FF - The Promise - Thread I - Chapter 1 to 68 - Page 69

Chapter 55

Rishab stuck the last of the markers in the snow and turned to the group. "Alright, let's get those tents up, people," he said. It was already getting dark and they had been climbing with just a few short breaks during the afternoon. The group seemed to be exhausted, but that was totally normal after the day they'd had. The wind had picked up for a while and made the climb even harder, so he was glad that they had made it to the planned camp just in time for nightfall.


"Thank God," Madhu muttered to Abby, her climbing partner for the day. The girls had put Adam and Rishab together and their expressions had been priceless when they had made that announcement.


"I'm exhausted," Abby agreed and dropped her pack on the ground.

"I'll put the tent up if you make dinner tonight," Akash offered.


Abby nodded. "Sounds great." She walked over to a big rock and leaned against it to rest. "Lucky you," Madhu muttered and started to get everything out that she needed for the tent.


Rishab paused to watch the group and his eyes settled on Madhu's exhausted form. He pulled a couple of the packaged meals out of his pack and dug around for the coffee before walking over to her. "Here, why don't you get to work on these puppies and I'll get you set up. Trust me, I'm a helluva lot faster."


Madhu was too exhausted to complain about his last comment and just nodded, taking the meals from him.


"I want a backrub and sleep," Abby complained. She was so tired that even mixing water into their meals felt like too much work. Akash glanced up when he heard the word backrub. "You'll get it after dinner."


"Lucky you," Madhu grumbled.


Akash glanced at Rishab. "Hey, man," he hissed, "why don't you offer Madhu a backrub too?" He winked at the guide.


Not that he didn't want to but after the effect a simple backrub had on him the last time, he wasn't too sure he should be headed that way again.


Seeing Rishab's hesitation Akash shrugged. "Well, we just have a few days; you really think this's the time for taking things slow?"


"Look, Oh Wise Sage living up here in the mountains, why don't you take your tent and put it up on the other side."


The other man lifted his hands in defeat. "I was just saying, man." He made a face when he saw that Rishab's tent was almost done and he hadn't even started.


Rishab grinned smugly as he tugged on the tent, making sure it was secure. "Kinda like a dick... easier to use when it's up."


"I heard you," Madhu muttered, shaking her head, when she searched around her pack for some tea.


"It's true and I wasn't trying to hide it," he commented.


"Whatever," she muttered and walked back to the fire Adam had just set up when she had found the tea.


Great, she was tired and cranky... such a fun combination. He had to come up with something that would get her to relax, he thought as he snagged the meals she had deserted in favour of making a cup of hot tea.


"Thanks," Abby walked up to Akash and rested against his side. "I feel like I can't take another step." She was glad they finally had the talk in the morning before they set out. And so far things were great. Akash wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her over so she could sit on one of the camp stools. "Then get off your feet, goofy girl."

Rishab carried the packages back over to his pack and put them away before digging around for something more specific. Once he had the packages in hand he unzipped another compartment and pulled out the little cooking kit he carried.

Akash reached out and placed his hand under Abby's head when it started to slowly inch downward. "Hey, girl, don't fall asleep yet."


"Huh?" She glanced up. "Oh, yeah..." she straightened up again. "Sorry, I know I sound like a pussy but I'm sooo tired. Do you think I could get that backrub now?" She asked making a puppy dog face. Akash couldn't say no to that face, could he now? "Fine lets go to my tent."


Madhu cursed when she realized she had forgotten to take her camp stool with her and she walked back to her tent again, crawling inside when she noticed that Rishab had placed her stuff inside already. She opened her pack again and got the stool out of it.


He settled down by the fire, intentionally taking a spot with plenty of room on either side as he waited to see if Madhu would join him. He set about mixing one of the packages and then arranged the contents in one of the pans and covered it before placing it over the fire.


Madhu walked back to the others to see that almost everyone had gotten settled around the fire. Only Akash and Abby were missing. "Where're the others? Tell me they're not having sex. I couldn't even if I wanted to right now."


"Unless they're having sex in their sleep I'm gonna say that's a no," Adam said as he leaned forward and held his open palms over the fire. "Steady snoring coming from that end of camp."


Rishab glanced up at Madhu when she sat down beside him. He flipped the pan over and motioned for her to hold it while he ripped the second package open and added boiling water to it, stirring it up and then closing it and setting it aside. His hand covered Madhu's as it wrapped around the pan's handle and he pulled it back away from the fire. "Hungry?" he asked, his eyes meeting hers.


