The Lost Thread

The Golden Days

Note from the Author: This is for all the readers in quarantine. Enjoy and stay safe!

The trek was successful. They made it back down in good time and in good shape.  Dhruv and Krish had developed a somewhat grudging respect for each other. It seems, the absence of Maya, helped cement their bond. 

The group was in high-spirits. They had set camp near the river, just down the valley from the Lache village. Dhruv had not talked to Maya for over a week now. He kept checking his mobile for the network. He had hoped he would get the network once they reached the valley. He walked up to Krish's tent.

'How long are we going to camp here Krish?'

Krish took some time before he answered. He had just received a weather update from his colleagues and it seems a big weather system was heading their way, promising to bring a lot of rain. 

'We will be heading to Lache very soon. Things are not looking so good in the weather front. Lots of clouds and strong winds. I have ordered my porters to pack-up and head to Lache. If we start now, we might reach just after sundown.'

'Can't we stay put for tonight'

'No, that will be too risky'

For some reason, Krish looked too worried. Dhruv did not argue and left to pick up his things. Krish came out of his tent and gave swift instructions to the porters and headed out to assemble the rest of the team-members. After a chaotic 30 mins, they were already on their way. No one wanted to walk any further, but the leaders decision is final. There was little conversation after that.

Krish needed to get back to his base. He had to scan and mail the pictures he had taken at the lake to the Meteorological Department.  He also needed to see the satellite pictures before deciding to call off the trek. No point wasting days here if the weather is going to hold them up indefinitely. 

As Krish had already sent out his men ahead to prepare for the party, they had no difficulty getting rooms in the same place they had used last time. It had started raining heavily and the last couple of miles were very difficult. The only saving grace was that everyone had their own torchlight. 

Covered in mud, they all stumbled in their rooms. The cook prepared food, which they had in the dining area. Dhruv heaved a sign of relief when he spotted Maya on the veranda. So, she is all right.

Maya blushed  a pure red when she saw him. A huge wave of relief crashed through her, leaving her breathless and slightly tearful. She had been worrying about him endlessly for the past one week. She went back to her room and picked up her phone.

'So, how many toes did you break?' Maya texted.

'How many hearts you mean' came the swift reply.

'Are you too tired to meet me today?'

'yes'

Maya typed, 'Can we meet tomorrow?' and then deleted it. That sounded too pathetic. She kept thinking what to text. He beat her too it.

'Looks like its going to rain non-stop for the next 3-4 days from 2mrw noon. Do you want to meet me near the bridge, say at 6:00 am? We can trek up to the caves.'

'Will that be safe?'

'The caves are not that far, should be fine'

'What if the river rises?'

'Will check the weather tonight. Bring something warm and some food. We will return before lunch'

Maya hesitated. Her middle-class upbringing was stopping her from answering. But she really did wish to spend some time with him. 

'O.K'

Dhruv smiled with great satisfaction. He had really missed holding her in his arms. And when he met her after so long, he did not want any witnesses. Some of the guys in his team had been eyeing Maya all along. He wanted to keep her away from all the hungry glances. He could barely wait for the next day.

'Hi, are you busy?'

Dhruv looked up to find Krish with his dinner plate in his hands.

'No, not at all'

Krish sat down with a heavy sign. 

'I think a big weather system is heading this way, bringing with it some very heavy clouds. It seems monsoon had come early in the hills. This is very unusual for this time of the year. So, I was thinking, maybe, I should cancel the trek for this season.'

Dhruv took a moment to digest this. Cancelling the trek would take him away from Maya, back to the city and into the clutches of the money-hungry crowd. He just was not ready for to go back.

'Don't you think it will pass. Maybe it will be just a week long thing.'

Krish nodded thoughtfully.

'I need to go back to the base to see the satellite images. Most of the team-members have decided to come with me 2mrw. We will camp somewhere with more amenities and then we can head back on'

'I like it here'

Krish tried to reason with him.

'This place is basic. We have a small window tomorrow. If we reach downhill by midday, you will be able to check into a 5-start hotel, with attached bath and hot meals.'

Dhruv leaned back and eyed Krish lazily. 

'I don't mind this place. Just keep me updated. I will come down once you decide what to do about the trek. Till then I can explore own my own.'

Krish knew better than to argue. There is a man who knows his mind. They exchanged numbers and promised to keep each-other updated. After some time Krish bid him goodbye and left. Dhruv watched him go with undisguised relief. He did not want this guy to be around Maya, not now, not ever. Now he had enough time to get to know the little bird. He just hoped it was enough.