My Ujjain Diary April'22

After four years, I am going to our home sweet home—Ujjain, meaning my last visit here was in May 2018, immediately after my HSC Boards were over on the 5th of April. My Didi suggested I take up a challenge and log my life in Ujjain daily.

April 5, 2022 - Day 1 - Left for Ujjain via Avantika Express

Due to COVID-19, the IRCTC has changed many rules for travelling by train. They didn't provide blankets to sleep; we had to carry our blankets. There were also no curtains—another wonder. Overall the train journey after four years was average. The train left Mumbai Central at 8:55 pm and it was supposed to reach at 8 am the next day. After dinner, papa, didi, and I watched a Malayalam film—Usthad Hotel. I enjoyed the movie a lot, but after that, when we went to sleep at 1 am, it was a horrible experience. The train was stopping and starting with a jerk before and after leaving every station. I was not able to sleep. Due to this, I woke up early by 6 am.

April 6, 2022 - Day 2 - Reached Ujjain Junction

We reached Ujjain at 8:15 am. Then we took an auto to our Nani's house—Sheetal Apartments in Freeganj. On the way, we stopped to parcel breakfast for home. It was a mess when we opened the door after four years. There were termite trails everywhere, from the walls of the drawing-room till the rooms where we sleep. So, there were a lot of clean-ups to be done. Mummy and papa told us to go out and roam outside till they call us. So, Didi and I thought of eating jalebi. My Didi said, “First, let us go to the terrace.” So we went and were so happy seeing it after four years. It was in the same condition as it was four years ago—the red wattled lapwing, squirrels and many plants. After that, it was fun going for a walk on the first day. We bought jalebi and samosa and relished them in the Shaheed Park. In the evening, we went shopping for home and the entire day we ate thaalis from Apna sweets, a very well-known restaurant in Ujjain.

April 11, 2022 - Day 7 - Went to Baludyan and swung after a long time

Today was a lovely day for me. I woke up at 7:45 am and went for a walk with didi at 8 am to Dussehra Maidan. On the way, Didi clicked photos of beautiful trees to start a YouTube channel. She has been thinking of it for a long time, but I think she'll finally be able to do this. Also, in the evening, my parents took me to a park called Bal Udyan. There were swings there. Didi and I enjoyed swinging for a long time. Then, papa went home at 8 pm, and mom, Didi and I went to a new restaurant called Shree Ganga. The food was excellent and for papa, we parcelled a North Indian thali home, which he liked a lot. I was able to complete my daily target of 8,000 steps. I did more than 10,000 steps today.

April 12, 2022 - Day 8 - Didi and I went for a walk in the evening.

Today, mom and dad went to the bank in the morning for some important work. They returned in the afternoon at 3:30 pm. Due to this, they were not willing to go out in the evening. So, Didi and I went alone and enjoyed it a lot. We went to a new restaurant called Fire and Ice. We ate papdi chaat and drank a chocolate shake there which was cold and tasty. I enjoyed my day with Didi yesterday.

April 13, 2022 - Day 9 - Watched a movie in PVR after four years

Wow! We watched a movie in the theatre after four years. The film was RRR - Rise, Roar and Revolt. We decided to see this movie because it was doing well at the box office. It was an enjoyable movie. The songs were also lovely. After watching the movie, it was evident why it was currently a hit in theatres.

April 14, 2022 - Day 10 - Didi finally learnt how to cycle

After lunch yesterday, I was busy playing on my phone from 3 to 4 pm. When I stopped playing, I saw that my sister was crying and working. I asked her the reason and she went, "I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY, NEITHER DO I WANT TO LEARN ANYTHING. I'M NOT COMING TO RENT A CYCLE. YOU THREE GO FOR A WALK. I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO". I tried to convince her, but she was not listening. Rather not interested. After 45 minutes, I got tired and went to sleep for 1 hour. After I woke up, I told her that either you come with us or don't talk to me. She was still in an angry mood.

After that, papa was also ready to rent a cycle at 7 pm. I tried to convince her again. This time she agreed. Phew! Finally, I was successful in convincing her. We went to the cycle shop, Navdurga cycle stores, and rented a nice red colour Karbon cycle. Then, she started practising cycling from there on, meaning after leaving the shop, behind our house.

April 15, 2022 - Day 11 - Didi was able to cycle a long distance

Yesterday morning, Didi and I went together to continue practising cycling. This time, we rode on a different way, straight from our house with no turns. We also gave our cycle two names—Roro and Uno.

April 16, 2022 - Day 12 - Went for a walk with papa in the evening and cycled with Didi

Today was a little busy for us. Mom and Didi had to visit some aunty in the evening. So, papa and I went for a walk in the evening and bought some essentials. Also, today was Hanuman Jayanti, so behind our house, on the road, there was a huge Lord Hanuman statue. papa and I clicked photos there. Then, at 8:30, Didi and I went cycling for some time before dinner.

