutely no idea what I was signing up for.

Hours passed.

And then some more.

I sat in the same chair with aluminium foils wrapped around my head while the process seemed to continue forever.

At first, I was excited.

Then curious.

Then bored.

Then hungry.

Then excited again.

Meanwhile, my friends had reached a completely different stage.

They were tired.

Restless.

And probably wondering whether I had permanently moved into the salon.

But despite the endless waiting, the excitement of seeing the final result kept me going.

And thankfully, it was worth it.

The Party Before The Journey

After finally escaping the salon, we rushed home.

Everyone got ready.

The bags were packed.

The car was loaded.

The trip was officially about to begin.

But first, there was a celebration.

We reached the party venue and spent the evening doing exactly what close friends do best.

Laughing.

Dancing.

Taking photographs.

Making fun of each other.

And celebrating our friends' first wedding anniversary.

As the clock struck midnight, the cake was cut, wishes were exchanged, and the celebrations became even louder.

It was chaotic.

It was exhausting.

And it was perfect.

Finally, sometime around 1 AM, we climbed into the car.

The party was over.

The bags were packed.

The road was waiting.

And after spending an entire week creating memories before the trip, we were finally ready for the adventure we had been planning all along.

Or at least that's what we thought.

Because as it turned out, the real trip had plenty of surprises waiting for us too.