The Last Journey

​The next day arrived with Varun and Ananya visiting the Nilgiri Mountain Railway which had beautiful sceneries all the way. It was one of the best train rides in the whole of South India. It was just a once in lifetime experience as it chugs its way through captivating scenery such as captivating landscapes, dense forests and the sparkling river with the sun shining brightly over them. The place was just mesmerizing with sparkling blue waterfalls, steep hills, lush green forests, plunging ravines and beautiful tea plantations. It was the best five hour ride one can get in their lifetime. ​After the train ride they went to visit the Rose Garden which is one of the beautiful places in Ooty. It is a true paradise for nature lovers. The place also gives out the true captivating memories of their life so far. Ananya was thinking about the past memories of Srinath and present memories of Varun. She did not know what to do and was so confused. ​While Varun was thinking about Ananya and the pain she was going through. He wanted to do something for her but did not know how to do it. ​They get to see the different varieties of roses, colourful and vast variety of roses. They started talking without realizing about the place. The place took their feelings to the next level. ​Finally at the end of the day they get to visit the Emerald Lake which was so beautiful with the shining sun set reflecting in the lake. It was mesmerizing to watch. ​The serene lake with its proper surroundings, green Nilgiri slopes and beautiful tea plantations offers a perfect place to enjoy a leisurely time in the lap of nature and tranquillity. The place had everything in it from flora, birds, animals and nature . ​The azure blue water of the beautiful lake and the trees around it serves as a home to different kinds of birds. ​“Hey, Ananya. Thanks for this beautiful journey. It is like the afterlife. This place is just great Ananya that too with you by my side it is just great and beautiful.” ​“I have to thank you Varun for being with my side through this tough time. It is not me, it’s the place that is magnificent.” ​They talked and talked and talked until time passed by when the lake was closed. So they decided to go their respective rooms. But they couldn’t sleep as the memories was so beautiful. ​They were thinking about their best moments. It was one of the happiest days in their life after a lot of hardships. ​The next day started from the Kalhatti falls in the morning also known as the Bird Watcher’s paradise. The place had everything beautiful such as the magnificent falls and the lush greenery all around the falls which was truly a breath taking sight. It was one of the best spots to watch some endemic birds and their way of life. ​The weather there was almost calm and pleasant always with the proper amount of rains. The area was vast to take a walk and recall your best memories from your past. ​After that they went on to visit the Tiger hill which was located at the lower region of Dodda betta Peak. It was one of the most beautiful vantage points in entire Ooty. The place was wonderful with flower meadows all around. The ancient cave and the freshwater reservoir was great. ​They wanted to spend most of the time there but she did not have more time so they had to leave the place soon. ​Finally they wanted to visit the Wenlock dawns, the vast expanses of green land where one can take the best walk in their life. ​It was the best place to get away from their sorrows to enjoy the peaceful calmness. The climate there was just pleasant and the temperature was mild with moist cold breeze. The foggy and misty morning created a romantic mood. ​It was one of the best places to visit with the green meadows and beautiful sun sets. ​“This place is just awesome Ananya. I just don’t want this day to end. I want to re-live this moment for the rest of our lives. But I know that it is not going to happen. Still it will always be a never ending dream for me.” ​“I thought of the same thing too but…” ​“It’s okay I can understand.” ​They talked and talked and talked while walking through the dawns. The place was just beautiful which made them forget the reality. ​Romance took over them both, they hold their hands and went to kiss each other in their lips. The moment was so hard to decide. ​Right before kissing, Ananya came to her senses with memories of Srinath taking over her. Ananya pushed Varun and they did not know what happened with them both. Right after that moment they came back to their senses. ​There was silence between them both. Pure silence until the place was closed. ​Ananya left the place without Varun, though Varun tried to convince her and Ananya too knows that it was her destiny but due to the past memories of Srinath, she felt bad about her and Varun. ​The distance between them grew over the day until Varun thought and thought and thought about the same exact moments again and again. ​He finally came to his senses and got an idea from the past memories told by Ananya. He asked her sorry in the most unique way which reminded Ananya about Srinath. She did not know what to say and she forgave him but on a request. ​The fourth day started with the visit from Dolphin’s nose which was the most beautiful place even the route to reach there was beautiful, serving as a visual treat to the eyes and heart. The place was filled with beautiful scenery like valleys on each side and greenery on each side with a giant rock in the middle. They also got a clear view of the Catherine falls. ​The place was beautiful and they waanted to spend the