The Birds Returning Home - Novel

Chapter - One

The Golden Key of Treasure

‘Here I don’t want to end up my life, which direction I’m going in life. This wasn’t my plane rather I had no plane. A wise man says, ‘if you fail to plane then you plane to fail’. I know it’s a long journey, and I have to find my place in this world. When I turn back and see my childhood days in Pathankot, where I was free bird, no one ever used wrong word for me, but here people – better I return my home. This Uttrakhand isn’t my type.’

A young man lying on a bed had divided into his thoughts discovering him. Many find pearls but he had got disappointments. Suddenly a knock at door broke the silence, but he was drifted in deep Ocean. Shoes’ tapping was clear at door, and someone was calling outside.

‘Varun open the door, I know, yesterday you had locked the door while you was inside.’

One gentleman, average height, well built, was strolling outside. It was a slant roof small house attached with two boys’ dormitories Luv - Kush in Sainik School Ghorakhal sitting at top of Himalayan Mountains near Nainital in Uttrakhand, Where boys are trained for defense.

The Golden Key of Treasure

He again knocked, but there was no response. Finally he stopped knocking, and started rambling in basketball court attached with the house. He was watching students and cars on road, while thought were taking shapes in his head. It was incredible evening sight, mountains stretched all around so far eyes could go, a layer of fog covered middle portion of mountains, and tip of the mountains above the fog like giant sea animal had come to surface for fresh air. A herd of birds flying  to their nests, looking so fascinating in evening sky while cool breeze started blowing from nowhere in response the pine trees started dancing, and next moment the breeze disappeared somewhere like giving inspiration to a poet.    

When heard creaks at the door, the gentleman’s stagnant face sparkled, and he stepped forward to the door. The door opened, and a tall, slim, tan color young man appeared.

‘Come in, sorry kept you waiting.’ Varun closed the door behind and lead to room. There were three rooms, two looked unused. In his room books and papers were lying on table, and a coffee mug was giving them a company.

Varun sitting on the bed, leaning against the wall smiled. ‘What’s up Alok sir?’

‘Thinking to go Bhowali, have some work there.’ Leaned back in a long wooden chair, Alok looked at the roof. Indirectly he was asking to come with me. Bhowali is the nearest small town around 4 km away from this school. The road leading to Bhowali gives an incredible nature experience, which goes through the forest, covered with tall Pine and Deodar trees. When you look down on left side of the road, a valley starches in front of eyes and gives a glimpse of a lake, a small town Bhimtal is settled there, reminds standing at the highest mountain. There many birds never seen before chirping in bushes and on trees branches would captivate any one without any sign of traffic. This place is surrounded with many Himalayan mountains, and there one triangle mountain is the admirable work of nature loved by everyone. This place is surrounded with many lakes, but Nainital is the diamond in a golden ring.

The Nainital Lake

‘You coming with me.’ Alok leant forward.
‘Sorry Alok sir, have work.’ Varun saw in his eyes.
‘Please for friendship.’ Alok dragged chair toward Varun.

After five minutes debate, Alok won the case and Varun had to go with him. Actually Alok was newly appointed as Maths teacher, and he always felt close with Varun, so in evening he used to come.

‘Varun get ready and come to my room.’ Alok got up and left the room.

Varun took five minutes, got ready, locked the door, and left for Alok. It was hardly five minutes walking distance. Ringing bell could be heard from the old temple. The fog was slowly creeping near the deodar trees while children’s shouts could be heard, playing in the football ground.

Holding key ring in index finger, Varun knocked the door. The door took five seconds to open.

‘Come, I’ll take five minutes.’ Alok latched the door behind. This house was bigger and in better condition than Varun’s house. Only one room was in use, and two rooms were empty – bachelor club. Cloths and bed sheet were folded and stacked on bed. On table books and papers looked well arranged like they weren’t touched. Shoes and slippers were lying in a row near door.

Alok locked the house, and both started walking on sloped -wide cement pathway connecting to the main road. The fog had covered the school in white layer, and Indian flag was flying with pride. Varun and Alok were walking down the road taking about their future. The cold touch of the breeze was reminding the winter days. Suddenly fog came from right side, and covered them in its white layer. In a moment they disappeared, and there left were trees, cold breeze, mountains while a woodpecker was busy drumming on dry Pine tree. After five minutes later, they emerged from the fog. Now right side the Bhimtal Lake was visible down there like a wonderland in fairy tales. The Pines dry needles had covered the either side of the road, and somewhere the road was hiding under brown layer besides small Pines cones lying on road were like an artist had painted a landscape.

