A Love Affair with the Himalaya

Thought about writing this many times,  and the best ideas would typically come when I was running in the evening.  And I would forget when I sat to write…  so I am at least starting the process today and noting down my thoughts as they come and compile them later.

During these four odd years of my love affair with the mountains,  I went through all the ups and downs of a typical love affair - the ecstasy,  the longing,  pining,  heart break -  and a lot more. In fact the seeds of this love affair were sown long ago - say 20 years ago.  Every time I went to Himalaya,  I returned looking prettier,  with rosy cheeks -  the color of love.  I didn't realize that time and thought it was just due to healthy weather.  Little did I know what I was getting into.  I would keep turning back to catch one last glimpse before parting…  and this tradition continues even today after two decades.  

And then I lost touch with my love and got on with the flow of life-studies,  job and such other mundane things. During this period I did feel a special attraction towards the mountains - just like when you are hopelessly attracted to that special someone but imagine it to be just an infatuation.

But it is believed that matches are made in heaven,  and I extrapolate it to believe that love itself is made in heaven. Like the famous dialogue from the hindi movie ‘Dil to pagal hai’ - I also used to wonder what happens when you discover that special someone in your life - do the stars shine brighter,  or you hear ringing bells etc.  I was yet to experience the most intense moments of my life.  I was destined to be with the mountains,  so the events in life unfolded in a manner that I was drawn closer to my love.

It was August 2013.  One day out of the blue,  My friend asked me whether I would want to go trekking to Kashmir-the great Lakes.  I liked Kashmir and after seeing the pictures of seven alpine lakes on the website of India hikes,  I was in.  I hadn't trekked much in the recent past,  so religiously followed the preparation schedule - running for 5km in 30 minutes for a month.  And in September,  I went for a week long trek to the Great Lakes.  What a sublime experience - beyond words.  Seven days of grueling walking through the mountains,  sleeping in the tents,  freezing cold and a bunch of extremely warm people. The last day of the trek was a killer on the feet as it was a steep descent of 20 odd km.  But when I reached the end, I felt empty.  Didn't at all feel the sense of accomplishment on completing.  In fact I broke down and cried for half an hour.  Every body around me was puzzled,  I also didn't know what was happening to me.  This was my moment of self discovery - finding my true love… and there were no bells, no guitar - just my loved one and me in the picturesque Kashmir - sounds straight out of a Yash Chopra movie .

So let me try to draw some parallels between a regular affair and mine with the Himalaya.

In initial days of an affair there is usually some amount of trepidation, excitement.

You make special preparations, dress up and want to be your best when going to meet your beloved.

When I look back, my intense preparation for the treks was like getting ready to meet my loved one, and I wanted to be my best.

Then as the relationship matures,  there is more comfort between the two people, you don't need to put up your best face anymore, you can just be yourself with your beloved.

Similarly now when I go to the Himalaya, there is no excitement, butterflies in my stomach, just calmness and pure ecstasy when I am in the arms of the Himalaya.

And then there is separation when situations in life force you to be away from your loved one. The pining, the yearning is intense initially and then you accept this phase and wait for the good times.

There have also been some heartbreaks - not because of my love being unfaithful, but at times when the universe conspired against our plans to meet - I was all set to go to Annapurna Base Camp - one of the most romantic settings to be with your beloved, but destiny had some other plans.. There was a massive earthquake in Nepal in 2015 - just a week before my departure, and the trek had to be canceled…  I felt robbed…  and frantically looked for options to meet my beloved - even if at a different place. True love always overcomes all odds to be together. I also managed to make all arrangements for an alternate trek to Bagini Glacier in Uttarakhand in less than a week, and here I was - deeply satisfied and blushing with my beloved.

Currently mine is also a long distance relationship, I get to see and be with my beloved only a couple of times a year, and the pining continues…. But I am waiting for the day when I will be united with my love, forever….