Lock of hope

Last month me and my friends finally went on the Manali trip, after tons of cancelled plans and discussions, "The Trio"- Aditya, Mohak and me, as we were called in high school were waiting on the railway station with our bags in our hands and thoughts about the seven days trip on our minds. Sitting with them in the train made me realize how life has changed after the high school, how we used to spend days together and how we have to plan a single meet now.

We reached our destination,Manali. The hotel we had booked was no less than heaven.It had Spa, Sports arena, gym, food court and what not, but what caught my attention was the small yet beautiful Buddha temple right in front of the window of my room. It was on a small valley, a path with lane of ropes for safety was made to reach that temple. On the path the fresh and colourful mountain flowers were present to welcome the visitors.

I intended to go to the temple on the very first day of our trip, and my pals already knew that, they agreed at ones.

We reached the top of the temple completely tired, I agree that the path looked small from distance but it was in a zigzag frame, so difficult and so dangerous to climb on.

"Next time we are not going to listen you!" Aditya complained, panting completely. Mohak and I laughed looking at the potato head,which we call him, laying like a dead body.

We stayed there for few hours, clicking pictures and admiring the beauty. Everyone around us looked tried as we were, due to the long walk, except for a girl. I saw a beautiful young girl in twenties sitting near a rope in a side, holding a small lock with her hand. My eyes were stuck to the beauty of her face, that I failed to notice the sadness creeping in her eyes.Although her eyes were shining ,but something was there that made her looked a little disturbed. She didn't looked tired, all she looked was sad and deserted.

"There is a saying about this place that whoever ties a lock with the name of their loved ones here, they stay together forever" Mohak informed us. We three laughed at ones, considering that none of us was in a relationship.

"Buddy we have to move down from the same path" Mohak said teasing Aditya. No wonder the down walk was as much tiring as the up walk, but my mind was still stuck to that girl.

We were not able to visit any other place that day as we were so tried.

Next day onwards, we started our exploring the place.One thing was constant, every day in evening, that girl would climb up the same temple, stay there with that lock, and climb down.I used to watch her from my window. I was amazed by her will and strength, but couldn't understand why. It was like a routine, seeing her climb had started to relax me.

On fifth day of our trip, I didn't saw that girl climbing up. I was confused and my eyes were constantly trying to find her, till it was dark. She didn't came that day. I couldn't sleep that night, thinking about her.

Next morning when I was having my morning tea sitting in the outer of the resort, trying to have some peace in the beauty of the place, I saw a monk descending down the temple. He sat on a big rock after reaching down. I went near him to offer him some water, he was panting heavily.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

We talked a bit about the mountain and the long way up. After that I couldn't help myself but asked him about the girl, considering the fact that this is a small place and almost everyone know everyone here.

"Yes, I know her. Her name is Urvashi, she is very sweet and nice girl.She comes to the temple everyday, last day she was little sick, so she didn't came, unless its her daily routine. Actually she is in a bit trouble these days. Her mother is all she has in the name of family and that old lady is very sick.When she was a kid, she and her mother tied a lock on the rope near temple. They never climb up after that. But since when her mother is ill, she climbs everyday to that lock wishing that her mother will be well again. I asked her that she should take her mother to some city,sitting here is not going to help. She told me she didn't have that much money, all she needs is money. She says she believes in the saying that people who tied lock here will stay together forever, she wants her mother to stay with her always. This lock gives her strength and hope that her mother will be fine soon." The monk uttered.

He left after the conversation, but my mind was stuck there. I couldn't move my mind out of Urvashi and the combination of sadness and hope in her eyes.

That day I was so tried, still somehow gathered courage and walked up the mountain. I tied a small packet with some money, enough for her to take her mother to the city hospital and give her proper medication, on the same lock, and came down thinking about Urvashi.

Next evening, we were seated in cab ready to leave the place, as usual Mohak kept us waiting as he was busy taking phone numbers from the beautiful mountain girls he had talked during the trip.

Suddenly I saw Urvashi walking down the mountain. She didn't look tired at all, instead today her face was glowing even more. A smile crawled on my face as I saw her happy.

We left the place, with lots of memories. I know I am never going to meet Urvashi, nor does she is going to know about me, still whenever I think about her, I smile automatically.