On 22nd October, we were wrapping up Diwali celebrations.
It was also exactly a month before my son’s second birthday. For some reason, it felt like I was on a mission to consume all the alcohol in the world.
I drank a lot.
Throughout Diwali, I was drinking.
On the 22nd, I drank again.
And the very next day, I regretted it.
By then, I had already become aware that alcohol was creating real problems for me. Recovery was taking close to four days. My mind stayed foggy. My energy was low.
Even though I kept promising myself that I would stop drinking and work on my health, my actions were saying something else entirely.
I had to stop.
The Decision
23rd October, 2025 was the day I finally said: I’m done.
That’s when I launched my phase-wise progress plan, built on three simple rules:
- Workout three times a week
- Trek once a week
- No alcohol. Period.
I decided to take a deliberate break—for myself.
On the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, I worked out exactly as planned.
This time felt different.
I wasn’t chasing motivation or rewards.
I was focused.
I wanted to prove something—to myself.
And I didn’t want applause for it.
I also decided to trek on the 25th.
While searching online for the right place, I came across Sondai Fort.
To tell the truth, I’m not someone who enjoys experimentation.
I’m a routine person. I value discipline—at least that’s what I tell myself and others. I prefer set patterns. Predictability feels safe.
That’s why going to Sondai felt like a big step.
I already knew Karnala.
Choosing Sondai meant stepping away from what was familiar and deciding for myself. For me, that felt like a small act of growing up.
Still, for some reason, I was ready—despite the doubt.
The Morning Start
I woke up early.
Put on my clothes.
Wore my shoes.
And left the house.
My wife, my baby, and my parents were still asleep.
The moment I took the right turn near Morbe Dam, a strange realisation hit me. Something was off.
This place was beautiful. And it was so close to home.
Yet I had no idea it even existed.
I parked the car on the side of the road, stepped out, and took a photo.
The Climb
The road began to rise.
I reached the base of the mountain, parked again, and started the climb.
It was steep.
Demanding.
But the effort was rewarded.
The landscape was breathtaking.
At Sondai, two things stood out.
The steep climb shortened the distance but made every step harder.
And the light dancing on Morbe Dam—it was unreal.
I fell in love with Sondai that day.
Looking Back
I’m writing this on 27th January, 2026.
I’ve just returned from Sondai again—this time on a casual climb with Amol.
My only regret is a strange one.
Everything felt perfect in the photographs from that first visit. Since then, I haven’t been able to capture the same quality of light. On recent treks, the dam has been covered in fog, and the mood feels different.
I hope that someday, the light returns—
the way it was in those first images.