whole time there but she did not have enough time so they decided to get to the next place. ​Though they decided to go to the next place but they stayed at Dolphin’s nose just for some time. The place reminded her about Srinath and she burst into tears. Though Varun wanted to console her he couldn’t so he took her to the next place so that she can control her feeling as the place is the main reason for her ocean of emotions. ​“Ananya. Please don’t cry. I cannot see you like this. You have to be happy until your last breathe Ananya. I know what you are going through but it is time for us to get to the next place.” ​“Yeah you are right. Let’s go I will be crying if I stay here for a long time. So let’s go. Come on Varun.” ​The next place they get to visit was Kamraj Sagar Lake, a majestic dam situated in the suburbs of Ooty. There was also a beautiful woodland close by with all kinds of trees to be found. ​The place was just great with clear fresh waters showing the reflections of the sun, the clouds and the trees like the one from her north Indian trip. ​This was the place which made her calm and made her be herself for some time. Taking this into account Varun made her spend most of the time at this place. ​But they had to get to the next place before sunset or the place will be closed so they wanted to get to the next place which was Kotagiri. ​It was situated at just a few hours from Ooty so they decided to drive there before sunset and watch the most beautiful sunset. ​After watching the sun set they had to stay there for the night and watch the sun rise on next day. They had everything planned for that day. ​Though it was a long drive when compared to the other places they had to visit in Ooty it was a worthy drive and experience. ​The place was just mesmerizing. The hill city had the best tea plantation like they one she get to visit in Kerala. Though she wanted to experience the trekking experience but she was not allowed to go there due to her medical conditions. However Varun managed to take her until the half of the trek as she was experiencing a lack of oxygen due to high altitudes they got down. ​Varun did not know what to do but he managed to take her back and give her oxygen from her bag. ​After watching the sun set by driving to the top rather than having a trek. Still it was the awesome experience. On the top it was the best scenic experience she can get to see with a cold breeze of air and a temperature which is either hot or cold. ​After the sun set they got to a hotel to book a room for a single day. Varun wanted to book two rooms but Ananya asked him to book a single room but with two separate beds. ​“Two rooms please.” ​“Why two rooms Varun, a single room is enough. No problem just ask for a room with two separate beds.” ​“But…” ​“No if’s and but’s. Are you still thinking about what happened in the dawns? Leave it behind and I have to talk about things too as it could be my last day in this world and with you.” ​“Okay. Then it is your wish make it a single room please.” ​They went to the room. Each of them waited outside when the other gets to refresh. After getting refreshed Ananya called him in and they talked for hours. ​They talked and talked and talked until midnight. Both of them wanted this to continue for the rest of the night but due to her medications and pills she took she could not control her sleep. Though she slept. Varun was unable to sleep. ​He was looking at her. She was so cute while she was sleeping. He could not get his eyes off of her but he fell asleep too due to the tiredness. ​They both slept like it was the last day until the alarm went off at 5 in the morning as they had to get to see the sun rise at six in the morning. Varun asked her to get ready while he was waiting outside and planning for the rest of the day. ​They got ready by six and reached by the place by half past six to watch the sun rise. The sun rise was so majestic that it cannot be described by words rather there were drops of tears running down from their eyes. ​“When there are no words to describe something, the tears take the place.” ​“This is one of the most beautiful things I have seen after you Ananya.” ​“Hey don’t lie Varun, I am not that beautiful.” ​“You may be not beautiful by your face Ananya but you are the most beautiful girl by heart I have ever seen.” ​She blushed but still there was a small hesitation due to the memories of Srinath. ​After that they drove all the way to Doddabetta peak to experience a small trek. The trekking was about ten kilometres but due to her medical condition she had to stop it sooner. And they drove all the way to the peak with special permission due to her medical condition and get to the see the most beautiful view. ​Though they reached by noon still the place was at the best temperature, neither cold nor hot. Best place to talk about life and spend the rest of the day… ​Finally for the last destination of the trip they got to the Avalanche Lake, the most beautiful lake with clear fresh water giving out reflections of the clouds, sun and the trees. ​Even their reflections were great when seen through the lake. The reflections are the only place where one gets to see the most beautiful version of one’s self. ​The region was full of lovely flowers and lush meadows where they spent the rest of their day walking through them and talking about their life. ​“People use to talk a lot when there is someone to listen to what one is speaking. We are all just social animals we just need a person to listen to us all our life. That person is our soul mate.” ​They get to