The Lost Thread

Crossing Paths

Krish soon reached Dhruv and started walking alongside him.

'So, have you trekked in this area before?' he asked.

'No' came the short reply.

'How do you like this part so far?'

'Good'

Krish inwardly smiled at his short replies. He was having great fun rilling him up.  But he respected Dhruv for his capabilities. In the trek, if something happened to him, he needed someone level-headed to take charge. Dhruv fit the bill.

'I will give you a map detailing the current route and an alternative route that we can take to get down from the lake. If we get in trouble, we need Plan B. Sometimes, these mountains can spring a surprise'

Dhruv gave a non-committal grunt. Krish took that as an O.K. and they kept walking in silence.

Dhruv kept scanning the landscape for the girl. The long road was the only road for miles, and she was not on it. Where did she go? Is she a local? Has she taken a short-cut?

After walking for two hours, the group came to a small settlement alongside the road. It was just a few shops and a few houses. People who had stopped here were just buying water and biscuits. Here Dhruv saw the girl, by the road, talking to the shop-keeper. Dhruv's steps stopped by their own accord. Some of their group had walked on, some were lagging behind. He took his backpack off and walked into the shop.

Some of his group members also stopped for a break. Dhruv bought a water-bottle, even though he had three in his back-pack, and sat down next to the girl. They were separated by an inch but the air in-between sizzled with tension. Maya was sat straight like  a steel rod, afraid that any movement will make her brush against him. It was not like this is the first time she sat next to a man. In the cities, inside buses and trains, the human bodies are squished together like fruits are squished in blenders. But this was different. His whole presence was like a magnetic zone, drawing her in. 

The shop-keeper was a kind woman, who was currently serving the other members of his group. One of the group members turner around and looked at her and gave her a big smile. The smile was so simple and pure, that Maya felt her lips twitching in response. 

'Hello, I am Krish'

'Hi, I am Maya. Nice to meet you!'

'So, what brings you here?', asked Krish as he settled on the bench opposite hers and stretched his legs. He barely noticed that his longs legs were touching Maya's. Maya quickly tucked her legs under the bench. Dhruv's fingers tightened on the bottle.

Maya picked up her clip-board and said

'We are gathering data for a NGO based in Delhi. My focus is on vaccination and preventive diseases prevalent in this region,

'Wow! That's great work! Are you visiting the nearby villages?'

'Yes'

'Boy, then you are walking more than us. We are planning to trek to the Vasuki Tal lake up ahead'

Dhruv took this opportunity to observe her. Maya, nice and simple. Social-worker, hard-working, all nice qualities, but too simple in his opinion. A simple stud-earning, not even a necklace. But she did have nice hands. Briefly he wondered, how those hands would feel on him, but quickly dismissed the thought. He did not prey on the innocents. She was safe from him.

But that does not mean she was safe from Krish. The way he was chatting her up, his interest was obvious.

'How long are you going to work today? Where are you staying?'

Dipak's arrival stopped the conversation. Dipak was eyeing the men warily. The scary guy from the stall was there, as was another guy. He did not like how close they were to Maya. 

Maya broke the silence.

'This is my colleague Dipak. Today we have been grouped to do the survey of the villages nearby.'

'Hi, I am Krish' Krish waved.

Dhruv stirred and leaned across Maya to offer Dipak his arm. 

'I am Dhruv'.

Maya sucked in a deep breath. His voice was like chocolate which made her breathing erratic. She tried not to notice how close he was. But Dipak noticed and hastily took his hand. 

'Nice to meet you' said Dipak trying to get his hand free. Dhruv's grip was like steel, leaving very little doubt about how strong he was. Dhruv reluctantly let go and settled back in his seat. Dipak wanted to sit beside Maya, but that would push her more toward Dhruv, so he decided to sit beside Krish. Krish resumed his questioning.

'So where are you staying?'

'We are staying at a Lache (fictional name), it about 3 miles from here' said Dipak.

'What a coincidence, we are going to stay there as well. As I was telling Maya, we are going trek to Vasuki Tal in two days time. Are you going back now? We can walk back together'

Dipak wanted to say no, but that would be pointless. They had to head out as well if they wished to reach Lache before sundown. So the four settled their bills and set out together. It would be one of the many journeys Maya and Dhruv would be making together, building priceless memories along the way.