Murder At Lake Mohank - 4. Chapter 4. Hiking Through His Heart

Things had gone slightly lukewarm between him and me. We had had just a minimal of conversation. Of course, anything would have seemed slightly pale compared to the previous night, I knew, and I was ok with that.

The trail wound deeper and deeper into the forest. We set off all together, but pretty soon we were divided into two groups. one of those that hurried forward at pace, and the rest of the group that liked to walk at a leisurely pace. He was among the trail-blazers, while I was content being with the laggards. Soon enough, they had moved so far forward, they were no longer visible up ahead. Of course, it stung me just a little, that he hadnt chosen to stay with my group. But it was just a minor dampener.

Yash, one of my friends, was chatting with me as we walked passed trees and ferns that were quite alien to me, I dint even know the names of most of them. I was trying to keep up with the conversation, but it was too hard, with my mind preoccupied with other thoughts. Every now and then, I was having to nod my head in affirmation just to pretend I was listening to what he was saying. I suddenly had an idea.

"Do you live in the same area as Balbhadra" I inquired in a tone low enough for only him to be able to hear. As soon as I had spoken that, I realized I could have framed it a little better "Does Balbhadra live in the same area as you do."

I was having trouble keeping up with the group that I was in, and eventually started drifting further and further back, until I was all alone. It actually felt good to be all alone, with no one piffling me. At least, it was a setting in sync with how I was feeling.

I tried to take stock of how things were, rather, tried to review the events from a realistic perspective. There was this guy, I knew little about, who I had by chance ended up sharing a room with. He had been friendly and nice toward me, spent some good time with. Perhaps it was the romantic setting, that was to be blamed for the sensations that had been induced, perhaps it was just my subconscious working overtime, trying to compensate for all the pessimism that my conscious usually harbored.

In any case, I had to admit, it wasnt much. perhaps not even a molehill, that I was trying to make a mountain out of.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from somewhere up ahead, and before I could attune my mind to decide what it could mean, I saw him walking towards me.

"What are you doing here? You intend to get lost?" he asked as he came near, and a few more questions that dint quite register, I was too startled.

"If you dont know, where you are headed when you start off, technically you cant get lost." I eventually countered, "Since no one bothered to inform me, and judged me innovative enough to find my way through, in case they abandon me, I dont see any base for your accusations." Involuntarily, ABANDON had come out stressed. I wondered though, if he could read the sense of relief in my eyes, on seeing him.

Eventually we came to a fork, one path leading straight on, while another narrower trail going downhill.

"Where does this go?" I asked curiously, as we were about to continue on the main path.
"The lake." "
Are we not going to the lake?"
"Yes, we are. eventually. but we will take the main route. It passes the famous and historic Buddha Caves. Besides, this short cut is just too treacherous. The others must be up ahead, on the main path. Lets not waste time."
"May be they took the short cut too." I argued.

"Yes? and who made these footprints?" I could see he was right. Numerous footprints in the muddy track going straight on.
"I am tired.", I persisted like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Shall I carry you?" he chuckled.
"No but, lets take this short cut. That way, we will be able to catch up
with the others sooner, and also, we wouldnt need to walk as much. Whats so bad about this track?"

He still seemed unsure.

He picked up a medium sized branch that was lying nearby, and with it, made a large arrow, easily visible, on the ground pointing towards the narrow path.

And we set off. He led the way forward, and I was quite happy to follow him. Almost at once, I realized the slope was not as gentle as it had appeared. The forest around us grew more lush, the ground ferns six feet high, obscuring our view ahead. I heard the distant roar of water. The land began to slope downward more sharply, and we couldnt see our footing because of the ferns. Soon the path turned to a sloshy muddy track. Balbhadra slipped, grasping at branches and shrubs to break his slide. I watched as he slipped and slid, and then with a yell, he was gone.

I was not sure what to do. I continued to pick my way downward, grabbing branches for support. Then, I too, lost my footing, slapped down hard in the mud on my backside, and slid. tumbling down the mud, I banged into trees, felt branches scratch at my face, but could do nothing to stop my descent. I went down the hill, and down.

I staggered forward, knee-deep in boggy marsh at the edge of the pond. Mud clung to my face, my hair, my clothes. Pushing past the last of the tangles along the waters edge, I stepped out, to be greeted to the most spectacular scene I had ever laid my eyes upon.

And standing right there, not easily visible at first sight, beneath the roaring waterfalls was he. Clad in nothing but the bare minimums, enjoying the bath, like an angel taking a shower. As I approached closer, cautious, to avoid being swept off my feet in more ways than one, I realized it was a sort of rocky bed, a platform directly beneath the falls, that he was standing upon.

Water, white as a solitary cloud in mid-summer-noon skies, streamed down his fair forehead; past his hair, as deeply black and lustrous as a forest pool under the shade of ancient oaks. The early morning sun peaked through the narrow gorge, the only one opening between the hills, casting a rainbow that ran in a semi-arc perpendicular to his tall frame. Little rivulets were hurrying down the contours of his muscled torso, converging upon his naval, resembling a riptide.

I was just a few feet away from him, when he opened his eyes, and waved cheerfully as he noticed me, beckoning me to join him. I had to be awfully careful and watch every single step, not to slip off the smooth rocks, as I approached him. No sooner did I reach within touching distance, than he grabbed me into a sort of embrace. I let myself comply with the moment, and the instinctive embrace. I could feel the beating of his heart, and the texture of his skin with this forearms placed on my shoulders. He was looking at me with the same alluring smile, as the night before, and dazzling me with the irrepressible charm of his soft hazel eyes.

Moments slipped by. Frozen as we were, in a half embrace, gazing into each others eyes. Finally, I felt perhaps he was letting me make the move, may be letting me make my choice. Though to be honest, I didnt really have any alternatives left at that point. I didnt wanna spend the rest of my life wondering at what could have been.

Hesitantly, I brushed my lips against his, immediately sending my lips into involuntary quivering. And it might have been more embarrassing if not for the fact that I soon realized the zing I felt could be part attributed to his lips too. Temptation beckoned again, as I recollected the texture of his supple warm lips that was unlike anything I had ever perceived. In a daze, at the caress that I had felt in that ever brief moment; gentle and caring and loving, I closed my eyes, trying to stash that sensation in some secure recess of my memory, to be cherished at will.