A Picnic /An Excursion

“What is this life if full of care? 

We have no time to stand and stare.”

In these lines, W.H. Davies has told an important truth of life. All of us work like cogs in the machine. That is why off and on some short retreat in the form of a picnic or excursion is imperative. It attains specific significance in the case of young people who have the energy and the inclination to enjoy themselves.

It was in this spirit that we, a party of twenty students, decided to have a picnic outside the city on March 15 last. Early in the morning, we collected at the municipal park. It had been decided to go on the bank of the canal about twelve kilometers away. An advance party with some rugs, eatables, indoor games, etc. had already moved before dawn.

We started the journey on our bikes at about 7.30 a.m. and reached our destination in less than an hour. We frequently exchanged tit-bits and had a jolly time during the journey.

On reaching the canal, the swirling waves in the can steeped in the golden color of the early morning » seemed to invite us. We jumped into the canal and a hearty bath, although the water was somewhat but not chilly. We swam for about an hour. As we came out, we enjoyed the tasty pakoras with tea, prepared there and then by the cook we had brought with us. We had brought with us a tape-recorder and a camera. All along the sweet songs regaled us and our snapshots in different poses and moods were taken.

Then we began to play some indoor games like carrom, cards, ludo, etc. To play these games we had divided ourselves into a number of groups. Someone suggested having a forceful dance to the tune of appropriate music from the stereo and up rose all as if they were waiting for this gesture.

After dancing for about 45 minutes, we felt very hungry. All of us jumped at chapattis and the bundles of biscuits and pastries along with tea. Now we had the mind to enjoy the beautiful sights of spring—the green trees, the wildflowers, the hopping birds, etc. Thereafter, we played the game of hide and seek. It was evening by now and we all made for home having fully enjoyed ourselves.