Nainital

Marvelous beauty lies on the midst of a secluded place called Nainital. One can see nature mixing with civilization at the best level possible. The tall trees, green and magnificent. The mountains, which I had read about only in geography books. The gorgeous lake reflecting sunlight as if a thousand pearls are afloat. The eager spectators remain stunned by this creation of nature. Hundreds of tourists breathing the fresh air that refreshes each mind and fills the heart with love and warmth. The sunlight that touches the skin felt like heavenly light shining down on us, blessing us with its warm ray of hope.

The boating was a memorable experience in this trip. The splashing sound of water with oar and the still water, so cold, so clear. The trees and mountains seemed like they were made for us. It felt like a tune of life and love. Happiness surrounded us from all sides. The rhythm of this crystal clear water still plays in my mind when I am quietly sitting in my balcony on a late Sunday afternoon in Kolkata. However, the rays of sun are not pleasing to the skin anymore. It bites.

The spectators experience this gift of God for a few days and go back to their monotonous life, wishing ‘I wish I could leave my life in metropolitan city and come live here’. However, is it very beautiful as it seems? I’d say no. The man who took us to boating or the man who sold us oranges lives there all year round, be it summer or winter. Harsh winter when the temperature drops to 0 degrees. The tourists come and go, but them? They long for a proper meal, proper clothing for their children, a warm bed. They see the lake every day. They watch the sun rise from the arms of the mountains every day. They take hundreds of tourists to boating. They fear monsoon. They fear the sudden rumbling of the earth. They fear that any time, a landslide might take away their lives and their children’s. Tourists come and go, but the residents? They don’t get choose to leave whenever they want to, they stay because they have to. Education is a distant dream for them. What they long for is a life. A good life without fear of scarcity.

The man in the 50s who stood in the shop bargaining for a sweater for 20 rupees did not know it was their only livelihood and did not earn thousands of rupees like he did. The woman in the candle shop whose scented candles got turned down by a Delhite, had drowsy eyes for staying up all night to make the candles. The eyes of the gift shop owner who drinks coffee every morning at 10 urgently seek customers who like to take a souvenir for their beloved.

Nothing is as beautiful as it seems.