We reached Satsar army camp, IDs were verified. Army men were very kind and very empathetic unlike what we expected. I curiously tried to know if there is any soldier from Karnataka. Though I found none, I found a brother from the neighboring state Tamil Nadu who was more than glad to hold a conversation in Tamil after a long time.
While I was busy exploring South Indian traces in Himalayas, Mohit Sharma , a North Indian brother from Meerut,who saw a sister in me went totally unnoticed in my eyes.
We reached our campsite from the army camp. While chit chatting, I was expressing, how I wish I had a brother in life and also, how i see a brother in most boys around me ( and also most film stars I see unlike other friends who usually have a crush on them) . Little did I know that my wish would come true in the next few minutes.
Indian army paid a friendly visit to our campsite.(Mohit Sharma who saw a sister in me came too) .I saw our cotrekkers singing patriotic songs to the Indian army. I sang a patriotic medley too ( https://youtu.be/0iXME06LVvc)
As I finished singing, my wrist felt cold. I soon realised that an army man was tying a silver bracelet to my wrist. It was Mohit Bhaiyya. He added, " Raksha Bandhan ka samay hai ,toh, iss bhai se apni behen ke liye ek chota so tofa" ( Since its Raksha Bandhan time, a small gift from a brother to his sister) . Happiest and most emotional moment of my life I must say. How exactly did I react at that moment is something I would leave upto your imagination.
No money , no materialistic gift can be mapped to such unconditional love. Yet, I wanted to gift something to my brother. Though I had many valuables back home, much money in my account which could buy a nice gift, that moment at 12,000 ft, with no mobile network, 3days of walk away from civilization ,I felt helpless as I could give nothing to give my brother though I had so much with me. I soon decided to think of my watch as a Rakhi and tied it to him. The whole campsite went teary eyed. Needless to say how I felt.
I did a few more treks with YHAI later , but, kashmir trek shall always remain special to me for obvious reasons. Mohit Sharma now serves the Ambala cantonment , yet, Kashmir posting shall remain special to him for the same obvious reasons.
What more, Mohit still has the watch with him, I still have the bracelet with me, we are still in touch, and will continue to be...
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
