Something supernatural - 3 boys in a shell!

Madhu Jain puked more than 3 times. She sat there in the middle of the room surrounded by egg trays. They were arranged like a tall building around her with a small space to walk out of the room. Being a Jain, sweet Madhu has never, ever touched non-veg. Even the smell of eggs gave her nausea. Tears of disgust and pain trickled down her cheeks. She closed her nose, mustered a lot of courage, and tried to reach an egg tray. The creepy sensation when we notice a dead rat’s flesh protruding out of its body or a lizard’s cut-off tail wagging on the floor came to Madhu. A weird feeling erupted deep from her stomach. Madhu retracted her hand and ran away to the washroom. She washed her face and settled on her couch to inhale some fresh air. Within a few seconds, her attention again went to the rooms with the egg tray. When she was staring at the room with concern, the lights inside the room automatically turned off and the door slowly started to close by itself. Madhu exhaled with relief and closed her eyes for some rest. 

The next morning, Madhu woke up and got ready for work. Before leaving she took out her special knife, ladle, and apron from the kitchen and packed them. The apron had a name tag that said - Madhu Jain, Sous chef -Table south. She was the second in command of a famous Vegetarian chain in Mysore. From childhood, she always had a talent for cooking. Madhu was one of those kids who knew everything. It was survival for her. She never saw her birth parents and was raised in an orphanage. As she grew, she always had to share her space with a lot of people. Serving and cooking for her fellow people was a part of her life. Gradually, she created art out of that. She cultivated a talent for cooking and honed it into a skill. Her dream was to become a famous chef and have a place of her own to enjoy some privacy. She started her career as a waitress, worked hard, and became a sous chef at Table South, a famous 3-star hotel in Mysore. After 5 years of savings, she searched a lot of apartments in the outskirts of the city. She wanted the millennial way of being near yet far and away from the chaos of the city. After a lot of searches, she finally found an individual house that was aloof and a little away from conveniences. This was a perfect spot for her. She liked the place for the space. 

She was getting a cheap deal and the process was really easy. The How and Why questions never came to Madhu. When you like someone or something, you never care about the past or the imperfections in it. Madhu followed her instincts and never enquired about the history of the house or even worried about the problems. She wanted to act on that exact moment and seize the opportunity. On her 28th birthday, she paid, closed the deal, and moved to her dream house. 

While stepping out of her home, Madhu stopped for a second. She placed one of her feet back, leaned back, and tried to peek at the door. The door was still shut. She stayed that way for some time. A familiar curiosity came to her heart. She came back inside her house and started walking slowly towards her door. When she got closer heavy drops of sweat dripped trickled through her forehead and dropped down. Madhu stopped again, saw the time, wiped her head, and walked away. She got inside her car and started driving for work. After a few minutes in the drive, she stopped at the signal. The time went slower that day than usual. The sun was showing off his bright complexion. The humid atmosphere raised Madhu’s irritation. She removed her sunglasses and peeked outside the window. To her left, there was a small kid with a plate of rice and egg. The kid's concentration was totally on the plate. The fast traffic and the noise never bothered him. Somehow this scene was interesting to Madhu. She got engrossed with the kids' actions. This moment was short-lived, suddenly a horn alarmed Madhu to move. The signal turned green and Madhu drove away.  

On her regular day of sauteing and chopping, Madhu got zoned out many times. She changed the ingredients, cut her hands, and even pushed a few utensils by mistake. Madhu’s best friend and Head chef Simin observed her actions. At the break, they both picked up a bar of popsicles and went to the backyard of the hotel for a walk. 

Simin - Where are you? 

Madhu- What do you mean? 

Simin - You are lost. I have never seen you making mistakes. 

Madhu - Nothing to worry about. Just feeling tired. 

Simin - Boys issue? 

Madhu - No.

Simin - Love? 

Madhu - No!

Simin - Are you pregnant? 

Madhu - No. (Raises her volume and frowns her face) 

Simin - Then what's wrong with you? 

Madhu stops walking and stares at Simin for a few seconds. She comes closer to her and says - 

Something supernatural! 

Simin’s eyes widened. She maintained the silence for a few seconds and picked up Madhu’s hands. She got deeply impacted by the intense look on Madhu’s face. She came to a step closer and burst into laughter like a popped bubble. The intensity on Madhu’s face got mixed with confusion. She got annoyed with Simin. Simin was continuously laughing. Madhu pulled her hands out from Simin’s hands and walked away. Madhu pulled her back and apologized for her actions. They both sat on a secluded bench. When Simin lit up a cigarette she could notice tension and heaviness in the silence between. She has never witnessed this side of Madhu before. After inhaling some nicotine, Simin asked again - What happened? 

Madhu- It all started two weeks back when I shifted to this new house? 

Do you remember the evening when you helped me to set up my bedroom, there was a foul smell coming from the room next to it. 

Simin - Yes, that was because of dampness right? 

Madhu - No. 

I was something weird. The same night I had arranged for some lights to clean the room. In the late evening, after setting up my bedroom, I refreshed myself with a cup of coffee. Coffee gave me ideas, I wanted that room to be a study room. I brought in a lot of cleaning materials and cleaned the room for almost an hour. Then it took a lot of struggle to set up the table and bookshelf inside the room. Finally, around night everything got set. I was really satisfied with the placement of things. To finish the day, I made some noodles, picked up my unfinished book from the carton, and settled in the study room. The fresh aroma from the noodles was soothing and refreshing for my tired body. I picked up a spoonful and slurped in. In between the munching I took in some interesting lines from the book. As I surfed through the pages the aroma from the noodles suddenly started to get pungent. When I sniffed it again, it was not from the noodles. It was from everywhere around me. I took out the napkin near me and closed my nose. I wanted to track the source of the smell. I checked the loft, beneath the table, and even behind the shelf. there was nothing. Curiosity and confusion were driving me crazy. My eyes were roaming all around the place to find the root cause of the smell. Since I was not getting anything, I gave up and sat on the chair again. And that’s when I found a tray of eggs on the table. A chill ran in my spine after watching it. I was shocked to see that. I am a Jain vegetarian and the sight of foul-smelling eggs on my table was disgusting for me. I just walked away and closed the room. I couldn’t sleep the entire night. The next morning, when I woke up, I noticed a trail of ants coming out from the bottom of the door. I went closer to check the ants. They were carrying some dried leaves, sticks, and a white substance. When I went closer to inspect them, they were pieces of eggshells. My heart started to beat a bit faster in fear. I sat down near the door and peeked in the keyhole. I saw something inside the room. 

Smin - What? 

