Every step that moves in the right direction is a goal in itself ...after all life is all about the next step.

Soon Riya reached KHARDUNG LA and the scene which was in front of her eyes was breath taking, a mesmerising nature s beauty,,the ice capped moutain..clouds touching

Khardunga La is a mountain pass in the ladakh region of the indian union territory of ladakh. also called Khardzong La but ,as with most in ladakh,the romanised spelling varies .The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.
Reaching to Khardung La she finds a board written.

Reading the board she gets little scared,, as its is not going to be a easy task.. but things like this having its own fun,, surely shes going to look forward to to enjoy this Adventurous Ride..smiling she moves forward to meet the local guide who will supervise the people climbing to the moutain.

Excuse me..Hi..

Says Riya

That man looks towards her as his face was on the opposite side,,

Yes..

He Replys ..

haan ..actually mujhe ye trekking mei parricipate karna tha ..so whats the charges for your services?

Ask Riya while taking out her wallet from her back pack..

Sorry..

Says that man ..while removing his goggles

Riya looks back to him and says ..

Arre...apka price kya ?

Giving little stern look he replys again

Excuse Me Miss..

Before he says Riya intervenes and says little irritated.

Yar mai kabse apko is trekking ka charges puchrahi hoon aur aap hai ki..

Look Miss ,,lagta hai apko koi galat fehmi hui hai,,mai koi local guide nahi hoon so please..Excuse me..

Saying this he left from that place wearing his goggles back.

Listening to this Riya felt little embbarrased ..and says

Hey bhagwaan..

(In her usual style😉)

After some time she starts to move upwards towards the mountain.. as it was one of the highest peak in the world ..she find few people already started climbing..their seems to be experts thought Riya.

But due to its height there was little shortage of oxygen and because of some bad weather few were started coughing by breathlessness...Her attention went to a voice whose coming from far side she reached there to find a little girl around 5 or 6 years crying and shivering with cold ..she quickly covers thats little girl with her long leather jacket and embraces her in arms .she must have lost her parents due to this bad weather ..she quickly takes her to the milatary hospital which was near to the road side ..giving girl to the nurse and asking to start the treatment as soon as possible and went to fill the admission form which was instructed by the nurse.Aftr filling the form she came to the lobby ..

She heard some familar voice from emergency unit ..and gets surprise to see the doctor who is treating this little girl to whom she brought.

Watching this she quickly hides from the ward and says

O teri ki..

She keeps are hand on her forehead..and says..

O God ye toh doctor hai aur main inne Gui...chichhh...waise tu log ko bada read out karle thi hai..aaj kya hua Riya..khair jo hua so hogaya mujhe lagta hai unne mujhe sorry kehdena chaiye ..hmm sahi rahega..

As she turns to her left side while talking to herself she gets shock to find Him in front of her..

For few seconds she unable to mouth anything..then finally she speaks nervously..

Aa..woh bachi i mean ..woh kaise hai ..how shes feeling now.

But what she heard makes her more shock..

Usse toh acute bronchitis hua hai magar lagta hai apko blabberities hua hai,i hope its contagious,,warna isse hum local guides ko kaafi nuksaan hoga ..arre bhai aap jaise tourist ka hum pe "Nazre karam" kam hogaya toh humein tawajjo kaun dega..

He replys in teasing and playful way,, while little smile on his face he left for the rounds..

After somtime he saw Riya sitting in the lounge just adjacent to the garden area ..

Riya feeling someone presence and find Doc Rizvi is standing with 2 mugs of coffee and he politely offers one mug to her.

She takes the mug as it was cold and this she really needs it.

Taking the sips she says ..

Sorry woh ..maine apko galti se..

But he cuts her in between and says..

Sorry toh mujhe apko kehna chaiye ..mujhe pata nahi tha ke us ladki ko aap ne shareek kiya..mai pashemaan hoon apne rawaiye ke liye aur behad sharminda bhi..

Aapko guilty feel karne ki zaroorat nahi ,aur yakeen maaniye mujhe aap ki baat ka bura nahi laga ..kyuki mai logon ko ,unke natures ko ,samajne ki koshish karti hoon.haan kabhi kabhi galti hojati hai..

Says Riya while little tease in her tone ..listening to this dr Rizvi laughs..and Riya also starts laughing.

Doc rizvi ab woh ladki..

But he cuts her and says..

Nashaud ..you can call me Naushad.

He Says with little smile.

Hi Naushad..iam Riya Sanyal..yahan gumne aayi .

Aap akele aayi ..

Ask Naushad ..while sipping his coffee.

Ji haan actually mere parents ne mujhe as a present ye trip ke liye bheja.As i always want to explore the world.

She says little hesitantly purposely hiding her birthday .as she don't belive in PDA .. everthing she wants in simple way ..simplicity is her best policy ..she mingle with those who are very close..

Hmmm..shayad mujhe ab chalna chaiye..mera safar kaafi lamba hai..

Says Riya while getting up and taking her backpack..

Riya

He calls her..

She turns and find him standing hands in his pockets he says.

"Yoahmei Paidaaish ki bohat bohat Mubarakbaad apko,,khuda apki zindagi mei Naubaharein,Ishrath aur bahaali leke aaye."

Riya smiles hearing it and says.

Lagta hai inka matlab dictionary mei dekhte dekhte safar nikal jaayega.

Naushad laughs and says.

Happy Birthday Riya ..May God bless you..and you get everything you wish for..

He shakes his hands with her and left..smiling she too turns suddenly she realised how did he know that today is her birthday..(socho socho).
**********