THE ART OF JUGAAD — THE DAY INDIA TAUGHT ME TO THINK FAST

By Keyaa
India Through the Eyes of an NRI Kid

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When a Road Trip Turns Into a Story You Tell Forever

Some travel stories begin with a plan.
Ours began with a landslide.
We were somewhere between excitement and exhaustion — driving through the endless mountains of Leh Ladakh — when the skies suddenly changed their mind.
One minute everything was clear, bright, and perfect.
The next… it was grey. Wet. Loud.
And then everything stopped.
Traffic froze.
Engines off.
People stepping out, confused.
A landslide had blocked the roads.
And just like that, our smooth road trip turned into a giant question mark.

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Rain, Rocks & a Car Full of Chaos

If you’ve ever been stuck in the mountains during rain, you know the feeling — the mix of worry and “okay, now what?”

Papa looked calm.

I… pretended to be.

We rolled down the window slightly, watching mud slide down the slopes and water rush everywhere.

Cold wind.

Foggy air.

Nothing to do but wait.

And then…
Papa did something very, very Papa-like.

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🍜 The Maggi Miracle in the Middle of Ladakh

He turned to me and said,
“Stay in the car. I’ll be right back.”
Before I could ask even one question, he disappeared into the rain.
A few minutes later, he came back — completely drenched but smiling like a superhero who had just saved the world.
In his hands?
Two steaming hot bowls of Maggi.
“Maggi delivery,” he announced proudly.
And honestly —
who says no to Maggi in the Himalayas?
Nobody. Absolutely nobody.
We sat inside the car with my family, cramped but cozy.
Windows fogging up.
Rain thundering above us.
Mountains hidden behind mist.
That hot, soupy Maggi?
It tasted like magic.
Like comfort.
Like one of those memories that sneak up on you and quietly become unforgettable.
I looked at Papa.
Papa looked at me.
We both burst out laughing.
Somehow, that silly moment melted all the tension — faster than the cheese melting on our second bowl.

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🌧️ When Chaos Turns Into a Memory You Keep Forever

Travel is funny.

We plan for lakes, monasteries, viewpoints, drone shots, and perfect skies.

But the moments that stay in your heart?

They’re never the planned ones.

They’re the messy ones.

The unexpected ones.

The “we did NOT see this coming” ones.

Sitting in that fogged-up car, waiting for the road to open, I realised something:

Sometimes the journey becomes special because everything goes wrong — not despite it.

Ladakh taught us patience that day.

It taught us to laugh when things get uncomfortable.

And it showed me how even a landslide can turn into a memory that warms your heart for years.

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🏔️ The Road Reopens… But We Didn’t Rush

When the BRO finally cleared the road, everyone sprinted back to their cars.

We didn’t.

Papa said,

“Let’s wait ten more minutes.”

No hurry.

No rush.

Just us and the mountains breathing quietly around us.

We finished the last spoon of Maggi slowly.

We watched the steam rise.

We listened to the rain fade.

And for once, I wasn’t thinking about the delay —

I was thinking about how peaceful everything felt.

Maybe that’s Ladakh’s magic —

it slows you down without asking for permission.

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💛 My Takeaway From That Day

Not every travel memory needs a postcard sky.

Not every story needs a perfect plan.

Sometimes all you really need is:

• rain
• mountains
• a landslide
• a car full of people you love
• and a bowl of Maggi that somehow tastes like happiness

And honestly?

I wouldn’t change a single thing about that day.

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🔖 India Through the Eyes of an NRI Kid

Every time I come to India, the country surprises me in ways I never expect.

This series is my way of documenting those moments —

the chaos, the humour, the discomfort, the magic,

and the tiny lessons India hides in the most ordinary places.

This is India…

seen through my eyes.

An NRI kid discovering this country one unbelievable moment at a time.

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💬 Tell Me Your Craziest Road Trip Story!

Have you ever been stuck somewhere unexpected?
Rain? Snow? Landslide? Maggi moment?
Tell me in the comments — I’d love to read your stories!

 

 

#MeetNRIKeyaa #NRIKid #OnlyInIndia #LifeLessons #IndiaThroughMyEyes #LehRoadTrip, #AdventureTravelIndia, #FamilyTravelFails #DiaryWithDad