Arhi SS- Boomerang- THD 2- LINK PG1 - Page 57

Chapter 2A-

Day 6-

Khushi woke up in the morning with great difficulty. She had gone to bed much later in the night and was feeling drowsy due to the affects of the medication. She had to drag her feet and get ready for their hike to Khunde at 3800 meters on the particular day.

As she bent down to wash her face she felt dizzy, she gripped the washbasin tightly to make sure she didn't fall down and lose conscious. With great difficulty she got her heavy mountaineering gear on and walked to the reception where the rest of the team had been waiting for her. She cursed herself for keeping the rest of the team waiting.

'You don't look well Kushi,' Caroline remarked with concern. Khushi's face showed obvious signs of exhaustion which was never a good thing during such an expedition. From the corner of her eyes, Khushi could see Arnav turn around to look at her.

Khushi moved her eyes back to Caroline. 'I didn't sleep well last night.'

She then shrugged off her shoulders and added, 'Nothing I can't manage.' She tried to smile to reassure the rest of her group.

As the group started walking towards the exit, Caroline stayed back to keep Khushi company.

'Did you take a pill or something last night? Caroline asked. 'Because if it hasn't worn off you might find the hike difficult. Do you feel nauseous?'

'Yeah I took a sleeping pill last night, something I have been prescribed as I have some difficulties in sleeping. But I should be okay.'

'In which case I will hike with you so that I can assist you, should you not feel very well.'

Arnav had stayed back rooted to his spot to overhear their conversation. and what Khushi said had him worried. 'Why was she taking a pill?' He wondered.

On their way to their first stop for the day the group was rewarded with a short clear view of 'Cho Oyu' behind the clouds. Cho Oyu is the 6th highest mountain in the world.

The group then took a break at the Khumbu Bijuli, a small hydro power plant below Thame. While the rest of the expedition group went inside the plant to look at the high end technology for harnessing electricity, Khushi stayed outside. She lodged herself on a rock and decided to relax for a bit by closing her eyes. She had assured Caroline that she would be fine on her won.

A little while later, Khushi took a sip of water from her bottle. The weather was getting progressively cold as they climbed higher. She wished she could get a warm drink to help her fight the drowsiness and exhaustion temporarily.

'Here take this.' She saw a big mug of steaming drink in front of her face. She then raised her head slowly to see Arnav stand in front of her with a big mug.

'The coffee might help you beat drowsiness for a while. I spoke to the guys in the plant and one of them was kind enough to give me this. Here take this.'

Khushi was in two minds to refuse the drink, but better sense prevailed and she accepted the drink. She could not carry any further on the hike in this drowsy state.

'Thanks,' she uttered without looking at him.

'That's okay. I'm going inside to complete the remainder of the visit. I'll see you later.'

Arnav took a few steps towards the plant. Khushi turned her face to see him walking away, his sincere gesture had bridged the gap between them a little bit. While Khushi was lost in her own thoughts, Arnav turned around to face Khushi again and caught her staring at him. 'And Khushi I'm sure you don't need me to remind you, but your health is your top priority in expeditions like these. Get you sleep sorted soon.' And he walked away without waiting for her respond. As he walked back Arnav's thoughts went back to their first official hike at Harvard. They had decided to climb a rocky terrain not far away from Massachusetts

'Hi Khushi, these are my close friends Shyam Jha and NK. They are a part of the club too. Although they aren't as good as me.' His words eared a few curses especially from NK.

'Khusi ignore him. Its nice to meet you. I'm not much of a climber but my two friends have a passion for it. So I decided to keep them company.' NK introduced himself.

'Hi Khushi, we met the other day. Welcome to the group! I hope Arnav issued a decent apology the other day. If not you can confide in me, I'd kick his butt and make sure that he gets his act together.'

Khushi had laughed with Shyam and NK, who were both easier to get along than the tight-assed, know it all, Arnav.

Arnav spoke in between. 'Great then! If you kids are done with your fun and games, we need to begin the hike. Khushi you will hike with me, whereas Shyam and NKay will use an alternative route. Lets see who gets to the top first.'

'Raizada I'm going to kick you arse.' NK teased Arnav.

Arnav pointed to his rear end and screamed 'Kiss my arse!'

Soon Arnav and Khushi began their hike. The weather was uncomfortably hot on the day. In the middle of her hike, Kushi requested for a break and sat down on the rocks uncomfortably. She closed her eyes and unknowingly she had dozed off for a few moments.

'Watch out!'

'What is wrong with you? Did you not realise you were sliding down the rock?' Arnav pulled her hands to lift her up.

I'm sorry Arnav. I had dozed off.'

'How can you Khushi? Don't you know how dangerous it is lose focus on an expedition like this?'

'I'm suffering from a migraine. I didn't sleep much last night. I had an assignment that I needed to complete last night.'

