Kya se Kya ho gya..

It was year 2021 when I and Sonia had taken the Zanskar route to Leh - it was a trip of many passes; five years have gone by since and time simply hasn't registered. Work had me to be in Leh the previous week, and at a short notice I planned the whole thing out - incorporating much of my observations from previous trip, I wanted to put the thesis to test. Among the said observations, one was that Leh - Chandigarh can be done in one day and other was Siachen glacier, which seemed so near yet so far; whence in Nubra need to be visited.

As per the information, I was to find one or two 24/7 petrol pumps in Manali and based on this intel I launched on road at 2030 hrs preponing my scheduled departure by 2.5 hours. My way, I was to hit Tandi by 0600 next day for refuelling as soon as the pumps opened, however the new intel made me depart early. As I found out, there are one or two 24/7 coffee shops enroute Manali, but no fuel pump giving N95 at that hour of the day. The drive to the tunnel through the mountains approaching Atal Tunnel was a bit spooky being the only lights on the road with overhanging trees - reminded me of Vikram Baital sic. Was a bit surprised to see the tunnel totally by its itself - not a soul in sight, no cops guarding it or directing traffic which they so possessively do during daytime - none, zilch. It was me, the Jeep and the tunnel - none other whatsoever in the 9.2 km journey across it, albeit the lonely cop covered all the way from bottom to top, with only eyes visible in the prevailing temperatures. I think he too was posted there due to the recent accident at North Portal whereby a Scorpio simply flew over the guard rails, landing onto abutting iron bars of an under construction bridge. 

Atal Tunnel - South Portal 0222hrs

Tandi guys were up and running at that hour to my pleasant surprise, which was short lived as I came to know that N95 was not available due to a tank leak. I found the fuel pump at Keylong and parked myself there for a 2.5 hour wait until the pump opened at 0600. That break tired me more than rejuvenating, on the go I was just fine but that gap just jeopardised the whole flow. Fuelled up and I was on the road by 0630 and up the Shinkula Pass onto Zanskar; as it was Sunday the road was open for civil traffic on Wednesday and Sunday. Past Padum, then Zangla found the turn through which me and Sonia had diverted to Singhe La pass in 2021 and vividly recalled the current road as just stones and dirt with one machine hammering away at the mountains not far off. A red flag was all there was to direct a no-go. Now the same stony dirt track is a tarmac road with two lanes, guard rails and marker lines - springing the thought - KYA SE KYA HO GYA DEKHTE DEKHTE.

Between Zangla and Chilling

Beautiful mountains, my first through this part of Ladakh, What texture, gloss and colors they have - I had to stop and take a picture and believe you me with so many years travelling the Himalayas, it really takes something to make me stop and click. I checked into my spacious room at Leh by 1600 hours.

Thereafter was unexpected headache that lasted until next day noon - I realised that not stopping as I climbed up to Leh, I did not allow my body to acclimatise and hence the ache. Point noted. Next two days, did all I was there to do and thereafter headed to Diskit to do my site visit. Had a pleasant evening with Sourav and discovered another side of Diskit, which till now was neither in my knowledge or experience. I believe the place has much more to offer than just touch and go - for next time, it is something to be done.

Diskit evening

Next day, the plan was to head to Siachen basecamp and then push back to Leh - as scheduled, both I and Jeep were on our way across the valley to Siachen. The approach is quite desolate, a narrow road reminiscent of old days with only a fraction of traffic as compared to Diskit/ Hunder side. The day was to mark as this trips crescendo, as we were to be the farthest as we have ever been, in a completely uncharted territory - having said that, discipline and basics of driving in mountains kept the trip not only safe but also on time.

Got registered at army checkpoint post at entry number 5, got instructions on dos and do nots and crossed the military Bailey bridge. Left was the war memorial, where I was promptly stopped by the 8 Grenadier jawan since I was wearing shorts - he said the dress code was trousers only. I stood where I was, and seeing me not arguing and agreeing with the protocol while mentioning that I wasn't aware of it, he came down and gave me his cyclostyled speech right there and then. Thanked him and had him click my pic, and off we were to OP Baba mandir. The history of the said mandir can be well googled by the reader, I saw OP Baba residence where a jawan had just laid a fresh plate of food in front of his picture. Traditions of the Indian Army - I paid my respects and started my return with gratitude of being able to visit. 

at Siachen Base Camp War Memorial

OP Baba mandir

Reached Leh by evening and as Stan suggested that the road is now open seven days a week - took the Zanskar Chilling route. Started by 0500 and 14.5 hours later was back home, much to the relief of family. It still has not registered the kind of terrains I have traversed in 14.5 hours - but it does seem I lived a lot, in a crazy short period of time.

Jeep did good, and I was lucky to make way safe despite ongoing rains - although rains this year are patchy and not voluminous, yet you cannot assume a thing in the mountains. Truly grateful to be able to do this successfully, this fills some thing somewhere inside.