The Bhimtal Lake

               ‘You are MSc in computer science, why don’t you enroll for higher degree’, Alok slowed down pace.

                ‘But where I do it.’  Varun looked in Alok’s eyes.
                ‘I know one Academy in Dehradun, you could join there.’
                ‘But how will manage job and college?’
                ‘Get books, do self-study, and join classes when have time, I know everyone there, would help you. See it is June; you could join there. I’ll give phone no.’

Varun and Alok absorbed in their talks were strolling down the road. Next there was a fork in the road left for Bhimtal and right for Bhowali. A roaring big bus was turning to Bhimtal. Varun and Alok took the right side as the road was narrow. Furthermore, it was packed with taxies and cars. After half mile the road again splits into two the right turn went to Ramgur famous for Himalaya view, and straight road leaded to main market. The Bhowali had been settled between two mountains, and so it was little congested.

Varun and Alok were in a stationary shop on Nainital road. It was a three way intersection; one went to Ranikhat and other Nainital. Varun came out of the shop while  Alok following behind holding one magazine and diary.

‘Let’s have something.’ Alok face lighted up.

‘See we’re getting late.’

‘Come on Varun, let’s have tea.'

The Bhowali Market

Varun and Alok were sitting in a local tea shop while Alok was absorbed in the newspaper. There few people in black and in brown coats, wearing Gandhi cap were gossiping in local language, and the odor of cigarette was coming out of their breath while the fragrances of toasted bread and yellow butter was getting stronger. Unexpectedly a man in Nepali traditional dress, carrying big boxes on his back got in. The shop keeper gestured to place inside. Varun and Alok were enjoying their toasted bread butter with tea. In Bhowali the life was rolling with slow pace.

‘Ghorakhal is your first visit?’ Varun took a bite.

‘Yah it is. As I told you Haridwar is my home town’

‘And your too.’

‘No, we used to come in temple whenever we would visit here in summer vacation.’

‘Let’s go now. I have extra evening class.’ Alok got up, and stepped toward the counter

On Ghorakhal road both were stepping little faster and now the noise of the roaring buses was left behind. As the road was little steep, their breath could be heard overlapping with birds tweets, but cool breeze was enough to recharge their batteries.

‘Where is my house key?’ Varun stopped for a moment, and put both hands in pant pocket, searching key.

‘I think I left in tea shop, or may be in stationary shop. Now I have to go back to find it’

‘Alok sir you go, I will go back to the shop.’

‘See your back pockets.’

‘Not here I’ve seen.’

Alok was standing there while Varun rushed back looking down on road. But there was no sign of key.

‘Why I hold key in hand? Why bad happens with me? I should have kept in pocket. I should haven’t come with him.’

Varun was looking on the road while his mind was flooded with uncontrolled thoughts. He was sure key would be in tea shop, where they had stayed longer. Now the surrounding was tasteless for him even it was like walking on hot sand in desert.

 When he got Bhowali, he didn’t know. His foots were stepping fast to reach tea shop, which wasn’t far away. Finally his marathon was over, and he stepped inside the shop, and saw table, where card game was in full swing.

‘Did you see key here.’

‘No didn’t.’ A man was gazing his cards.

‘Did you get key on that table?’ Varun turned to shopkeeper.

‘No.’ the shop keeper shook his head. Varun came out of the shop, and rushed to stationary shop, which was two minutes walk away.

‘Sir, did you see key here.’

‘No, I did not.’

‘Where key would’ve gone? Now have to break the lock.’  He was walking with slow steps. A car horn broke his chain of thought. He got aside, on other hand a police man was shouting at truck driver as he had parked at wrong place as a result there was a long line of vehicles standing on road.  After police intervention all vehicles were moving slowly. Shops were busy with customers as it was the returning time to home.

Varun without looking anywhere was walking on silent road, and now he had come far away from Bhowali.  While walking Pine dry needles were rustling under his feet, and earthy scent was everywhere. On the other hand the shying sun was hiding behind the mountain, and slowly the sky was looking vacant without birds.  Roaring of the car engine caught varun’s attention. Varun looked behind; it was a white taxi.  It swiftly passed by him.

‘Where key has gone? In evening I locked. Came in Alok house; I remember I had key. After that we came to Bhowali, went in Stationary and Tea shop. In shops have checked.  Now there are two possibilities either dropped somewhere or it is in Alok’s house. I’m sure it’s there.’

After long time, a smile cracked on Varun’s face, and rustling of Pine needles increased dramatically as he had started walking little faster. His left hand went deep into pocket and came out with Phone, and without taking breath he called to Alok, but other side no one was receiving the Phone.

