A Weekend with the One I Love

Some time ago my wife and I had a chance to go to a beautiful homestay not far from Mumbai at all. It is barely a two-hour drive from our home. For me it is very exciting to experience such transformation in such short a time. No flights to take. No airport to navigate. No waiting around. Just jump into your car and leave.

We just could not leave Mumbai early enough to get here in the perfect time for lunch. The drive from Bandra is not really that bad. It was nearly half past four as we pulled in. As you enter the gates you really feel like you have entered a different world. You are immersed in the extensive green zone that has been created. Bougainvillea and frangipanis of myriad hues can be seen. Numerous varieties of mango trees. Leaves that we had never seen before. Various fruit trees. Immaculate lawns. Lotus pond. Water bodies. It is a feast for the eyes and the air is a veritable treat for the lungs. Sadly, I don’t know the names of the multitude of trees and plants that you can see. Numerous new sights, smells and sounds engage our senses and not data as in our daily lives. But being city folk, we hungrily keep searching for data.

The house itself is charming. A lot of love and attention has been paid to detail. Every piece of furniture has character. Solid wooden entrance door, four poster beds, coffee table with intricate inlay work stacked with great books to peruse, colourful lamps and a grand wooden dining table. The spaces are large and luxurious. Three large bedrooms make it a perfect getaway for a small family. The main structure is built into a large water pond and gives a sense of floating on water. Set in five acres of grounds the property gives you tons of space to play, walk, exercise. A large area has been dedicated to growing fruits and some local vegetables. There is the joy and opportunity to eat some of what grows there.

Even though it was so late, Shantatai was sweetly waiting to give us lunch. Being so late we did have a snack on the way. So, we didn’t really attack the meal. But the local style home made meal was very yummy and nourishing. Having someone to make all your meals makes staying at a homestay such a joy. She would make dinner and leave by 6 pm. After that we were on our own. That itself is also fantastic. No one hanging around. The space all to yourselves.

Of course, being late April, it was warm in the day. Not unbearable. Not burning. The green cover ensures that some impact of the summer is mitigated. Around the patio and in the cabana, there are fans to keep you comfortable. Sitting in the cabana you can really connect with nature. The wind rustling through the trees, the sounds of the birds and the insects and the views of the hills around.

There is not really much to do in the area. The local village is not far. A sweet old temple is just outside the gate. It has been built by the family who owns this adorable house and is also managed by them. A water park in the area is a big attraction, but is not the kind of action we would like. In the nearby town you can get some nice local foods — onion bhajias, wada (boiled and fried potato balls) stuffed in a pau (a local style bun), and some provisions that may be required.

Keep in mind that the internet does not work too well here and there is no wifi. Only the wife and you. There is a TV, but we are not big on watching television, and hence we did not even attempt to switch that on. But the staff assured us that it works. It can get a bit quiet. Being city people, we are all the time distracted by the data that keeps hitting us. Here is a chance to introspect, connect with yourself and with the one you love. It was just the two of us. Reading is another fabulous option in spaces like these. Reading can be transformative.

We chatted a lot, cuddled and kissed, tried responding to messages on 2G (horrible experience), read a little, wrote some, slept early and very very soundly, did a lot of thinking and planning, heard the birds and the crickets, saw the stars, discussed upcoming trips. Time like this, is to re-connect, re-bond, to experience a peace and silence that is not possible in the city. Sexual intimacy is definitely on the cards on trips like this. But here we were so relaxed, and the pure air lulled us into this gentle and sleepy mode, that the night was spent sleeping and cuddling.

The dinner itself was just amazingly cooked mutton with some rice. Perfectly cooked, soft and yet not falling off the bone, spicy and yet not hurting the system, it was so so enjoyable. And with that we got the sweetest every raw carrot to eat in the salad. Simply loved it. Shantatai had outdone herself.

As the sun sets the place cools down and we were able to enjoy our dinner on the patio outside listening to nature talk. The biodiversity on this little piece of earth is quite amazing, kudos to our hosts for creating and preserving this space.

We were barely there for two days, but it charged us up for many weeks to deal with life’s challenges. We drove out destressed and shining.

In case you are ever in or near Mumbai, obviously once we are free to move about again, and want to book some rest and relaxation time for yourself you can reach out to the team at www.velvetthomestays.com. They are sure to work out the details for you.

Written By Mohit Gupta

Week 14, April ’20