Nice to meet me.

Blogs by MostlySane

The night before the big day was the scariest.

I hate packing. So, I left that to be done on that night. The nerves were kicking in and the fear was real.

Wanting something all your life feels so much different from having it.

When my first solo trip got confirmed, I couldn’t stop raving about it to everybody!

I Imagined everything from outfits for each day of the trip to meeting cute strangers on my flight.

But on the night before my flight, the nerves kicked in hard enough for me to question my decision.

Was I ready to take this trip all by myself?

I am not particularly the kind of person who scares easy.

Or so I told myself until this trip.

I woke up early on the big day. The house was empty because mamma-baba were out vacationing with their friends. I did my daily chores, cleaned the house, packed everything, and made a quick trip to the store to get everything else. Done.

I still had four hours till I left for the airport and the thoughts in my head were not being my friend.

I am used to mamma re-packing my bags for every trip I take. She knows exactly what I forgot to pack. So, I pack, she re-packs.

She wasn’t home this time.

I am also used to baba dropping me to the airport every time. No matter how busy he is, he always clears his schedule. Taking a cab to the airport while leaving for a vacation was just depressing.

Vrishank says I am spoilt. I disagree. As always.

I decided to get ready and leave for the airport earlier than I needed to. I was alone and scared at home. I’d rather be alone and scared at the airport.

I always thought I needed company. Every time I had to go to the mall, my first thought was listing the possible people I could quickly call to come hang out with me. Even a trip to the store to buy milk and eggs comprised of nervous-calling everybody I knew so I had someone to talk to till I got home. Every once in a while, I would tell myself to spend some me-time. Which was poor translation for Netflix and Stuff-your-face-till-you-get-sick. I always believed I was the sort of person who needs people around all the time. I wasn’t quite sure I would enjoy my company. Maybe that is why I dreaded this trip so much so suddenly.

Since I was at the airport way before time, I decided to have a mini-meal before I queue at the check-in counter. Went straight for momos and a strawberry cocktail. The momos were delicious but the drink sucked. I finished it all anyway because I paid way too much for it. Yep. I am Indian in every way like that.

It’s frustrating how I can’t remember the last flight I took from Mumbai which wasn’t delayed. This time the delay was of a whole 90 minutes. I knew this was going to come bite me in the ass and so it did. Quite expectantly I missed my connecting flight to Penang from Kualalampur. I don’t know what I was more upset about. Missing my flight or spending 3 more hours at the airport.

Anyhoo! Took the next flight out and checked into my hotel room in Penang by around 4pm!

I’ve always been a fan of long, quite baths. So, took one and hit the bed right away.

I realized I hadn’t slept in more than 24 hours. Counting my overnight flight and the delay! I got no sleep on the plane. There were 2 screaming kids in a 10-meter radius from my seat.

I KNOW!

Woke up at around 9:30 pm, changed and decided to get some dinner. Walked to the hotel’s restaurant only to find it completely empty. Not a soul in sight. According to the waiter, everyone in town wraps dinner before 8pm. Thank god, my hotel had a 24-HR restaurant.

Got myself a table by the pool facing the sea. This hotel was snazzy. It had a private beach. I couldn’t dare to get a table closer to the sea though. I’ve always feared water after sundown. The sea sounds so angry to me at nights.

This was officially my first meal in Penang. So, I decided to order a local delicacy.

‘Mamak Mee’ is what I settled for. Noodles, chicken and fish cakes. What’s not to like!

This was also my first meal with myself. Back home I never really go out to eat by myself.

And I don’t know why!

I stared into my phone for the first couple of minutes because I was so confused as to what the rest of my body is supposed to do when I am sitting at a table alone with food and nobody to talk to or no television to stare at.

The food was GOOD!

I eventually put my phone down and ate in silence.

Hmm. Not so bad.

Finished dinner, cleared my bill, thanked the waiter and walked away.

I didn’t quite feel like heading back to my room just yet. It was too late to walk around town alone. So, I took a stroll around the hotel property. The roaring waves made my walk in the opposite direction from the beach. Walked around for a bit. There was a pool, another restaurant, a parking spot and a condo. Spotted a bench in the condo and sat down for a bit.

