DAY 10: THE LAST DAWN

Day 10

24 December 2025

The familiar gongs woke us once again, though by now, I half-expected the sound to announce itself in my dreams too. 😂

Somewhere in the night, my calves and the sides of my legs erupted in cramps. Pain…sharp and insistent. I endured, blaming lack of salt, dehydration or perhaps just the unforgiving cold. Yet, comfort lingered in the thought: this was the final day!!

At 4:30am, I stepped out into the dim morning. Light, sweet showers greeted us. The night had blessed the earth with rain and now the misty drizzle brushed our faces. 

Black umbrellas stood ready with a note: “No sharing of umbrella”.🤣

The rule felt almost comical but then again, here - a rule is a rule and to be followed. Most of us dashed through the darkness, feeling alive at almost dawn, drenched lightly, silent but connected.

The rhythm of the day unfolded as always: meditation, breakfast, meditation, lunch, meditation, tea, meditation. But the energy was different. Collective sense of anticipation in ending the 10 days silence could be felt. We waited. 

By evening, the silence broke. And what a glorious cacophony it became! Voices, laughter, chatter…everyone eager to connect, to share, to release months (or perhaps lifetimes) of silence. 

The sound of human joy filled the halls, mingling with the crisp mountain air, leaving me breathless, speechless and smiling.

A donation drive and a book exhibition followed. We did our small part. We were allowed to collect our belongings from the office BUT phones still forbidden until tomorrow morning. 🥹 The discipline had been tough, but now it felt almost sacred.

That evening’s discourse by the late S.N. Goenka wrapped my heart in warmth. His words, infused with compassion and clarity, reminded us of the simple, profound truths: how to be good, how to recognize ourselves, how to make the world better, how to give and receive. I silently thanked him, praying for his soul, my mind overflowing with gratitude.

And back to the sound of our voices - for ten days, we had neither spoken nor met each other’s gaze. Now, we hugged, laughed, exchanged numbers, shared fragments of our lives and experiences. I talked, of course, perhaps too much.🤣😂

But it was joyous, liberating, human.

By 1:00am, I returned to my little cubicle, my bedroom that had been my world for ten days. I was literally freezing and didn’t want to end up with frostbite. Outside, others were still chatting, still laughing, voices rising above the cold mountain night.

I crawled into my sleeping bag, layered blankets around me, heart full, body exhausted, spirit quietly satisfied. Bags packed, mind at peace, I closed my eyes.

Day 10 ended not with silence, but with release, connection and a quiet, profound sense of completion.