“Kuchh raaten aisi hoti hain jahan traffic nahi hota, par yaadein jam jaati hain.”
Thandi hawa, hill station ki shaanti,
aur ek raat jisme na plan tha, na hurry —
sirf chhoti chhoti khushiyon ka bazaar tha.
Main aur mere uncle — Mahabaleshwar ke ek cozy hotel mein rukhe the.
Bike humne din bhar ghumakar sham ko park kar di…
aur raat 8 baje, hum nikal gaye un galliyon mein jahan har kona kuch keh raha tha.
🛍️ Market Ki Pehli Nazar: Lights, Log, Aur Live Energy
Jab hum market ke pehle chowk pe pahunche,
aankhon ne sabse pehle rang dekha,
aur kaanon ne sabse pehle bhid ki khanak suni.
Ek taraf chaat ke stalls,
dusri taraf jackets aur keychains ke shop,
aur beech mein se hum — ekdam slow motion mein walk karte hue.
“Mahabaleshwar ki woh market koi place nahi thi…
ek feeling thi jahan har smell, har light tumhara haath pakad ke kheench leti thi.”
🍓 Strawberry Ka Sheher – Raat Ko Aur Bhi Meetha
Aage chalte hi ek board chamka:
“Fresh Strawberry With Cream – Famous Since…” (pata nahi since kab se, par khushboo ne since se pehle hi hume khinch liya)
Humne order kiya —
ek cup strawberry cream aur dusra chocolate dipped strawberry sticks.
Ek pehla bite liya — aur uncle ne bola:
“Yeh sirf dessert nahi, yeh toh hill station ki mithaas hai.”
“Kuchh jagah khana tumhare taste buds ko nahi…
tumhari yaadon ko feed karta hai.”
🍜 Garama Garam Maggie Aur Thandi Raat Ka Equation
Ek corner mein Maggie stall tha —
pahadi masala ke sath bana hua ekdam chatpata version.
Raat thandi thi, aur Maggie ka steam aankhon pe fog jaisa feel de raha tha.
Baithak nahi thi,
lekin market ke ek side mein khade ho kar Maggie khana —
yeh experience sirf Mahabaleshwar wale jaante hain.
🎁 Chhoti Chhoti Dukaanon Mein Chhupi Badi Khushiyan
Market mein handicraft shops, wooden items, candles, aur woh chhoti chhoti bottles jismein flavored honey milta hai.
Ek stall pe uncle ne bola:
“Yeh wala honey le jaaenge, ghar walon ko bhi Mahabaleshwar ka swaad chakhana hai.”
Main bas dekh raha tha…
kuchh yaadein sirf shopping bags mein nahi, dil ke corners mein bhar jaati hain.
🌃 Raat Ke 10 Baje: Market Dheere Dheere So Raha Tha, Par Hum Jag Rahe The
Return karte waqt hum dono market ke edge pe baith gaye —
coffee cups haath mein, aur saamne hustle se hoti silence.
Log kam ho rahe the, dukaanen bandh…
lekin us raat ka warmth waise ka waisa tha.
“Woh market band ho rahi thi… par hum dono ke chehre pe ek alag hi glow tha —
strawberry, maggie aur yaadon se.”
💭 Us Raat Ne Kya Diya?
- Ek aisi memory jisme neither speed, nor selfies —
sirf taste, light aur connection tha. - Mahabaleshwar ki woh crowded si market,
ek solo moment ban gayi —
jisme main aur mere uncle…
kisi traffic mein nahi, kisi yaad mein chal rahe the.
“Kabhi kabhi ek thandi market ki raat,
tumhare andar ek aisi warmth bhar jaati hai
jo kisi heater se nahi milti.”