”WE WENT TO MANALI FOR SNOW, BUT ENDED UP WITH A COMEDY SHOW”!
Our trip to Manali was supposed to be everything a mountain getaway promises — snow-capped peaks, peaceful valleys, steaming cups of maggi, and picture-perfect memories. With my mom and relatives by my side, I thought nothing could go wrong. But then… we met our driver.
To say he was lazy would be an understatement. He was a master of delegation. The moment we left home, not even one hour into the trip, our car tyre went flat. While we expected him to jump into action like a Bollywood hero, he just stood by, casually watching, and announced: “Tyre toh badalna padega.” (as if we didn’t know already!). Then came the plot twist — instead of fixing it himself, he asked my uncle to do it. So, before we even reached Manali, my uncle had already been promoted to family driver’s assistant.
The rest of the road trip was no less dramatic. We, the excited tourists, wanted to see every corner of Manali. Our driver? He wanted to see… every food stall. From pakoras to samosas to chai, he had a never-ending “snack pilgrimage.” We teased him saying, “Bhaiya aapke liye toh yeh Manali trip nahi, ‘Snacks Tour’ hai.” He laughed, but secretly, I think he agreed.
And then came the rain. Our luggage was neatly tied on the rooftop, but when the downpour began, the bags started soaking. Did our driver act fast? Of course not. Once again, my uncle — now promoted from “assistant driver” to “porter” — had to climb up and drag them down in the rain. We couldn’t decide whether to feel sorry for him or laugh, so we did a little of both.
Finally, we reached Manali and managed to explore Mall Road, Hadimba Temple, Solang Valley, and a small waterfall. Yes, we missed Sissu, Rohtang, and Atal Tunnel because of our driver’s “strategic time management,” but Manali still worked its magic. Mall Road momos were heavenly, Hadimba Temple gave us serene vibes, Solang Valley was a snowy dream, and even the tiny waterfall felt like a hidden gem.
🌍 The Funniest Moment (Before the Grand Finale):
At Solang Valley, while enjoying the view, my mom cracked the funniest line of the trip: “Agli baar driver shortlist karna hoga jaise dulha shortlist karte hain.” (“Next time we’ll shortlist the driver the way we shortlist a groom.”) That had us all rolling with laughter.
🍲 What We Ate:
Endless rounds of hot maggi, crispy momos on Mall Road, chai in the cold breeze, and parathas big enough to count as an entire meal. Honestly, the food kept our spirits alive
🎭 The Grand Finale
When we finally returned home after the trip, we thought the drama was over. But nope — our driver had one last comedy punch to deliver. The rooftop bags had to be taken down. As expected, he didn’t even try. Instead, he casually said: “Unhe bulao jinhone pehle utare the.”
We all looked at my uncle. My uncle looked at him with disbelief. With a straight face. At that point, we all burst into uncontrollable laughter, while my uncle fumed. We kept pulling his leg for days after that calling him the “official luggage minister” of the trip. Honestly, that last scene was funnier than any comedy show on TV.
Travel Tip:
Choose your driver wisely. Because sometimes, the person behind the wheel can decide if your trip feels like a travelogue… or a comedy script.
We may not have seen Sissu or Rohtang, but thanks to our lazy driver and my overworked uncle, we returned with the best gift — endless laughter and a family story that no one will ever forget.