Valley of Flowers Prologue

ARNAV Singh Raizada sat looking out the window of the bus that would take him to Dehradun. As the narrow winding roads, lined with beautiful lush landscape of the mountainous region emerged mile after mile, he stared listlessly listening into his walkman.

He looked around the bus to see honeymoon couples cuddling up to each other, families with kids giving them a hard time, older people dozing in their seats. So that was what people called normal life. He didn’t feel like he belonged here. Or anywhere, for the matter of fact. It was good, in way. There was no point, really, in attaching oneself to a place, person or thing. Being detached was the best way to be.

His journey had begun from Mangalore, where he had completed two years of degree in engineering from Manipal University and was going to Dehradun to meet his Nani who wanted to spend some quality time with her grandchildren. Akash and Anjali had reached there a couple of days ago and Nani had absolutely insisted that he make it to this vacation, probably afraid, that his sister and he would drift apart the way his parents had.

He only hoped he wouldn’t get into any unpleasant conversations with his sister. Anjali, a psychology major in addition to being three years his senior, had seen some good times in their parents’ marriage and had the tendency to justify some of their father’s actions for which he had absolutely no patience for. He hated his father. He could never think well of the man who had given his mother so much pain.

But he would change all that. Next month, he was off to the United States to complete the rest of his course. Once he had a good job in his hands he would take care of his mother the way she deserved.

The car stopped in front of his Nani’s two-storied, majestic, white bungalow. In the front of the building was a lush garden with a huge sprawling lawn, bright colored petunias, daisies and gerberas adorning parts of it. But he was oblivious of it. His attention was arrested by a figure in white twirling about in the balcony.

Beautiful.

He had only thought that in his mind but suddenly, she stopped and turned around as though she had heard him.

Arnav’s heart raced like a bullet train as he struggled to get out of his comforter that had enveloped him like vices, his mind in grip of his usual nightmare.

You have never treated me the way I deserve

Your expectations are too high….

And yours are too low

A woman like you can never be satisfied with anything

It’s useless talking to a man who can never let go of his past

Stop it!

Stop!

Then in the middle of this conundrum he heard the soft tinkling of anklets and his heart began to calm down. He heard a knock on the door.

‘Arnavji?’

He sat upon his bed to find the girl from the balcony – Khushi -- standing at the door with a cup of hot steaming liquid in her hand.

‘I brought some tea for you.’ A strand of hair fell across one of her huge doe like eyes. Her cheeks and lips were naturally rosy standing out in stark contrast to her pearly skin.

‘Sure.’ His brown eyes were dazed with sleep. He paused.’ Thanks.’

‘This will help you get rid of your headache.’ She said as she walked up to him and handed over his tea, tucking her hair behind her ear.

What the f@#$! How did she know that he had a headache? ‘How do you know I have a headache?’

‘I ___’ She just stared at him with her wide eyes unable to continue. ‘Anjaliji said that you should be ready by nine o clock.’

She was about to turn back when he stopped her. ‘What’s the time now?’

‘It’s eight thirty.’

‘F@#$!’ It was too late to bite back the expletive but she seemed unfazed. ‘What’s the big hurry for?’

‘She wants to go to the Valley of Flowers.’

Arnav got up from the bed and took off his shirt – a normal thing for him to do in his hostel – and picked up his cup again. He raised his eyebrows indicating her to continue but she seemed to be staring at him like a statue. He raised his voice. ‘And?’

‘To…..to get to the Valley of Flowers you ….you have to take a ten hour drive to a place called Joshimath and …. and then another hour to Govind Ghat.’ Why had she developed such a stutter?‘Then from there it is a thirteen km walk to a place called Ghangaria. The valley is another three kms from there.’ She finished in a rush.

‘What the ___?’ This time he stopped himself in time but he need not have worried as she was no longer standing at the door.

He had been wrong about Khushi. She was not beautiful.

She was exquisite.

He stopped himself. She was just a child of thirteen.

Last night Nani had told him that Khushi was their accountant Shashi Gupta’s adopted daughter. She and her sister Payal studied in the school that Raizadas ran. During her visit to Delhi earlier this year, Nani had discovered that Khushi was a gifted dancer, and had decided to pay for her advanced Kathak classes.

Nani herself had been an accomplished Kathak dancer in her hey days and it was no wonder that she had appointed herself as the young girl’s mentor. Arnav was also not surprised by the fact that she had asked Anjali to bring the girls along for a holiday. His nani was quiet a generous woman. Or, Arnav decided as an afterthought, it was the fact that Khushi was actually from Lucknow, like herself. Nevertheless, she was a sweet old lady who made his life better by telling him mythological stories of prince and princesses, caught in the midst of love, hatred, war, stories of valour and destruction, answering all his questions with the cliché --- It’s all written in the stars chotte…..

He had believed in it until his parents had split apart. Written in the stars indeed! There was no such thing.