Madhu - I saw someone inside the room. There were 3 kids and they were happily eating boiled eggs. They peeled the shell and threw it on the floor and the ants picked it up. Imagine the joy of eating your favorite dish. The three boys had that joy in their expressions. They kept on eating it and making cute actions. I think they were just 7 or 8 years old. My fear reduced and all I could think was why? Why here? Why at my home? 

I was watching them for some time. One of the kids from the group said something to the other kid in his ears. They all turned towards me and smiled. That’s when I got my fear back. They knew my presence behind the door. One of the kids came closer with a boiled egg in his hands. Out of fear I fell backward and maintained a distance. There was an ominous silence around me. The ants disappeared and the door slightly opened by itself. It took me some time to gather some strength and open the door. When I opened the door there was no one there. The same incident happened twice till now. 

Simin - Madhu, are you serious? 

Madhu was consistent in her expression. She was brimming with truth. Simin’s hands shook a bit in nervousness. She felt the same chill on her spine. She lit up a new cigarette and inhaled some nicotine. 

Simin - Ghosts with eggs eh! That’s weird!

Madhu - I didn’t mean to scare you, but yesterday, things went a notch higher. 

Simin stopped her hand for a second and tapped her fingers to clear the cigarette ash. 

Madhu - Last night, I wanted to find out a solution and deal with this. Around 8 the same foul smell came in. I stood there in front of the egg tray. I couldn't take its sight for more than 10 minutes. I wore a glove, picked it up, and threw it away. Unfortunately after throwing it away, I puked once. When I returned there was another egg tray on the table. Fear was replaced by anger. I cleaned the place and puked once again. This action was repeated two more times. When she came back to the study room I found one mare tray on the table. I got exhausted and sat on the chair near the table. Immediately, within a few seconds, I was surrounded by egg trays around me. I got nausea again and ran to the washroom. I sat on the living room couch and stared at the study room. The room’s light turned off by itself and the door shut by itself. I don’t know why but a weird sense of relief came to me. And today, I just came here. That’s it for now. 

Simin - Wait! I am lost now. Ghosts are supposed to creep the hell out of us with jump scares and SFX right? What’s with the egg story? 

Madhu sighed and shrugged her shoulders. Simin threw her cigarette bud and they both walked back to the kitchen. After sharing this, Madhu felt light and was able to concentrate on work. 

After work, when Madhu was about to leave, Simin stopped her and asked - Hey, will you be alright? 

Madhu just remained silent and gave a smile. 

Simin - Do you want me to come with you? 

Madhu -No, I have a feeling that this entire thing is harmless. If I get scared, I will call you. 

After reaching home, Madhu got refreshed and changed into something casual and comfortable. Madu was waiting for the clock to ring 8 times. She silently sat on the couch and stared at the closed door. The clock rang 8 times, after 8 oscillations of the pendulum, the door slightly opened and the foul stench got spread all over the living room. She stood up and started walking slowly towards the door. She carefully placed her feet keeping the ants in mind. When she opened the door the egg trays were not there. There was just a single tray on the tray with 3 eggs. 

Madhu was surprised to see this. The fear was gone, the disgusting feeling never came again and the foul smell turned into an interesting aroma. Madhu picked up the tray and walked into her kitchen. She placed a vessel full of water and placed the eggs inside it to boil. This was the first time she was handing eggs. Madhu was continuously staring at the water bubbles. She felt a strange warmth in her heart. A tear trickled down her left cheek. Madhu wiped it and felt surprised. When the eggs got boiled she placed them on a plate with salt and carried it to the room. When she approached the room the door was closed this time. She placed her hand on the doorknob, inhaled and exhaled fresh air for confidence, kept a subtle smile on her lips, and opened the door. 

As soon as she opened the door 3 kids were waiting with happy expressions on their faces. From their point of view, they saw a small girl walking inside the room with a plate of eggs. The small girl giggled and brought the eggs with an untainted smile. The three boys placed it on the table and started peeling the shell. They loved the eggs. One of the kids pulled a thread from his pocket to cut the eggs evenly. While slicing the egg, the kid stuck his tongue out and raised his eyebrows. The other kids looked at him and laughed. After slicing the three boys started eating the egg with joy. One of the boys took the last piece in his hand and extended it towards Madhu. Small Madhu was shy and confused. She let out another giggle and took it from his hand. She dipped it in the salt and placed it inside her mouth. She loved the taste and started smiling with glee. The 3 boys clapped their hands. Madhu closed her eyes in shyness. After a short while, when small Madhu opened her eyes the boys were not there. She could see her adult self on the laptop screen opposite to her. Madhu walked out of the room and sat back on the living room couch. She turned her head and kept on looking at the study room. Suddenly the lights turned off and the door started to close slowly. Almost at the end, the three boys held their heads out and waved their hands to Madhu. With tears of happiness and a generous smile, she waved back to the kids. After some time the kids closed the doors. 

The next day, Madhu packed her knife and apron, got ready for work, and started driving the car. She reached Table south, parked her car, and walked inside the main kitchen. All the helpers and the head chef Simin were having a discussion. 

Simin - Madhu, you can relax in the first half today. 

Madhu -Why? What's on the specials today? 

Simin- Eggs!

Madhu instantly replied with a smile - I can help. 

Simin had a weird look on her face. She never expected Madhu to react in such a way for eggs. She acknowledged and started giving instructions to everyone. Madhu continued her work with a child-like focus and cherished the newly found warmth in her heart.  

Something Supernatural - The ant lady!

Sanjay - Can I sleep with you tonight daddy? 

Dad - Sanju, you are 12 now. You should face your fears now. 

Sanjay - But, Dad, I think I have Nyctophobia. 

Sanjay’s dad stood up, took his hands, and walked inside his room. As soon as they walked, Sanjay closed his eyes. His Dad switched on the lights and pointed his hands at the window. There was an old wooden frame with cracks on the slides and steel bars between them, The window was as old as his dad. 

Dad- Sanju, it's just a window. 

Sanjay - But, Dad, in the night it moves. 

Dad - Shhh!

Let me tell you a technique.

He took Sanju to the bed, made him lie down, and wrapped him with a bedsheet. 

Dad - This bed sheet is a super shield. Just close yourself with this and nothing can reach you. 

And what is Nyctophobia? 

Sanjay stammered a bit and said - Fear of windows in the night! 

Dad -Great, when other kids play ludo, you keep reading about weird stuff. Give me your phone Sanju.

Sanju remained silent. His dad kept on staring at him to make a move. The cold stare was scarier than the window. Sanju slid his hand behind his pillow and took out his smartphone. His dad snatched it from him and walked away. While walking away he switched off the light and closed the door. Immediately Sanjay pulled his blanket and closed his face. It was the window that scared him. It was a face. Whenever he sees a square frame with a hollow space in between it, a face conjures up and keeps on staring at him. 

