One shot: Entwined

One shot: Entwined

The mighty Beas river flew much lower beneath her feet, the green blue liquid splashing away, happily. Her feet hung over the now destroyed promenade suspended not less than 30 metres up, as she looked at the beautiful place enthralled.

The mighty mountains that would be covered with snow in a couple of months, now stood tall and silent. The first peek of sun touched her skin as she removed one layer of sweater and sat there, her legs moving rhythmically.

"Hey" she heard him and turned to look at him.

Her senses were arrested and she looked a part of the picture that the scenery painted. In blue denims and black sweatshirt, her hair long and curly tumbling down from her shoulders, she turned to look at him when he called out, her face looking at peace.

He knew her for a couple of years. They might not be the best of friends, though they have been hanging out quite lately owing to the common friends.

Every person has a quirky side, a special quality that is the first to be revealed amongst many, when they get closer to you. From afar every person is perfect like the mountains: ethereal and perfect and standing tall. Only when they come close do we see the steeps and narrows in their temperament. And the first thing he noticed about her was that she couldn't for the life of her hold back her tongue when teased.

For an eternal bully like him who mercilessly teased his younger cousins while growing up, this had only been a call for invitation he would never let go.

Somewhere down the line he knew she wasn't offended as much she was irritated. He took the plunge hence doing his very best to annoy her. Their friends, like any loyal friend almost always ganged up and she single handedly fought back. It was mutual of course. Whenever she teased him back, the gang of friends happily sided with her to annoy the crap out of him.

He was so much getting used to having her around, when his friends were out to take a break at the nearest restaurant they have stopped to have food, he was the first one to notice she was missing. He had in fact volunteered to check on her, and walked not more than for ten minutes when he found her here.

Somehow without a word spoken, he knew her frame of mind was different from the usual.

He removed his sunshades as he came down to sat next to her.

"Are you suicidal too?" He asked to which she didn't reply.

Definitely something is up, he had thought as he scooted closer to her.

"Please tell me you aren't going to jump" he said breaking her reverie.

She looked at him and smiled, and not expecting that, his heart skipped a beat.

"I am not" she said and turned back to look at whatever seemed to arrest her senses.

For the first time since forever, he held his tongue. Didn't say anything that would ruin the moment. Didn't feel the way to say something teasing. Somehow he knew she would speak if he waited. He wasn't wrong.

"It's strange isn't it, to have been reminded of something you left behind"

He stated past the mountains as he shrugged "Maybe the things you left behind didn't leave you. They became a part of you"

She remained silent for an extended moment.

"Do these mountains whisper all our secrets from their relatives staying back home"

He smiled at her. There's something in the air that made her vulnerable but the same magic in air made him indulge her childlike curious questions that didn't make any sense.

"Maybe they did and maybe hence they are staring right back at you, judging"

She laughed and he realised for the first time ever since he had known her, how beautiful it sounded.

"Do you know, we are told when we were kids that you throw a coin in the river and wish for something, it will come true"

"You did?"

"Every time the train taking us passed through a bridge"

"Want to try here?"

"Is it applicable here too?" She asked.

He shrugged "I think so. Her relative back at your place is accepting cash without credit so this river right here might do too"

She smiled a dimpled smile at him.

He searched for a coin from the throes of his pocket and gave it to her.

"Hey, where's yours?" She asked.

"I don't need one"

"Why, you have everything you want in life?"

"No, I have only that coin in my pocket"

Her eyes crinkled with laughter. "Okay, give me your hand" she said and he looked at her curious.

"You don't want me to fall in the process of throwing this coin afar, do you?"

Instinctively he took her hand, laced his fingers with her's and held tight. She was right, they were on the promenade on a bridge that was built on a rocky mountain. The river though was flowing from beneath it, there was a chance the coin could be stuck on the hilly terrain and never fall in the water. She should in all probability have to throw it with force for better chances.

She closed her eyes "Give me happiness and give him whatever he wishes for" she wished in her heart and threw the coin afar.

At that moment she didn't know the significance of what she wished for, because both her wishes were entwined as were their hands the moment she had asked for it.