Naniji had obviously refrained from accompanying them and the group embarked on this strenuous trip seated in a SUV. The drive began with Anjali sitting in the passenger seat next to the driver as she had the tendency to be motion sick. Khushi and Payal took the middle seats and Akash and he sat at the back. After the first couple of hours of drive Khushi and Akash exchanged seats as the latter had started to feel motion sick at the back.

As Khushi began to chatter incessantly about nothing in particular, he had dozed off, the strain of the sleepless night catching up on him finally. After stopping for lunch, when she began to ask him something, he offered her his walkman and he dozed off once again not wanting to get into a conversation with a girl he had nothing in common with.

When he woke up a few hours later, he found his cheeks brushing against something smooth and realized that it was Khushi’s forehead. Her head was nestled comfortably in the crook of his neck, while her hand clutched at the sleeve of his jacket. He straightened his head, but stayed still trying not to wake her. When they finally reached their hotel at Joshimath he was relieved. This girl made him edgy for some reason.

The next morning, Arnav dressed in denims, t-shirt and sneakers knocked on Anjali’s door. She told him that she would not be able to make it to the trek as she had developed a migraine due to the altitude. Same was the case with Payal. Akash decided to stay back to keep an eye out for them.

Arnav considered cancelling the trek and going back but he changed his mind as he was curious about the place. He tried convincing Khushi to stay back as well but she wouldn’t budge. When he saw that her huge doe eyes were close to tears he relented.

After getting dropped at Govind Ghat, they began their long trek through the narrow winding trails flanked by wooded area. Arnav had been surprised at Khushi’s resilience. He had a thick  jacket to protect himself from the cold but all she had was a sweater which she wore on the white salwar suit she wore. He knew she was tired but she kept going until Arnav forced her to take a break so they could munch on some food they had carried in their backpacks. While they sat under a tree, rejuvenating, Arnav made an observation. ‘Khushi, you seemed to be awfully quiet on the trek.’

‘Well,’ she began looking at him seriously. ‘That is what you wanted, isn’t it?’

Arnav was taken aback by her reply. ‘When did I ever say that?’

‘Yesterday when you gave me the walkman to listen to the songs.’ She had her head bent fidgeting with one corner of her dupatta. ‘One of the songs told me what you wanted to tell me all through the journey.’

Arnav’s eye brows twisted in confusion. ‘Khushi …..what the f@#$ ----’ Then realization dawned. She was talking about Ronan Keating song whose lyrics went something like ---

You say it best…… when you say nothin’ at all

‘Oh!’

Khushi looked up her eyes twinkling, her pearly white teeth biting her lower lip mischievously. Arnav burst out laughing and in seconds she had joined him. Suddenly, they found themselves face to face with a couple of local girls who stood staring at them, their cute little mouths open. Then they scurried up to Khushi and whispered something in her ear and Khushi jumped up in fright.

Arnav looked up in surprise. ‘What’s wrong Khushi?’

‘Arnavji, you have get up immediately!’ Khushi’s eyes were wide as saucers.

‘What the hell for?’Arnav demanded.

‘Just do it.’

Arnav raised one of his eyebrows at her tone. ‘Not until you tell me why.’ Only his mother could speak to him like that.

‘The girls here just told me that this is a matchmaking tree.’

Like that was supposed to explain everything. ‘What the…. I mean what are you talking about?’

‘If a couple sits under this tree they will be married one day.’

Arnav’s face contorted with disbelief. ‘What crap!’

‘Hey Devi Maiyya!’ Khushi said emphatically, hitting her palm against her forehead. ‘Don’t say such things. These things are true you know  --- now get up!’ Looking at his glint in his eyes she amended herself. ‘Please?’

Damn! Had she just batted her eyelashes at him? He relented. ‘Well if it is true ---,’ Arnav got up and walked up to her, his caramel eyes twinkling mischievously, ‘it’s too late, isn’t it?’ He flicked her nose. ‘Pagal.’ He walked away shaking his head.

Who was he calling mad? Laad Governor! Khushi thought to herself as she stomped behind him mutinously.

Later that day they finally reached Gangaria base camp. After refreshing themselves and leaving behind their backpacks they set out for the three km trek that would finally take them to the Valley of Flowers.

When they reached the valley, they both stood speechless at the breath taking view that beheld them. The lush green mountains stood majestic and serene, swathed in soft white mist at the backdrop of the valley. Awash with an array of colourful flowers, splattered against green fauna, the valley stretched beyond what their eyes could perceive. It was really a sight for sore eyes.

Heaven on earth.

Suddenly, Khushi ran toward the flowers her arms thrown wide. When she reached some distance she turned around and stood, with her face lifted up to the sky, her eyes closed, a serene smile on her lips -- as if in prayer. Suddenly, a big drop of water splattered on her cheek making her squeal in surprise. And then it began to drizzle in earnest. Some of her hair, loosened on their long journey was stuck to her face. As he continued to look at her, he found her smiling at him, her beautiful eyes beckoning him to join her.

He forgot all about his parents, his loneliness --- the burning anger in his heart. He walked toward her as if in a trance.

This beauty would be etched in his memory for ever.