Though Sanjay closed the blankets, an ominous feeling filled his lungs. His breathing grew heavy. He clenched the bottom end of the bedsheet with his toe fingers and pulled the top end tighter to himself. In the small dark zone, a faint streak of light fell on the blanket. Sanjay opened his eyes and saw the hazy golden light. The old wooden frame made a feeble noise. Sanjay was scared but still curious. He slowly opened his blanket and saw the window. From a distance, through the window, he could see a shadow of an old lady. Gradually the shadow grew and an outline of the old lady and a part of her face was visible. She had a huge sharp hand and a massive body. Her face was red and had lots of wrinkles. 

Sanjay’s eyes widened, jaw dropped. He couldn't move. A weird chill ran through his spine and tingled his ears. Small ants started crawling out of the window. Within a few minutes, a swarm of ants gathers on his bed. Sanju felt helpless and he couldn’t move in the shock. His entire body was trembling in fear. Tears started to come out of his eyes. Suddenly the advancement of the ants stopped. He continued crying and stretched and pushed himself back. Seeing this the ants went back. The old lady stopped smiling and started going back. After a few minutes, the window became empty and Sanju was alone. The Golden light disappeared and darkness filled in the space again. Sanju quickly ran and closed the window. Without looking back, he jumped on his bed and closed his face with the bedsheet. 

We all had a creepy face in our childhood. Sometimes it appears when we have to go to the terrace in the night, appears in the bathroom when we have to switch off the lights, and even peeks from the bottom of our bed. This phase and face disappear when we get the taste of adulthood. But, for Sanjay, this phobia never left. He re-lived this moment every day and every night till he became 22. In those ten years, several things changed. By day Sanjay was a fun-loving character and adored by all. By night he becomes a person who is not reachable to others. He never goes to anyone's house at night. Even if he has to meet someone during unavoidable circumstances, he sleeps in the hall or sleeps with a company. A small window and a face were deeply printed in his mind’s frame horrifyingly. In his small world, there are a few who have witnessed his condition. They believe he just has a phobia for windows and ants. No one knew about the scary old lady who stares at him for hours. 

This habit and lifestyle continued for a while. Sanju picked up new layers to hide behind at night. Most of his sleepless nights were spent playing games close to his TV, learning something at the laptop, and reading a book. After graduation, he got his first job at 23. When everyone chose a day shift, Sanju deliberately chose a night shift. He continuously tried to focus on something and get completely indulged in work. After a few years, Sanju not only became a workaholic, he also became an alcoholic. Ants and the old lady were never a problem to him. The concept of nights was a problem to him. Subconsciously, a sense of restlessness grew into him over the years. Instead of facing them or sharing them with others, he just kept his stress within his heart and let it grow deeper and heavier. His nocturnal problems made him roam alone in the streets of the city.

His first addiction, the office functioned just for 6 hours. After that, he would roam the streets of his city like a night owl. When his legs became heavy, he would stop walking and settle down at a shady corner to open his Mary. Mary was a small flask that had alcohol. It knew how to retrain warmth when he wanted a strong dose and cold when he wanted a light one. After finishing his Mary, Sanjay would book a cab, reach his home, and crash on his couch. The next day, when he wakes up at noon, he would always witness that his shoes would have been removed from his feet and he would have been covered by a blanket. He places a 100 rupee note on the desk and writes a thank you note for his maid every day. 

In Between this chaotic pattern, during the day times, during sober times, Sanjay sits alone and tries to reflect upon his actions but as soon as the sun and the light go down, the darkness and his restlessness surface up. And the crazy cycle repeats. 

On a usual mundane Monday night, Sanjay had to stay home and it was a complete lockdown on the street because of government orders. Sanjay kept staring at the clock. The seconds moved prominently with every second. Sanjay’s eyes were tracking the needle in a clockwise motion. Almost after an hour, the bell rang 12 times. He wore his shoes and tried to walk out. Suddenly a group of cops threatened him, warned him, and sent him back to his home. He couldn’t do anything. The restlessness increased. He started shaking his legs in irritation. He wanted some activity to keep him busy. He quickly scanned all the books, went through all the game CDs, and couldn’t find anything new. He had finished everything. 

Finally out of desperation, he opened his bag and picked up Mary. He opened the flask and tilted it upside down in seconds. Unfortunately, it was empty. He kept the flask aside and scanned his cupboard. All the bottles were empty. Sanjay’s expression changed. He slowly went back and sat on his chair. His hands were shaking and sweat started to trickle down his forehead. He looked around in suspicion. He stood up and slowly approached his bedroom door. In his old room, he could still see the old window. Within a few seconds, he ran towards the bed, grabbed the bedsheet and ran towards the couch, and jumped on it. 

After many nights, this was the night where Sanjay stayed sober and free. His empty mind was getting occupied by fear. Sanjay looked around and tried to see if there was anyone around. The compact hallway looked bigger than before. After many years Sanjay felt an uncomfortable familiarity. The space was getting larger by the second. There was a dark hallway in front of him which led to the hallway. A small streak of light grew out from the depth. The streak was trying to reach Sanjay. Sanjay's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Suddenly a flash of many pasts appeared in his mind. Sanjay stood up and went backward. The light kept on following him. In a few seconds, he bumped the wall behind. Luckily, he saw another flask on his nearby shelf. With his shaking hands, he reached the flask and opened it. He opened the flask and emptied it within seconds. He strained his eyes and frowned because of the bitter taste. 

The strong dose gave him a quick high. With partial consciousness, Sanjay moved in a zigzag manner and entered his bedroom. He held the tip of his bed and sat on it. After many years, it was the first time he used his bed. To get comfortable, Sanjay adjusted himself and sat properly on the bed. The empty bottle was still in his hand. All the fear and restlessness have completely simmered down.

Sanjay looked at the flask and smiled. His smile became a burst of laughter. He laughed like a maniac for some time and just again toppled the bottle for the last drops. During all these drunk actions, something tingled Sanjay’s legs. He ignored it for a few seconds. Now the sensation increased. He reached out and tried to touch his legs. Something weird was happening. In the darkness, in between the confusion, Sanjay heard the sound of old wood’s screech. He froze. All the high came down. The same hazy golden light appeared. Like a small stream of water, a layer of light illuminated the ants on his legs. Sanjay sat there like a stone. He couldn’t move. He tried hard and moved his hands to check for the bedsheet. But he couldn’t find one. From a distance, he saw his nightmare appearing in front of him again after a long time. The old lady came closer and was standing in front of the bed. Sanjay’s hand trembled in fear. With a lot of effort, he tried to move his hand which had the bottle. He closed his eyes and tried to drink it, but it was empty. A sudden pain struck his hand and he dropped the flask. The ants carried the flask away. 

