'I want to say I miss you in waves, but it's more like cyclone'

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Manzar's POV

I took a deep breath, a very very deep breath, feeling my lungs expanding to their limits and gasped when Vansh pulled the harness tightly around my lower half, I caught him smirking.

Of course I glared back.

“Shut Up!”

“I didn’t said a word.”

“Still, shut up.”

He chuckled.

“You still got time to chicken out, you know.”

I didn’t replied. Of course my pride is not going to let me.

“Fine just look at the height once again and …”

“Shush” I mumbled and breathed in once again shaking my head.

You can do this!

Go for it!

Shutting everyone out of my mind, I took a step ahead.

A helper was standing at the top gripping the ropes, or for more to help people like me, to help them rappel down till you have the strength to, or female balls in my case.

I took the position and aligned my legs at the edge, the instructor asked me to keep my feet glued and hips to be flexed at right angle and spine straight to keep this at ease.

My gloved hands gripping the ropes tightly, harness holding me still, atleast it was assuring enough that I’m not going to die from falling. I was almost half way through when I planned to look down.

Boy was I wrong?

Absolutely!

I closed my eyes, “Please tell me I’m half way down.”

Everyone laughed, “Manzar, you need to take a step down first.”

Opening my eyes and looking straight, I was nowhere near half, I looked up to find the instructor right in front of me still, he was holding a smile. I felt my chin muscles twitch.

Way to embarrass yourself.

Ok, here goes nothing!

I took a step down slowly sliding my left foot first and gripped the rope even tighter.

I’m not going to die. Not like this at least.

.

.

I’m going to die! Just like this.

Oh lord, please save me!

When I was about 28 feet down, my foot slipped and I bumped my chest and elbow with the hill surface. It hurt like a bitch.

“Manzar!” everyone gasped in horror.

I’m sure my elbow is bruised, luckily saved my face, rather not talk about my boobs though.

“I’m fine! I’m fine!”

“My ass you are!”

I looked up, left mesmerized with the view, for a second I forgot about that I lost my grip on the hill only the harness is holding me, keeping me alive, or not injured most probably.

He was right there, wore his harness and gloves within snap of fingers and took two major step or more like jumps, now is right in front of my eyes.

I gulped.

How did he do this?

“Here, let me grip you.”

He slide near me and held my waist, I was still in daze. He pulled me close,
“hold it.”
He gave me the rope in my hand, I gripped it once again.

“I’m leaving you for now, but I’m right behind you. If you will fall, you’ll fall in my arms. Ok?”

He said, his eyes honest and grip warm around me. I blinked.

Don’t leave me. Ever.

Please!

“Manzar, OK?”

I blinked once again.

“Angle yourself, I’m right behind you.”

I blinked again.

“Please nod, so that I know you are inside.”

I nodded.

“Good!” and then he pat my head, loosened his grip around me and went down just few feet apart.

I angled myself, this time more confident. Still in daze, why!?

“Just few more feet and then there is ground.” I nodded and did what I was asked for.

“Now jump.”

I did, and landed just in his arms, in hugging position.

“You did it!”

I did it.

“it was good, why are you always scared of heights.”

Urvi’s words brought me out of daze and pulled me out of his grip.

What was I doing?

I don’t need him.

He is not required anymore.

I smiled and rushed upto Urvi and hugged the life out of her,

“I did it!”

“You did it! Of course.”

“But I slipped when…”

“Oh shush! Everybody does, your grip loosened that’s it. Show me your elbow.”

.
.

.
.

It was almost 3 at noon when everybody was done with rappelling and lunch. We chatted for a while, and then started to walk back towards the cabin. Trekking they call it.

I pulled the shoulder straps of my bag which got the bag even closer to my back, I was lost in a different world.

My subconscious mind was keeping me from hurting myself, from the thorns of these shrubs, the path was sometimes of gravel, too sandy or sometimes muddy.

We need to get through this with the little effort we could make, because right after this there is the place we call our reward. Our home.

My mind drifted back to the day when Seher and Adi Jiju convinced me for this trip.

.

.

I was sitting with Seher in her living room, she was through her second trimester of pregnancy and I was instructed by our mother to be with my sister like her shadow, as they live alone, until Mom comes and live with them.

