The Trip That Started Before It Actually Started

Sunburnt, Sleep-Deprived And Having The Time Of Our Lives

Some trips begin when you board a train. Some begin when you reach your destination. And then there are a few special trips that start much earlier — in your mind, in your excitement, and in the countless plans you make before leaving home.

This was one such trip.

It happened about two years ago, during the scorching month of June. But honestly, for me, the trip had already started long before June arrived.

At the end of May, I was in Patna. It was a special time because we had just celebrated my parents' anniversary and my birthday. In the middle of all those celebrations, another exciting plan was taking shape.

One of my school friends was going to visit my place for the very first time.

We booked our train tickets for 31st May and started counting the days.

A Friendship That Goes Back More Than 15 Years

One thing about me is that I have very few friends.

But the friends I have are precious.

Most of them are people I have known since school. Some friendships started when I was in Class 3 or Class 4 and have somehow survived all the changes life throws at us. Schools changed, colleges happened, jobs came, cities changed, and life became busy, but those friendships stayed.

When I think about it, I have known these people for more than fifteen years now.

And surprisingly, despite all those years of friendship, this was the first and only trip I had ever taken with one of my school friends.

That made this journey even more special.

The Train Journey Was Part Of The Fun

On 31st May, we finally boarded the train.

I still remember how excited I was.

The journey itself felt like a mini vacation.

We ate food, clicked endless pictures, laughed at random things, and talked about everything under the sun.

And honestly, that might have been my favorite part.

As adults, life becomes so busy that sometimes even your closest friends don't know what's happening in your life. Weeks pass without proper conversations. Months pass before you sit down and talk without checking the time.

The train gave us that opportunity.

For hours, there was nothing to worry about.

No office work.

No deadlines.

No responsibilities.

Just two friends catching up on years of stories, gossip, and memories.

Welcome To Delhi

The next morning, we reached New Delhi Railway Station.

From there, we took the metro and then an auto to reach home.

I cannot explain how excited I was at that moment.

For the first time, one of my school friends was visiting my home.

It felt like two completely different worlds of my life were finally meeting each other — my school life from Patna and my life in Noida.

And the timing couldn't have been better.

A week later, a bigger trip with a few more friends was already planned. But before that trip, we had an entire week to ourselves.

And we had no intention of wasting it.

One Week, Countless Plans

Delhi has a way of tempting you to go out.

There is always another market to explore, another monument to visit, another street food stall to try, and another corner waiting to be discovered.

So my friend and I made a simple plan.

We would spend the entire week roaming around Delhi and Noida.

There was just one problem.

I was working night shifts back then.

Every night, I had office.

Every day, I wanted to go out.

Not exactly the healthiest combination.

But excitement has a funny way of defeating common sense.

Fighting The Delhi Summer

Anyone who has experienced Delhi in June knows exactly what I am talking about.

The heat doesn't just exist.

It attacks.

The roads feel like they are melting. The hot winds seem determined to test your patience. Even standing outside for a few minutes feels like a challenge.

We knew all of this.

Yet we stepped out every single day.

We carried everything we could think of — dupattas, stoles, water bottles, juices, sunglasses, and enough determination to survive the heatwave.

Did it help?

A little.

Did the heat still win sometimes?

Absolutely.

But we were stubborn.

We had waited too long for this week.

There was no way we were letting the weather ruin it.

For me, this wasn't just another outing.

It was the first time I was truly spending time with my school friend outside Patna. That itself felt like an achievement.

A little heat, a little tanning, and a little sunburn seemed like a small price to pay.

Day 1 – Red Fort And Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib

On the very first day, we decided to visit Red Fort and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib.

Dressed in suits, faces covered to protect ourselves from the sun, we stepped out fully prepared for an adventure.

At least that's what we thought.

The sun clearly had other plans.

Both places involve spending time outdoors, and June sunlight was showing its full power. But surprisingly, once we started exploring, we almost forgot about the heat.

Almost.

We walked around, clicked pictures, admired the beauty of the historic surroundings, and created memories that would later fill our phone galleries for years.

The best part was not the monuments.

It was having someone familiar beside me while experiencing them.

After a long and enjoyable day, we returned home because reality was waiting for me.

Office.

Again.

Sleep? What Sleep?

My shift ended around 4:30 in the morning.

By the time I finished work and went to bed, the sun was already preparing for another hot day.

A few hours later, it was time to wake up again.

Because adventures don't wait.

And neither did our plans.

Day 2 – Sarojini Nagar, Here We Come

The second day was reserved for one of the most important tourist attractions in Delhi.

No, not a monument.

Not a museum.

Not a heritage site.

Sarojini Nagar Market.

Anyone who loves shopping understands the excitement.

The mission was simple:

Walk.

Shop.

Bargain.

Shop more.

Then bargain some more.

The temperature outside was still trying its best to convince us to stay indoors.

We politely ignored it.

By the end of the day, we were tired, sweaty, and carrying far more shopping bags than we had originally planned.

In other words, it was a successful Sarojini Nagar visit.

And just like the previous day, we rushed back home before my office shift started again.

Because somehow, during that entire week, we managed to balance sleep deprivation, office work, Delhi's summer, and endless outings.

Looking back, I still don't know how.

But I'm glad we did.

To Be Continued...

What started as a simple train journey had already become one of the most memorable weeks of my life.

There were still many places left to explore, many stories left to create, and a much bigger trip waiting just around the corner.

And trust me, the adventures had only just begun.

I'll share the rest of the week very soon.