In the morning when I wake
And the sun is coming through
Oh you …
Whistle. ‘C’mon everyone. Up! Up! We have an exciting day ahead’, Harsh screamed to jolt everyone in the camp awake. Dhruv tried hard to concentrate on the lyrics of his favourite song.
Oh you fill my lungs with sweetness
And you fill my head with you…
Dhruv wriggled out of the sleeping bag and zipped open the tent from one side. Dhruv armored himself with skullcap, jacket, gloves. Put on his loosely tied shoes. He approached the dining tent for chai. ‘Good Morning! What time do we start today?’ Man Singh, their cook-cum-porter-cum-guide replied ‘In about another hour or so.’ Nasrin, Uma & Aveer joined in. Greetings all over again. Dhruv finished tea, got up, nodded a silent smile to all and left. He was ready, thirty minutes later. He overheard Jeet, Ishan & Tashi discussing the route ahead with the Trek leader Harsh. “Take it easy. One step at a time. No hurries. It’s not a race. The mountains aren’t going anywhere.” Harsh was right. I will enjoy everything- this morning and its sun, the mountains and its sweet air. And I will fill my head with thoughts about her. There is no her. Who am I kidding!
‘Sunscreen first, then sunglasses and finally sunhat- that’s the last of morning rituals of a trekker.’ Dhruv made a mental note and strapped his rucksack tight at the waist and shoulders. He joined the group at the tail end. Man Singh followed him soon after, with a heavy load on his back, and humming a pahadi tune. They continued up the path, a gradual ascent flanked on both sides by tall trees with dark leaves. The path took a left turn and the terrain changed- loose rocky mass with no tree cover. The sun felt harsh on the skin. The group had halted for a timely break. Dhruv took a sip of water and rested on a boulder. He took out his mobile and realized there was no network. ‘That is a good thing, being so far away from civilization.’ And played the unfinished song from the morning.
Shall I write it in a letter?
Shall I try to get it down?
Oh you fill my head with pieces
Of a song I can’t get out
Man Singh arrived after a chat with the trek leader. He instructed the group at the rear end to start moving. Man Singh hummed softly a Pahadi tune in his own inimitable style. Dhruv waited until he finished and asked, ‘Wow! You sing well Man Singh. Who’s the special lady?’ ‘Arey, no one in particular. We are in such a beautiful place. Don’t you feel like singing?’ ‘Man Singh is a delight to be with. Wish I could be more like him’, Dhruv thought- ‘young, wild and free’.
The group maintained good pace throughout to reach the campsite. The meadows were as green as one could imagine. Once everybody was in, Harsh addressed the group briefly and allocated tents. Once he was done, Man Singh announced ‘Everyone must be hungry. Don’t worry. I’m preparing the best meal you’ll ever have in the mountains. Just one hour more.’
Dhruv dumped the rucksack in his tent. He splashed cold water on his face. Next he headed out towards the lake. Once there Dhruv sat still for a while, observing his group. ‘A bunch of happy, relieved, thrilled, awed, joyous, relaxed trekkers. There is something about the mountains.’ That was his last thought before he passed out on the ground. He was woken up by Aveer, informing him lunch was ready. Dhruv decided to listen to the song before heading out.
Can I be close to you
Can I take you to a moment
Where the fields are painted gold
And the trees are filled with memories
Of the feelings never told
Dhruv retired to his tent for a nap after lunch. He felt a slight dizziness. It could be the tablet he had in the morning to prevent altitude sickness. Harsh had mentioned the side effects. ‘But nothing to worry.’ He instructed himself to check out the valley later. He woke up to shrieks and laughter from outside his tent in the evening. Everyone was high on energy, playing the game they used to play in school- Pittu or Lagori. Man Singh served tea to Dhruv near the kitchen and joined the game.
Dhruv scanned the meadows to decide the direction he wanted to walk. He thought he saw a stone structure arranged like a bench. ‘It’s a nice viewpoint for the valley. It would be quiet too.’ The breeze was stronger there. Dhruv zipped up his jacket, plugged in the earphones and settled in. Soon after Nasrin & Uma approached the stone bench. ‘Hey there.’ Dhruv greeted ‘Hello’. He moved aside his tea mug to make space for them to sit. They continued their conversation.
Nasrin: ‘Do you know what time we start tomorrow?’
Uma: ‘I guess about the same time as today. We’ll know at dinner.’
Nasrin: ‘7:30 pm dinner is too early for me. Can’t we have it later?’
Uma: ‘Probably not. You can always check with them.’
Nasrin: ‘Ah I forgot the headlamp. I’ll go get it. Do you need anything from the tent?’
Uma: ‘No nothing. Come back soon.’
Nasrin left, nodding in reassurance.
Uma: ‘Dhruv, right? Hi, I’m Uma. Nice view from here and quite cold isn’t it?’
Dhruv: ‘Yeah.’
Uma: ‘I’m sorry. We disturbed you. You were listening to something. Weren’t you?’
Dhruv: ‘I was about to. It’s a song called ‘Bloom’.’
Uma: ‘As in flower bloom. Is it about flowers?’
Dhruv: ‘Ha ha. No no no. It’s kind of a love ballad, by this Australian band The Paper Kites.’
Uma: ‘Interesting. May I listen to the song?’
Dhruv: ‘Yes you can, only the last bit is left.’
Uma: ‘No issues. I still want to.’
Dhruv extended the earphone towards Uma. She moved closer, plugged them in both ears and nodded with a smile. Dhruv got the message and hit play.
When the evening pulls the sun down
And the day is almost through
Oh the whole world it is sleeping
But my world is you
Imprints Forever 