The Lost Thread

The Trek to the Cave

They met as scheduled. There were very few people around. It was lucky that Maya had the day off today. It was a bright morning and it promised to be a bright day. Looking at the imposing peaks glistening muted silver in the morning sky, it was difficult to think that it might rain later. But this is the magic of mountains. It can change in a blink of an eye.

Dhruv watched Maya approach with a critical eye. She was wearing light green leggings and a sea-green kurti along with a white dupatta. Damn dupatta!  Dhruv was a cynical and critical man. He is used to analysing and finding faults with people. So, it was with some concern he realized that he could not find any fault with how she looked this morning. He did not find anything that would stem this funny feeling in his heart, slightly painful and completely alien, that seemed to flow without any restraint at the sight of her. He was turning into a putty.

Then he spotted the umbrella. Black, sturdy and looked like it was a hundred years old.

'What on earth is that?' He asked with undisguised revolt at the antiquated monstrosity.

'Looks like it belonged to your grandfather'

'That's because it belonged to my grand-father. Have you ever braved the winds in this valley Dhruv. It is the only thing that can withstand such fury.' Maya paused to take a breath and continued, 'also it might come in handy it certain someone tries something funny'

'Yes, it will hide us from the public view'

Maya continued unperturbed.

'I hope you realize this is not a romantic trip. Don't try to get cosy with me. I am a conservative girl and would appreciate if you keep your distance'

Maya had rehearsed these lines from last night. She really did not want to end up in his arms. She had no control over her reactions when it comes to this devil and it will be good for him to keep his distance.

Dhruv did not even bother to answer and set off at a brisk pace. Maya followed him and tried to take a peek at him to gauge his reaction. But looking so high up and checking the path, altogether can be risky. So, after tripping twice, Maya gave up and concentrated on matching his pace. 

In no time, it was just their breathing and the distant sound of the river was all they could hear. As they neared the mountainside, the slopes were getting steeper. Soon they were climbing. Even with her experience in last few weeks, Maya found it hard to climb. Dhruv did not look bothered. He climbed with ease. He would stop sometimes and help her across a tricky patch. But that was the only attention she got from him.

Soon they were at the cave. Infact, it was more a hut than a cave. A small hollow in the rocks, transformed into a hut with concrete and boulders to form a rudimentary shelter. Inside, they could see evidence of human occupation, in form of a discarded pot, some burnt out fire and some soft bedding in the side. The dust on everything indicated that these were from the last year. 

Dhruv looked around with interest. As a child, he had always dreamed of becoming an explorer and explore far off lands. But humans have already reached the farthest corners of the world, so all that was left for him was rediscovery.

'So, when are you going back?' Maya asked abruptly.

'So eager to see the back of me?' 

'You know Dhruv, I will be completely honest. I feel out of depth when I am with you. You are rich, smart, more experienced and sophisticated than me. I feel we have an ocean of differences between us. Where do we go from here?'

'If you had any sense, then you would have run a mile from me'

'But all my senses seem to have deserted me. All the decorum drummed into me from childhood had abandoned me. I know you are not serious, but here I am, alone, in  a cave, miles away from any other human being'

Dhruv looked at her and was surprised to see the utter resignation in her countenance. Her honesty and complete lack of inhibition melted something in him. But what annoyed him was her complete lack of belief in him. Did she think he was going to take advantage of her, and that was why he had planned this trip?

'What if I say, I am just looking for casual sex. I just want to bed you and say goodbye. Would you take me up on my offer?'

Maya felt a sharp pain in her heart. She turned around to hide the hurt in her eyes. 

'I will say no'

'Are you sure? Even if I say, this attraction we feel is one-in-a-million chance for us. We might never meet another person who had made us feel this way again. Are you sure you will not sit and wonder, at the age of eighty, how it would have been, if you had given in to my demands and experienced an earth shattering sex?'

'Or maybe, I will sit with the love of my life, and congratulate myself for waiting for him'

'Good lord! You are a romantic. You will never find such a man you know. No one can live up to such exalted standards. You will see that you have made a compromise one way or another.'

'What's wrong with compromise?'

'It makes the days longer. It drags on and on and in no time, you become tired. Tired of relationships, responsibilities, social and work targets, just plain tired.'

Maya turned around to look at the man half-hidden in shadows. Is she looking at the hidden parts?

'Is that why you are here? Is that the reason why you took this break?'

Dhruv was tempted to lie. But today he did not feel the need to pretend. Maya was not judging.

'Yes' he said simply.

Without any conscious thought Maya walked up to the tall man and laid her hand on his cheek. Dhruv seemed to be fighting an inner battle. He stood still for a long time and then gathered her in his arms. This time it was difficult to say who initiated the kiss. Maya's hand went to his shoulders and slowly crept up to pull his head closer. Looking back at that moment Maya knew it was her who pushed Dhruv over the edge. It was her who pushed her breast into him, eager to feel his heartbeat on hers. It was her who kissed down his neck and back to his lips as his hands explored her without inhibition. Somehow, neither had a doubt that they belonged to each other.