Cozy on the Mountain top!

She reached up high and placed her hand tentatively on the rock above, pulling herself with all her strength, testing the crevice, if it would take her load and hoisted herself through the thin blue air, pushing off the boulder where her feet momentarily rested as she clambered up.

Being securely tied to her friend and confidante made her quite comfortable and also fearless.

Slowly but steadily she climbed higher searching for a hand hold here, a foot hold there, inching forward, sweat beading her forehead, as she went higher and higher, nimble as a mountain goat. If you are wondering why did she risk herself and go on such a dangerous adventure, well that is what Asha was all about. A risk- taker, one who enjoyed pushing her boundaries, ‘the adrenalin rush’ she said, but believe me she loved the difficult, the nearly impossible!

The grey boulders and dark cliff, interspersed with green grass and soft herbaceous wild plants, all swaying in the cool breeze blowing looked radiant and so vibrant, in the warm sunshine.

She had unflinchingly taken up Shekhar’s suggestion ( read challenge) that the best view was from the mountain top. “But” he added “It is such a tough climb that I would definitely not recommend it to a girl!”

And here she was. She loved a challenge, but she loved Shekhar even  more. She was sure that a couple of hours together on, on a tough physically challenging track their love would only grow deeper. That was her idea of being ‘romantic’! (I told you she was different!)

As she finally reached the top and joined Shekhar, they couldn’t stop smiling. They fist-bumped and then hugged each other. “ You are amazing!” he said.

The view from the top was unbelievable. Definitely worth the effort. The verdant hill sides were dotted with groves of Pine and Fir. They could see some wild goats roaming around without a care in the world. The shimmering emerald lake in the distance, gleaming like lost treasure, and the wide blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds like giant fluffy sheep, only made them smile. The cool breeze was wonderful against their flushed faces.

As they settled down more comfortably, catching their breath, Asha could not help but think this was such a cozy moment. One she would like to relive over and over again.

Shekhar pulled out a small flask of water, sharing sips as they prepared to climb down. He gently held her soft hands in his huge, slightly callused ones “ I would love to spend the rest of my life clambering every hurdle life has for me or just sit and watch clouds sailing by, with you. What do you say?” She burst out laughing “ Are you proposing?” He winked and said “Will you marry me?”

“ That’s a challenge I accept with all my heart” she said kissing him briefly as they began to climb down. The trek down seemed to end rather quickly. As they got onto their bikes, Shekhar pointed to the Milestone advertising:

Take a coffee break at the “ Cozy corner” for novices, mountaineers, and Adrenalin lovers!