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We all deserve our version of a fairy tale love story...

When I reached the base camp, I was tired after an entire day's long journey. It was a long trip from Pune to Nainital. But this was just the beginning. We were about to start the 8-day long trekking trip from the next morning. I just had the evening to unwind and get myself recharged. I took a quick shower and ran to the kitchen to get some coffee. That's when I first saw him. The poised and composed man...sitting on a rock a few feets away from the kitchen, sipping coffee. He wasn't exceptionally handsome or attractive. But there was definitely something charismatic about him. I poured myself a cup of coffee and walked up to him. This time I got a better glance at this man. He was tall...probably 6ft. From the look of it, I would guess he was in his early thirties. He had a weird calmness on his face...as if he had no worries of the world at all. His eyes sparkled with life. "Hi! I am Priyanka", I said, "Do you mind if I join you?" He smiled, told me his name and moved to one side of the rock to make some space for me. I sat down and the conversation started.

Over the course of the next 8 days, this stranger became my friend. From stories of our life to leaders of this country, from weird movies to strange mythologies...we had spoken about almost anything and everything in these 8 days. I don't know if it was the magic in the wild air of Nainital or something about this man I had recently befriended, I could totally hear violins in the air and feel those flower petals over me! This was the closest to love I had ever felt. Gosh! Can we really fall in love with someone in just 8 days? Naah! It totally was the weather, the freedom of being there and the exhaustion of an 8-day long trek.

At the end of 8 days, we were back at our base camp. I had to travel back to Delhi the next morning and fly back to Pune. Well, it was time to end this vacation romance. This was an amazing trip. My first ever solo trip! I never felt stronger...or achieved before. But, amidst all these happy feelings, there was a slight pinch of sorrow. The pain of needing to go away from this no-longer-stranger guy whom I had definitely started crushing on! 

I was packing my bags..lost in thoughts...when I head a light knock at my door. "Wanna go for a walk?" he asked, standing at my door. "Sure", I answered...with a smile. This would probably be the last time we would walk these roads together. We had walked a few miles already and I was starting to get tired. That's when we decided to stop at a table-top for a break. The sun was about to set. From the table-top, all our eyes could see was a lush green apple orchard and the last glimpse of the sun at the horizon. Slight wind in my open and messy hair...and my prince charming by my side. 

I was already living a fairy tale when he suddenly came towards me and said, "before we part ways, can I get a hug?" I blushed red! Probably my eyes said it all....and he came closer to me. I melted in his arms. This was the first time I understood what the phrase 'swept off my feet' actually meant. I could hardly breathe. 


At that moment, I realized that we all do deserve our version of a fairy-tale love story and this was mine! Those 20 seconds were probably one of the best moments of my life. 

Next morning, he was gone before I woke up. I left the camp with a small drop of tear and a bag full of beautiful memories! 
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