From the last part, you know, we said a bye to those strangers, whom I found along the river, rode my scooty back to village, but but but, as soon as I crossed that bridge, it hit me—I completely forgot to ask where that hidden waterfall was! With the same speed that thought flashed through my mind, I turned my scooty right around and headed back. There was no way I could miss out on something so special after all the talk about it. When I got back to the spot, there they were, all packed into their Alto and just about ready to leave.
I rolled up to them, interrupting their plans, but instead of being annoyed, they were genuinely happy to see me again. Turns out, they hadn’t been able to say a proper goodbye—they knew I was rushing to get back to the village before darkness set in. But now that I was back, the whole situation took a different turn.
I asked Dmang about the waterfall, and he admitted he didn’t have his phone with him since they didn’t usually bring it along when they came down for their daily baths. Then, with a mischievous grin, he asked, “You really want to see that waterfall?” I nodded eagerly. Without missing a beat, he told me to follow them. And just like that, they took off, with me trailing behind, into the pitch-black mountains of Meghalaya.
Following the Unknown: Trusting Strangers in the Dark
The sun had completely set by now. I was deep in the mountains, following these five guys to a village that wasn’t even Mawlynnong, the place I was supposed to head back to. But there I was, driving through the darkness, trusting these strangers completely. After a short drive, they stopped the car outside a brown, old cabin made of bamboo. In Meghalaya, most of the architecture is crafted from bamboo, giving it a unique charm. But this wasn’t just any bamboo structure—it was a tapri, the kind of small, roadside shop we’re familiar with back home.
I looked around and realized I was in a totally different village, far from anyone who knew where I was. A small group of four or five people sat outside the cabin, engaged in their nightly gossip. They all stared at me as I got off my scooty, and I stared back, feeling a bit out of place. Then, Dmang invited me inside the cabin.
As I stepped in, I noticed a distinct smell in the air—the kind that comes from non-veg food, which is mostly what’s prepared at these places. They told me it was one of their friend’s shops, a regular hangout spot for them. We chatted a bit more, and they mentioned that the Bangladesh border was just 7 km from this village. Then, Dmang finally got his phone, and we exchanged Instagram profiles. Turns out, he was quite the traveler in his region, a knower of many hidden places.
A Simple Gathering: Bonding Over Chai
After showing me pictures of the waterfall on his phone, Dmang ordered chai for everyone. Now, let me tell you, chai in Meghalaya isn’t quite what we’re used to back in Rajasthan. They don’t drink the typical boiled, brewed tea with milk that we love so much. If they do add milk, it’s raw milk poured into black tea, and it tastes… well, let’s just say it wasn’t my cup of tea.
They usually have pork fries as a snack here, but out of respect for my vegetarian diet, they didn’t order any that night. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to me. Despite the chai not being up to my usual standards, the kindness they showed made it a memorable experience. I offered to pay the bill, wanting to thank them for their hospitality, but Dmang wouldn’t hear of it. He insisted, saying, “You are our guest. We’ll treat you so you remember us. And if someone visits your place, just be the same as we remained with you. That way, your experience will be truly worth it.”
His words struck a chord with me. It was a simple, yet profound ideology, and I agreed. We finally exchanged our Instagram IDs, and I said my goodbyes and thanked him so mcuh—this time, for real. I hopped on my scooty and started the journey back to Mawlynnong village, which was now 9 km away.
The Ride Back: Conquering Fear in the Dark
The route back was something straight out of a movie. I was riding through the middle of a rainforest, in complete darkness, with no other vehicles in sight. The sounds of the forest filled the air—small insects buzzing loudly, wet roads glistening under my headlights, and the mysterious, dark mystic of the trees surrounding me.
But I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was smiling the entire way back. My heart was full, my confidence was boosted, and I couldn’t stop thanking myself for taking this solo ride. That night, I realized I had truly lived a day without fear. The moment I agreed to follow them to to their village without even giving a thought, was the moment for me having, no fear of getting lost, no fear of being stranded, no fear of kidnapping, robbery, the wild, or even the unknown people I had just met, no one literaly no one knew where I actually was, but despite all of these I had conquered all of those fears that day.For this experience of mine I had almost none of the pictures yet I tried my best to give a visual experince via my words and some pictures.
Endnote: So, what did you think of this three-part blog series? Did you enjoy reading about my adventure in Meghalaya? I’d love to hear your thoughts—whether it’s feedback on these stories, suggestions for future blogs, or anything else you want to share. Let’s keep the conversation going!
Leave your Comments here!(i would love to know about them)
ps: here's that hidden waterfall of Dmang, then I visited that latter? how was the experience? in the next part tadaaa
