Page 20 - final Nai Udaan september 2024

Lucky for Vansh, Simran kept supplies for such emergencies,
in fact she was ready for most emergencies. She located the
oxygen bottles and ordered Vansh to take a slow deep
breath and inhale. Nothing quite like pure oxygen in the
lungs. He had no objections. He was a safe distance from the
flames. What he hadn’t considered was the effect of the smoke. The wind

combined with the landscape created pockets of smoke. The wind shifted
and created an obstacle Vansh had not prepared for. He was luckier to
have found his way out to her. Simran was an absolute vision. She was as
up here mostly alone on the side of her mountain. She knew what to do
and when.

Who was this beautiful enchantress? How did he possibly
find her? This year his job had sent him across the country on
various assignments. Koli hill of Tamil Nadu, Nathulla pass in
Sikkim, Sela pass of Arunachal Pradesh, south, east and the

extreme west. The storms and disasters were more intense and
lasting longer. Vansh the young photo journalist; Words escaped him,
but a picture, need he say more? Simran was a vision. His vision in fact.
He had seen her before.
He dreamed her. At first he thought maybe it was jet lag or fantasy. The
more he studied her face, the more real he knew she had been in his
dream. The more real he now understood she was, currently present
right beside him.

Vansh took another sip of water.
He was able to a “Thank you, ma’am.”……he could hide his smile.
Simran smiled back. She knew just what to do.

Raj Kumar
Sunil Kumar
Mahato
Ghosh
TGT, Drawing
SBV J&K Block
Dilshad Garden

18 xÉ<Ç =cÉxÉ flrEcj
-2024