#SpeakEasyWithRuchiNDips
‘About my dream!! Rest of the answers will be easy.. I know my hobbies.. but dream? What is my dream? What is it that I can call to be MY dream?’ As I was listening to my colleagues answering one after another, I was getting lost in my thoughts in between as I didn’t know what to say about my dream!!
We all were shivering at the sudden drop of temperature in that basement banquet of the hotel in Madanpura, Mumbai. Outstation staffs from Delhi and Kolkata were specially called to Mumbai office on those specially-operating-for-the-corporate-clients’ flight; when we got to see the sun still yawning at the horizon, the passengers however already bathed, combed and at their very best formals to crack the hard day were buckled inside the aircraft looking at the airhostess performing the hatha-yoga at the instruction of another fast forwarded voice of an airhostess; and all these blood-sleeplessness and tears (speaking for myself) were to attend this special sales training over the weekend which was being held in a banquet at the basement of a hotel in the city of Mumbai, which seemed more like a freezer was converted into a rectangular classroom as a last moment of running out of arrangement!!

Though the temperature outside was nothing less than 38 degree that day, but any temperature below normal (actually close to minus in that basement) thickens my as-it-is-below-the-average thinking capacity than any other logical being considering the age, height and weight.
So coming back to the whole situation, our trainer for this work-call on a weekend, was a slim-trim medium height corporate HR with a little round tummy sticking out in comparison to his otherwise okay body shape; with a strange name which was hard to pronounce very fluently at a go for me, asked for an introduction from each and every one of us before starting his highly expensive coaching to these corporate geeks (by the way one of the bosses also took part in this training!! So it’s just a joke okay?? Just forget that line!)
‘I want all of you to tell your name, where are you from, about your hobbies and what is your dream? We will start with the row at my right, then we move to the left and like this with the other rows. Okay? Let’s start with you then.’
‘… I like listening music, shopping.. my dream.. I just want to be with my family, I love spending time with them.’ one of the 20 in the group started.
‘What do I want? Do I even have a dream?’ ‘Everybody has a dream.. Then where’s mine!’ ‘May be you forgot it at the womb!’ ‘I don’t have a dream!! I don’t have.. even one single dream!!’
‘… I love reading books, long drive, travelling. My dream is to be an entrepreneur one day.’
‘… I love spending time with my daughter, every Saturday we go to the park together, this is what I like.’
‘Okay, next.’

‘I DON’T have a dream?’ ‘But I saw a mouse chasing me this morning because I was looking like a big triangular yellow cheese!!’ My inner-self was about to set me ablaze with a glaring stare.. ‘Yaa right.. that’s not what I want in life..’
‘…. I love baking’… another cuddly cute girl was speaking.
‘What do you want then?’ ‘I don’t know..’ ‘What do you like?’ ‘That’s part of the hobby..’ ‘Answer..’
‘I love music, reading..’ ‘Stop copying others.. talk about yourself..’
‘…. I love to travel…’ ‘And..??’ ‘And!’ … …‘AND.’
‘… I like playing video games, cricket, I want to go to Antarctica some day.’ Said my chasmish buddy and bench partner for the day.
‘Oh that’s nice, your turn.’
‘My name is Payel, I am from Kolkata..’
‘Oh Kolkata, how’s the weather there?’ asked the excited proficient trainer.
‘It’s monsoon time!’
‘Oh, I will be in Kolkata next week, is it raining there?’
‘Not much, some frequent showers. Nothing serious as of now.’
‘That’s good. Continue.’
‘Food, music and books are something that helps me to spend my leisure time. About my dream.. One day I want to travel all by myself and see the world.’
The Proficient trainer didn’t say, Okay next immediately! Rather few heads from the front rows turned towards me and then to the front again.. Was it that weird!!
‘That’s a dream to look at!’
Really?? Yes really.. Because this dream of mine had been Maleficent’s sleeping curse since I first spoke about it to my parents couple of years ago, only my own kiss of true love could awake it.. and that’s why I kept forgetting this dream of mine…
This training I am talking about was 5 years ago and it was finally 3 years after that training, I broke the glass bed, kissed my sleeping dream still shining yellow and won it against the world.. I became a Solo Traveller…