Mumbai is always buzzing.  No matter what time of day. Cars, honks, people. Also, the weather back home is torturing.

However, it was surprisingly quiet on the streets here. An occasional motor-biker passed by but otherwise, I could still hear the waves. The weather felt great too. Not as humid as I had expected.

I sat on the bench with a blank mind. I had no thoughts. I stared at the street then at the parking lot and then back at the street. An occasional thought about home crossed my mind. But other than that, nothing really. I checked my watch, it said 11:20 pm.

Went back to staring.

Checked my watch again. It said 12:20 pm

WHAT!!

Killing time was always a task for me. I would deliberately reach places late because I hated waiting alone.

Not anymore, I guess!

That hour on the bench alone was the best part of my day.

To come to think of it, when was the last time you spent an hour being your selfish self? I have no memory of a time when I decided to think of myself and myself only and do everything that pleased nobody but me. I can’t even count the number of movies I missed or the restaurants I ditched because I didn’t have company.

I remember spending hours after lights-out, sitting on a stool in front of my mirror talking to myself about my day and going to bed happy because I knew my mind and my heart were on the same page. I have no idea why I stopped that exercise. People never believed me, but I never felt the need of having a sibling growing up because I loved myself as a child.

Nostalgically, I walked back to my room happier that night because now I knew I enjoyed my company. And finally, this solo trip seemed like the best decision ever!

Changed back into my PJs, got in bed, surfed the internet for a while and turned the lights off at 4:15 am.

And that was day one.

397 Comments

  1. Pri
    Reply

    Dumdums….
    I have recently subscribedvto your blog and half way through it I knew…. U r the best… I love what you have written it is mind blowing…
    Thank you
    Pls keep writing more<3
    You Go girl!!:)) Love u Prajakta

  2. Anagha
    Reply

    Hey
    Idk but I love u alot yr like seriously
    The way u think
    Ur thoughts
    Ur innocence
    Everything of urs
    Especially ua Marathi😁ya I love the way u talk Marathi
    Ur love for barkha di
    Everything thing😊😊😊😊

  4. Shreya
    Reply

    Wow!! You are really inspiring with the way you write✨
    I really like your simple language and your sincerity.
    You rock babe 🎈

  6. Anjali Moghekar
    Reply

    Hey prajakta.. I am new to your blog and read all of them. I must say your are amazing about how you write and choose words each of which can be felt. I felt so connected. I guess it is more important to every blogger that a reader is able to connect himself/herself to the blogs. This is my fav. I dont why but I became bit emtional while I reading this. Best piece of writing.

  7. Tanvi belose
    Reply

    This was the first time I read your blog.
    This blog is everything u feel. Its not at all fictional. Its so real. Its full of life. And I would like to read more blogs of yours. Keep writing ❤️

  10. kashish
    Reply

    Hey Prajakta! I like the way to write and express your views through your words.I admire each and very message of yours in the end of your every blog. I love you and really enjoy watching your videos. I’m also very passionate about writing and want to create my own blog but unable to do so. Actually i dont know how to create one. Will you please suggest me some way. How you created your blog? You made your own website or something else? It will be great and very thankful if you could give me some ideas. And if there’s any video of your related to this please give a link. Thank you if your still reading. Lovelove… <3 <3

  11. Dnyanasee Ghadigaonkar
    Reply

    Hey Prajakta ! I really do love the way you express almost everything going on in your life. I am just in love with your writings your words your videos overall in short words i am really in love with you . Love you and your work prajakta. LoveLove . 😘

  12. Iffat Khan
    Reply

    Hey Praju, Love Love…💕it was a great experience reading ur blog, I mean it was just so calm & rejuvenating. Trust me ur absolutely awesome in expressing ur feelings… Keep writing…

