Punjab gets very cold winters and after 9 PM fog worsens the case. It’s like a thick blanket of fog covering everything outside, just like a parent covering their child in layers before they go out to play in the winter. The fog is so dense that you can’t see anything, and it’s super quiet. But here’s the crazy part — I sometimes get this silly idea to either run or drive in that fog, even though it’s almost like signing up for trouble with the crazy drivers in Punjab.
Once the morning comes, and the fog clears a bit, you can see up to 150 meters ahead. And well, I don’t have much of a choice but to hop on the bike and ride to the office because, you know, work.
So today, while cruising slowly on the bike through this thick fog on my way to the office, my mind detoured and took a trip down memory lane. It landed me in September 2020 when I had a sunny-day adventure riding a friend’s old beat-up splendor from Jubbal to Hatu Peak in Narkanda. The weather feels somewhat similar — foggy but with fewer cars, pretty views, fresh air, and a nice road cutting through a cedar forest.
Fast forward to me reaching the office, and the first thing on my agenda is a deep dive into Google Photos. Lucky for me, a few of those photos from that sunny adventure day are safely backed up.
As I scroll through those photos, it hits me — I’ve changed quite a bit since then. I’ve gone from being an “Absolutely, Fuck Yeah, let’s Go!!!” kind of person to someone who now thinks twice, thrice, even four times before reluctantly settling on a “No.”
In the past few months, I put my inner adventurer into hibernation, courtesy of the boring routine of office life. But I wouldn’t completely blame the routine- majority of it is Me. It’s like I’ve been mean to myself, pushing aside the wild side that used to jump at the chance for new escapades. Now, it’s all hesitation and second-guessing.
Sitting in my office chair, I realize that this constant mental tug-of-war isn’t doing me any favours. I reminisce about the good old days, like that spontaneous day trip in 2020. The yearning for those carefree moments tugs at me like a persistent friend.
While the excitement for diving headfirst into new adventures has quieted down a bit, there’s this undeniable energy — a sort of “Let’s do this!” vibe — that’s telling me to grab onto that zest before it gets lost in the chaos of my overthinking mind.
The fog outside might make the road seem unclear, but there’s a persistent echo of the call for adventure in my head. It’s waiting for me to say “yes” and break through the fog, to rediscover the spontaneity that seems to have taken a backseat.
Also, I will try to take some photos of the fog that I have to drive through and update them here.
