The next day, it was a bright and sunny morning.. when the passengers reached on their next trek spot - The Doon Valley in Dehradun. The ship's second port of call place. It stood by a nearby harbour, where all the passengers got down following the instructions of captain.

Captain: "My dear passengers, a very warm morning. Would like to inform all of you that our second stop spot is here. The trek point - Doon valley.
The interested ones can go trekking and the rest can enjoy the beauty of nature park here. You have got 2 days time and we hope you to return to ship by day after tomorrow 12 noon being the deadline. Hope u have a great time here and me your ship's head captain now taking your leave."

After the announcement was made, the passengers divided themselves into small groups and went on their paths to enjoy & make the most of their trek time worthy.

On the other hand, Monami wanted to trek the hill with Karan.. so she went towards his base camp where he was posted for the duty to check on the ship passengers through the CC cams arranged at different spots on the trek ground.
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In the base camp:

Karan was busy glancing at all the different cam angles projected on the big screen infront of him when Monami silently went inside and back hugged him encircling her arms around his neck.

Monami : "Karan..!"                               

Karan : "Kya baat hai.. aaj toh Rani Saheba ko hampe bohot pyaar aarhi hai. Kuch baat hai kya?"

Monami : "Haa hai baat bhi aur pyaar bhi bohot jyada samjhe Mr.Commando.."

Karan : "Yes ma'am. Now please go ahead with your appeal."

Monami : "Waise I have to accept, my man is really smart. Now you know that I have some heartfelt request, you need to please agree to it."

Karan : "Can't promise. But you can still try your luck Miss girlfriend."

Monami : "Karan woh na sab log trekking karne gaye hai. Ham bhi chale kya please.. please.. "

Karan (turning towards her) : "Monami.. I am really sorry but it's a No. I am posted here to check on the passengers. So I really can't make it."

Monami : "Karan please na.. waise toh tum ground par hoke bhi passengers ko supervise kar sakte ho na.. Its an one time opportunity Karan, please.."

Karan : "Monami, try to understand. I have to be here. Maybe some other time we can go trek together surely as per your wish. For time being why don't you go take a walk and spend your time at the nature park beside."

Monami : "Fine carry on with your work! See u later and byee.
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Outside the base camp:

Monami (mimicking Karan) : "Go spend ur time at the nature park.."
(Sighing) Huff! samajta kya hai iss Khadoos Shergill.. abhi bhi choti bacchi hu kya mai ki jaake nature park mai time bhitau. Agar woh nahi chalega toh kya hua mai akeli trekking karne chali jaungi.
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After 2 hrs, it was lunch time when Karan took break from his work and thought to have his lunch with Monami. He went out from the base camp, along the nature park in search of her. But to his mere surprise he found her nowhere to be found.. neither in the nature park not at the ship. He tried calling her number but due to poor signalling at that area he wasn't able to reach her.

A fear instantly developed within him and he rushed back to the base camp to look at the CC cam recordings for any trace of Monami being at the trek ground. But adding more to his misfortune., no video record was in favour of his suspicion..

Karan : "I am such an idiot! Shouldn't have let her alone. Abh pata bhi nahi Monami kaha hogi.. I just hope jaha bhi ho, she's safe. Agar nature park mai nahi, ship pe nahi, trek ground pe nahi and her phone saying poor signalling.., toh joining all the dots there are high chances of her moving towards the forest area, which is not at all a good sign. Need to find her asap. Pls be safe Monami until I reach you.."

Karan immediately rushed out in the direction of forest area in search of Monami.
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In forest area:

Monami : "Oh God! Lagta hai I have lost my way.. I can find none of my co-passengers here. Am I even at the right place or not.? Lemme check my current location." (Surfing her phone) "My goodness.. my phone shows no signals. What do I do now."

Karan on the other side  found some shoe prints on the damp mud in his search way. Hoping that to be Monami who has passed along, Karan followed the prints entering into the deep forest.

Monami here in the intention of getting some help, thought of liting a fire with the dried twigs and a pile of leaves. In an attempt to gather the required stuff, Monami stumbled over the dispersed rocks and hurt her knee. Nevertheless, with a strong will to seek help..  she succeeded in igniting fire from the dead plant remains.

Karan was on his way following the track of shoe prints when he saw smoke coming from the opposite direction at a far away distance in front of him and he moved ahead towards it.

Monami sat on the rock near the fire she has lit, waiting for someone to perceive the signal and help her. Adding more to her problem, her injured knee started paining and the worst part being she having no first aid kit.. improving more chances of her developing a sepsis. But being helpless, all she could only do was to pray and wait for some help aid.

Karan walked through the bushes in the way of smoke and the more he came closer to the place of origin of ignition, the smoke became more dense and foggy.

Karan (shouting from the other end) : "Monami! Monami, are you there.. Monami can you here me.? Monami.."

Monami (hearing Karan's voice from a distance & replying) : "Karan! Karan.. I'm here."

Karan : "Monami, stay there. I'm coming."

