Even though I’ve been a frequent flier for the last year, jet setting through different cities in India and abroad, either in my capacity as art writer or as a consultant for a gallery or as a debut author on a prolonged book tour, I’ve never felt as much anticipation about journeying as I do right now, with less than a week until I set out with some of my closest friends for a trip up north. “I’m so excited about our trip to the hills,” I told Simar, whose 30th birthday is the occasion that spawned the plan. “Not hills, Rosa, we’re going to the mountains, snow-capped mountains,” she emphasised over the phone. There’s a fabulous back-story to this whole plan. I’d moved to Delhi, books, stock and barrel, in 2010, and at the time lived in a tiny barsati in Hauz Khas Enclave. Ten months later, I quit my job so I could work full time on my book. When my landlord announced he would be increasing the rent by 10 per cent, bringing it up to almost R10,000, I knew I’d have to let go of that room and look for cheaper accommodation. Through an acquaintance, I got to know about a flat in Khirki where two people lived and were looking for someone to occupy the vacant third bedroom. The rent per head was a mere five grand. It was ideal. I fell in love with my flatmates, Malini and Ari, and came to be introduced to Simar, who lived in the flat right across from my balcony. We soon grew experienced in the art of throwing things across. Our only casualty was a box of ice cream and a mattress, which the movers accidentally had land on the ground four floors below. When Malini and I had to give up our flat in Khirki, we ended up moving into Simar’s flat, where we lived for a little more than a year. The flat was a hub. It was the de facto after-party venue. There were nights when we played badminton on the terrace at midnight, or Pictionary on the rooftop under the naked glint of stars. It was there that I came to be attached to her circle of friends who adopted me into their tribe, the Khirki Gharana.

I’ve never felt as much anticipation about journeying as I do right now, with less than a week until I set out with some of my closest friends for a trip up north. Representation Pic/Thinkstock