III

She was dazzled and was thinking, whatever he said was absolutely right. Her purpose in life was to learn, and, after two years of wandering throughout the world, she had learned to find a true teacher. She knew, she was there with the sole purpose of learning. Her inner voice told her that he was the perfect person, from whom she could learn. But she knew, the next morning he was going to leave. Her inner voice also told her about the knowledge, which she could gain from him. The knowledge with a different point of view regarding, every information that, she had garnered throughout her life. She was thinking, whether she would be able to convince him or not.

The person about whom, she had no respect at all. The same person had gained respect, in her mind within the time period of four hours.

“Hello!” “Are you there or lost somewhere?” asked Noah, breaking the momentum of her thoughts.

“Do you carry a watch?” she asked

“No, I don’t need it because, I have ample amount of time.” said Noah, and both started laughing.

She wanted him to be with her, at any cost. Being a girl, she knew each and every tactic, to handle a man. She tried her first tactic ,which was of “reasoning”.

“I found you, staring at me all the time.” “Why so?” she asked

“I’ll tell you, when the time is ripe.” he replied

She wanted to ask him, whether she could accompany him in his journey or not. But the fear of hearing ‘No’, was prohibiting her to ask. After finding the first tactic to be unsuccessful, she tried her second tactic, which was associated with “necessity”.

“Noah, you don’t have enough means to survive in Himalayas.” “I would not mind, in travelling together, till you get a place to survive.” she said

She was sure that it’ll work , as she had enough food for both of them.

“Thanks a lot!” “I know how to manage” he replied

Both of them didn’t realize: the night had already passed. The rays of Sun, showed the beauty of the place. Lush green vegetation, was accompanied by a baby waterfall. Behind the waterfall, but far away, was a huge peak covered with snow.

“I never saw such a beautiful view.” she uttered

“It’s really beautiful.” he replied back

Both of her tactics had failed. Now, she tried her third tactic, which was “seduction”.

“Do you want to take bath?” she asked him.

“No” he replied

She went near the waterfall, removed her attire and dived into the plunge pool. Her wet body was covered by her undergarments. While splashing water on her shoulders, she looked at him. As if, was inciting him to join. He felt shy, but he knew, that he never saw such a beauty. Her hair falling on her mounds, along with, her thin cotton undies being tightened by water. He noticed erection in his lower portion.

“Come and take bath.” “Let’s see what’s behind the face, which is full of dirt.” she said, while caressing her hair.

“I am fine.” replied Noah

“Please, pass on a cloth to wipe” she said

“I don’t have.” he replied

“In my bag” she said, while pointing at her bag.

He pulled out a piece of cloth from the bag and went towards her. While handing over the cloth, his hand touched her belly. Though it was unintentional, but he noticed, a sensation in his whole body. This sensation, took the shape of desire. In order to control it, he left the place for a walk.

He observed that, his rules, regulations, gentleness, and even his identity faded away within seconds. While promenading through the woods, the gentle being inside him, was seen being overshadowed by a pervert one. Suddenly, he realized, the state of instability of his mind. Stopped walking, sat down cross legged, in a meditative posture and closed his eyes.

“What was that inside me?” he said to himself.

“You have not come for all this.” his mind told him.

He stabilized himself, through a lot of questions and answers. After meditating for two hours, went again towards the distraction. When he came back, saw her in an unstable state.

“Where were you?” asked Agatha, with wrinkles on her forehead.

“Went for a walk.” he replied

“You should have told me.” she said

He kept silent, because earlier there was nobody in his life to ask such a question. Expressions of fear and anger were clearly visible on her face. She gave him eight almonds to eat. He gobbled up them all, at once. He knew those almonds were his breakfast.

After having breakfast, he felt sleepy, so he told her that he want to sleep. She told him, she is not feeling sleepy and she won’t mind if he sleeps. She offered her blanket to him. In the languor of sleep, he closed his eyes.