experience the jeep safari for one last time and a boat ride in the lake. The boat ride was as peaceful as there was no one except themselves. It was so calm and it was the best place for someone to open up their feeling. ​All these things made Ananya think about Srinath again and again. Though Varun was there to console her every time but still she was unable to control herself. ​Finally, they watched the sun set together at the place with its beautiful reflection on the lake. It was just a mesmerizing visual treat to their lives. ​They went to their rooms but couldn’t sleep as it was her final day. Varun could not sleep too thinking about this again and again so he called her by phone at the middle of the night. ​While Ananya picked up the call she was not herself so he asked her whether she was okay but Ananya did not tell the truth to Varun. ​“Hey Ananya are you okay?” ​“Yes Varun I am okay why did you ask so.” ​“You are okay… you don’t sound like you are okay. Wait a minute.” ​A minute later she heard her door being knocked. She knew that it was Varun so she opened up the door. There was Varun standing in the front of the door. ​Ananya asked him to come in. Varun tried to convince her by saying everything he could. ​Finally he convinced her to take her pills so that she can have a good sleep. ​“Hey Ananya you have to get a good sleep right so that we can visit the cliff tomorrow. Your favourite place. How are we supposed to go there if you are not okay with your health? So take the pills now and go to sleep. Please…” ​“What am I going to do with a single day by taking up the pills? I don’t feel like I want to live anymore knowing that I am going to die anyway.” ​“What are you talking Ananya? There is no such thing as last day. You were the one who said that every minute and every second is precious right. So let’s make it a memorable one and you can have a blast before going down.” ​“But…” ​“Like you said. There is no if’s and but’s for now. Just take up the pills and go to sleep. Whatever it is we can talk in the morning.” ​Ananya finally decided to take the pills and go to sleep. Varun tucked her in her bed and sat down in a chair nearby, seeing her eventually falling asleep in the chair. ​The next Ananya woke up early in the morning but Varun was still sleeping. There was a little sense of hesitation in Ananya so she left him as he was sleeping and went to the cliff. ​After some time Varun woke up and looked for Ananya but could not find her so he called her again and again. Ananya did not attend his call. ​Varun was scared of where she was and what if something happens to her. ​He does not know what to do or whom to call. He thought about the same thing again and again but was unable to find a solution. ​Finally Varun figured out that she would be at the cliff so he decided to go check there once. ​Meanwhile Ananya was so scared about dying and so sad feeling about her past memories. She decided to go down as she like, she decided to take her own life by jumping down the cliff but her memories of Srinath gave her a hesitation to do that. ​She was recalling the past memories again and again. Thinking about how happy she was and all of a sudden her whole life went down. ​She did not know what to and how to come over her bitter past. ​After an hour she decided to jump off the cliff. She went near the cliff with her bag still on. There was no one to save him. ​Ananya was so down to earth and that is why she had to take this bitter decision. ​Her mind was filled with thousands of thoughts. She does not know what to do. Finally she decided to jump off. ​The moment arrived and she went to jump off the cliff and that is when Varun came at the right moment. When he arrived at the place Ananya was literally one step away from her death. ​Varun did not know what to do and how to save her. His mind worked quickly and fortunately Varun caught Ananya’s bag and pulled her to safety. ​Varun was so furious and angry on Ananya on taking this kind of decision. ​“What is wrong with you Ananya? Are you mad or what? Why did you do this? This was the stupidest decision you have ever taken in your life.” ​“What did you know about me Varun? Do you know what I have been through the last couple of day?” ​“I can understand Ananya but suicide is not the relief out of your life. What would Srinath think about you if he was here?” ​“What did you know about me and Srinath? Just give me some time to explain.” ​“Whatever it is the thing you tried to do today was wrong.” ​Then Varun calmed her down and they talked about their lives. She was completely out of her breath. She became more emotional and got into hypothermia due to her medical condition, the altitude they were at and the temperature around there. ​Ananya was out of breath and Varun did not know what to do now, how to save her. He tried to give her oxygen through oxygen tank but could not save her. ​He tried to give her some warmth by giving his jacket to her but still she was very cold. ​Varun was scared to his core. He did not know what to do. ​He was blank, his mind stopped functioning. ​After a minute she was completely cold due to hypothermia. Seconds after that she lost consciousness he did not know what to do. ​He called out for the ambulance through his phone but due to bad weather and altitude there was no signal. He did not know what to do. ​He was scared if she would die. He took her in his arms and ran to the hospital. Fortunately there was a hospital. ​Varun admitted her in the hospital and called her parents through her mobile phone by using her finger print.

Chapter end