i have written an OS as a Christmas plus new year gift to all of you😳 but im posting it 10 days early...i thought since the OS has lot of snow in it🤣 i'll dedicate it to today's birthday girl, my sisu😃 so everyone please read and comment...
Udayveer peered out of the log cabin to see if snowfall had stopped. No, it had increased and he couldn't see the hard ground at all. The Christmas tree in front of the cabin was partly covered in snow, he could see in the faint moon light. 2 days ago, he had come to this place for trekking. It was sunny and bright at start but then harsh cold winds began to blow and in the subsequent snowfall, he lost his way. He had almost thought he would die out cold in this ice desert but thanks to some thoughtful people, who had built this log cabin. Probably the persons who had built it must have migrated to dry lands quite recently; because they had stocked dried food in the shelves and semi-frozen water came from a tiny tap and there was a stove and some wood to light the fire. If he ventured out the door, the snow was thick enough to reach half way to his knees. Till the snowfall completely stopped he couldn't move anywhere. The place was totally out of reach of mobile signals or radio signals even. The food was enough to last him a week more, if he ate moderately. He came inside, built a fire in the small hearth and fell asleep on a single bed that was placed there. Was it providence that he spent Christmas cooped up all alone in a no man's land? He was glad he carried a thick jacket in his back pack while trekking.
Next day was 25th of December, the day when the birth of holy child took place thousands of years ago. It was a bright Christmas morning as sun had decided to show up a teeny bit out of the vicious clouds that had covered him; but not enough to melt the snow. Udayveer again peeped out of the foggy window clearing its glass surface with his hands. The Christmas tree was covered in melting snow which gleamed in the sun like jewels. Wait; was there something below the tree? He looked more clearly, and spotted a piece of red cloth which was partially buried under snow. His curiosity wasn't satisfied and he went to see from near.
It wasn't only the red cloth but something more. He picked a stick from the tree and prodded the snow and found it was a human being. A girl to be precise..She must have fallen asleep below the tree last night and by morning the snow had completely covered her. He checked for signs of life, she was breathing! But she was colorless and could die any minute if she lay in snow for more time.
With great struggle he brushed snow out of her face and dragged her to his cabin. Once inside, he laid her on the floor and began to rub her hands and feet, removing the slippers she had worn. She didn't wear any protective clothing and wore a simple cotton Dress. In her hand was a silver bracelet which had something written on it.
"To Manyata, on her eighteenth birthday, by dear daddy" he read it aloud.
He let her hand fall to the floor and then reality sunk in. when he himself was stuck here, how would he care for another person? She probably needed medical care too..and what about food? There wasn't enough for two persons and god knew when he'll get out of this hell..oh why did he rescue her..She was a total stranger; she could have frozen to death for all that he cared. Don't be so cruel Uday..be nice..His conscience snubbed. He placed her on the sole bed and continued rubbing warmth into her body.
Until night, he did his best to bring her back to life by placing hot water near her so that she would be warmed by its steam. It seemed to work; his efforts finally bore fruit and Manyata opened her eyes. But she was still too weak and he had to strain his neck in order to hear her speak. "i..im..hungrry" she said. Just then a thunder storm crossed the sky and the sound echoed throughout the wilderness outside. Manyata's cold hands gripped his warm ones. "Don't leave me..im sc-scared!" she said between chattering teeth. "Im going to get some food for you.. don't fret..I'll be back in a jiffy" he caressed her brow. It seemed to reassure her and she relaxed a bit.
In the cupboard he found a pack of dehydrated soup and boiled it with water. She had sat up with great difficulty when he brought it out for her. Magically she seemed to have gained enough strength to drink the soup all by herself. While she slurped, he watched, thinking about going hungry tonight. "Hey..Why aren't you eating?" she asked suddenly. He decided to tell her the truth and ended up telling her all about his arrival in this place; how he was stuck there till snow cleared.
"Manyata, I told you everything about myself..Now your turn" he said after he had finished the rest of the soup she had saved for him after knowing about their on-going food crisis.
"I guess you know my name already.. I am the only daughter of my papa. My father left 2 years ago, leaving me all alone in the world; just some days after my 18th birthday..Christmas reminds me of him..i-" she stopped and then continued "I guess that's enough for today..do you mind if I sleep?" she yawned.
"Sure.. good night" he said with a smile.
While she slept on the bed, Uday tossed and turned on the floor below with only a thin sheet for company. All alone in the world' her words were revolving in his mind. For, he too was more or less the same; he was an orphan after his mother died. A stray thought struck his mind. He would have a wife to cook and clean up his house if he married her. She owed him that much for saving her life.
The next few days went slowly like a snail but Udayveer somehow couldn't gather words to propose marriage to her. As soon as he built the topic towards that, Manyata would bring up a new matter of discussion and he would get distracted. There was no change in the freaky weather outside and blizzards continued with more force.