Thank You.

January 2026

About the month that went by, rather just flied by.

Very busy, very flowing, very wholesome and very fulfilling - that would be the crux of experience for the month of January, year 2026. It was the month, wherein would lie our son’s first birthday and its celebration with close friends and family. Everything happened on its own and in the end, the countless sleepless nights and early morning awakenings climaxed to a wholesome feeling.

Deeply consuming and simply flowing - almost dream like if I were to sum up the month of January 2026. I just didnt come in the path of things and brought in the courage to do without applying mind - a very different and lasting experience. The buildup to the month had started several months ago as in January 2026 Mehtab was to turn one and we had planned to do a get together of friends and family. My Massi and sister with kids from Canada, my friend Dubi from Emirates; were coming for this very event, and so as the end of December came to near, so was the accumulation of a myriad of emotions. Myself hosting a function, rather two functions (including Lohri) for the very first time I wanted them to be decent, plus with family coming from across the world I had hoped to make their trip memorable and worthwhile. The self inflicted pressure was real.

Much to relief, everything went well and there were only positive comments. A lot of mental barriers to cross and a lot of eye opening to this side of life, something which has remained elusive to me. My marriage was as simple as could be, and I remember that I was ok with wearing my routine jeans to the day, however was wisely coaxed by a friend to go in for a suit. The tie around neck was suffocating and I never wore nor have any wedding ring - told my wife I cant wear it so don't buy it - it don't change a thing. The entire wedding was clicked on my phone by one of friends; to sum it. However, I could not treat our son the same - what he prefers will lie entirely on him in due course of time, but I was to do the basic. Which I did. 

To recall, I only feel a sense of numbness about all that happened really happened and that I could keep my cool and not blow off on one of the vendors (not that there were many); however, for them it was business as usual but for me who was doing it for the first time - I was edgy to say the least. Now I am still better and life is getting back on track and Mehtab is growing to be the man he will be.

Until next time.

2026

Day one of year 2026

Here is to thank the universe for getting through 2025 with benchmark life events, engulfing change and that state of flow.

Thank you and in comes 2026.

Thats about it

The month is December and a lot many weeks have gone past since the last writing. Many a waves have been tide over, more so internally than externally. First ones first, had put Q7 on the sale block a month or so post Rubicon; dealt with a lot of smarty’s and for anyone wanting a new business idea - try going into luxury car resale - there are so many grey areas to exploit and print decent cash. The experience lasting over three months just wisened me up, while work replenished the bank. In the end I was settled with idea of holding both vehicles with mental peace. Sonia made sense when she said Jeep is your toy, just that it has replaced the motorcycles preceding it; subconscious has its ways to get things done.

Then I had two-three short but intense bouts of health issues. Starting from Typhoid to severe fever to the most recent, boil on butt wherein I could not even sit - yet I survived to tell the tale. In between there was lot of rain in the hills and my second road trip to Nubra this year, just got postponed one month after the other. Month wise roads would pack up any time, as such Vibhor and I just left on morning of 6th November to return a week later from Srinagar side. It was a good trip and the mountains cured me of the fever I was talking about earlier.

Mehtab is going through his hoops of year one, month after month. It's a delight to see him do new things every now and then and I try to change, so as to accommodate his learning path. A lot to learn from him seeing him and his ways; have almost learned by heart lyrics of Cocomelon’s - Wheels on the Bus. Boy his face just lights up when that song is on.

So yea that sums it pretty much - have been penning down the books I have read this year for record and boy the ratio between the read and the bought is a lot skewed. Trying to average it at one book a month and think I’ll fall a little short this year. Thats about it.

Organic

For the last two months, July and August I missed out the date 20th; a date that signifies completion of month of Mehtab Singh. So for the month of September, I sure was to be present.

Ever since Mehtab has come in our lives, we could not take him to Golden Temple - an obeisance which is a must for any Sikh family. In our earlier trips we would leave early in the day, such that we reach Amritsar by 0600 bow at the Gurdwara and are back home with daylight to spare. However, it's different with an infant. We planned to leave on 19th Friday, stay the night over and visit Gurdwara at early hours (Amrit Vela) and thereafter proceed home. We did just that and the experience was different.

For Mehtab Singh entering his ninth month after completing eight, we bowed at Golden Temple in all thankfulness. I hoped that rush would be subsidised at that hour of the day, but I was to be proved grossly wrong. The mother and kids went ahead to the sanctum sanctorum, while I paid respects from the parikarma and absorbed sea of energy on the move, present in all devotedness. Weather was just right, and it was a pleasant experience at that hour of the day with heat and humidity in absence.

As we treaded our way to Golden Temple, so did we tread back home on the Jeep. My view that Rubicon with dirt track tyres is not for long distances, has almost faded into abyss and the vehicle is growing on all of the family.