‘Why Alok is not picking up.  Better try one more time - ring going, again not receiving. He would be in school, taking evening classes.’

  Now yellow color staff colony was in his sight, which always reminded him MES staff quarters in Pathankot. On flat grass land grazing cow’s jingling bell sounded pleasant while  Toon – Toon – Toon , the big temple bell vibrations had filled the atmosphere.

Varun turned to the staff colony, taking long steps to Alok house, but it was locked and then for a moment he stopped there and after thought turned to school. The white fog had covered the school, and hostel windows were reflecting white light. As he reached near school gate, a tall and stunning girl holding bag on shoulder was coming toward him. The fog was sometime hiding her in white layer, and cool breeze seemed playing with her long opened hair. He hadn’t seen her before. Both were walking toward each other. He looked at her, and both passed each other. For a moment the time seemed paused, the fog forgot moving, the breeze got stopped. Even stars had appeared to witness the incident.

This school had been built at top of that mountain which had spectacular view, and Bhimtal could be seen down settled at foot of this mountain. People used to say that was the Estate of a Nawab. Later Govt. had taken over it, and turned into a School. Now many new Buildings were built for hostels, mess, and school where as old building was transformed into an administrative block. In front of the old building, the flat ground, the long deodar trees was the fascinating spot providing the best view the surrounding.  

Varun walked down the stairs, and the main school building gate was open; left side was staff room and right side classes, which were alive with students humming. When he opened the staff room door, two teachers stopped talking, and smiled to see him.

‘Sir, you saw Alok sir.’

‘He is in 10^th.’

‘Thank you.’

He walked straight in the corridor, which looked like T shape, one stair case leading down. He turned right, and stopped near a class door.

‘Alok sir please.’

‘Yes Varun, got key.’

‘No, I think it’s in your house.’

‘Would you give your key?’

‘See only one hour left. We’ll have dinner, and go to house t.’

‘All right.’  Varun  unwillingly smiled.

‘He isn’t my friend otherwise would give key or doesn’t trust me.’ Varun came out of the school, feeling like fish out of water. He walked up stairs, in front of him administrative block sounded silent in night. He strolling in front of the building approached to the edge of ground. Standing beside white pillar wall, he was looking down at foot of the mountain. There trees branches were dancing  with strong winds, and rustling leaves was telling him some facts of life. The Bhimtal was looking like celebrating Diwali, and he turned up face, saw sky full of starts, reminded him his Pathankot – home town, where used to go for walk after dinner every night.

The Full Moon

‘This sky is the same that I used to see at night. This moon is the same that used to come there. This moon is looking so gorgeous like a persuading face of a fascinating beauty.’

He turned behind the students in line were going to the mess for dinner, and behind them a group of teachers were treading lightly, looking in cheerful mood  as their laugh was sounding louder than morning time. Varun stepped fast to join them.

‘Varun sir come join us. Alok sir told about you missed key.’  Mr Naik held his hands – an Art teacher. Varun always liked his painting than him as his art room was a treasure. Second library was the place where Varun had discovered himself.

As they entered in mess, It was cozy than outside and the aroma of delicious ingredients arrested them besides the clinks of cutleries in kitchen were disturbing the talks.  Varun took a long breath as it was his favorite white chhola with Chess. All teachers took their places with their students according to their houses. Thud – Thud – Thud, the school captain struck the wooden hammer, and all got up to thank the God for dinner. After that the mess was buzzing, and clinks of cutleries were everywhere. Varun used to be a slow eater, but after joining school, had started eating fast.

After twenty minutes, Thud-Thud-Thud, wooden hamper was struck as dinner was over. All students had got up, and slowly leaving the mess. The mess seems little crowded and noisy place. Students were strolling  to their hostels while  teachers  were going down the road. The fog was again trying to block them, and lamp post standing quietly was showing the path. Mountains were dark, but their outlines could be noticed in night sky. Crickets’ chirps had kept the road alive, and on the other hand a Squawking flock of parrots was flying to home, which had magnified the glamour of the night. Varun always loved this voice as he used to hear flock of parrots flying over his house at night in Pathakot.

‘Good night all of you.’ In staff colony all teachers were going to their houses. On the other hand Varun standing in front of Alok’s house was excited to meet his key.  Alok unlocked the door. It was dark inside, so he turned on the light. The key which Varun had missed a lot, was sitting on the table. He held in hand and then felt like had found the golden key of his treasure. Chapter Two

Arvind Kumar