Into the Wild: A Trip of Thrills and Unexpected Turns

We began our journey late at night, cruising through the sleepy streets of the city. The air was cool, and the excitement of the trip was palpable among us—a group of women in our thirties, eager to leave the monotony of life behind for a weekend of adventure. I was the designated driver, navigating us towards the mountains under a moonlit sky.

As we reached the outskirts of the city, the cold winter chill grew sharper. Spotting a roadside tea stall glowing faintly under a flickering bulb, we decided to stop for a quick warm-up. The tea seller, an elderly man with a weathered face and curious eyes, watched us with intrigue.

“You’re going all the way there?” he asked, surprised.

“Yes,” I replied with a grin, sipping the steaming tea.

“With only girls, and you driving? Brave, I must say,” he chuckled. “But be careful at the mountain gate. Surprises await you there.”

After driving through the night, we reached a highway Y-junction and stopped at another tea stall. This time, the tea seller warned us about the upcoming ghat section.

“It’s full of sharp hairpin bends, and after 40 km, you’ll be in dense forest. Wild animals are often spotted on the road. Drive cautiously,” he advised.

The girls were both thrilled and nervous. “Wild animals? Are we ready for this?” one of them asked. I reassured them, but secretly, my grip on the steering wheel tightened.

The ghat section was more intense than we anticipated. The sharp turns, coupled with the occasional flicker of animal eyes from the bushes, sent shivers down our spines. A lone biker ahead of us seemed to vanish into the darkness, adding to the eerie atmosphere. But we pressed on, determined to reach our destination.

Finally, by 10 AM, we reached our destination. After a quick check-in and refresh, we ventured out to explore a mountain viewpoint. The lush greenery and misty air were breathtaking, but as we hiked deeper into the forest, we noticed the unsettling presence of pythons and other snakes.

“Do we really need to do this?” I asked, uneasy.

“Of course!” one of the girls replied. “We’ve come this far to create amazing reels for social media. Think of all the followers and fame we’ll get!”

We started filming a planned sequence where one of us acted as if she was hanging from a branch on the mountain edge, crying for help. Using camera tricks, I was supposed to appear as a masked hero saving her. But as she clung to the branch, her hands began to slip for real.

“Help!” she screamed, her voice filled with genuine panic. Before we could react, she fell into the dense forest below.

We rushed down, our hearts pounding. By some miracle, she was alive, though badly injured. Anitha, overwhelmed by the incident, threw her camera into the waterfall, tears streaming down her face. “This was a mistake,” she said firmly. “Start the car. We’re going home.”

The drive back was silent, filled with guilt and relief. We had ventured out seeking thrills and fame but were reminded of the fragility of life. The journey taught us that not all adventures are worth the risk, and sometimes, the best memories come from simply cherishing the moment without seeking validation.