From conception to completion the whole experience was very organic, which I believe is the way of life if one can just listen to that little voice and keep the bully mind at distance. Life is grace.

We clicked a picture for keepsakes and thank you all for your wishes.

Choicy

May 2022: a day or so after Sidhu Moosewala was assassinated, I like many was perturbed with abrupt end to the life of a rising artist. Am sure what added fuel to the fire was instant distribution of photos and videos from site of incident, to many of the phones through WhatsApp - that made it real and one experienced the gore of incidence realtime, not through a distant news line. The prominent feeling was FUCK IT - life is too short and you just don't know what lies around the corner; with this in mind, I took my wife to the Jeep showroom with the thought of purchasing my long beloved Wrangler.

Perhaps it was the last day of that particular sales guy, or he just had a solid dressing down by his boss, or he just didnt care - that man was THE anti sales guy that I have seen. We took a test ride of Wrangler, and he only fueled a few of negatives that I could notice in the vehicle - such as non insulated top and it not being a family vehicle and so on. He further added that it was not for daily use and that we might consider a Mercedes for our needs. That was it and we walked out with impressions that Jeep was not what we thought it was and firmly wiped that option from head - alas, not from the heart.

Cut to March 2025; almost three years later and I am in Leh alone for a work trip. The day I landed, I had to meet the prospective client and next day visit his site in Nubra Valley which was a one way 4 hour hop from Leh. Stan (the client) - after the meeting, proposed that he himself shall drive with me next day to the site and we can take it from there. Next morning, as I came down to the parking of Abduz Hotel expecting to meet Stan I saw a white Rubicon in ready to go posture. It must have been a short while as I stood there admiring the beast, that Stan emerged with a coffee mug in one hand and gesturing me to the Rubicon with another. We did the to and fro Nubra trip on white Rubicon of Stan.

Sub conscious got activated, unbeknown to me.

Cut to 16th May 2025: two weeks after the Leh trip, in the evening I probably had a drink too many, and chatting with one of my friends I told I would buy the Rubicon and his response was only encouraging. Next day (17th), Sonia and I had to go Chandigarh for some work and after we dropped Mehtab at his Dadi’s, I turned towards the Jeep showroom, ditching the so called work. This time the salesman (Sameer) was like a charm - he answered every query and he passed all riddles that I threw at him. Conversation with him kept on getting serious to the point where I decided I am buying a Rubicon and he had one in stock. It was a four month wait for the special Willys 1941 edition - but a Rubicon is a Rubicon. Sonia knowing me and seeing the way things were going, advised me to sleep over and give sometime rather than jumping into it - but she too liked what she saw.

Sleeping over only helped sorting the financial jumble and next day (18th) I booked it with a promise of delivery by 20th May 2025. The day 20th, of month May, of year 2025 marked 4 months since birth of our son Mehtab Singh Gill, and we commemorated it by bringing CHOICY home.

choicy

Three weeks into ownership, with 3000 kms on odometer, Choicy already is a veteran of several passes having returned from Nubra Valley and Leh this past week. For the same project for which I got a ride on Stan’s Rubicon, I went on Choicy to implement its execution work; needless to say Stan was mighty happy to see me on the new Jeep.

A frame of Choicy with Nubra Valley in the background now adorns my study walls, as am happy with my decision seeing it perform in Leh terrain. I now have my trusted mountain partner.

A big CHEERS to CHOICY for future travels.

Evolution maybe

Mehtab is dovetailing his way into our lives.

There is really not much to say but to experience it and soak it all in - this feeling has been ever prevailing post our son’s birth. All this while, I would keep doing wasteful things or rather would continue in state of non-awareness, but his face, the very thought of him growing up fast, really makes me stop and spend time with him. Not that I am giving my best as yet, but I can definitely say I am improving since the months of his birth.

My life has changed, I have changed - and for the lack of better word it's a rollercoaster for sure and given an option, I would not have it any other way. I am trying to give expression to my softer side for my son, I am trying not to hold it back, I am opening myself up again. The balance is what I look for, between the world outside and home, for the rules are different for both. I am trying.

No idea where all this will lead to, no particular aim as such - but yes I want to soak it all in, for I realise the truth in wisdom of others, that kids grow fast and time would fly past unbeknown to me. By the time, he grows up we would be in the dusk of our lives and peak would be long past us - so yes it is all here now, in this moment and I am trying to scoop up every bit of it.

In these past months, I have gone through a myriad of emotions and learnt to keep my mouth shut on subjects of which I have no experience of. Never thought I would have pics of kid in my phone (thought of it as weak), never thought I would laugh and giggle with a newborn, never thought I had the ability to feel what I am feeling now. For a while I did try to hold on to my brute self, which has fostered in me over the years of getting kicked around - but now I switch; I try to move quick and try not to hold on too long. I am not willing to get swayed by either side of mine, but I have to acknowledge and accept presence of both.

So yea…. evolution maybe