The light started to get brighter and the lady’s image was getting clear. The chillness on the air reduced and Sanjay finally saw a complete image of the old lady. Her hands were fine. It was because of the shadow her body appeared massive. Somehow the state of mental paralysis reduced in Sanjay’s mind. The terrifying smile of the old lady was not scary anymore. He Still went back and leaned on the backrest of the bed. The lady came closer and sat next to Sanjay. Surprisingly she had a pleasant smell like fresh grass. Sanjay was getting comfortable with her. The swarm of ants returned. Sanjay again started to panic and started breathing heavily. The old lady placed her hand on Sanjay’s hand and said - Shhhhh!

The ants brought the bedsheet from the hall and covered Sanjay. Sanjay has never felt this warmth in his life. The old lady hummed a beautiful tune and brushed her right hand through Sanjay’s hair. Sanjay had an ecstatic expression on his face. He was never this satisfied before in his life. The melodious humming sound made him sleep. To the old lady, the youngster appears as the same old kid who cried in the night. When Sanjay’s sleep went deep, the old lady and the ants slowly walked away. 

The next day, when the sunlight fell on Sanjay's face, he removed his bedsheet, strained his eyes, and tried to adjust his blurry vision. After a few seconds, he realized that he was still on his couch with the bedsheet. Sanjay got confused. Sanjay stood up, went back to his bedroom, and saw the closed window. The window had a lot of dust on it. This showed that the window was not used for a long time and all these were a dream. He brought some cleaning material and cleaned the window. He opened and it inhaled some fresh air. He slightly went backward and sat on the bed and rubbed his fingers on its soft texture. When his gaze casually moved throughout the room, he saw a huge trail of ants moving in a straight line at the corner of the room. Looking at that, a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face. 

Something Supernatural - The Res-pond

On a huge landscape covered with boulders, river streams, and tall trees, an ant started crawling its way up on Ketan’s right leg. Beneath his shorts, the ant had to move in a zigzag pattern because of the small uneven hairs haphazardly grown till his ankles. Girija ignored the landscape and started observing his leg. She was glued to the adventure happening in front of her eyes. The ant reached his knee and stood there for a few seconds. Girija’s eyes widened with excitement. The ant seemed to love the scent of human skin. Girija moved closer and sat next to Ketan. The ant advanced a little further and stopped at the end of the fabric line of the shorts. Girija bit her lower lip, strained her eyes, and saw the ant biting his thigh. A small red lump grew there. She suddenly flicked the ant and saw Ketan. There was no reaction from him. He sat still as a rock. 

Girija sighed and leaned on his shoulders. Ketan sat there without any movement. His eyes were wide open, his hands and legs were heavy and overall he was motionless like a painting. Girija took her phone out of her pocket, opened the front camera, and started recording a video. She started to vlog- 

Vlog 24 - 

It has been a year and six months. 

After traveling to many exotic places, we are finally here at Mussoorie. 

Someone said nature is the best medicine!

Isn't it right Ketan? (Silence)

I think one day he will respond!

Till then stay tuned. 

Girija switched off her camera and leaned again on Ketan’s shoulders. They sat there on the bench, facing the Yamuna river. Both time and sun went down with a gentle breeze. A tear of unspoken pain trickled down from her eye. She lifted Ketan’s left arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. She could feel his warmth on a cold evening. 

One day you will respond - She said to herself. 

The next day, at the break of dawn, Girija got ready, cleaned, and prepared Ketan. She made him sit in a wheelchair and started moving around. First, they went to a music cafe nearby for breakfast. From Girija’s perspective, it was a complete treat. Few youngsters were playing an old folk song and dancing around in Himachali outfits. Girija recorded everything from her phone. She captured the artist, food, and the vibe of the place with her phone. From Ketan’s perspective, everything was blurry, vague and vivid images were slightly moving in front of his eyes. A constant buzz was ringing in his ears. It was like he was stuck in an eternal loop of abstract scenes. 

After enjoying a musical experience, Girija took Ketan to a famous library in Mussoorie. Girija settled down with Ketan and started going through the massive bookshelves. From the gaps of the hollow shelves, she was admiring Ketan from a distance. She silently opened her phone's front camera and placed it on a stand. She looked around and found the hall to be empty. She started the recording and whispered to the camera. 

Hello all, 

I want to share a secret with you guys. 

(Flipped the camera) 

Do you see Ketan? 

This is how I used to sneak into the college library to check him out. 

Sometimes we stole glances and it was romantic. 

Let's see what he does now? 

She flips the camera and looks at Ketan. She stays still like a statue. 

After a few seconds of heavy silence, she brings back a hearty smile and says - 

One day he will respond!

Till then stay tuned. 

Later that night, both came back to the hotel room and got set for the night. Girija continued her routine of giving medicines and drips to Ketan. After finishing everything, she went to have a shower. She increased the speed of the water, withheld her breath, and inserted her head inside the shower. Everything was heavy around. After a minute, she started to feel suffocating and she opened her eyes and found everything blurry. She couldn't hold anymore. Finally, she came out and inhaled a huge amount of oxygen from her throat. It took several minutes to come back to her senses. She came out of the shower, got dressed up, and sat beside Ketan. 

With moist eyes, she asked - 

Is this how you feel about Ketan?

There was no reaction from Ketan. He was as still as a dead body. Girija opened her phone, placed it on a stand, and started recording again. This time she was not reacting. She had a blank expression on her face. 

 Ever noticed the irony of life happening in front of you? 

Here is mine - A collection of thoughts from me and Ketan. 

(Started speaking) 

Her eyes started to moist again. 

In stillness we find hope. 

In stillness we find courage. 

In stillness, we place our beliefs. 

In stillness we find god. 

Can this stillness help us live? 

Can this stillness help souls to move on? 

Girija started to cry and stopped the recording. She gently induced her fingers in his right hand and dozed off to sleep. Right outside her home, small drops of water started to fall on the glass window. The dark clouds started to shower. Gradually, the skies started to roar with thunder and lightning. A heavy downpour fell throughout Mussoorie. The peaceful night turned blue. 

Girija woke up early as usual. She prepared Ketan and went to the backyard of her hotel. Surprisingly she found a small pond near the garden. She never noticed it there before. Something was strange, there was no one near to enquire about it. Girija pushed the wheelchair with Ketan and placed him next to the pond and she sat next to him. She placed her tripod and started to vlog again - 

It’s our last day here people!

