Chapter 1

“ Do you think we are on the right track Shaina?” asked a nervous Preksha who was shivering with fright as if having a temperature of 103degrees.

“ I do not think and I am hardly sure of the way, but it is just a gut level feeling that we will reach somewhere,” replied Shaina.

“ Don’t tell me you don’t know the way! And we are hardly going anywhere except in circles and if you call it going anywhere, I am certainly not game!” shouted Tarang.

“ Don’t you dare blame me for a moment,” continued Shaina through clenched teeth, “ if you want you can jump out, now.” She said braking hard

Nobody moved a muscle, and after a moment, Shaina inched the Scorpio slowly forward.

“ We lost our way thanks to you Tarang. So now shut up and stop pestering her!” Preksha commented dryly.

It was more than enough to shut him up for quite some while. After traveling for another thirty minutes they finally could see civilization ahead and Preksha’s fear gave way to a new mood...The mood to play pranks.

“ Say somebody is sure quiet and sulking,” she said in a light tone.

“ Somebody is actually hurt enough to not speak a word,” replied Shaina.

“ Oh! I am glad that Her Highness actually noticed me after 30 minutes,” Tarang taunted.

“ I am talking about Namit. Is he still wet?”

“ Yes he is. But is he hurt?” Tarang asked.

“ Of course he is. He fell on that rock and has a cut on his shin, a bad one. But I am more worried about his being wet. Wait, I see a hotel. What say? We put up for the night? We can reach Mussorie in the morning?”

“ Seems like a good idea. We all can do with a rest.” Preksha seconded the idea.

“ I guess I am not left with much choice. My buddy is sleeping and you girls will not give me any other option. So I am stuck with whatever you girls decide.” Tarang’s anger was peeping through his voice, try as much he might to not show it.

“ Ok gang, we camp here. Tarang would you please ask if they have two rooms available?” said Preksha as Shaina parked in front of an old dilapidated building which boasted of being an inn.

Obediently and angrily Tarang went in to make the enquiries and returned after 15 minutes with a long face.

“ What happened? They do not have space?” asked a worried Preksha.

“ No they have space but not two rooms. One suite, that also on the first floor!”

“ So whats the problem? We will take it. We are not left with much choice my friend,” said Shaina glancing towards Namit who was visibly not well.

“ All right then. Come on in.”

“ You guys take him and change his clothes. I’ll unload the car and park it.” Saying this Shaina opened the back door of the Scorpio. Namit was sleeping and instead of waking him up, Tarang simply carried his small frame all the way to the suite. Namit as it is seemed like a kid in front of the heavily built boxer body of Tarang. Five feet eleven inches in height, Tarang was a PROFFESIONAL boxer and his hefty body DID LITTLE TO HIDE that. He could have picked up both Preksha and Namit together without a flinch. Namit was just the opposite. He was of the same height but a smaller body frame and his slender figure made him look taller.

By the time Shaina had unloaded their luggage and got them to their suite, Namit was already snuggled in the bedroom. She unpacked for him and asked Tarang to change his clothes as she unpacked for herself in the hall.

“ What next? It is just half past eight? Can we go sight seeing? At least get to know the name of the place we are at?” Tarang asked Shaina.

“ Why don’t you and Preksha move around and check out the place? I am very tired to come along. And anyways some one needs to be with him,” replied Shaina dressing his wound.

“ You sure you don’t want to come along Shaina?” Preksha asked.

“ You go ahead Preksha. I need a hot shower and some sleep.”

“ As you say Mam!” and saying thus the two of them freshened up to go shopping and find out things about the place they were staying at. As soon as they left, Shaina ordered tea and snacks for the two of them through room service. She was hungry and she figured he too could do well with some thing to bite. The weather outside suggested a romantic night and looking at Namit sleeping peacefully on the bed it was hard for Shaina to resist the romance. Everything around her seemed to be in love and for once looking at him, she forgot the bitter fight and felt all that love for him surging through her entire being. The time that they had spent together, the loneliness that now engulfed them and the weather that was, it was hard for her to stay away from him. She could vividly remember now how they had first met.