A Europe trip has been on the books since I can remember. Baba always kept going on and on about Switzerland. Mamma about Paris. And me about working hard to be able to take them on this trip.
But if you think this article is about my achievements as the daughter that everyone wants, you are sadly mistaken.
On our last day of vacation in Dubrovnik, Croatia, we woke up slightly later than most days. We had had very fulfilling days of staring at the beauty of Europe and on the last day we decided to have a lil celebration of our own.
Baba took a quick trip to the meat market near our apartment and bought a Kg of lamb. Mamma prepped for lamb chops and lamb curry. I ate strawberries on the front porch.
Team work.
Ate a heavy Koli-Style lunch in Dubrovnik and got ready to explore the city one last time.
It was particularly hot that day and I was already looking like the piece of toast everybody leaves untouched at breakfast buffets. So with close introspection and the lil knowledge of science I have, I picked my favourite white linen jumpsuit.
All the ‘Black absorbs- white reflects’ BS was making complete sense to me.
Picked up our bags, locked the apartment and started walking towards our bus stop.
The bus was crowded but we are from Mumbai.
Got off at our stop and started walking. We’ve walked so much on our trip.
Walking’s great. Helps with digestion.
Old town Dubrovnik is gorgeous. It’s a fairytale bound safely inside the 2km long city walls. Looks like a dream. Feels like one when you walk through the narrow cobbled streets.
We had walked through old town the day before so we decided to go see the rocky beach front on the southern end. The walk from the north end of town to the south was a total of 7 minutes.
The day was getting hotter so we decided to get ourselves a cone of ice-cream each.
Maa got raspberry and I got Nutella.
Predictable.
Walked our way to the docks. There were a bunch of small boats and salesmen screaming at us with offers to ride the boats. Chose a stall randomly and got us 3 tickets to the boat that takes a panoramic ride of the entire island in 60 minutes.
60 minutes.
Perfect.
An hour of staring at the clear waters.
An hour of chilling in a boat with a glass bottom and staring at all the fascinating marine life.
An hour of clicking the best pictures to bomb my Instagram feed.
One whole hour.
Perfect.
Got on the boat.
There were two more families with us on the tour. Everyone exchanged smiles. One of them was Indian and they recognised me.
Yay. I am international now!
Meeting fellow Indians in foreign lands is a whole new experience. You really step on the gas with patriotism in such situations.
I have always loved boat rides. I remember mamma baba taking me to TalavPali, a lake close to my childhood home, every weekend for boat rides and candy floss.
And there we were again, several years later, in a boat. One happy family.
What do you call the guy who drives a boat? Who cares.
The boat driver got on board and started the engine.
Three.. two… one.
And we were at sea.
The coast kept getting tinier as the boat shuddered its way away from it.
Everyone was all smiles. Ahh what a jolly ride.
We were about 4 minutes into the boat ride when it first happened.
I looked down at my tummy and whispered, “Not now.”
I trust my understanding with my body. We’re good.
Went back to staring at the sea.
And then it happened again. This time slightly scarier than before.
I clenched all that can be clenched and kept staring.
And then it happened again.
This time the pang was hard enough to knock me out for a couple seconds. Came back to my senses only to be welcomed by another hard hit in my lower abdomen.
Kept pacifying myself.
Kept staring at the sea that looked so average all of a sudden.
Its okay.
We good.
God loves you.
She sells sea shells on the sea shore.
Chandu ke chacha ne chandu ke cha…
I am wearing a white jumpsuit.
I AM WEARING A WHITE JUMPSUIT.
Maa and baba kept observing my lil performance from a distance.
“You good?”
Yes. Don’t worry.
“Do you need to…?”
I said I am good, Maa.
“Okay.”
Somehow I was convinced that I needed distractions so I kept moving seats on the boat.
I am known for making bad decisions in desperate situations.
Please note: Do NOT move when you are in a sticky tummy situation. Movement circulates blood and increases pressure.
SWEET MOTHER OF GOD.
The sea looked so ugly now.
Water so blue, I could see my face in it. Clinging on to dear life. Staring at my reputation, which was hanging by a thread. Along with last night’s dinner.
“You are making that face. Do you have to?”
YES.
“Now?”
YES.
“But how? We are in a boa…”
I KNOW.
