The Lost Thread

The Trek

Back in Time

They had started early in the morning. There was just enough light to see the path. In a line, they had settled in a steady pace, climbing and then descending, and then resting some more.

They will reach their destination by 2 pm. Then they set up camp.

Dhruv was enjoying the trek. It was just not the weather, or the view. It was the warmth spreading to all over his body. The source seems to be somewhere near his heart. Liking someone never seemed so simple. The joy that he felt also came easily. It's hard to believe another person can make you feel so happy. He started whistling. 

Krish did not miss how happy Dhruv looked. His happiness dampened a hope that had been blossoming in his heart. But still, a happy young man, possibly in love, always fill one with hope. There is surely someone made just for him.

The trek was difficult. Hard rocks and slippery gravel, with almost nothing to relieve the stiff gradient, was making walking difficult. Krish probably was the only one, except Dhruv, showing no sign of fatigue. When they made a mid-day stop at the last village on this route, most of them looked haggard.  But they still had two hours of walking to do.

After a short rest and food, they set off again. This time the going was not so difficult. The land was more even, rolling up and down in a slight gradient. Soon, they were at the lake. The lake was glistening in the late afternoon sun. The snowy peaks all around were standing tall and proud. Not a single cloud could be seen. Krish knew its going to be a very cold night. However, at this time of the year, no one expected much snow. 

He set about getting the camp ready. He was very happy to see Dhruv taking a lot more interest in the team. He was currently working with a few porters to set up the kitchen tent. It was easy to see the porters were very scared of him and were running to obey his orders. It will be a relief when the task will be finished.

Krish gave swift instructions and then walked ahead to reach the banks of the lake. He had been here many times, but this time it looked a bit different. He cannot be sure, but he lake looked a bit overflowing. This is a natural lake, that formed when a landslide had blocked the flow of the spring, resulting in capturing the water in a wide area, creating a lake. For years, this natural blockade had survived. But in the swiftly evolving ecological landscape, the blockade is not permanent.

For this reason Krish had prepared camp on the upper bank, just to be safe. But if this huge volume of water cascades down, it will result in a flash flood. In his opinion, this was a disaster waiting to happen.

He came back to the camp with a new worry. The lake banks did not look good. He had a satellite phone with him. He tried to contact his base. He knows someone who might be able to help. After nearly 30 mins of conversation, he had convinced his friend to call up the meteorological department about the state of the lake. His friend did not sound convinced, it was hard to see how he will convince someone else about the severity of the situation.

Krish headed for the tent that houses the kitchen.