"Starving," she admitted.


He opened the pan, separating the bottom from the top, essentially making two 'plates' and taking two of the biscuits inside and placing them on one side. He opened the packaged meal and poured half of it on the makeshift plate and held it out to Madhu. "It's not fancy, but it's spaghetti with biscuits on the side."


"Spaghetti with biscuits," she mumbled with a smirk. "Nice creation."


He bit his bottom lip. "Spaghetti used to be my favourite meal when I was a kid," he said quietly.


She nodded. "Still is?"


"Will tomorrow be as exhausting as today was?" Adam asked, unknowing interrupting them and slouched down in his seat to get more comfortable.


"No," Rishab assured him. "Still tiring, but not like today. We spent half of today scaling that glacier, but we won't have to do that again." He glanced over his meals.


"Is it normal that every muscle in my hands seems to ache?" Madhu asked, making a face when she made her right hand into a fist and she felt the stiffness.


Rishab unzipped one of the pockets on the sleeve of his coat and pulled a small packet out. He ripped it open with his teeth and put the empty packet back. He shifted so that he was facing her, balancing his makeshift plate on his knees as he reached for her hand. He peeled the backing off of the first patch and laid it over her palm, pressing it into place and rubbing his thumbs over it. After a few minutes he repeated the process on the back of her hand. "The stiffness isn't unusual, so don't worry about it. The heat'll loosen the muscles up, but keep flexing your hand."


She nodded. "Thanks," her voice sounded coarse and she coughed slightly.


"Anytime," he answered with a small smile.


Seeing her rubbing her neck, Rishab slouched down a bit and reached over with his hand to massage Madhu's neck. "Here this will make you feel a lot better" he said.


Madhu groaned when his thumb found a particularly tense spot. Damn, he had such good hands.


Rishab laughed when he found Madhu could barely keep her eyes open. "Hey, you should eat your meal before you drift off, girl," he reminded her quietly.


"Too lazy to chew," she said with a tired smile but forced herself to eat.


As soon as she was finished Rishab cleaned up and then disappeared into the tent to grab toothbrushes. "C'mon, Madhu, let's get ready for bed before you fall asleep and I have to carry your ass to bed."


She held her hand out to him so that he would pull her out of her seat. "Help me." He chuckled and pulled her to her feet.


They started to walk off to the end of the camp, still holding hands. "Do you mind giving me a backrub?" She asked biting down on her lower lip. Rishab groaned inwardly. "Yeah, sure. No problem." "I can't wait."


Yeah, me either, though I think I should have worn briefs rather than boxes tonight, Rishab thought.

"Did you have fun today?" he asked."Yeah, it was great," she mumbled around her toothbrush. "Very exhausting, but in a good way."


"Yeah." He was quiet as he brushed his teeth. "What d'you think about Akash and Abby? The dynamics of their relationship seems to have changed since this morning."


Madhu gave him a small smile and decided to play innocent. "How do you mean?"


"Yeah I know that the guy likes her, Madhu. They have been flirting around quite a bit. But today there was no much flirting, instead there was a lot of hand-holding and gazing into each others eyes during the breaks."

She nudged him with her elbow. "Yup, all signs of an impending relationship."


"So, whatcha think about him?" She asked contemplately. Akash was his friend and so Rishab would know him best.


"I think she fits him much better than any of his ex's. Never seen him this serious about anybody."

Madhu was satisfied with his answer.

Rishab watched Madhu as she seemed to ruminate over what he just said. "Why do you ask?"

Madhu spat out the toothpaste. "I gave Abby some advice and I wanna know if it was right."

Madhu leaned against Rishab as they walked back to the tents. She tapped his shoulder. "I just can't wait for the massage."


He snorted. "What you'll do is fall asleep during the massage, the way your going."


She wasn't so sure about that. Rishab's hands on her body... she had a feeling it wouldn't really be that relaxing at all. Madhu stopped when they reached tents. "Hey, Adam, can I talk to you for a sec?"


Adam glanced up and nodded, wondering if Madhu needed some 'Rishab' advice. "Yeah, sure."


"So, you won't mind if I crash with Rishab tonight, right?" Madhu asked her friend quietly.


"No, no, go ahead," Adam assured her. "You know, you don't just have to sleep ..." he teased.


"Good night, Adam."