There was a 3 second silence before my parents burst into what was the loudest laughter I had heard in my entire effing existence.
Its crazy how your own people turn against you at the time of crisis.
But I was strong. I was gonna pull through.
I just had to sit tight for 50 more minutes.
Should be easy.
Or not.
I was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown when the Indian family next to us thought, ‘Hey, now is a nice time to initiate conversation with this YouTube star who is known to 2 Million people back home.’
“My daughter is a huge fan!”
Thanks, aunty. Tell her I said Hi.
“Should we get a picture together? For memories?”
Sure. I don’t see why not.
Baba generously offered to click.
“Say CHEESE!”
My job has never felt like hard work till about that moment.
False are all the prayers made at temples and examination halls.
Ask someone stuck in a boat in the middle of an ocean for an hour with an upset stomach praying for everything to stay where it is!
The clock has never ticked slower.
I was beginning to get dizzy. My stomach was a gas chamber and explosions were happening at regular intervals.
The shore and the sea became blurry.
Whoever invented Massaging Toilet Seats must have spent an hour on this boat. The boat-shudders were hitting the right spot. EVERYTIME.
Why can’t Boat makers put tiny toilets on board?
Should I ask everyone to shut their eyes so I can free myself from all this torture in the ocean?
Should I ask the boat driver to dock on hell’s gate because there is no way I am getting through this alive.
20 more minutes.
My parents put no effort in hiding their clear amusement.
Instead, baba clicked this picture of me.
You could laugh now. But just think about that one time you wanted to go so bad but life had other plans.
God had mercy and we could finally see the coast.
I started prepping for my marathon treasure hunt.
“The coast isn’t even close yet. Stop standing at the tip of the boat. Come back. Sit. Look how pretty this view is.”
DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!
If you are thinking about what everyone else on the boat was thinking of my lil adventure?
Who cares!
Important lesson learnt.
Not the easiest way though.
The guy took forever to dock. Ugh. Wasn’t this his everyday job?
Inefficiency is the cancer of the working class.
I have the weakest eyes but did I spot the restaurant washroom from 1200 kilometres away or WHAT!
The slowest boat driver in the world finally docked the boat and I flew out of it and dashed to the restaurant.
Knowing how down my luck was on the day, I was prepared for the worst. And worst was what life gave me.
The ladies washroom was a single stall room which was occupied. I counted to 3 and dashed into the men’s room.
There were two clueless but very attractive men peeing and an empty stall in there.
Its a new country, they don’t speak the language, they don’t know me. I dashed to the stall and locked it.
Good Job Prajakta! I could feel the storm approaching but I had it covered. I was good on time. Until I realised I am wearing a JUMPSUIT.
A JUMPSUIT.
The outfit invented to make you sit butt naked on the toilet seat. And also came with the worst zippers.
The zipper and I got into a heated argument. Which unfortunately didn’t last long.
Much like my self-respect.
Badaboom Dhissh.
I was quite young then though.
I was 24.
Not anymore.
Yesterday was my 25th Birthday.
Happy Birthday to me.
You are fanatic Prajakta. This was the best article I have ever read in my life. Be flawless. Cheers!
Nice prajakta
This is a traveling article
And it’s nice
Awesome 💗
Love you Prajakta❤❤ Another great blog. Keep going on. Waiting for some more. Until then LOVE LOVE.
Loved the article ….Begun to love you as a writer too…💕💕💕💕
Prajakta didi love love… ❤️❤️🦋
hey Prajakta..
me tujhi khup khup khup mothi fan ahe😍😍
i love the way you express yourself on every Tuesdays.. i feel like i am talking to myself. yes somehow i want to be like you.. and yes that shameless song.. 😘 love you from bottom of my heart.. you are idol for me
You are such an inspiration.i thoroughly enjoy every video of yours.
Wow di….such an amazing article luv luv😍😍
Dear Prajakta,
I am a founder of an edtech startup and would like to see if you are interested in reviewing it. Please get back to me at r@qalaxia.com.
Thanks
Beautifulllll expression!❤
😄😄luv u prajakta u r great..best YouTuber and now loving u as writer too your blogs are perfect for a good start …love love
Wow, praju… I am really a huge fan of your video blogs and I knew it that you are a fantastic writer too.
