The ugly side of Manali - how our camera worth Rupees 40000 was stolen

The first leg of our trip was complete as we were set to go off to the Tirthan Valley from Manali. Early morning, we had reached the HRTC bus stop from where we had to catch a bus to Banjar. On inquiring from the help center at the bus stop, we realized that we had a few hours before the journey would start. My friends and I tend to overpack for our trips, taking along clothes and gear that would reach back home unused and untouched and so, we always have a lot of luggage with us. I decided to group a little favor by staying at the bus stop to keep an eye on the luggage while my friends Udbhav and Ankush left to either shop for souvenirs or get some food for the three-hour journey ahead.

The camera bag, as we last remember it, was with Udbhav who was buying a hat from a shop on the Mall Road. Everyone was back about an hour later when the bus was ready to leave. The journey ended quickly as we vibed to songs playing on the bus, booked a cozy cottage in Jibhi, and even napped for a while. We reached Banjar late when the sun had set already. Our kind hosts had arranged for a taxi at the bus stop and in no time, we reached Jibhi from Banjar. We checked into the cottage and had just freshened up when Udbhav realized that his camera bag was gone. Panicking, we checked all our luggage and realized that the camera never returned with Udbhav from the shop which the hat was bought from. We tried calling a few Manali locals for help but it had been hours since our departure from there and our attempt proved to be futile. I have known Udbhav for more than a decade and I had never seen him going into a frenzy but I could see the hysteria gripping him now. He somehow recollected himself and decided to call home to tell his family about the tragedy and safe to say, he had a close shave with getting disowned that day. Jokes aside, two years down the road from that incident, Udbhav has not bought a camera ever since and how could he? Even though the loss has become a personal joke in our group, it still pains a little when we think about that damned day. My tip to you? Be extra cautious of your belongings while traveling, especially hanging things like a camera or a side bag. Ours is a crowded country and you will never know who has their eyes set on you or your belongings.