Suman was still finding it difficult to breathe even when her mates had settled down in their respective rooms. The army was looking out for recruiting some of the newcomers into the Mountain Corps which has picked up pace post the fresh incursions from the neighboring country. A team of five have been selected for the final leg of the recruitment where they would have to trek to Everest Base Camp and then depending on the conditions and if interested, they would move to Camp I. Suman had accompanied the team as their team doctor. Although the travel agency would provide everything, but the army unit had sent their own doctor. The team was taking a detour route of the three passes three peaks trek which was less traveled by and far more challenging and can only be undertaken by people who are fit. The team as per the schedule had arrived at Lukla and they waited for their team leader or commander to arrive who would guide them through their journey. Suman and the team had gathered sharp at 7:00 am to report to their leader when she was shocked to the core seeing Major Shravan Malhotra walking in. Although it seemed to Suman that he looked a tad longer at her before he moved ahead to address the team, but her throat had gone dry. They had separated on a bitter note and of all the places in the world, she never knew that he would join the Armed forces. She could feel her hands getting clammy and her blood running cold. She had to pinch herself to convince herself that she was not dreaming. When, how, where did he join the Armed forces and how come she had not known? She answered all her questions in one go. How would she know when she had conveniently chosen to ignore him and not keep track of his whereabouts? Had really everything gone cold between them so why does she feel those fleeting looks that he was giving her was bringing back the old sensation? Did he join the army because of her and does that mean that still she means something to him? Why was she disturbed by the fact that she did not mean anything to him and it was just a mere coincidence? There were so many questions that were buzzing in her head and the possibilities were galore. With a lot of difficulty Suman had managed not to collapse but she had been on the edge since the meeting with her shallow breaths refusing to subside.
The next day after breakfast the team was supposed to start with the trek. Suman was going to accompany the team to the base camp. She could barely eat as she was the bundle of nerves post the meeting with Shravan,no Major Shravan Malhotra. She had tried a few times to look towards him without making it obvious at the breakfast table, but Shravan seemed to have an engaging company with some of the firangi girls, as his mother used to say. Suman smiled thinking how he used to be charmer then and he was the same now. Somethings never change but was she unchanged in his life or he had moved on was the question topmost on her mind. She had overheard from the conversation that Shravan was planning to summit the Everest post this trek. The team had started to trek along the defined trails and Suman had chosen to keep as much as possible away from Shravan owing to her own sanity. She was sure if she was near him, she would not be able to walk a step. They had made halfway through the trek and Suman could already see his team was quite impressed with his skills and leadership and Suman felt proud of him irrespective of the issues they had. It started to rain suddenly which was quite unusual at this time of the year and that is why treks were planned but the weather had been springing surprises. As per the instructions, the team opened their umbrellas which they had carried in their backpack apart from Suman who had forgotten to carry one. Shravan now was clearly pissed off and he shouted at her “What were you doing Captain when I was giving the instructions. I do not want people in my team who are not focused”. Suman’s eyes teared up not for the fact that she was being shouted at in front of the team but it was Shravan who was shouting at her ,the one who had always shielded her and who had given her happiness always a preference over his. He has probably really forgotten about their relationship or had really moved on. He was no more her Shravan but Major Shravan Malhotra.A dull pain started in some corner of her heart with the realization that she had herself broken all ties with him so why the expectation.