We were watching episode 3 of season 5, Games of Thrones, when Aditya walked in, must Seher’s maid has opened the door for him or else I would definitely do something else – would have changed the show that’s for sure to start with.

“Why are you two watching Games of Thrones? Violence is not good for the baby.”
He threw his bag on the couch and switched the channel to discovery.

Hippopotamus appeared into the screen.

Hippopotamus is nothing compared to Jon Snow!

Just look at him!

Such an eye candy.

“Urgh” I huffed crossing my arms in front, eyes wide lips pursed,

The idiotic soon to be a father!

“Oh come on,” Seher groaned louder than ever,
“It’s not like the baby will come out with a sword butchering your neck”

“Seher!” Aditya warned,

“But, Winter is Coming!” she whined

He shot another warning gaze at her.

“Yaar Adi, look at the Hippo, even he is yawning.” She said looking at the screen, huffing she crossed her arms in front of her, up on her protruding belly.

I wonder if she is actually pregnant with one kid or having twins. Her tummy is big. It would have been hard time for me believing if I haven’t seen her ultrasound reports.

Aditya sat in between us, stretched his arms intertwined, leaned onto his knees.

For a better minute he stared at his wife when she refused to look at him or even blink he sighed and turned to me, with the same expression.
I too kept my gaze on the hippopotamus.

The hippopotamus this time was swimming underneath the water surface and when he came up there was a leaf on his head.

Do you know hippopotamus’s sweat is red in colour?

From beside me I heard, Aditya huffing and crossing his arms over his head kept his feet over the table in front. And there was still food on it.

Oh you are so dead!

I smacked his arm, but the sound echoed. Instead of one I heard two slaps,

“Oww!”

“Keep your feet down there’s food on the table” I said

“Can’t you see” Seher barked

“Waah! Now you both are talking to me” he said rubbing his arms

“Not talking, scolding.” I corrected

He turned to look at Seher, “GOT is not good for the baby.” And leaned to kiss her sorry

I rolled my eyes.

“Your baby wants me to watch it…”

He deadpanned.

“Okay fine! you know how much I like action.”

They mumbled a few cheesy words to each other, about how much they can do without T.V and I pretended I don’t exist. I concentrated back on the Hippopotamus.

Hippopotamus are the silent types but when you bug them, you are asking for a death wish. They will tear you apart.

That’s what similar in between them and me, I’m too a hippopotamus.

No!

Not in fat way!

Nope, I’m thin as… um…as…

Rhino?

T-rex?

Fuck! NO!

I chuckled.

I peeked at them and saw the room temperature rising, steamy scene count down – Titanic steamy!

“If you guys don’t remember, someone’s here with virgin eyes” I said raising my hand

“Then what are you doing outside, go to your room.”

“Shoooh” Aditya completed her sentence shooing me like a dog.

“You get a room!” I said standing up from my place, stomping my feet I walked back to my room.

Smart! I know.

“Wait!” Seher said

“Are you going to the Kasol trip” Aditya completed.

How do they  do that?

“How do you two even do that?”

They looked at each other confused, “What?” they said in unison

“This!” I continued
“Completing each other’s sentences, how?”

They smiled at me in unison, like it was well rehearsed, then at each other with bright eyes.

“I don’t know” Aditya said leaving Seher,
“It’s just happen to us naturally.”

I pulled my eyebrows together, looking at them grumpily.

“Are you going to Kasol? I think you should.” Seher said

“Yes, you need a break.”

“Are you two fed of me, already?” It wasn’t a question, it was a trick. Trick to tackle the stupid situation.

“Of course!” Seher said smirking knowing my defense

“I’ll drop you to the bus stop, tickets are with me.” Aditya said smirking too

Are they both high or something!

“I didn’t said yes.”

“Like you have an option” Aditya said

“I DON’T WANT TO GO!” I said like a child

“Manzar are you asking for a slap.” Seher said in a serious tone

“But, Didu.”

“Shut up, you need to exercise and loose some fat, from where you know pretty well.” Aditya said

I gasped and turned to look at my butt, it was normal to me, “Are you calling me fat?”

“Two slaps, Manzar.” Seher continued with her warning

Boy, do her slap hurt!

She is literally a member of Anti-Gandhi union!

And here I am, playing with my life.

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