Chapter 11 Guardian

 

 

“Ketan Dev? Of Dev Technologies?” I blurted out.

“Yeah, that would be me.” he replied with a mischievous smile.

“Oh God! I knew I recognized you from somewhere Sir. I’m Andy. Thank you so much. I had almost resigned to death back there” I said, with an unusual energy level for a guy who has just had an encounter with death.

“It’s quite alright. You were lucky I saw your camera at this ledge. I looked around and saw a pair of legs hanging across that shrub there. You see it?”

 

I looked down the ledge carefully to the far end of the slope, where a shrub was barely visible.

“Yeah, I do. God! That was really quite steep. Thank you so much again.”

“Don’t mention it again; I mean it” he said, and gave me a stern look.

 

I was taken aback by the sudden serious overtone. Suddenly, he smiled his old devilish smile again, and tied up the ends of the bandage. What a time to bring humor, I thought.

“So, what brings you here Sir? It’s not every day that one runs into a CEO and founder of a major software company, especially so in a place like Oonad.”

“Yeah,” he replied with a sheepish grin, “I take a break from work every few months when I’m stressed out. Oonad is not crowded at this time of the year, and trekking is quite rare too in this season. I come here often. There’s something about the beauty and adventure of this place that simply makes all the effort worthwhile.”

“I agree Sir.”

“So, tell me Andy. What brings you to Oonad?” he asked, while putting his first aid kit back into his bag.

“Honestly Sir, I just came to this trip to forget my past.” I said, and immediately asked myself if I should have said that. Too late, as usual.

“Past, huh? If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?” he asked, while carefully dressing my wounds.

 

Should I tell him? This is ideal for me really. I get to say everything that has happened to a neutral person, and it will probably relieve me of some of my burden. He may offer me an unbiased feedback and something positive may come out of this.

I started telling him about how I got fired from my job, my current status, living at home with my parents, and so on. After some initial hesitation, I told him about Maya, our past and how that one eventful day had been the precursor to everything bad in the recent past. He listened intently, nodding at times, and asked me questions as well.

At nearly the end of my story, he started laughing. “I can’t believe this…I really can’t believe this.” he said.

“I’m not lying, Sir” I shot back, a little disappointed with that reaction.

“I never said you were, Andy. Never mind. Have you come here alone?” he asked, after a short respite in my story nearly at the end.

“No, my friends have come with me. They are on the opposite side of this place.” I said, still not comprehending the laughter.

“I think you need to get back to them. I have a little further up to go, and then will head back. Where are you staying?”

 

I was a bit disappointed though. I really thought he would offer some insight into what had happened and tell me how I could improve it. I hoped for a few words of advice at least.

“Hotel Hillview, at the base of this route.” I said, rather morosely.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of it. Well, nice bumping into you Andy. Take care of yourself. Bye.” he said as he started to leave.

“Goodbye Sir, and thanks again”

 

He raised his hand in acknowledgement as he walked away. I did not know what to make of this ordeal. It had taken me to a near death experience, sent Ketan Dev to rescue me, I pour out my woes to him and the man walks away like it was nothing.

I shake off my thoughts, pick up my fallen camera and head back to where I’d left those careless buggers. It’s nearly been half an hour since I left there and they were not even curious as to why I hadn’t returned.

“Andy, you’re back!” said Rags as I reached the other end.

“What happened to your hand?” asked Abhi.

Glad you could notice guys. Really.

“I had a fall at the ledge; some guy helped me up and bandaged me.” I said, underplaying the severity of what had passed.

 

I did not want to ask them why they had not come looking for me, nor did I want to tell them the details of what had happened. I just wanted to get to the hotel and get some sleep. We headed back, this time slower and more exhausted than ever; or maybe it was just me who felt really tired. We had spent almost the entire day on that hillock, and I started to wonder if this was what I had asked for. I shuddered at the thought of hanging by that shrub, and thanked my lucky stars to have made it through that ordeal. I should be really grateful for being alive, above all else, I told myself. As I gulped down the last mouthful of dinner and headed to my room to sleep, I could not help but remember Mr. Dev who had been sent down to give me a new life. He had pulled me out from the jaws of death. He was my guardian today. I whispered a silent prayer and fell asleep, knowing not what tomorrow had in store for me.

 

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