No Water, No Plans And One Unexpected Goodbye

The Morning That Changed Everything In Jibhi

When we went to sleep the previous night, we had convinced ourselves that everything would be fine by morning.

The electricity issue wasn't bothering us much because the weather was pleasant.

The water issue, however, was a different story.

Still, we assumed it would be resolved overnight.

We were wrong.

Again.

No Water, Still No Water

The next morning, we woke up hoping things had returned to normal.

They hadn't.

There was still no water.

Not a drop.

At first, we tried to remain calm.

Maybe it would return in a few minutes.

Maybe there was some temporary problem.

Maybe somebody was fixing it.

But as time passed, frustration started taking over.

After all, water is not a luxury.

It's one of the most basic necessities of life.

People need it to brush their teeth.

To wash up.

To use the washroom.

To freshen up before starting the day.

Especially when you're travelling.

And yet, there we were, stuck in a hotel where none of that was possible.

We weren't the only ones annoyed.

Almost every guest in the hotel seemed frustrated.

The common discussion everywhere was the same.

"When will the water come back?"

Arguments, Frustration And No Solutions

As the morning progressed, the complaints increased.

Several guests approached the hotel staff.

We did too.

Some arguments happened.

People were upset.

The staff tried explaining the situation, but explanations don't help much when you can't even brush your teeth properly.

Meanwhile, time was slipping away.

Originally, we had planned to spend another day exploring Jibhi.

The mall road.

More cafés.

The local market.

Maybe some hidden spots nearby.

But none of those plans seemed possible anymore.

The entire morning was being wasted.

Then someone suggested something unexpected.

Back To The Waterfall

A few guests suggested that we go back towards the waterfall area.

After all, there was plenty of flowing water there.

At first, we hated the idea.

The previous day's trek had already exhausted us.

The thought of trekking again just to freshen up didn't sound appealing.

But eventually we realized we had no choice.

So once again, we started walking downhill.

At that point, it felt less like sightseeing and more like survival.

The Café Aunty To The Rescue

As we walked down, we passed the same café we had visited the previous day.

The café we had instantly fallen in love with.

The café run by the warm and cheerful aunty.

We decided to stop there and ask if they had water.

And what happened next is something I still remember very fondly.

The aunty greeted us warmly, just like she had the previous day.

When she learned about our situation, she didn't hesitate for even a second.

She invited us inside her house.

Not just into the café.

Into her home.

She told us we could use their bathroom and freshen up.

In that moment, she felt less like a café owner and more like a relative looking after guests.

Travelling often reminds you that kindness still exists in the world.

And that morning was one of those reminders.

We freshened up.

Brushed our teeth.

Got ready for the day.

And finally felt human again.

After that, we had breakfast there as well.

Honestly, after everything that had happened, it was one of the most satisfying breakfasts of the trip.

Back To The Hotel... And Back To Disappointment

Feeling much better, we started walking back uphill.

The climb felt just as tiring as before.

But this time, we kept motivating ourselves with one thought.

Surely the water must have been restored by now.

Surely.

Unfortunately, no.

Nothing had changed.

Still no water.

Still no solution.

And by then, the morning was almost gone.

Goodbye Jibhi

At this point, we had to make a difficult decision.

We had originally planned to explore more of Jibhi before leaving.

The market.

The cafés.

The local surroundings.

But reality had other plans.

The traffic on the return route was already visible on Google Maps.

And if we delayed any further, we would be stuck once again.

So we packed our bags.

Checked out.

And started our journey back to Noida.

It wasn't how we had imagined our final day in Jibhi.

But sometimes travel isn't about perfect plans.

It's about adapting when everything goes wrong.

The Long Journey Home

The return journey wasn't particularly smooth either.

Traffic continued to follow us.

At this point, it felt like an unofficial member of our group.

But unlike before, we stopped frequently.

Whenever we found a beautiful view, we stopped.

Whenever somebody wanted a break, we stopped.

Whenever there was a chance to click pictures, we stopped.

The urgency of reaching home had disappeared.

We simply wanted to enjoy whatever remained of the trip.

Hours passed.

Mountains slowly disappeared behind us.

Cities started appearing again.

And eventually, sometime around 1 AM—or maybe a little later—we finally reached home.

I honestly don't remember the exact time.

All I remember is feeling exhausted.

And thinking the trip was finally over.

But it wasn't.

Because the most unexpected part of the journey was still waiting for us.

The Incident We Never Expected

During the return drive, my husband suddenly mentioned something strange.

He said he could hear a buzzing sound in his ear.

At first, none of us thought much about it.

Long drives can be tiring.

Mountain roads can affect people in different ways.

We assumed it would go away on its own.

But after some time, he said something that worried all of us.

He couldn't hear properly from his left ear.

We thought it might be because of the altitude.

Maybe the pressure changes.

Maybe the mountains.

Maybe the long drive.

We convinced ourselves it would become normal once we reached the plains.

It didn't.

Searching For Answers

The next morning, we visited a nearby doctor.

She prescribed some medicines.

We followed the instructions and hoped for improvement.

Nothing changed.

As the days passed, we started consulting more doctors.

Some nearby specialists.

Doctors from AIIMS.

Doctors from Safdarjung Hospital.

Private hospitals.

Anyone who might be able to help.

And every conversation seemed to end with the same painful sentence.

"If treatment had started within the first 24 hours, there would have been a much better chance of recovery."

Hearing that was frustrating.

Especially because we had actually visited a doctor within that time period.

But the treatment required for this condition had not been started.

Today, my husband hasn't completely lost his hearing.

But certain frequencies remain difficult for him to hear.

And despite consulting multiple doctors, we still haven't found the solution we were hoping for.

One homeopathic doctor assured us that improvement was possible.

The treatment, however, would take a year or more.

My husband tried it for a few months.

Then stopped.

Because, well...

My husband can be extremely stubborn.

So the story remains unfinished.

And somewhere in the back of my mind, I still hope that one day somebody will find a way to help him hear normally again.

The Goodbye I Wasn't Ready For

As if the trip hadn't already become emotional enough, there was one more thing waiting for me.

My school friend's train ticket had been booked for the very next day.

Which meant it was time to say goodbye.

I hated that part.

After spending so many days together, travelling, laughing, fighting traffic, sitting by rivers, trekking to waterfalls, getting lost, getting frustrated, and creating memories, I wasn't ready for the week to end.

But that's the thing about good trips.

They always end sooner than you want them to.

The bags get unpacked.

The photos get transferred.

Life returns to normal.

And suddenly, all you're left with are memories.

Some funny.

Some frustrating.

Some emotional.

And some that stay with you forever.

This trip gave us all of them.

And even today, whenever I think about Jibhi, I don't just remember the mountains.

I remember the traffic.

The waterfall.

The café aunty.

The strangers who became friends.

The sleepless nights.

The long drives.

And a journey that turned out to be completely different from what we had planned.

Maybe that's why I still remember it so clearly.