Hearing Monami's voice Karan's tensed heart relieved a bit and he immediately ran to the other side to rescue her.

Karan found Monami sitting under a tree, on a rock and he instantly pulled her up from her sitting posture and straight away hugged her tightly.. throwing himself on her., feeling her close to him.. close to his heart.

Karan (hiding his face in crook of her neck) : "Monami, tum kaha chali gayi mujhe bina bataye. Thank god your fine. Pata hai tum na milne par mai kitna dar gya tha. Kyu aayi ese akeli yaha mujhe bataye bina. Agar tumhe kuch hojata toh mera kya hota Monami. You are all that I have and I don't want to lose you Monami. Even in my dreams I can't dream of any bad happening to you. Please don't do this again."

Saying this, Karan placed a long kiss on Monami's cheek and backed off.

Monami (holding Karan's hand) : "Karan, I'm sorry. Socha tha akeli trekking karne chali jaungi but then I lost my way and ended up here, right in the mid forest. Hoping for some help I ignited this fire here and to my goodness, it's you who has come to my rescue."

Karan : "Monami! Bas ek baat kehna chahta hu. Now that we are together. Together for each other and together forever don't do such silly acts again.
Bohot acha hua ki tumhe kuch nahi hua. Lekin bohot kuch hosakta tha Monami. Forest hai, jaanwar honge.. raat hogi toh akeli iss sunsaan jagah pe kya karti. And remember this Monami, ek baar apna Bhai ko kho chuka hoon. Abh dubara apna pyaar ko khone ki himmat aur takaat nahi hai mere andar."

Monami (cupping his face) : "Karan.. Karan, I'm really very sorry. I promise I won't repeat this again. Trust me please.. Mai tujhe kabhi chodke nahi jaungi Karan. I love you!

Karan (hugging her) : "And I love you Monami.. I love you more!"
"It's almost evening time. We can't go back to the base camp now. Let's try to go forward and search for a cottage for this night's stay."

Monami : "Okay."

Karan and Monami both started to walk away from the forest in search of a cottage, when Monami's hurt knee pained more and she instantly sat down to stabilize herself.

Karan : "Monami kya hua ? Dekhne do mujhe."

Monami : "Karan I hurt myself on the knee. First aid box bhi nahi hai mere paas."

Karan : "I think I have it in my bag pack.. just a second." (Searching his bag) "Yeah I do have it. Show me your knee."

Monami : "I'm hurt a long time back Karan. I just hope it doesn't land into sepsis."

Karan : "Kuch nahi hoga Monami. The wound looks deep. It must be paining a lot."

Karan finished first aiding her wound, made Monami drink some water and helped her get up slowly.

Karan (wearing bag pack on his front and bending down) : "Monami! Climb on my back. I will carry you."

Monami : "Karan.. that's not needed First aid kiya na tumne that's enough. I'll walk."

Karan : "Log kehte hai ki Karan Shergill apne cheezon ko leke aur apnon keliye bohot care karta hai. Aur aap toh mera dil ki raani, toh itni seva toh banta hai aapkeliye right! Abh agar argue karoge toh raat yahi hojayega aur phir ham donon ko yahi junglee janwaron ke sath raat bitana padega. Choice is yours my love. Better that you get on my back!"

Monami (climbing on Karan's back, her hands encircling his neck and her legs around his waist) : "Okay but if you have any problem in carrying me don't hesitate to tell me straight away at that moment."

Karan : "Madam agar bhool gaye toh yaad karlijiye aapki boyfriend commando hai." "Abh chale.?"

Monami : "Yes, let's go."

It was almost an hour that Karan and Monami started in search of a shelter but still couldn't find any.

Monami (wiping off Karan's sweat on his forehead with her hand) : "Karan thodi der keliye mujhe neeche utar do. Mai chal lungi. Bohot der se..

Karan (cutting her off  in between her words) : "Uski koi jarurat nahi hai. Chup chap baithe raho peeche. Samjhe."

Monami (chuckling & moving her face close to his) : "Bohot pyaar karte hona mujhse!"

Karan (looking into her eyes) : "Khudse bhi jyaada. Jaan ho tum meri Monami!"

Monami felt overwhelmed with his love and kissed Karan's cheek.

As a result of her kiss, Karan's cheek got imprinted with Monami's lipstick mark and as she attempted to wipe that off, Karan spontaneously dodged her hand away.

Monami: "Karan, tumhare gaal pe meri lipstick ke marks hai. Let me wipe them off."

Karan : "No! Pehle hi aap bohot kanjoos ho mujhe kisses dene mai. Aur abh diye hue kisses bhi mita rahe ho. Not fair Rani Sahiba.."

Monami blushed at his statement and held him tightly, placing her head on his shoulder and embracing his warmth.. feeling immensely happy, thinking at how he makes her heart flutter each time with his pure love and his constant little efforts to make her feel special and make her feel his..

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     * Will be continued in Part 13 *

Thankyou for reading!!
~Happysoul.