*** This writing challenge is a part of Speakeasy season 2, organized by Ruchi Verma and Dipika Singh. The theme this year is ‘Travel’
Payel, your story is so so inspiring. It’s true that dreaming comes in the walk of life. The more we walk ahead, the more we see new dreams. How beautifully you have written the story of a solo traveller. Very nicely written Payel. Wish you travel more and more the world and explore every corner of the globe.
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Thank you so much Swarnali.. your words are like glory ushering all over..
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😘❤❤
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I agree that with dreams you always get the zeal more to walk ahead, never stop dreaming. Love to have you in Speakeasy 2.1
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Thank you 🙂
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This was an interesting read and I agree sometimes we get so busy with other things in our life that we did not realize that what is our dream or what we actually want from life. loved your style of writing and narrations.
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Thank you very much
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Solo Traveler Great!! If you have started to walk on the way what you have dreamt of one day, trust me, you are already a winner Payel irrespective how much pathway you have covered till now or how long will it take to reach max. Most of the time in just taking baby step people takes almost entire their life. Also deciding or recognizing his/her dreams for life. More power to you dear , keep setting milestones of travelling ,keep inspiring us!
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Even I feel happy for recognising a part of myself.. thank you very much for those words of encouragement..
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What an inspiring story Payel and I am so proud of you that you broke the glass ceiling and prove that women can travel solo. Seriously, Travel makes one wiser and modest. All the best for all your future adventures.
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Thank you Chinmayee..
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pleasure.
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May all your dreams come true 😘 payel best wishes dear.
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Thank you Ranjini…
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You have a beautiful dream. Travelling various places and exploring cultures, art, history, buildings, landscapes is a learning for life. These experiences will give you such fulfilment in life. I hope you can manifest your dream into reality. Keep dreaming and fulfilling your dreams.
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You are so correct Aesha… thank you for your words of encouragement.
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Amazing journey of how you became a Solo traveler Payel. Wish you more solo and safe journeys in this COVID time. And yes, most of us can’t recollect our dreams as we tend to forget at some point in life. We should keep our dreams alive then only we as humans can grow
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Yes at least we should try.. thank you for those lovely words..
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Ah! You nicely explained what it takes to have a dream in life. The more we explore, the better we understand the mysteries of life 🙂
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Thank you very much
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What an experience you’ve had! Turning into a solo traveller does seem amazing and you must be able to enjoy so much on your own. Hope all your travel dreams come true…
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This one decision has made a great difference to me.. Thank you very much
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Wow being a solo traveller is awesome. I wish I had the sense to do this while I wasn’t married. But I think it’s time to start now…
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I will say start whenever you are ready.. that’s what I realised.. thank you
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Wow.. I am so happy that you could made your dream a reality. I always wanted to travel solo.. Atleast once but at this stage if my life not really sure but your story is really inspiring and making me wish again.. So thanks for sharing such a beautiful story of yours.
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Hope you get a chance to fulfill your dreams.. thank you
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What a great post. Really sometimes we want to do so many things but we do not have a dream. It is such amazing that u realize your dream n you broke the glass n become a solo traveler. All the best for your next all travels.
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Thank you very much
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This is such a beautiful and inspiring post Payel. I always admire solo travelers, as I honestly believe theryare the TRUE travelers, and now I am so glad I know one.
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Your words gives me such a joy.. thank you
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super retelling! I know many a training session and questions can be a great trigger to really bring forth some of our own thoughts and ideas! Many of us have seen the dream to travel – Kudos to you for making this dream come true! and double kudos for doing it solo!
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Can’t stop beaming at your words.. thank you
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Love your take on the prompt, very different. I am often stumoped when this question i sthrown my way too!
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Dreaming takes us ahead and gives clarity of what we want from life. Loved reading your post and see how you moved ahead in life.
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Thank you
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This is quite an inspiring post, Payel. In our busy lives, we actually don’t get time to think about our dreams & as life takes over we almost forget we had dreams to fulfill. Glad to know that you found yours. Happy traveling!
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Thank you..
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That was very inspiring Payel. You kept me engrossed the whole time. Also, I’d love to read about your solo trip(s) someday😊
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Thank you Nitisha.. also my solo trips are available on the website..
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Your story is so inspiring and teaches us that we should never give up on our dreams, we will make it one day till then just keep that fire on.
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glad you liked it.. thank you for reading and yes keep that fire on always..
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I have not been much of a traveler but loved reading how you could dream and fulfil it too. I feel quite inspired when I see women who take the courage to fulfil their dreams.
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Even I seek inspiration every day from people.. thank you for reading..
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Ah! You nicely explained what it takes to have a dream in life. The more we explore, the better we understand the mysteries of life 🙂
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Wow!! An interesting and inspiring read. I admire solo traveller and that’s on the top of my bucket list. I always wished to travel solo but never got a chance to do so. After reading this I am surely going to make one.
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Would love to hear your story when you travel with yourself.. don’t forget to share. Thank you for reading..
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Sometimes I wonder whats it like to travel alone!! Its an adventure in itself, isnt it?
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It is definitely.. thank you for reading
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Loved this post! Its such a wonderful take on the prompt! My favourite part was the description of the trainer and then the process he followed. There is a constant war going on within me….I want to be a solo traveller but I am not sure if I could pull it off. Your post lends perspective and hope…maybe 3 years from today…I will also turn into a…solo traveller…
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Your words are so encouraging.. thank you for reading and my best wishes for the day you decide to travel with yourself..
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The process of identifying your dream to successfully complete it is beautifully travel. May you continue to travel more.
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Thank you
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