It was the night of 30th December and Udayveer stood in the tiny cooking area of their cabin. All the food packets were finished except one that was barely enough for one person. After spending few days alone with Manyata, Udayveer had come to know her, really know her. She wasn't silly or shallow as he had thought. Instead she was innocent but intelligent, soft spoken and trusting. He felt like a lout for forming a plan to make her his wife for only material comfort. Sure, he still wanted to marry her, but now the reasons had changed; he was in love with her. He cooked the food and took it to her.
Manyata looked feverish and he was alarmed. He checked her forehead and found he was right. She insisted on eating by herself but he didn't listen. He spoon fed her and she ate every mouthful with relish. Now, if only she said yes' to him; they could be happy for the rest of their lives. His stomach growled in hunger but he ignored it.
Somewhere outside the cabin, loud sounds began, like that of a helicopter. Then the sound of helicopter moved closer; it must have landed nearby. Both their ears straightened! It was their chance to get out of here..
Udayveer ran out swiftly so that he could see who the new arrivals were. Sure enough it was a copter and it had landed just in the front of their cabin. It wasn't any normal one but that of the navy rescue team.
In the next few minutes, Manveer got into the helicopter and left their log cabin for good, all the while thanking god and the army for saving them. They were dropped on a cruise ship and first thing Uday did was to find if a doctor was available on board. Luckily there was one and he treated Manyata and advised her bed rest.
31st of December rolled in slow motion with Manveer amidst the sea and sea gulls. It was 11.30pm in the night, half an hour to go for the New Year. Uday thought about the past year and its events. Most of it had been dull but after the day of Christmas, everything had brightened. Santa had delivered him the most beautiful gift ever; the gift of love. He loved her.. He LOVED her! The thought was so beautiful. As soon as they step on the dry ground, he would fall on his knees and propose her.
"Udayveer, you are here..i was searching for you everywhere" Manyata said from behind. His heart beat more loudly than ever.
"Okay..Before the new year starts, I want to tell you something, about myself.. which I think you should know" she said.
"What is it?"
"Udayveer, I'm not a normal girl but a princess..The day you rescued me, I was running..Running away from my home so that I could be saved from a forced marriage, imposed by my so called well wishers..But I got lost in the darkness and lost consciousness below that tree.." she stopped.
"What? Marriage? Why?" he could utter only that much.
"Because I was simply against the concept of marriage and Akash, the guy who was supposed to marry me, was only pursuing me for my vast fortune dad has left me.."
"So, if you go back now, won't you be pressurized again to get married? What will you do now?" Uday asked in a low voice.
"oh..you don't worry..Now they won't trouble me..because-"
"Because??"
"Because, I've changed my mind..in the sense that I've decided to get married after all..now I will be the happiest and my hubby will be too" Manyata gushed.
Uday's heart sank. How did he ever think she would fall in love with him and accept his proposal? One, she was rich; two, she had a suitor in mind already..lord why do you create huge bubble of dreams, only to break them..
"But, you said yourself that he is behind you for your money..Then?" he found a reason, albeit a weak one, to change her mind.
"you don't understand, when love appears, nothing else matters..I love him..I'm crazily in love with the guy I'm going to marry..Hope he feels the same about me"
"Sure, He would.. He would be the luckiest guy in the world Manyata..you two will have the most amazing life together" Udayveer turned other side so that he wouldn't cry. But the tears came anyway.
"so, do you?" Manyata sounded all serious.
"do you what? I didn't get you.."
"Udayveer..I love you..I'm crazy about you and I promise, I'll be same forever..You are the best gift that anyone ever got for Christmas and New Year..Do you feel the same about me? Now, will you make me the happiest by saying yes?" her eyes were dancing in anticipation. She was crying too.
He was about to say, yes, yes, yes; but instead he said "I'm not rich like you..I can't give you a plush life..What if you regret afterwards? Probably Akash is the best one for you"
"You fool, I was ready to spend my entire life with you on that ice desert.. And I know, you love me too, I could see it in your eyes when you fed me dinner; you tell me should I choose the guy who goes hungry to keep me alive or some greedy, snobbish man who only thinks me as an ATM machine?"
Udayveer remained silent. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"It's only a minute remaining to New year..if you don't reply now-" she couldn't speak more as he leveled his forehead with hers and touched their heads together, wiping her tears and laying a kiss below each eye lid. Their embrace was the most snuggly one as final count down towards the new Beginning began. Fireworks erupted in the night and whole sky lit up in a dash of most vivid colors. The icy winds from the sea rocked the ship as if to celebrate in their own way. But the two souls standing on a small deck of the cruise were too lost to notice.
(The OS is a figment of my imagination and has no relevance to anything in real)
Happy Christmas and Happy new year to all of you🤗
please comment and like...
Thank you😳
(Im still technically inactive, so don't ask me to update CL now..😉😆rofl)
