Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Kashmir Diaries- V

Where the Silence floated over the Lake.

Very few tourists visit Kashmir in peak winters as compared to summers, which turned out to be beneficial for them in getting the room at the houseboat at the last minute. They packed their suitcases apace, as it were supposed to be ferried in the Shikara to the houseboat.

At eleven the air still held the mist as they stood at the Dal gate near the Shikara they had booked yesterday. It was an old wooden blue shikara couched with faded red rexine cushions. A small clay kangri was placed under the seat to keep the feet warm and a clean, heavy blanket lay folded at a corner for the tourists.

The lake wasn't blue, rather black-green, thick and silent. A thin sheet of ice has formed around the banks and wooden stairs.

Nandini stepped in first and the boat rocked hard, making her gasp and she held Manik's hand in fear. The old boatman gave a soft push with his long oar against the wooden ghats and the ice broke making it easier for Manik to stand steadily and help Nandini settle down and then their luggage.

Nandini sat cross-legged, her knee touching his thigh under the blanket. He had his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. The boatman had his back towards the couple.

The silence was filled by the slushing sound of the oar paddled by the boatman. The oar going in, coming out and water dripping from it like glass beads.

The lake was empty with only four boats including theirs, the other three far away appearing like black dots.

The sky was whitish-grey. They were surrounded by mountains all around, casting their reflection beautifully over the still lake. The white Zabarwan range on one side, crowned with clouds that appeared like soft cotton. On the other side there was Hari Parbat Fort blanketed with snow.

They passed the floating gardens, the floating vegetable market - the men selling nadru. An empty shikara was tied to the pole bobbing alone.

When they reached the middle of the lake, where it was the deepest, the boatman lifted his oar out of the water and let the shikara float on its own. There was no wind, no current - only the slow movement of the wooden boat in small circles by itself.

Engulfed with absolute tranquility, they sat still, hearing each other's breathing sounds. The serenity it brought was entrancing. They felt drawn, thoughtless and at the same time communicating in a language they didn't quite master yet.

Nandini shifted, the rhythmic beating of his heart thrummed into her ears. She felt a gentle pressure of his chin on her head as he pulled her closer to himself.

Everything was far away, the mountains... the sky...out of their reach except each other's mesmeric presence consuming them leisurely.

If there was something like a last wish, she would have asked to just lay here till the end of her time, amidst the untouched nature, in his arms and embraced with the silence that had never felt so peaceful before.

A gentle stroke of his thumb against her cheek made her look up at him. He brushed his lips on her forehead and smiled softly at her, as if acknowledging her wish that was in tune with his own. Her cheeks flushed and she averted her gaze towards the lake.

A duck took off far away, flapping her wings hard that echoed in her wake.

Just to take an experience, she removed her mitten and dipped her fingers in the water. It was ice - burning cold. Her fingers became numb in a second.