'Here take this,' Arnav poured an energy drink from a bottle. 'Khushi if you are serious about mountaineering you have got to take your health more seriously. Especially your sleep. Even for a relatively easy hike like the one today, you need to have two good night's sleep before the hike.'

'Aye Aye captain,' she did a mock salute.

'That's good.' He patted her head affectionately. 'How are you feeling now? Shall we resume our hike?'

A little while later the group resumed their hike from the plant. They began the long, steep but beautiful ascent towards the airstrip at Syangboche. The clouds had moved in, the terrain seemed magical, with yaks moving along the trail.

Just above the Syangboche the trail split and group went in two directions for the afternoon. The climbers climbed to the the Khunde Hospital whereas the sherpas went directly to Khunde lodge. The group had the privilege of watching a sherpa woman give birth to a baby. They also watched the traditional celebrations carried out by the sherpa women after the birth of the baby.

Khushi looked fondly at the mother and baby, the coffee had helped her to a large extent. Arnav who stayed at the back of the group, stole glances of her. Khushi had a look of pure unadulterated joy on her face. This was one thing he liked most about her. When she was happy her face radiated, thereby spreading cheer and happiness all around her.

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'Look here guys, isn't the view just beautiful.' Khushi told to the rest of the group after they had reached the top of the hill. Arnav and Khushi had reached the topmost point a few minutes before NK and Shyam.

Khushi had been looking through her binoculars, taking in the splendid view of the sunset on the terrain below. She tapped on Arnav's shoulders who was standing close to her. 'Arnav you must see this.' Arnav felt Khushi's dainty fingers touch his shoulders and he felt something pass through his body at that moment.

Arnav took the binoculars and watched the view, however his body and senses were completely attuned to Khushi. Once he moved his eyes away from the binoculars, and back to Khushi he saw one of the most beautiful sights. Khushi's face was lit up, radiating against the backdrop of an orange sky.

'Its' beautiful isn't it?'

'Yes...' he smiled at her fondly. 'Very very beautiful.' He replied.

By the evening the group reached their destination of the day at Khunde. Khushi was in better spirits when compared to the morning. The visit to the hospital had cheered her up.

The group retired then to their lodge. Khushi and Caroline had decide to share a room once again, they were slowly growing more comfortable around each other.

After a long shower Khushi stepped into the tea room. She found the rest of the group in the room, playing different games. Some were playing scrabble, others cards.

She went and settled into one of the quiet corners with a book for company. She heard some commotion and looked up to see Arnav scream excitedly.

'Yes, yes yes!' I win once again. Su...' he addressed the Chinese climber, 'You owe me hundred rupees.'

Khushi looked at Arnav intently, the years hadn't changed him much. He was still the same person she had met at Harvard, his single minded devotion towards mountaineering and winning at any costs hadn't diminished one bit.

Arnan turned around and saw Khushi staring at him.

He excused himself and walked towards her. Seeing which Khushi moved her eyes back to the book in hand.

'How are you feeling now Khushi?'

'I'm better, thanks for asking.' She kept her tone formal.

'Do you still get migraines?'

'Yes I do... quite frequently in the last few months.' She smiled halfheartedly.

'Hmm... okay.' Arnav didn't know what to say anymore, that would break the air of discomfort that surrounded them. But whether he really want the discomfort to go away was another question altogether.

'I guess there is nothing more.' He mumbled.

Khushi nodded her head. Arnav started walking away. But he stopped.

'Khushi how is Shyam doing? Has he given up mountaineering?' He asked sincerely without any intention of hurting her.

The question immediately made Khushi uncomfortable. She closed her book, wrapped her shawl tightly around her and walked away without looking at Arnav. Making Arnav wonder what he had done wrong.

After an early dinner Khushi had retired into her room. She had dozed off for a while and woke up a little later in the night. She saw Caroline sleeping quietly in the other bed. She walked quietly to her backpack and removed an envelope which contained a bunch of photographs. She settled back into the bed and started seeing the photographs one by one.

Khushi looked at a particular photograph in her hand fondly.

'You know even I do that when I go away on expeditions.' Caroline said breaking Khushi's reverie. Caroline had woken up to see Khushi watch some photograph, bringing back her own memories from past expeditions.

Khushi tore her eyes from the photograph and looked at Caroline.

'Even I carry picture of my near and dear ones on expeditions. It helps me keep my sanity, especially when the expedition is as treacherous as this.'

Khushi smiled in response.

'Boyfriend? Child? Or your Parents?' Caroline asked.

Khushi moved her eyes to look at the photograph in her hand.

'Husband...' She whispered and closed her eyes.

'Why did you leave me for him Khushi?'

'Sorry, he loves me and...'

'And me?'

'You told me you weren't capable of love, remember! After what happened at Matterhorn I don't think we can be together anymore. I'm sorry, but you have to let me go.'

Arnav closed his fist and tried to control his increasing frustration as memories from the past haunted him.

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