Ha ha ha! Did you also think I just went down to the river, took a dip, and refreshed myself? Well, I hate to break it to you, but it didn’t happen that easily! In my last post, I left you with the impression that I reached my destination, had my bath, and that was the end of the story. But let me tell you, it was far from that simple.
First Impressions: A Stranger in a Strange Land
So, there I was, standing by the river with Lamsuk—the 18-year-old local boy who had led me down there. He and his friends were all dressed in simple, local clothes, with rubber slippers on their feet. And then there was me, decked out in a cargo, sleeveless vest, blue sneakers, and a backpack. I must have looked like I’d just dropped in from another country!
When we arrived, his friends—five of them—were already there. I could feel their curious eyes on me, wondering who this outsider was that Lamsuk had brought with him. They were speaking in Khasi, their native language, and I had no clue what they were saying. My mind started racing—what were they talking about? Was I welcome here, or was this a mistake?
But then, suddenly, they all turned to me with big smiles and said, “Hi!” One of them asked, “You do want to have a dip in this river? Go on, there’s no issue with this.” I smiled back, relieved and ready to finally jump in. But you know what? Bathing there wasn’t the only thing on my mind. I was excited about meeting these locals, talking to them, and learning more about their lives. So, instead of diving right in, I decided to sit down with them first.
A Conversation by the River
Two of the guys were smoking cigarettes, and soon enough, Lamsuk joined them. We started chatting—well, as much as we could, given the language barrier. Out of the six of them, only two or three could speak some English, but we made it work. Among them was this guy named Dmang. Now, forget about Lamsuk for a moment, because from here on, it’s Dmang who becomes the leader of our little group.
Dmang was 26 years old, but by his looks, you wouldn’t have guessed it—he looked just as young as 18-year-old Lamsuk. He was the only one among them who had ventured out of the remote village areas and even out of Meghalaya. He had studied in Assam, which is where he picked up his English. We talked about so much—our cultures, traditions, and even the secrets of the local area. Dmang told me about a hidden waterfall just 10 minutes away from where we were. It turns out that the river we were sitting by was fed by this very waterfall.
The Realization: What Did I Forget?
After our chat, I was ready for that long-awaited dip. The river wasn’t very deep, and it seemed pretty safe—perfect for a quick swim. But as I got ready, I realized something crucial. Remember that backpack I’d been carrying? Yeah, in all my excitement, I had grabbed it without thinking. And guess what? It didn’t have any of the essentials—no spare pants, no towel, and not even an extra pair of briefs! So, there I was, getting ready to dive in, knowing full well that I’d have to ride back to the village in wet clothes.
But you know what? I didn’t care. I was there to experience the moment, and nothing was going to stop me. I changed my shirt, took a deep breath, and plunged into the cool, refreshing water. It was everything I had hoped for and more.
Bidding Farewell: A New Connection
By the time I got out, the sun had set completely, and it was time to head back to Mawlynnong. We all packed up our things, but the conversations with Dmang and his friends didn’t stop. We continued chatting as we walked back up the path to the road. It had been about 40 minutes since I first arrived, but it felt like much longer—like I had known these guys for months.
At the top of the path, I said my goodbyes, thanking them over and over again. It’s not every day that strangers take you in and make you feel so welcome. They felt my energy, and I felt theirs. We exchanged smiles and waves as I hopped back on my scooty. I didn’t take any of their contacts, no socials—nothing. It was just a pure, unfiltered experience, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
As I rode away, they started packing up too, getting ready to head home in their Alto. I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that this was a day I’d never forget.
But Wait, There’s More to the Story…
Now, you might be thinking, “Is this the friendship you were talking about? You dared to do it, but how did you live without fear at that time?” Well, hold on tight, because there’s more to this story. Yes, I left them to head back to the village, but what happens next? You’ll have to wait for the next part to find out—and I promise, it’ll be the last one. I thought one blog post would be enough for this story, but clearly, it’s going to take three! Read it out here: A search of waterfall gave me unexpected experience.