IV

She looked at him, but he was still in the state of dreams. Three of her tactics, had already failed. She was losing hope, and had only couple of hours. He was a different person. She went for a walk, thinking about her last tactic. While walking , her foot loosened the grip and she fell down. She felt pain in her foot, followed by blood dripping out. She looked at her foot, and found a thorn stuck inside her foot. She tried plucking it out. But it was a thin, long thorn and it had penetrated deep in her foot. She started walking back, thinking it to be not that important. She reached, and saw him rubbing his eyes. As she wanted to say something , he interrupted her.

“Your foot is wounded!” said Noah, with the feeling of empathy.

She told him, she fell down while walking and a thorn punctured her foot.

“Let me have a look.” he said, holding her foot.

Noah tried to pluck it out, with the help of his nails. But was un-successful. Then, he used his teeth and this time he plucked it out of her foot. She cried in pain.

“It can be poisonous.” he said, looking at the wound, which had turned blue.

“Do you have an ointment?” he asked

“No, I don’t have.” she replied

“We need to find someone.” he said

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” she replied

As, she was going to say further, something clicked in her mind. And that was what he had just said, finding someone together.

Unintentionally, she learned a new tactic, which was associated with “emotion”. Her physical pain, was overshadowed by her mental happiness. She got, what she wanted. She was happy, was blushing while answering to his questions. She wanted to gain as much wisdom, as she could. Noah was the means, which could be used to accomplish her goal. She was listening to him, but her mind was somewhere else. When she came back out of her thoughts, heard Noah saying

“You did a lot for me. Now, it’s my responsibility to help you.”

She knew, when to deny and when to accept. At last she accepted, after denying for three times and said

“I don’t want to be a liability on you.”

Agatha used these words, because she knew that words affect more than actions. She knew, these words would come in his mind. May be not now, but after some days. Noah, was not able to find out the reason for his happiness. May be, even he wanted to be in the company of this innocent being. He was an experienced man. An experienced man always learn while committing mistakes. He knew he made a mistake. For the first time, he had felt happy after committing a mistake.

“Do you suffer from somniloquy?” she asked

“What does that mean?” he asked her.

“Speaking while asleep.” she replied

Noah knew, he had slept thinking about her. It’s only in your dreams that, you give freedom to yourself. He was unaware about the freedom, which his mind gave him, in his dreams. But, he was sure that, the freedom given to him by his dreams, was related to her. This was the reason, for asking a question to her

“What have you heard?” he asked

“Nothing” she replied

“Get ready!” “We are already late and there is a lot to cover.” she said, while putting her clothes in her bag.

He washed his face, she took her bag. Now, both the shadows were being seen travelling together. They were creating their own path. Sometimes, stepping on the moist fallen leaves, sometimes climbing huge blocks of rock and sometimes stepping on the frozen lakes. They were continuous in their journey, halting only at night or when the rain God provided hindrance in their way.

With the passage of time, the perspective of both the souls through closeness, had become same. Even the minute facial expressions and habits of both of them, had become same. While travelling, he taught her, whatever he learned throughout his life. The bond between both of them became so strong that, it was difficult to be broken. The only thing which stood between them, was his shyness.

Four months had already passed , they were travelling through the top edges of the Himalayas. The vegetation was replaced by snow. They had become habitual to whatever food, nature provided them with. Their appetite for delicious fruits which were available in the lower tracts of Himalayas, had now changed to eating leaves and roots. The four directions in which their eyes could perceive, were completely covered by thick blanket of snow.

Their bodies had turned slim, but were full of strength. They had reached the region of the Himalayas, where the storm was the most dominant phenomenon. The trees, which had earlier provided them food, were absent in this region. They had been trekking for almost three days, in search of shelter and food. The speed of their steps, was slowed down by the prevailing winds in that region. These winds were blowing in their opposite direction as if, wanted them to return back. But they were not willing to step back. Manoeuvring in the opposite direction of these winds, they reached a place which was situated on the cliff of a steep mountain. As they stepped further, saw a cave. Slowly moving ahead, both of them went inside the cave. There was a huge rectangular rock inside the cave, along with two medium sized rocks. It was a natural cave, which are common in Himalayas. This type of cave is usually formed, by strong winds grinding the huge rocks for years. The outer side of the cave was covered with snow. But from inside, it was comparatively warm. Both of them, dropped the small sticks on the ground, which they had gathered on their way. They knew that, the cave was going to be their shelter for some days.