Winter Adventure

'Good day, Vinay,' hearing this wish, Vinay turned around to see from where the pleasantries had come. He saw his friend of many years, Aditya standing just behind.

'Are you busy the next couple of months?,' Aditya asked with suppressed excitement. 'Why, Aditya, are you getting married?' joked Vinay in exchange.

' No, I was thinking of visiting my aunt who lives in the hills. Last winter there was lot of snow fall in her area and people took to skiing in a big way. She has invited me this winter,' concluded Aditya.

Aditya said that to promote tourism government had taken up lot of steps to develop winter sports in the hills. His aunt was the tourism development officer in the region. So naturally we could expect differential treatment when we reach there.

For the past two years there had been good snowfall. The hills had gentle gradient and being covered with thick layer of snow offered good opportunity for skiing.

The thought of winter adventure sounded of excitement and so both friends decided to be there this winter. Hopefully there would be good snowfall like the previous years both friends secretly desired.

After three weeks time both of them were off to the hills. In the plains winter was yet to set in but in the hills, winter had taken root. The season's first snow fall welcomed the two friends. But it was mild and not much of it deposited on the ground.

The friends were in no hurry. They could wait patiently for a week's snow fall to accumulate on the slopes that would help the skiers to run down the side on skis. Aditya 's aunt had wonderful arrangements with good infrastructure so the friends lived like royals.

Till the time the snow accumulated, the friends decided to do ice skating at the newly opened skating rink. As they were learners they first needed training. Two expert trainers were deputed to see that the boys had no problem on the ice. The trainers were two girls both twins named Radha and Geeta. 

Aditya and Vinay enjoyed the company of the twins and very soon they were skating like ballet dancers. Meanwhile there was regular snow falls and the hill slopes had a thick layer of snow. 

'Do you know skiing?' both Radha and Geeta asked in unison to the two boys. The boys looked at each other and confirmed in the negative. 'Then we can teach you skiing also,' both girls exclaimed in excitement. 

It sounded good for the boys. The boys like obedient students started their ski lessons the very next day. Progress was slow but steady and the boys were doing well. The girls had become very deft at such a young age. Now the boys and girls could run down the slope on skiis without holding hands. 

Then one day the weather turned bad. Without any warning it became worse. Heavy snow was accumulating in the catchment area atop the hill. The girls being locals knew that it would bring trouble for the skiers on the slope. 

The heavily accumulated snow was coming down the slope in a big ball and increasing in size exponentially as it hurtled down. Radha took care of Aditya and Geeta of Vinay and they held on to the trunks of two trees on the slope to prevent them from being swept away by the huge snow ball. There were many other skiers on the slope but all of them were not so lucky. Not all could get hold of any tree trunk or any pillar like object. 

The now huge snow ball thundered downhill with great speed and taking along with it any moving object that came in it's way. Many unguarded skier was swept away with the snow. The icy wind and the snow storm continued for a long time that seemed eternity. The sun had gone behind the clouds long before and in the peak time of day it was getting dark like night. 

The four boys and girls clung to each other holding the tree trunk and silently uttering prayers for protection from this calamity. The boys not accustomed to such hardship were giving in but the girls who were hardy and strong held on to the boys steadily. 

Night had fallen by now and it became impossible to trace their track back home to safety. The boys were losing consciousness and were becoming victims of frost bite. Luckily the strong wind subsided and snow stopped falling. But it would be impossible to return home for the night. 

An emergency was declared in that hilly town. There was reports of many missing people. But the administration was helpless. They had never imagined such a horror could strike upon them. So natural disaster team was not in place. 

The next morning however it was calm and peaceful. The sun was out in full glory and snow covered hill slope was placid hiding the tragedy that had struck yesterday. 

Reports were being prepared of missing personnel and there was information of many dozens of skiers being untraced. 

Both Aditya and Vinay had collapsed in the cold of the night. Geeta and Radha were however alright. They were in turn doing mouth to mouth resuscitation and due to this the boys were recovering and then again becoming senseless. Very soon if the two were not shifted to a hospital and warm bed then they would be lost forever. 

Help was trickling in slowly. An emergency volunteer team had been formed and with war like alacrity the sick and frost bitten skiers were being shifted to hospitals. Aditya and Vinay soon found warm beds in the hospital. In a few weeks they were fine and bade tearful good byes to the girls with the promise to be back next year. 

The next winter would become a beautiful romantic set up on the hilly slope for the four girls and boys. Throughout the year they had kept themselves in touch with the promise that this time it would not be any mouth to mouth resuscitation but would end in real kisses come what may and whatever part the weather played.