Hello everyone,
I hope you all are in good health.
Now, I am struggling with my writing. And that is nothing new. I had been struggling well let just for years now. And that is OK.
And this is also a story of my struggle with writing simple things.
Anyway, Before you dive in let be give you a little background. I love seeing new places but for the past 2 and half year I haven't travelled beyond 5Kms radius. (Except for the one time in June when I visited Home (Andaman Island)). And this was just trying to ignite the spark on the weaken and tired traveller. :-)

Image

Operation Reisender

“What you doing?” The ghost appeared as I opened my word editor to write.

“You are still around. Huh!!!” I let out a sigh. Totally ignoring the question. The sight of ghost started bothering me lately.

“Tell me na!!!.” The ghost asked. This time, getting over the shoulder.

“I am planning on getting rid of you.” I replied.

“Like that is going to happen.” Ghost started laughing. “No, really tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“You are a part of me and you already know this. So these conversations necessary?” I asked ghost the obvious question.

“Well, all these questions are for you, my friend. If I answer you directly. It wouldn’t be fun, plus you may lose it completely. And go nuts.” Ghost tried to make sense of the situation.

“Well… Never mind.” I dropped my query as there is no point arguing with ghost and losing peace of mind. Which I am convinced that I never had to being with.

“Tell me. Na!!!” Ghost pestered again.

“Uff!!! Yaar, I am making the list of places to visit.” I replied. Figured the only way to keep ghost shut is answering the damn questions. Blood seems to double down when I use sarcasm.

“Nice!!! What are you going to call the list?” Ghost being ghost asked a question.

“List of places to… Are you on something? I just told you.” I replied to the ghost. Little Irritated at this point.

“THE LIST OF THE PLACES TO VISIT… I sound very boring. This looks like something from the diary of a person who is terminally sick. Are you dying?” Ghost blurts out more non-sense.

“F### OFF Ghost. Let me do it.” I screamed at the ghost.

“I bet 500 rupees that you won’t visit all the places on the list. Even better, you won’t finish the list itself.” Ghost mocking me.

“So what? Its none of your business. Now, please get lost. I have a list to do.” I replied with all the positivity in my mind.

Ghost stood there silently. Doing nothing, just watching me as I was staring at the blank screen with a blinking cursor. I typed THE LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT. And again started staring at the screen. Something was off about the title. It lacks motivation. It lacks passion.

“YES EXACTLY!!! That is what I’ve been trying to tell you.” Ghost jumped behind me with excitement. Scaring me shitless.

“What the f*** ghost?” I wanted to punch him in the face. (By the way, how do you punch a ghost in the face.)

“Sorry!! Sorry!! I didn’t mean to. See, this is the reason for me asking so many questions. Or else you will get lost. I want to lead you in the right direction.”

“What???” I asked. Genuinely confused at his ramblings.

“You asked me earlier na, Why I ask so many questions? Well, this is the reason. This happens when I jump in the middle of the conversation between you and your inner self.”

“What!!” I asked again. Out of shock at the nonsense explanation that I was getting from the ghost.

“You see when…”

“Ahhttt!!! Shoooosh!!!” I stopped ghost before more nonsense poured out of his mouth. “I know. Ok.. You have been haunting me for sometime now. And I know. Alright. Just keep the volume in check. Okay!!”

“As for the title, I get it. I think it deserves a little more love from me.” I said.

“Yes, exactly.” the ghost agreed. “You need to name the list with purpose, goal. Operation Musafir. What do you say?”

“Hmm. Ok. It is nice, but I think the word Musafir is too cliched. Haan, I mean Musafir, basically means traveller, right? Why not choose from Non-Indian language. India has Yatri for traveller. I mean most of north India refer traveller as Yatri.”

“Oh, let's check French.” Ghost advised. And we opened the google translator to check.

“Wow!! The French have two. A masculine and feminine for travellers. That is nice and very specific.” I replied ghost after looking at the result.

“Ok, I bet Spanish has something that sounds exotic.” I ghost advised again.

“Oh!! Are you kidding me? Spanish have a masculine and feminine too.” I replied to ghost after seeing the google translator results.

“I just realised something.” Ghost said.

“Well. What is it?” I asked.

“Just imagine the grammar classes in Spanish and French. If they have two words, for everything. Poor kids have to learn so many words.” Ghost burst into laughter.

“Maybe you are right, I mean…” I stopped myself mid-sentence. “What are we doing? Pick a word and let's complete this list.” I tried bringing back the attention to the subject.

“How about German?” The ghost suggested.

FIN

Well, that was fun.
But I am not going to lie. Writing is still kinda difficult for me. I am trying my best to get in form, but also I am not forcing myself to write. I tried forcing myself and I am not happy with the results. So I will be dropping in and out with my post, whenever I get something ready. Meanwhile, I will struggle with my ghost.
Just in case if you are wondering I do have a list. Actually, it was of 30cities. I strike off, Ooty, Ponidcherry, Bangaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Nainital, Alleppy. and dropped a few to bring the list to 15. Let's see if I am able to get any of these.

Operation Reisender

1. Coorg
2. Manali
3. Munnar
4. Darjeeling
5. Jaipur
6. Gangtok
7. Shillong
8. Leh
9. Kashmir
10. Kasi
11. Rishikesh
12. Madurai
13. Bodh gaya
14. Gir Forest
15. Konark

Special thanks to IndiaUnited and my Awesome friends at the BeAwesome community. They are a lovely community that supports creativity. And I recommend you check out their discords channel