PHOTO: ORCHID CHAKMA

NUSRAT MEHERIN FAIZA

Every time my friends and I talk, whether over a cup of coffee, on a late-night group call, or in between class breaks, there’s this one ritual we never fail to perform: planning for a trip.

With each interaction, the fervour of planning a trip becomes more intense. The need to escape from the chaos of the city is overwhelming. Thus, we first try to settle on a destination: Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Sylhet, and if the budget is on the higher end, maybe somewhere outside the country. The next course of action involves looking for hotels, crunching numbers to find the cheapest tickets, and delegating the responsibility of carrying a Bluetooth speaker for the trip.

For a moment, it feels like it’s really happening! What could possibly go wrong? Everything apparently.

Every friend group has attempted to plan a trip. Unfortunately, something always comes up, and somehow it just never makes it past the stage of discussion. However, it’s not about the process of planning but the friends that make it as entertaining as the prospect of a trip itself.

There is always The Planner – the enthusiastic one in the group – who pushes everyone else as well. They devise the most detailed itineraries, break down budgets, and even have suggestions for outfits. Their dedication is admirable, and honestly, we’d be lost without them.

Then there’s the “Always Yes” friend. They’ll eagerly agree to every single plan, even that one idea that’s exceeding the budget. Why? Because they secretly know it’s never going to materialise. In contrast to them exists “The Budget Conscious” one. They are always present to remind us to stay within our limits, even when wanderlust takes over. It can be frustrating, sure. But they are the reason we can’t even fathom the idea of going broke.

Finally, we have “The Last-Minute-Bail-Out” one – the friend who confirms till the very end, only to cancel at the last moment, taking the whole trip down with them. It stings, yes, but it is hardly surprising anymore.

The question remains, however, why does the trip never actually materialise even after planning everything out? The trip is usually an escape for everyone from their hectic lives. The throes of adult life, though, come with too many moving parts – exams, jobs, family obligations, and of course, the eternal struggle of syncing everyone’s schedules.

Truthfully, the laughter over wild ideas, the argument, picturing ourselves in places we’ve never been – this becomes our mini escape. Years later, we will still laugh at our infamous Cox’s Bazar trip or the unrealistic Bali trip that only lived in our search histories. But maybe, just maybe, we will never really let go of the dream.

What if, someday, we don’t just plan it out but also book tickets, pack our bags, and make no excuses? I only have my imagination to think of all the photos, the sleepless nights, and heartfelt conversations by scenic landscapes that could unfold.

Until then, I wait, like countless others, holding on to the hope of a trip that makes it out of the group chat. The day it happens, it will be worth every failed trip that never happened. Regardless, we will find ourselves arguing over the same old plan, knowing it will stay exactly where it always does – in the group chat.

Nusrat Meherin Faiza is a writer, tutor, and chronic overthinker. Reach out to fuel her overthinking at nmfaiza15@gmail.com