I am also a blogger on wordpress. I am very much inspired by you, the way you talk, the way you are… The real you. #Love_You. 😘😘😘😘
Loved it!! what an original you are women!!! This is the first i have read i am hoping all others are also like that!! it was as good as reading a page from your personal diary.
Hello prajakta didi.!! I am khushboo from delhi.. I am a huge fan of you and your work…. I have just started my own YouTube channel and i want to react on your videos… Can you please give me the permission to do the same? Plz didi plz..!! U r a superstar..! And reacting on your videos will make my channel grow faster..!
Nice one prajakta..😊..!
Lovely prajakPr😍
That is not a jumpsuit. It’s a short dress. Anywho good one 🙂
Praju di, why you are so gud??? Love_love❣
Do u reply to ur blog comments pls do tht..m a big fan of urs
Best! ❤
Love you always! And thank you for being you!!😘😘😘😘😘😘
This blog should be named Prajakta and her fart diaries.. 😂
This article was hilarious!😂
Oh god u were amazing
I can’t even imagine someone describing this situation so humorously such that I can just sink into it😂😅
Loved this ❤️
Woah, you have great writing skills too Prajakta…And you’re also an amazing youtuber nonetheless…I’m waiting for you to write your own book ya….I’m sure it will be a HIT like all your videos and blogs…
(*Love from another Marathi mulgi)
Superb article Prajakta.. Ur writup felt so lively that i cud see d cinematic infront of my eyes.. Great Job.. All d very best.
Superb prajikta !! love love😘😘
This was the most amazing article I’ve ever read in my life, although I don’t feel like reading articles, you’re really very funny, cute way tooo awesome prajakta di💓 love love 💓 take care💓
Thé first , most amazing and funny article i ever read. I dont like reading articles but i loved it. Pls prajakta didi make more articles like this… Love love ❤
OMG! I’m reading this blog at 2:56 AM and I’m finding room to laugh out loud. This thing happens very often with me while I travel in bus. Why they do not build tiny bathroom in the Government bus? 😀
This article was really niceeeeeeeee❤ I am not very fond of reading articles but this one was funny and relatable I guess👀 😂❤
How do you make every damn thing funny? … 😂 It was seriously funny… God bless you.. keep going..
Hello prajakta am zahra from kenya your workpiece you are really good i really like watching your vlogs especially the one in croatia despite you falling sick you did your best you are the best love love💖💖💖
after watching your vlog and reading this! 😂 i can understand the pain you have gone thro… and i can’t stop my laughter tho😂😂… anyways keep it up. lovelove❤
Your aayi and baba are super cool and naughty … Touch wood to them ❤️
Such beautifully written😹 #Impressed✨♥️
hey!! it was a beautiful blog…so nothing more to say but just try to be happy in all situations bcz we dont know what god has given us at hat particular moment
Bawaaaahhhhhaaa..this is epic..never seen anybody so original and awesome..🤣😘
seriously it is fantastic
and I also write quote
and I want to write blog but don’t have any experience how should i write my first blog
I have been watching your youtube vlogs since last three four years. Those time you used share your thoughts infront of unique background. Now you are more grown up in terms knowledge, experience, professionalism. One thing which has not changed so far and that is your great heart. You are a good human being which is rare. Keep it up. Long way to go. Many more great achievements are waiting for you. Best of luck.
Hey…Prajakta I know I m late with the blog..Relatable gal!I too remembered my childhood going with my mama Papa to talavpali riding boat in the same hometown❤️..But the next story is on the way!😉Luv u gal!DumDums!
Soo much love from people u r getting.. How u feel like now?
hi prajakta i like your content the way you write is literally very cool i also just started blogging and i think its a good way for me atleast to get rid of boredom.
You’re best in everything you do!! U are so energetic, amazing, hard working person I have seen in my life. No matter hoe sickyous are. You’re always on your toes. YoureY crazy, u are a box full of Happiness!! I love you unconditionally..!!!💕💕💕💖
Hi Praju, This article is very good. Keep charming as always. Love Love 💕💕💕💕
(PS: Please reply to my mail 🙂 )
Lots of love😊
I’m not a blogs reader you are making me impress upon you that makes me better it’s frist time to read your blog and I like watch your youYouT channel
It’s like amazing.(@ Tamil -vera level ku iruku) have a happy day love love
I cannot see you wearing a jumpsuit in the pic you have shared ?🤔