Till now we have had many soulful moments here. 

Good music, good views, and even good rain but no response. 

We are planning to spend our last day just chilling near this pond.

If any miracle happens, I will let you know!

Till then……!

Girija switched off her camera and sat next to him. She stared at him for a few seconds. She wanted to do something extra, something different, and something that could get his attention. She quickly scanned the nearby area for some element. She found many flat stones lying on the shore. She took a heap of rocks and placed them next to Ketan. For the next hour, she started throwing them in the pond. From Girija’s perspective, the stones pierced the fluid texture of the water and went inside it. The splashing sounds were addictive to her and the ripples were nonstop. She finally lifted a huge rock and threw it into the water. When the massive rock hit the pond’s surface, a massive explosion of laughter came out from Girija’s mouth and a massive splash of water fell on Ketan. 

She saw Ketan and quickly realized the situation. She removed a towel from a nearby bag and started wiping his face. Ketan’s bald head had a few drops of water dripping downwards. It slid through his cheek and fell. Just when everything was normal, a drop of the pond water went inside Ketan’s left ear. Suddenly from Ketan's perspective, there was a small change. The constant buzz started reducing. The blurry images started to get clear. His dry lips slightly parted and tried to move. His stiff eyelids struggled to close. His fingertip gave pressure on the hard substance below. At first, Girija couldn’t notice this. When she started to wipe his face, Ketan opened his mouth open and sucked in a huge amount of oxygen. 

Girija got shocked and fell. Like an inflating balloon, Ketan started to fuel up with life. In 5 minutes he gradually stood up and started to laugh. Girija just sat on the ground and observed him with shock. She could not react. Ketan laughed like a maniac for a long time. He saw the heap of rocks right next to Girija. He picked up a big one and threw it in the pond. Again, like before, a huge explosion of water splashes and laughter emerged. Ketan helped Girija stand up and they both started to laugh like maniacs. They started to search for more rocks and threw everything on the pond. 

This activity continued for a long time. When they ran out of stones, they sat down for rest. With a satisfactory glee in her eyes, Girija Said - Finally you responded to me!

And of all the places, I never imagined you would react in front of a small pond. 

Ketan - I don't know what you are talking about. 

But, yeah, I am back. 

This time Ketan extended his right hand by himself and hugged Girija. The concept of time and space never bothered them. Ketan had to catch up with the lost romance and Girija could never be satisfied with Ketan’s reaction. They both roamed the entire garden and kept talking for the entire day. Between all these sweet moments, Girija suddenly got an insatiable curiosity and urge. She explained to Ketan about her Vlogs with him and wanted to document this moment on social media and show them the miraculous pond. 

They both went back to the hotel room, got changed, and took the camera gears to record in front of the pond. When they reached the garden, both were surprised by the sight in front of them. There was no pond and the stones they threw were all over the garden.

 

John John

 

We all have different habits, unique body language, and a style that differentiates us from others. John had a special condition that made him stand out even among unique characters. He stood there in front of a mirror and started grooming himself to be presentable for the big event. He blinked twice within every few seconds, adjusted his shirt collar twice, combed twice, and sighed twice. He repeated everything twice. After few minutes, he moved away picked up his bag, key chain, and got ready to leave. When he strained his palm to open the door, an old violin ring tone played emerged from his pocket. He picked up his phone, swiped the lock, and answered – John John here!

Caller – Hello John!

John – Yes, yes!

Caller – Your boat is ready!

John – Thank, thank you!

The call got disconnected and John left his home. He kick-started his bike twice, wiped his helmet twice, and moved towards the road. Like everyone, his physical body was navigating through the concrete trails and his mental presence was reliving childhood memories.

John had an unfortunate accident when he was a child on the beach. He tripped his leg and banged his head on a boat.  After that, a weird nervous problem caught him gradually and made him stammer. Because of the sudden electrical impulse in his nerves, his motor skills ran fast. Because of that he blinks twice, speaks fast by repeating the same word twice, and even inhales twice in short intervals. This condition subconsciously created a pattern. The pattern grew in range as mannerism in the beginning. He started applying the concept of two even in the smallest of actions in his life. As time progressed, his mannerism became a habit and defined his personality.

This condition invited some attention. People made fun of him and even close friends started feeling embarrassed. Everyone around him tried to change him or avoid him. In-between the fakeness and harsh judgments John lost his identity. He came out of his job, old circle, and lifestyle and started searching for himself. Most of his time was spent alone in silence on the beaches. He wanted to drift apart on the waves without any worry and just blend in with the ocean of peace. One fine evening, John found his answer after seeing a boat.

Almost after driving for an hour, John reached the coast of Marina beach. He parked his bike in front of the lighthouse and started walking on the sand. From a distance, he could see the white foams brushing through the granules of the shore. The strong winds pierced the surrounding noise and created a constant rhythm in his ears. He went close to the dock and found hundreds of boats placed randomly. Every boat represented the owner. Some were vibrant, a few had some symbols on them, some had names of stars like Rajini Kanth and a few had flags with symbols like fish and crab.

John went near a garage and knocked on it. Old fishermen in regional outfit whistled few others and opened the shutter. He smiled at John and passed a huge rope to him. They all pulled the rope together and dragged a huge boat out of the garage. The boat was different. It had huge wheels, a vibrant sunroof, and a huge flag on the top of it. The flag had a unique design that said John-John Snacks. It also had a tag line that said, sail with some snacks. The tourists, localities, and the entire beach noticed this marvelous boat and came towards it. It was different. It had a double sound system and some exotic tables on it.

John wore an apron and started cooking in front of the crowd. He made some free Bajyas and served them to everyone. He added two different pieces of snacks with two different sides. People were intrigued and curious about John and his food. Though the food was simple, the taste was powerful. People could taste double flavors in it. John finally got a platform to express his true self to the world. When John served the customers, they found his habit interesting and even imitated his style. With the taste, John's personality got slightly induced inside them. With the newfound freedom, John's individuality and identity remained the same and he relished every part of it. As the years progressed, John-John gained a big name and John gained a lot of fame. John changed his life without changing his personality. Being true to him, kept the essence of his life and helped him grow. 

The Sita Tree

 

Darkness was spread evenly throughout the night except for one spot. A small bright yellow light caught the attention of a dog from afar. The light grew bigger and brighter as the curiosity of the dog when it came near. The dog found an old man sitting outside his tent, next to a big campfire. A small heap of firewood was placed next to him and a plate full of freshly roasted sweet potatoes was set to cool down. It was not the light; it was the smell of the potatoes that brought him to the tent.