April 17, 2022 - Day 13 - Pest control and house cleaning

Today, the pest control people came and cleaned our house. They sprayed pesticide in the house so that the termites would not come again. They went back in the evening. At 7:30, Didi and I went cycling for a longer time than usual. We also clicked stunning photos with our favourite tree on our way. Also, Didi made Top Ramen noodles with egg for a delicious dinner.

April 18, 2022 - Day 14 - Papa explored a different road during our walk

Today, papa and I went for a walk on a different road we had never been to. We bought some namkeen and essentials and came back home. After that, mom and Didi came back from shopping and I continued cycling with Didi. Since the day we rented the cycle, we have not missed a single day of cycling and that's a good achievement for the both of us.

April 19, 2022 - Day 15 - Went cycling with Papa

Today, Didi and I went cycling with papa. It was a lovely experience. He showed us different new roads where we could cycle.

April 20, 2022 - Day 16 - Didi and I cycled to the ice cream shop

Today, Didi and I went cycling in the evening and brought home a surprise. We bought four ice cream bars of different flavours for all. Also, we named our favourite tree on our way as "Magnum" and nicknamed it "Magna".

April 21, 2022 - Day 17 - Finished bank work with Papa

Today, I went to the bank with papa to convert my account to a major. In the bank, while the work was going on, papa explained how a bank works and the benefits of getting a job in a bank. It took 2 hours and I was not in the mood to go cycling in the evening. But still, I went cycling with Didi because it is my favourite time with her and I can never skip it! I should thank her for being firm on her decision to learn cycling. I love our cycling routine.

April 22, 2022 - Day 18 - Explored restaurants with Didi

For the first time, didi and I went cycling in the morning instead of evening. Also, in the evening, she took me to Shree Ganga, the new restaurant where didi, mom and I had gone earlier for dinner. Mom and dad were busy with their work, so they didn't want to come out with us. She also took me to a cake shop where she had gone earlier with mom. She wanted me to taste the sizzling hot brownie that she had liked. I also loved it. We ate a lot of food in those 2 hours.

April 23, 2022 - Day 19 - Finished important work

Today also, didi and I went cycling in the morning. Also, I went to walk with papa in the evening because mom and didi went for some other work. We distributed the work among each other as it was a lot. Half the work papa and I did, and the other half didi and mom did.

April 24, 2022 - Day 20 - Dined at a family friend’s house

I didn't ride the cycle today for the first time and felt really bad. Then, in the evening, we went to a family friend’s place to eat dinner at 7:30. And imagine when we came back! At 12:45 am. Due to this, I couldn't do my last day of the 90 days, i.e., three months of meditation challenge, and went to sleep like a meditation ends. Wow, what a great end to my challenge!

April 25, 2022 - Day 21 - Had dinner at yet another family friend’s place

After not cycling yesterday, today I cycled the whole time, as didi had already done it in the morning. So, from 7 to 7:45 pm, I rode while Didi was walking behind me. Also, we went to another family friend’s house for the second consecutive day for dinner. They gave us so much to eat. For starters, there was fruit juice, chilli paneer and pani puri. For the main course—dosa and finally dessert was ice-cream. The pani puri and dosa were so delicious. For the first time, I ate pani puri happily, without hesitating. Otherwise, I never like to eat pani puri at all! Whenever there’s pani puri at home, I skip it and eat dahi puri instead.

April 26, 2022 - Day 22 - Watched another movie in the theatre: KGF 2

For the second time, I didn't cycle today. Not only me but didi also didn't cycle today. But we went to see another movie in the evening at PVR—KGF 2! For the first time, we have seen two movies in Ujjain. Another excellent and thrilling movie!

April 27, 2022 - Day 23 - Went for Ujjain Darshan

Today, I went cycling with didi in the morning, and we bought some interesting magazines to read. In the evening, we went for Ujjain Darshan in an electric auto, and it was a wonderful experience! The aarti at Har Siddhi Mandir was the best. Such excellent vibrations that I can't express. I just loved it.

April 28, 2022 - Day 24 - The last day with Roro

Today was the last day with our cycle 'Roro' as we had to return it. So, I woke up in the morning and went for a walk with papa. After that, didi also joined us on the cycle. So, I rode a little, then I was tired and went home. After breakfast, I slept for a long time. In the evening, I rode the cycle for one last time with didi. Then we cleaned it up, and returned it to the cycle shop. Tomorrow our whole day will be spent packing as we return to Mumbai in the evening after dinner.

April 29, 2022 - Day 25 - The last day at Ujjain

Today was the last day here at Nani's house as we sat in the train to Mumbai at night. So, I recollected the days spent here before leaving and was shocked that we explored so much in a month’s time. I was sad to leave Ujjain—it was a wonderful one-month trip!

Bye Nani. Bye Ujjain. See you soon. These were the last words that I said in my mind before leaving.