At 3.30 pm we decided it was time to head back. As is the case with students the world over, we realized that we were short on cash. How we managed to pool in enough to refuel so as to reach Bombay would serve as a lesson in economics. We decided to take the return journey a bit slowly as our asses were crying for mercy. Neither of us was accustomed to such long drives. At Lonavala and Khandala we passed a few chikki and fudge shops that we stared at wistfully, but we tarried on.
We spotted a few monkeys near the valley ad something about our simian friends made us stop and shoot a bit of footage of the alluring Sahyadri valley. With the light fading and hunger creeping in our stomachs we decided to visit Ajinkya, a college friend. His benevolent mother fed us a scrumptious feast of dhokla. We visited another beautiful temple with Ajinkya. At 7.30 pm we set off again. In the dark Prasad transformed into a Night Rider and me into a Silent Rider. From Lodhivali for about 19 kms driving at a consistent 90kmph, he didn’t allow a single vehicle to overtake us. I was damn impressed.
We reached Thane at about 9pm and thus the journey came to an end. The journey was an amazing success. A few people, who heard our story, said that it was a big risk. I guess it was and that possibly is one of the reasons why I jumped at the idea. I feel if you want to leave footprints in the sand you can’t do it by sitting, then you would just be leaving butt prints in the sand.

Some pertinent and possibly rude yet funny observations:

• Driving in Pune is like walking a tight rope. One stupid mistake and you will lie sprawling on the road, at times you will find yourself on the road, even without any mistake.
• There is little road sense, or respect of trivialities like signals and lights.
• Driving with headlights turned on during the day is Pune’s way of showing that it doesn’t face a power shortage.
• More scarves are worn in Pune than in the coldest hill stations that surround it. Women cover up every bit of their face except the eyes, and zoom past you on their Scooties. Men on bikes with scarves do the same. If you have a scarf factory you know where to head. If you want a photograph of a terrorist riding on his next mission, still head to Pune.
• If you ask for directions people will tell you to go left and indicate Right with their hands.
• We spotted a rickshaw with a 4WD sticker on it!