The dog gently approached him while cautiously maintaining a distance. The old man saw the dog and extended his right arm. The dog let out a cute little noise to acknowledge him and placed his face on the man’s palm. When their eyes met, they could feel some warmth, comfort, and hunger. He picked a couple of sweet potatoes, threw a few to the dog, and started eating some by himself.

After some time, the old man picked up some firewood and threw it on the fire. The flame rose higher with more fuel and started letting out small fire particles with crackling sounds. The flow of fire took the old man to a pocket space in his mind. He zoned out. The dog brought him back to his senses with a bark. With frowned eyebrows, he sighed and said a name – Sita.

The next day, in the morning, at the break of first light, the old man got ready and came out of his tent. He had a huge axe tied at his back. Though the dog was excited, he was a little concerned about the axe. In his dog brain, he understood the purpose of that tool, destruction. He started maintaining a distance from the old man.

Both started walking. The outer area of the village was dense with wild shrubs and stones. Because of the intense summer, the balance between the green and brown colors varied. The trail offered several table rocks and boulders which helped the old man and his newly found friend with more space and comfort. Whenever the Oldman kept the axe away from him during the short rests, the dog went closer to him. When the Oldman picked the axe to resume his journey, the dog maintained his distance. The walk continued for several hours and finally, in the evening, the old man and the dog arrived at a plain area covered with small trees next to a pond.

The dog slurped some water from the pond. The olive green in the pond reflected the rugged tanned face of the old man. He joined his palms, disturbed the reflection, and splashed some cold water on his face. The cool water simmered down his tiredness and gave him clarity. Right next to the pond there was a small trail that went inside the shrubs. The old man followed the track and entered the dense area. Being small, going through the small area was easy for the dog. The old man struggled to make his way through the thick bushes and wine.

After a few minutes into the journey, an old mud house was revealed in front of the old man. It did not have any roof. The walls had many holes and the corners had many cracks. It was quaint, rustic, and had an immense antique value to it. The Oldman removed his baggage and placed it inside the mud house. He picked up the axe and removed the cloth that covered it. The dog felt a strange sensation looking at the old man and stopped following him. The old man again walked a little bit behind the mud house and reached a small plain. There was a single Sita Phal tree in front of him. He threw the axe down, sat on a small boulder near him, and with a subtle smile on his face, he said – Hello, Sita!

 

 

Sita stood there motionless and lifeless. The old man came closer and ran his fingers through her dark brown wood, embraced his left arm around the bark, and saw her with compassion. When the warm breath of the old man brushed the layers of Sita, she moved. First, the leaves shook, the height of the tree reduced, the round bark turned into a waist. The Sita Phal tree turned into an actual woman. She was old, fair, and covered with wrinkles of wisdom. Sita held the old man's hand firmly and tried to kiss it. That's when she realized she did not have a mouth. The Oldman leaned forward and kissed some life into her mouth. A small crack emerged on her face, the beautifully changed into a pair of lips, and responded to the old man. In the golden hour of sunset, the reds and orange tone glimmered on the quaint couple's face. Together they represented time itself. At that moment a flash of memories ran in their minds.

The same magic was lived several times in the same spot at different phases of life. It started when the old man was a kid. He got acquainted with Sita when she was young. Then they both fell in love at the prime of their youth. Even in middle age, they enjoyed their company by the pond. But this mystic bond was short-lived. The old man at a different phase of his life always left Sita after a brief moment. He might be possessive, selfish, and never wanted to share her with the world or people would have ignored his surreal story. This unheard and unseen love story had a witness for the first time. The dog saw the old couple from a distance. He admired their presence and just remained silent for a long time.

After some time, Sita and the old man came back to the old spot. The old man let go of Sita’s hand and stepped back. Sita started to feel uneasy. She got disturbed but the growing gap between them. When she tried to move, her feet got stuck. When she tried to talk, her mouth disappeared. It was like the past. When the old man at different stages and ages of his life left Sita, she had the same experience. All those memories came back to Sita. Within few minutes she turned back into an old tree. Seeing this absurd scene the dog got disturbed and started barking. The old man wiped his tears and remained silent for few seconds.  He leaned down and picked up his axe. The dog got startled and started heavily barking at the old man. He ignored the noise and started cutting Sita into pieces. After few hours Sita was in pieces. She became a heap of firewood. The old man lifted a piece of her, kissed it, and tossed it in a big sheet of cloth. He wrapped the entire wood and left the place. The dog stood there in shock. He couldn’t believe the old man’s action. He was scared to follow him and just saw him walk away and disappear in a distance. 

Veronica from Virar

 

We all have space around us. Sometimes we let a few inside it and get comfortable or discard a few to find comfort. When things are too harsh or too intense, we reduce the space for a solution or temporarily go out of it to find peace. The space around Vijay was filled with silence and anxiety created from the loneliness. On a Saturday night, around 10 pm, Vijay was returning from his office. Because of a national holiday, the populous and ever-crowded Borivali station hardly had 2-3 people waiting for a train. In the long platform, Vijay could see an old man on his right-hand side from a distance surfing through his newspaper. And to his left corner, there was a vegetable vendor who was enjoying loud music on his China phone.

After scanning them for few seconds, Vijay lost interest in them and came back to a space filled with anxiety and silence. In between the polluted brown clouds, subtle blue light of the half-moon sneaked out and filled the rail tracks below. Vijay found this romantic and wanted to share this sight with someone. He saw the empty seat next to him and sighed. The emptiness was heavy on the seat, his sight, and his heart. His long stern shoulders have never felt the texture of silky hair, the gaps between his 5 fingers were always aloof and all his five senses have never tasted the pleasure of a desired companion.

Vijay kept his backpack on his lap, leaned back more on the bench to get comfortable, and continued to stare at the moon. A fast train from another platform rushed through the silence and created a piece of rhythmic music. Somehow the rhythmic sound, cool breeze, and the scene of the moon in front of him made him drowsy. Within few seconds, Vijay dozed off.

A few minutes after that moment, the full moon got covered by clouds. The brown clouds changed their shade to black and got denser. A sudden roar of thunder shook Vijay from his nap. The old guy on the left folded his newspaper and kept it in his back, the vegetable vendor covered his vegetable bag with a plastic sheet and they both took out an umbrella and kept it ready in their hand. Because the shade that covered the platforms was small and if a person walks out to catch a train, he or she will get exposed to the rains for few seconds.

Just when Vijay was regretting his decision not to bring an umbrella, the clouds opened up and started pouring. Also, just when Vijay thought the rain would stop before the arrival of the train, a local wagon entered the platform. Vijay had no time to think. He just ran towards a compartment got partially wet from head to the hip and sat next to the window. He loosened a button or two, took out his handkerchief, and started wiping his face.

