A Boat Trip

A journey may be undertaken in various ways, by a car, by an aeroplane. But the most interesting of all journey is that which is under- taken by a boat. It becomes all the more interesting when undertaken in the company of friends on a moonlight night. Once I had the good luck to enjoy a picnic on a boat in the company of some of my friends. We decided to go by train to Rajghat at a distance of thirty miles from our city and from there to enjoy a boat trip to Narora water works at a distance of five miles. We decided to enjoy our picniC or pleasure trip on a moon light night. It was during the Dussehra when the nights wre moonlit, that we started for Rajghat by the afternoon train. We took with us a tape recorder, a pack of playing cards, a stove and some utensils for preparing tea and some biscuits etc. for refreshment. A friend also took his flute with him. We reached Rajghat at about five thirty P.M. The River Yamuna flows at a distance of one mile from the station we walked to the bank of the holy river. There we met many sailors. We walked at last, after much haggling a boat was hired for Rs. 30. As we wanted to return home by 2 A.m. train we decided to sail at once. It was grown dark, and the moon nearly full, was already rising in the sky. We asked the boatman to ply their oars, slowly so that we might fully enjoy the different scenes and sights. The sight on both sides of the river was beautiful. Some sadhus, who lived there were bathing in the river and chanting hymns.

Others were washing their clothes or cleaning their utensils. All was perfectly calm and quiet. The river was flowing with a soft rippling sound. Its water was clear, the trees and water plants on both sides of the river were reflected in the clear water. By this time the moon had risen in the sky. It was reflected in the water of river. All was silvery white it all appointed a white solving ocean. We now prepared some tea. It was delightful to take tea at such time. A cool refreshing breeze was also blowing.

We next decided to enjoy some music. Different audio cassettes most, were played one after another. We had listened to those songs a number of times but now our enjoyment was beyond description under the bright moon light and the perfect silence of mid night. After the second, we enjoyed the flute played by one of us. It was really very sweet.