Murmur of the Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey

next to the stream. The mountain was near. A rhododendron stood proud with its pink blossoms. The grass was tall and wild. Ahead there was no road but only the stream to follow.
    It was afternoon when they reached the top. The last part of the climb was a bit tough. They had to make it through boulders, sometimes crawling, sometimes leaping, and sometimes clenching grasses and bushes to pull themselves along. The top was flat with just a few trees. From a distance, the grass looked as if it changed color from emerald to light green. The brahma kamal formed clusters of white. They were in full bloom, the outer petals, greenish white while the inside was pink. Neelam, who was the youngest in the team, started picking flowers while Diwakar and Kiran looked around. They had to move a bit farther before they saw the beautiful larkspur with translucent blue petals standing among the wild grass. These flowers only blossomed during this time of the year. Both started collecting and piling them on a large cloth. Once they had enough, the cloth was tied up and they took a final break. It was late afternoon and they had to go down before sunset. This area was also home to leopards, but they normally kept to the trees. Each took one bunch on his back and started down. They had to be careful while descending with a load, but they were accustomed to it. All of them had been born here and the hills were part of their daily life.
    ***
    Ria reached the temple. On the way, she had met her friend Lila who accompanied her. Both sat on the stairs. The temple looked deserted, although they could imagine the sound of drums and cymbals that would soon be there. A few children played on the compound. Ria took out the strip of bindi and asked Lila to help her with one. She gave her one too. She was a bit upset, as there was no sign of the young man. She expected him to be there. A few more children came but not the young man she was expecting. And then she saw him coming through the outer door. There were two more men with him. They walked straight to where Ria and her friend were sitting. Her heart started beating and she was afraid Lila would be able to hear. They turned at the last moment and took a seat not far from them. While passing, the boy glanced at her and smiled. Ria blushed but then looked the other way.
    Her friend smelled something and said, “What are you hiding from me? I can see you are blushing.”
    “Nothing,” Ria said, looking the other way.
    “I don’t believe you,” she said with a light push.
    “Okay, I will tell you, but do you promise not to tell anyone?”
    “I am your best friend; you can trust me.”
    “You see that boy in the center in the orange shirt and blue jeans?”
    “Yes, what about him?”
    “He is the boy I told you about.”
    Lila looked again but now with more interest. He was an average young man but smart in looks. She smiled at Ria and pinched her lightly.
    Nisha and Parvati reached the temple before the sun went down. A crowd had gathered and everyone was getting ready. Earlier, a group of men had already left to meet the three boys halfway. There they prepared long flower sticks with vines and flowers. The news reached them that they were ready and the drummers stood up. Devta went ahead to meet the team. Behind him went a group of men dressed traditionally wearing long gowns, umber in color, and black hats made of cloth that made them look somewhat like primitive Chinese tribesmen. They were dressed in a manner preserved over generations and used only for this occasion. And behind all went the married women in groups, all wearing shawls with black-and-white checks over their dhurrie. Nisha went with Parvati. The party reached the venue and then the drums, bugles, and cymbals raised the pitch and tempo as if to greet them. The men in front danced, forming small chains of three and four, and the boys danced with the flower sticks, throwing them up in the air and catching them again. The women