Chapter 1

If only he had listened to Tembul. The thought resonated in Parasmani’s ears as he sat in a carved out rock cave, waiting. The sun had just set. Although he could not see it, he could tell by the reddish haze visible through the dense jungle. He could at least see the haze from his elevated position. Down there, where the jungle was denser, all you could see was clouds. “At this time of the year sun usually sets early, Saab” Tembul had told them. Had told him. Parasmani wanted Tembul to be with him, more than anyone. Tembul was eighteen, Parasmani twenty five.

Tembul was a native scout. Here, up in the Himalayas, he was as surefooted as a camel in the desert. He could tell you which direction was north, by just looking around. He could make a fire out of nothing and find food out of nowhere. James Bond of the Himalayas.

“In the day you can tell how many hours till night, by watching the sun, but at night, be careful, it is difficult”. Parasmani had to remember everything Tembul had told them, to wait until morning. If there was ever going to be one.

It was dark now, Parasmani expected to hear crickets and frogs, usual sounds of the night. What he heard was his own thoughts. It is your fault Parsy; you were the one who fell asleep. Alone.

It was silent too. It made his fears worse. Silence makes you hear your own voices, and scares you. It connives with darkness to enslave you. It paralyses you. Parsy sat in the cave with his back towards the wall. His back touching the muddy wall in the cave comforted him. “The jungle is very nice to look at, not a good companion Saab”. Tembul had said that. The fear now was overwhelming. It was an hour after sunset.

The wind howled in the trees. It made Parsy consider the possibility of wild animals around. But he was not going to move, no sir. He was going to wait till morning. After all, he was perfectly hidden in this small enclosure and being low, the icy wind could not touch him. “Hidden from what, Parsy?” Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. He wanted to think nothing. He would wait for Tembul, anyone, to come and be with him, to take him away from here…”Anyone, Parsy? Anyone? Would you like Neenu to find you, Parsy? Or Kaul? Or Anand?” No! No! No! How could they find him? They were…

Suddenly out of nowhere, he heard a noise. The noise of footsteps crushing decayed leaves under them. The steps were regular. Like that of a trained scout. Tembul! Parsy switched on his flashlight, but covered it with his left hand so it appeared like a halo of light around his gloved hand, in the dark. And waited.