The rain was now getting heavier, but Suman was not getting wet as she watched Shravan holding up his umbrella above both their heads. She smiled a little this time as her heart did a happy jig but she was soon disappointed when Shravan whispered near her ears “Captain , its my job to safeguard my team so I am doing it but if you keep doing such mistakes I will have to send you back. I cannot cover your back every time”. Suman’s smile was wiped off her face as soon as it had come as she figured that Shravan had explicitly told her that she was nothing special for him. They had reached the point where they needed to setup the camps and rest of the night, acclimatize themselves before moving on. The team was having dinner and the Sherpas had served an extremely spicy vegetable curry which Suman relished after the bland dal chawal they had earlier. Shravan had excused himself on the pretext of work and had planned to have dinner inside his tent. Unknown to Suman, Shravan was also holding himself together for long and he clearly needed a drink to retain his composure during the trek. He was glad that this would soon be over once they reach the base camp and he could proceed to Camp I without getting overwhelmed by Suman’s presence. He had noticed Suman trying to seek his attention without making it obvious. He was aware of the questions she had. He was aware that she was nervous around him and was fidgeting with the strands of her hair, smiling he thought some things never change. He was aware that he had made Suman cry and her tears was his undoing and he had immediately walked ahead wanting to kick himself for being so rude. The emotional turmoil he was going through on seeing her had tumbled out looking at Suman getting wet before he could rein it in as he knew in these harsh conditions staying drenched is such a risk. Shravan thought sadly that she still makes the blood throbbing in his veins and his senses run havoc even after so many years. He had seen her name on the list and had known she would be there, and he had given himself lot of prep-talk on the situation but all of them had failed when he had seen her in flesh and blood.
He had finished his dinner and when he had the spicy curry,he knew it would be Suman’s favorite. It was tad too spicy and he was instantly worried that she would eat it and then would be coughing up but he did not know if it would be appropriate to reach out to her. The Sherpa had come to collect some documents from him when Shravan asked him for a favour. Suman was hanging her tongue out as she paced up and down outside the camp when the Sherpa came and handed her a chocolate bar of Amul , her favorite. She instantly ran after the Sherpa who was already in a hurry to ask him about it when he pointed to Shravan’s tent and she could clearly see a silhouette of Shravan stepping away the moment she looked towards him. She smiled in a long time maybe years realizing that the embers of their love were probably still there and there were still possibilities. She wanted to tell him that she never held him responsible for any wrongdoing, she had realized with time that Shravan was never capable of hurting anyone. It had been raining for the last 2 days so the team was stranded unable to proceed to the base camp. Since the rain was heavier in the lower regions the food supply was getting disrupted and the team was running low on food. Tonight, their dinner was packaged food and most of them were having Maggi. Suman also was preparing the same on her own when she recollected that Shravan would not like the bland one. He always loved his Maggi full of veggies sautéed and stirred in with the maggi masala. The rain was a drizzle now when Suman set out for the kitchen and collected some onion and tomatoes and then prepared Shravan’s version of Maggi. Shravan was sitting at his desk trying to do some work as his face contorted trying to gobble the bland maggi when again a help walked in with a bowl of hot boiling maggi. Shravan was surprised as he looked between the maggi and the help but then he noticed Suman coming out of the kitchen camp. He stood there with a lopsided smile looking at the petite frame of Sumo, his Sumo and then as if on que Suman looked straight at him. This time however he did not hold back his smile and she too smiled back.
Next morning the skies had cleared up and the sun was bright and nice shining against the blue sky as the team made their way towards the base camp. After a delay of two days the team had finally managed to reach the base camp. The journey was strenuous for the rest of the team but for Suvan itwas pure bliss as they had found each other, the fleeting touches, the awkward moments were back. It was time for Shravan to set out for Camp I as he was going ahead on his summit journey. Clad in mountain wear Shravan looked larger than his usual self as he walked in his boots towards Suman who was enjoying a cup of tea. She beamed a smile back at him which made his heart flutter. He smiled back saying “Its time for me to proceed for the summit”. A look passed through Suman’s eyes which Shravan tried to decipher but couldn’t. Suman slowly looked up and replied “I will wait for you here. Be safe and come back soon. We need to talk “. Shravan nodded as he started walking ahead and as if on instinct he turned back and gave a brief hug to his Sumo and went ahead. He too
knew they had lots to talk and sort, but he was sure that both of them looked forward to new beginnings.
