✔️The single housewife (Completed)

The Avalanche

Era's POV

"Go slowly," I almost shouted by Mihir asked me to stay calm as he bravely cycled against the freezing winds along with the other seven interns. We were heading towards the north, the part of the world that was ruled by the wild nature.

We interns had decided to cover the issue of avalanche that had caused the stir in the snow mountains. Thankfully no one lived there as the people believed that nature must remain untouched. Vivek, our photographer thought that visiting the ice mountains would give us great photos for the upcoming issue. Mihir, the head intern had opined that it would provide us with a fresh news of ice storms affecting the mountains and their structure.

I was onboard because it meant that I would be able to get a glimpse of Mount Cerulean, a chain of nine mountains that surrounded a giant green river. I had seen it from a far with Neel, but today we would be actually exploring it from a closer proximity.

Satya sir gave us the approval as soon as we presented him with the idea. Therefore we immediately left for the mountains in our cycles. However the main route ended and we decided to rather walk as I was scared of the slippery roads. We hiked through the snowy roads (bless Nisha's soul for lending me her hiking kit and shoes on the last moment) and finally reached to the nine chain of mountains that surrounded the frozen green river.

The sight was breathtaking and we assisted Vivek in everyway to capture its scenic beauty in his retro cameras.

" I know that these cameras are out of fashion but trust me, nothing can beat the photos clicked by the retro cameras." Vivek boosted as I assisted him in setting up the equipment. Mihir and I took the notes. I didn't have much to do since I had no idea about the changes in the structure of the mountains because it was only the second time I had visited it.

Sanya, however eased my cluelessness by showing me the pictures of mountains taken immediately after snow storms. These photos dated back to ten years. They were taken by Vivek's father, Animesh uncle who was a renowned photographer in the outside world. Vivek wanted to take his legacy forward. However he complained that he had covered almost every nook and corner of the world.

I fished out my walkie talkie and smiled at its strange blue design. It had a simple structure but was embedded with a superior technology. Even though I was away from Neel and Nisha by hundreds of kilometers, I could still communicate with them through the walkie talkie. Which reminded me that Neel was supposed to meet the Council to present the idea of the future event. He had seemed to be running out of them. I had wished him luck before joining the interns with our expedition.

As I finished writing the notes, I glanced over to Vivek who was busy instructing the remaining interns to position his cameras everywhere at different angles.

Being alone was the favorite part of my life. I always felt that people who can stay alone and enjoy isolation, are mentally and emotionally stronger. I sat on a rock and decided to get immersed into the scenery.

The sky wore the shades of blue, staring proudly at the snow mountains that shared a bluish hue. Those mountains were like a group of soldiers, ready to protect the delicate river, frozen in its glory. The river reflected the mild sun rays and adorned the center with its crystal clear greenish palate. The cold breeze played with my eye lids while Mihir chuckled that my cheeks were as pink as tomatoes.

I ignored the constant complaints of Vivek of being unable to capture something "Different."

"Hello," I wished Neel as my walkie talkie decided to break the barriers of my isolation with its sudden ringing.

"Era, please give me some nice idea about the annual fest. I am supposed to enter the conference room in next five minute and I don't even have any idea! I have to do something today else, we wont get the funding for the annual fest!" He sounded panicked.

I ended up with a "quirky" idea but Neel seemed to love it. I turned around to find Vivek and everyone wrapping up the shoot.

"Vivek!" I shouted. It was tough to cover my enthusiasm while trying to remain calm.

"You want some different kind of pictures, don't you?" I asked him.

"Yes" he said.

"Good. I will give you different kinds of pictures. Just wait till the annual fest."I said and Vivek and everyone was overjoyed. They knew that I was a part of the volunteers team with Neel. My success with the previous event made them hopeful that this time too, my ideas shall be fresh.

"Era, if you managed to do something different this time, you will be able to win the council's brownie points." Said Mihir as I took a seat behind his cycle.

"I know. And do you think I am catching up nicely with the journalism team?" I asked him.

"Frankly speaking, father is not much happy with you. He agrees that you have good skills, talent and a knack of writing, but its kind of different. Not exactly like journalists write. Your writing is traditional. I am not saying that its bad. But its more suited to novel writing." He said.

"So what do you think I should do?" I asked.

"The book publishing department has no vacancy. Therefore you have no option but to double your efforts. A skill can be acquired if one works harder." He sympathized with me.

"But you know how hard I work!" I said desperately as my mind played pictures of me working overtime even after the other interns leave.

"I know. Its not your fault. We all have studied journalism but you haven't. We have been interning for past six months and you are new. But I have faith that you will catch up."He said as he dropped me outside my flat.

"Era!" shouted Neel as he saw me descending from Mihir's cycle. His greeting rather looked like emergency.

"What happened?" asked Mihir as he was alarmed by the sudden outburst.

"Oh, nothing." Neel shrugged. Mihir ignored it and waved me goodbye as he rode his cycle away.

I was too tired to even work with the second shift of my volunteering work. The earlier hours of tiring hiking made my legs cramped and my stomach grumble.

"Neel, I will join the office soon, but first please allow me to rest and eat for a while. I promise I wont take more than 30 minutes." I said as I fished out the keys,unlocked my apartment and went inside.

"Hmmm" he said stiffly as he joined me.

I wondered what had happened to his mood. Did the council rejected our idea?

After a cup of coffee and cookies, we both ventured outside my flat. He was quiet and reserved and didn't talk throughout his stay at my place. I wondered if he was mad at me. But I didn't do anything to piss him off.

"When will you learn how to ride a cycle?" He asked me suddenly as I locked the door.

"Well, I intend to learn but I don't get time. Besides," I confessed sheepishly "I am scared of falling."

His anger seemed to melt a little.

"Come on, I will teach you." He offered.

"Now?" I asked him. We were yet to go to the office.

"Yes, we have some time before we go to work." He smiled a little and handed me his cycle.

I wondered the cause behind his sudden mood swings.

Heya friends, thanks for following this story. What do you think could be the reason behind Neel's sudden mood swings? Please let me know your ideas:) Good day!