  13. Chirag Atram
    Reply

    hey prajkta !!!! I like ur way of writing….its..not like the complicated one…but so refreshing tho………and please keep writing blogs……and that stuff in bold letters…may be ur ……thoughts back in ur mind……..i can relate that things in my life also……..so please writing blogs frequently,,,….love love 🙂

  15. Prakhar Srivastava
    Reply

    that was soo great of you prajakta beacuse i am also planning of having a solo trip to amsterdam and i hope that i can also concur my that fear. i love your videos and now i also love your blogs also. i was your follwer when you had like around 7000 followers or something and by that day i am fun of your #dumdum and i love to be called that. i wish you all the success in your life. and love you soo much. btw loved your todays #sawaalsaturday video and thought of reading of blog one more time soo here what i did. #lovelove and i will meet you soon.

  19. Mamta
    Reply

    Ur a darling! Even i am this kind of a person who would need someone to talk to everytime! Working on it and d blog gives me more inspiration! 😊😘

  21. Bliss
    Reply

    I’m a 17 year old keen reader and I really wish you’d write a book in mere future I assure you I’d be the first one to buy it !! Thankyouuu for actually helping people around by presenting such great blogs and videos of substance !!

  23. Tejaswini Singh Deora
    Reply

    I love it and now even i am thinking to write a diary or a blog or something . U are an inspiration 💯🌍🌈😇

  30. Vishakha Chavan
    Reply

    Hey… I read the whole blog in your accent… And even that Whaaatt…!!
    But I think the time was 12.20 am instead of 12.20 pm….❤ ily anyways…

  31. Shreya Ghosh
    Reply

    You have such superb write-ups and especially this particular write-up of yours has inspired me alot to spend one me-time atleast like you. Even i watch your you tube videos and i am turning up to be like a budding fan of yours day by day. Keep updating each day with your fantastic blogs and videos…!!! Lots of love and hugs to you ❤

    1. Arpita
      Reply

      It feels like a story and as I’m reading the blog the whole scene is taking a shape in my imagination…..by the way lots of love.. whenever I here u or saw a video of it makes me so happy it took all the stress away. Thank u for being always positive and motivating me to be positive ❤️

  33. anuradha ramawat
    Reply

    I loved this blog. Although I have always liked being alone and enjoyed my own company but reading this was like reading my own diary. And it was above aweaome.❤❤❤

  34. Pranav vyas
    Reply

    It was so real and nice,these are the thoughts that exactly running in one’s mind, great and that hour with your self is awesome too, thanks for inspiring us, love love

  40. Amruta pathak
    Reply

    Spending an hour alone on the bench thinking only of self not selflessly is just out of the world …..loved your blog …love love …plz reply

  41. Arpita
    Reply

    That was soo good
    Really true
    Im a single daughter of my parents. I wanna go for a solo trip as well but they won’t allow now. May be after some years i can watch out and surf the world all alone.
    This is the first blog i read of yourself and its really awesome looking at you in youtube as well

  43. Janvi chavda
    Reply

    HEY in the part where you mentioned the time you spent with your own self weren’t you supposed to write 11:30 pm (which is correct) to 12:30 am( which is wrong I guess)

  47. Anisa
    Reply

    Loved this blog…. U r soooooo natural & original as always & here also…. Soooooo calm & beautiful writing ….. Love to see ur videos obviously but now I m a big big big fan of urs blogs….. U everything is sooo unique that I m in love with them always ….. Love the way u talk… U smile DC u write ……. This one of the best read of my life . . Love u soooooo much prajakta di … Love 💙Love 💛

  49. Ishu
    Reply

    Hi Prajakta Di i love youu alottt!!!! <3 your videos ur blogs are soo insipiring u r my insipiration i love watiching ur videos reading ur blogs they all are just awesome 3 #love_love<3

  50. Syed Raheemuddin
    Reply

    Hi Prajakta, I Think You are Excellent! in Writing and Expressing your Thoughts and your Experiences of Life.
    I Really Like your Youtube channel and I have improved a lot by just watching your videos! You are supremely Talented.
    Hats off to you.

Leave a Reply to Dnyanasee GhadigaonkarCancel reply