After ten seconds, the train started to move from the platform slowly. When the rain and train started to gain some momentum, a girl jumped into the compartment. This took Vijay by surprise. How can this happen? – He asked himself.

Usually, he meets old people, middle-aged men, or even weird people in his journeys. This was the first time he met a pretty girl in a lonely compartment. The girl was partially wet and few drops of water were dripping from her forehead and long hair. She subtly saw Vijay and sat on the seat which was adjacent to him. The train gained more speed and an awkward silence prevailed in the compartment. The drops from Vijay’s shirt and the girl’s long hair fell on the metal floor. It created a thumping sound that added to the rhythm of the train. Vijay’s curiosity rose and he gradually tried to see her from the corner for his eyes without turning his face. She had put her hair in sideward to dry it. The fabric of her green top was dark because of the water and her skin had small pearls of water waiting to be wiped. This sight was inviting and he found her attractive. His discreetness in seeing her reduced. He turned his face, winded his eyes, and properly saw her. Suddenly when the girl gave eye contact, Vijay froze to death. He did not know how to react. He was blank for few seconds. He was happy to get her attention and he was embarrassed for getting caught at the same time. Vijay focused his mind, came back to his senses, and greeted her with a hello. The girl responded with a blank nod without any expression. After this, they both looked out of the window and got drifted in thoughts.

 

Several stations passed but the distance between Vijay and the girl remained the same. The train suddenly stopped before a station in the outer area. "I think an express train will pass our route, this might take some more time" – The girl said to Vijay. Vijay got a little comfort now. He replied with a sigh and saw his watch. Though he showed frustration on his face, he thanked his lucky stars in his mind for the special time. Vijay stood up and went near the exit. By that time rain had stopped and the sky got cleared.  He inhaled the after rain pleasantness and started whistling an old regional song. After few seconds, the girl joined him and whistled in sync. The girl stood up and joined him near the exit. They both finished the chorus part and laughed together. The dark clouds in the sky disappeared and the half-moon appeared again. Vijay saw the moon and saw to his left. This time the emptiness was absent. The girl was standing next to him. This was the moment he waited for. He pointed out the moon to her and she said pretty. The scene exactly happened as he imagined it 1000 times in the past. Vijay felt a magical sensation with her and the girl started singing more interesting songs with Vijay. She was gradually opening up to him.

In joy, Vijay extended his arm for a handshake and introduced his name – Vijay from Church Gate. The girl brushed a single strand of hair from her face and extended her arm to him. I am Veronica from Virar- She replied!

Though the touch remained for a small time, Vijay's senses strongly grasped the warmth and tenderness her hand expressed during the handshake. The long-awaited express train finally crossed them and the local train started moving. Vijay and Veronica came back to sit.  Vijay mustered up some courage and sat next to Veronica. They both stretched their legs and rested them on the opposite seats. For the next ten minutes, they discussed several topics that circled their 9-5 jobs. Tough they both met each other the same day; a familiar sense of connection grew between them. Vijay’s imagination went deeper. He gained more confidence and slightly extended his shoulder towards her. He wanted to smell her hair and feel its texture on his shoulder.

 

But before anything could happen, the speed of the train and the excitement between them reduced because the last station arrived. They stood up and walked out of the train. It was time to part ways.

Vijay – it was nice meeting you.

Veronica – It was fun.

Vijay – Can we be in touch?

Veronica – Here is my card.

Veronica gave her visiting card to Vijay. At the last moment, Vijay was feeling bad about this separation. He wanted to spend more time with her. He couldn't say bye to her. Veronica comforted him by giving him another handshake and started walking away. Vijay mustered some more courage and called her by name.

 

Vijay – Veronica!

Veronica – Yes!

Vijay – Would you like to spend few more minutes here?  We can chat and check the moon!

Veronica understood his intentions and saw her watch. This was the deciding factor. If she says yes, then there is some spark between us, Vijay thought in his mind. Vijay was getting anxious in anticipation. If things work out, he thought he can even have his first kiss there. Veronica stared at him first and let out a funny smile. She said yes. Vijay smiled in response.

They both sat on the nearest bench. There was a big distance between them. When Vijay tried to move closer, Veronica looked. Vijay took his backpack, kept it on his lap, and leaned back to show her that he is not making any move and was trying to get comfortable. Veronica swiftly reduced the gap and sat next to Vijay. Vijay's heartbeat rose, he was not expecting this. They both maintained eye contact for few seconds. Veronica gradually leaned on his shoulder and slowly placed her fiver fingers between his fingers and firmly tightened it. Vijay rested his head on hers and saw the moon. His fantasy became a reality. His pounding heart settled down in peace.

Vijay – This feels good

Veronica – Yes!

Vijay – I never expected…

Veronica – Shhhhhh….Just go with the flow…

They both remained the same way for ten minutes. Veronica broke the pose and reached out to her bag.

Vijay got curious and asked – Is it time to leave?

Veronica – Yeah!

But I have got something for you.

Vijay got surprised again. He thought this day couldn't get any better. Veronica asked him to close his eyes. After few seconds Vijay opened his eyes and saw her. Vijay was staring at her in eagerness. Veronica slowly came near Vijay. He could feel her warm breath. She deeply looked into his eyes and gave a smile. Within a fraction of a second, she pulled out a knife and slid it through Vijay's neck.  Vijay went into a state of shock and pain. He fell and started to struggle. Veronica showed a sense of satisfaction on her face. Another train from a distance came in. Listening to its alarm, Veronica ran away. With intense pain, Vijay closed his eyes and started shouting. After few seconds a splash of water fell on his face and Vijay finally woke up. The vegetable vendor spared was standing next to him with a water bottle in his hand. It was all a terrible nightmare.

Vijay stayed in a state of shock for a long time. When he finally reached the last station he exactly saw the spot he dreamt about. Everything was confusing. He walked towards the bench and sat there. The same imagery crossed his eyes and gave him shivers. Vijay suddenly got a weird feeling and took out his wallet. He opened it and scanned it for a while. From the clutter, he picked a card and freezes in fear. That was the business card of Veronica.

 

 

A love story from Leh, Markha Valley:

 

Let me start with a riddle –

Throughout your life, you look forward to this thing.

It’s more important than your salary, bonus and even dreams.

Without it, you can easily get frustrated.

Without it, you can hardly find time to celebrate and relax.

 

What is it?

It’s the holidays!

Holidays are the best thing that can happen to a person.

But for me, it was a punishment. I am Ashwin and I hate Leh.

