I started my Valentine’s Day by being woken up to the sound of a passionate song. You could say that I was being serenaded. I got out of bed, fixed my hair, and put on my finest outfit. I packed my bags for a romantic day of travel. As I walked to the gate I was completely in awe of the dashing carriage awaiting for me. It was outfitted in blue and white and had a grand staircase ascending to my seat. I took my seat, bags in hand, and was whisked away to a quaint villa set elegantly in the mountains. As I descended the stairs, I was greeted by a handsome man in uniform, who asked for my name and my phone number. He even asked the name of my father. As we conversed, he seemed curious as to where I was from, so I showed him my passport and chatted about all the places I had been. He led me over a bridge, that overlooked a serene river and budding trees. He noticed that my cheeks were a tad rosy, so he took it upon himself to make sure I was feeling well. He took my temperature and was overjoyed to find that my rosy cheeks were due to his chivalry. After our short time together, I had to go. We took a photo as to always have a tangible memory of one another. I was again whisked away in my carriage, with only a memory that I would cherish forever.
I started my Valentine’s Day by being woken up to the sound of a passionate song. (The Muslim call to prayer played over loudspeakers) You could say that I was being serenaded. I got out of bed, fixed my hair, and put on my finest outfit. (Sweatpants and a crewneck aka just the items that wouldn’t fit in my pack) I packed my bags for a romantic day of travel. (A world race day of travel) As I walked to the gate I was completely in awe of the dashing carriage awaiting for me. (Our 35 passenger bus that was supposed to hold 40 people and 3 boxes of beans) It was outfitted in blue and white and had a grand staircase ascending to my seat. (It was a very tall bus with barely any leg room) I took my seat, bags in hand, (bags in hand because there was no room for them elsewhere) and was whisked away to a quaint villa set elegantly in the mountains. (it was a border patrol checkpoint on the outskirts of the village we stayed in) As I descended the stairs, I was greeted by a handsome man in uniform, (border police) who asked for my name and my phone number. (Immigration information) He even asked the name of my father. (More immigration information)As we conversed, he seemed curious as to where I was from, so I showed him my passport and chatted about all the places I had been. (Immigration check to make sure I didn’t get here illegally) He led me over a bridge, that overlooked a serene river (a sewage river) and budding trees. (He was leading me to the corona virus checkup stand) He noticed that my cheeks were a tad rosy, (because it’s COLD in India) so he took it upon himself to make sure I was feeling well. He took my temperature (TO MAKE SURE I DIDN’T HAVE THE CORONA VIRUS) and was overjoyed to find that my rosy cheeks were due to his chivalry. (Actually it was just because then he didn’t have to quarantine me) After our short time together, I had to go. (Border patrol check was over and it actually took like 2 hours) We took a photo as to always have a tangible memory of one another. (Basically he wanted a picture with us because we’re American) I was again whisked away in my carriage, (the freaking smelly bus) with only a memory that I would cherish forever. (Maybe not cherish, but laugh at later)
