Memories of school time are certainly the best part of one’s life that stay forever. But planning a school reunion without letting people call it off, in the end, is the hardest thing to do. I had tried thrice in the past 5 years to gather my old classmates and friends but in vain. Those age-old excuses from some people – “I’m not in town” or “I have an emergency” – continued to disrupt every plan the rest of us settled on. But surprisingly, our lucky day did arrive on a Sunday evening in July this year. I was reclining on my beanbag chair and received a call from one of my closest buddies. When she broke this huge news to me, at first I didn’t show any enthusiasm. But she convinced me that it was for real this time and sent the list of those 25 people who agreed to make it to the get-together.
“That’s a good number!” I said and asked her about the date and venue. She replied with a smile, “I decided to keep it after 2 weeks in Chester Hills (Solan). The dreamy place you fell in love with.” Suddenly, the memories of the year-old trip with my best friends rushed to my mind. I could distinctly recollect breathing in the fresh mountain air, the appearance of the lavish villas, and the memorable time we had in the valley. I felt overwhelmed with joy and thanked her for this beautiful surprise.
That day arrived soon and we reached there in different groups. The place had retained its alluring vibe that had left an everlasting impact on me during my last visit. The sky was clear and the faint sunbeams shone over the marvelous hilltops of Solan. The weather was pleasant with a light blow of wind. Soon, everyone gathered at the entrance of Chester Hills and greeted each other with warmth. It was so exhilarating to see those old faces again after 15 years though some of them had completely changed, making it impossible for others to recognize them at first.
After having lunch, everyone split up. Some went to relax in their respective rooms or enjoy the Spa & Jacuzzi section. While others (including me), were very happy to explore this exquisite place before we gathered at the Party Hall for the evening celebration. My squad decided to visit the Landscape Park and we clicked countless selfies like crazy! After all, the area was naturally picturesque and filled with numerous art structures, skillfully crafted from recycled and eco-friendly materials.
We continued to feel restless and excited, not willing to rest even for a second. And so, we went ahead to see the Shops and the Gold-class Movie Theater there. Next, our footsteps halted at the Table Tennis court and then the Games and Card Room. Even though none of us have been much into sports and gaming, we anyway decided to give them a try. Not surprisingly, we ended up with poor scores and hilarious moments that were good enough to give us great laughter sessions.
The dusk eventually prevailed, and it was now time to get ready for the much-awaited reunion. I entered the Party Hall with my friends and it was fascinating to see all the men and women dressed elegantly in distinguished attires. In fact, the ambiance of the room in itself was so enthralling and ritzy. It was a huge hall with mesmerizing decorations and beautiful lighting. Gradually, the dance stage began to get occupied as groove-worthy songs were being played back to back. It all felt so amazing and we were reliving our school farewell party again. Even though a lot had changed over the years and a few people were still not there, I was glad to see we didn’t lose our schooltime enthusiasm for partying.
The next day, our social media accounts were crammed with photos from the previous night, and as we were leaving the place, promises were being made to continue staying in touch and planning another unforgettable get-together again. This was my story of another great visit to Chester Hills. What’s yours?