Everything was normal a few weeks back. I stay at the extension of the equator, Chennai. Getting roasted, barbecued, and steamed is a part of my life style. And by nature, you can call me a Sakht Launda (guy with focused attitude - Zakir Khan). As my routine goes, between Youtube and Netflix, I do some work from home.

New years eve was around the corner and my social window was filled with ads. As soon as I opened my social media apps, everything was calling out to me. There was year-end sale, flash sale, DJ night, special dinner, music might, and even discounts on lingerie (Why Google???).

I wanted to do something different. Something unique. I shut my social window and started thinking. What can be challenging and totally different for a South Indian guy to experience? Suddenly, a notification popped up on my phone. It was an FB post with two huge snow-covered mountains and the caption said, “THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING YOU”.

A unique temptation filled my mind and when I answered the mountain’s call, 30 thousand rupees went out of my pocket. I had booked the “MARKHA VALLEY WINTER TREK” with Bikat advebtures. Then, the next thing was the obvious show-off. I was flaunting my rucksack, trekking attire, and leather boots to everyone. My journey until the Leh airport was filled with many #^s. (#explorer, #himalayas, #InnerPeace, #snow, #2021 etc.)

As soon as my flight landed at Leh airport, I could still hear the voice of the mountains. They were constantly calling out me. I ogled the compact airport premise out the window for some time and finally got ready to come out of the plane. When I stepped out, I was in for a huge revelation. The mountains were not calling out to me, they were laughing and giving me Gaali.

The temperature was – 15-degree celcius. My nervous system went mad and my fingers started playing tabla. My teeth were clacking like a typewriter. The others members of the Markha trek group who joined me at the airport were completely excited and taking selfies. I was faking my smile and just rushed towards the hotel. To add to my misery, the high altitude gave me headaches and dizziness. Throughout that night, one thought kept popping in my mind – the DJ night in Chennai would have been a better option.

The next day, my entire group assembled in the common area of the hotel. After a lot of struggle, I added more layers of clothing, sneaked out of my room, and managed to reach the common area late. I was literally looking like a fat onion. our trek leader was briefing about the trek and everyone was introducing themselves. Since I had already lost my confidence to the harsh weather, I remained silent. That's when a warm sensation crept into my heart. Something pleasant was approaching me. A beautiful girl came out the kitchen and sat next to me. Sometimes in our life, when we see some thing or some person, a familiar bell rings and creates an impression. The warm feeling which I got from her was sensational and not just rang a bell, it played violins in the backdrop.

She was totally different. She had a radiant complexion that stood out. Her body was so curvy and her lips were way prominent than others. Even her silence radiated warmth and her presence was like flowing water. Everyone sat around her and shared their stories with her.

Wow, what a girl, I thought to myself. The fear of cold and high altitude was fading away. My lost confidence found its way back to my heart and when I was about to make a move, she went back to the kitchen and never came out. From that moment things got interesting. The thought of the DJ night vanished and my heart was filled with that mysterious girl.

My curiosity went crazy and a lot of questions came to my mind.

Who is she?

Will I see her in the trek?

Can I steal a glance from her?

Will I get some alone time with her?

 

With a lot of anticipation and unanswered questions, I dozed off.

 

The next morning, my journey to Markha valley began. After witnessing the beautiful landscapes and snow-capped mountains, my small heart automatically grew and I became magnanimous. After watching many Bollywood actors dancing on snow, I always wanted to feel my first impression on it. That happened at Markha valley. Walking on the frozen river was exciting and my trek mates were sliding and dancing on it. Everyone relished their time there.

This was all because of her. Just a few moments with her in my life changed my perspective of this place. I missed her. I wanted to spend some quality time with her. I wanted to share my view and my experience with her. I wanted to thank her for just being there.

Finally, after a lot of waiting, I saw her back at our dining tent. After observing her, I understood her routine. She appeared for 3 times a day. During breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No wonder she was always stuck in the kitchen tent. People say the way to a person's heart is through delicious food. So, somehow, I believed her timings were set for me.

This little clarity gave me solace. Now, the next big thing was to get some privacy and make her comfortable. However, my lively teammates started to irritate me and surrounded her most of the time. Whenever I got closer, the others sat around her and kept her for themself. They enjoyed her warmth and kept on sharing their stories with her.

Being a Sakht launda, I had never experienced jealousy before. But this time, it was really heavy. I wanted to steal her and keep her for myself. I wanted to embrace her round waist and make her sit on my lap. I wanted to tell her the stories of my past and make fresh memories with her. Thankfully, the mountains helped me with this issue. Initially, they mocked me, later they gave me enough momentum, and peace to move on.

I waited patiently. Though I was in my late 20’s, I acted like a teenager. Sometimes, late in the night, I would leave my tent and sneak into the kitchen tent to see her. I would make excuses and started getting close to the cook, just to make some eye contact with her. As usual, she would reply with a warm silence.

Finally, the big day came where our group reached the vantage point and saw the mighty Kang Yatse peak. Enroute a successful summit, we all became close and shared our personal views and the revelations we got at Markha Valley. Everyone spoke about their views on the beauty, the peace they got there and a few even planned to revisit this winter wonderland. I remained silent and just thought of her.

The journey ended and we all came back to our hotel at Leh. I was still patient and waiting for my moment with her. It was the last night and New Year’s Eve. To celebrate 2021, the entire group went to the nearest deluxe room and started to party. I stayed in the common area, alone. And that’s when she came out of the kitchen.

My heartbeat rose, violins from the backdrop started to gain tempo in my mind and the silence was loud. Without any hesitation, I removed my gloves, embraced her waist, picked her up, and made her sit on my lap. I played a piece of romantic music on my phone, opened the windows, and we enjoyed the view of the moon-lit snowcapped mountains and twinkling stars at -25 degree Celsius in the night. It was a magical moment for both of us.

Just like her, I maintained a deep silence even now. Our body warmth grew in sync and we finally bonded together. From the first moment, I knew that this will be a short-lived love story and this won't continue. She belonged to the cold mountains of Leh and I belonged to the hot plains of South India.

After a few moments of bliss, I took a glass from the table, gently slanted her, and poured some hot tea from her mouth. I enjoyed every sip of it and finally broke the silence and said - 

“You are the most beautiful kettle I have ever seen in my life”

When the song ended the cook from the kitchen took her away. For the last time, we exchanged glances and parted our own ways.

With a heavy heart and a fresh feeling, I came back to Chennai and wrote about her in my diary. This is the reason I hate Leh. I hate Leh for giving me a beautiful experience. I hate Leh for giving me a new perspective and I hate Leh and Markha Valley for making me fall in love. I hate Leh because I love it.