“Guys, ghar jaane ka mann nahi hai.”
I don't even remember who said it first.
We had been out with friends in South Delhi, eating, talking and doing what we usually do — making plans that were supposed to last for an hour and somehow stretching them into the entire evening. It was already getting late, and everyone was tired.
Someone checked the time.
Someone else said, “Kal subah jaldi uthna hai.”
And then, instead of actually going home, we started discussing where we could stay for the night.
Because apparently, that's how our simple evening plans work.
From One Plan to Another
We weren't looking for anything fancy. We just wanted somewhere comfortable where all of us could relax, order some food, talk nonsense for a few more hours and not worry about travelling back home at night. Since we were already around Kailash Colony, we started looking for a hotel near Kailash Colony Metro Station.
That's when we came across The Grand Orion.
The location immediately made sense. We were already in the area, and staying at a hotel near Kailash Colony Metro Station meant we wouldn't have to deal with a long ride through Delhi after spending the whole day outside.
So… we booked it. Just like that.
And Then the Actual Fun Started
The funny thing about staying somewhere with friends is that the room itself almost becomes secondary. We entered the room, dropped our bags and within five minutes everyone was talking at the same time.
One friend wanted food.
One wanted coffee.
Someone was already playing music.
And obviously, somebody had to start taking pictures.
We ordered something to eat and ended up sitting around talking about everything — work, relationships, random people we'd seen that day, old college stories and things that honestly made absolutely no sense.
At some point, we realised we had been talking for hours. Nobody wanted to sleep.
South Delhi After Dark
Later, we stepped out again.
There's something different about South Delhi in the evening. Maybe it's the cafés, the lights, the people still out for dinner, or just the feeling that the night isn't quite over yet. We wandered around, grabbed something to eat again — because apparently dinner wasn't enough — and laughed at the most random things. That was probably my favourite part of the whole night.
Not the room.
Not the plans.
Just being with friends without constantly checking the time.
A Little Break From Normal Life
The next morning was surprisingly peaceful. We were all exhausted, but nobody was in a hurry. We had coffee, got ready and slowly started discussing what to do next.
One of my friends joked, “We should do this more often.”
And honestly, I agreed.
We spend so much time planning proper vacations that sometimes we forget you can have a mini getaway without leaving Delhi. Staying at a hotel in South Delhi made that little escape incredibly easy. We could explore places around Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony and Nehru Place without spending half the day travelling. And because it was a hotel in South Delhi, we weren't completely disconnected from the city either.
Would I Plan It Again?
Absolutely.
Although next time, I'm not letting anyone say, “Bas ek ghante ke liye milte hain.”
Because we all know how that ends.
One coffee becomes dinner.
Dinner becomes a late-night walk.
The walk becomes, “Why don't we just stay somewhere?”
And suddenly you're waking up the next morning in South Delhi with your friends, laughing about everything that happened the night before.
That's what I liked most about The Grand Orion.
It wasn't a planned luxury trip or some perfectly organised weekend.
It was just one of those random nights that turned into a memory.
And honestly?
Those are usually the best ones.
