One fine morning in the western Sierra Nevada of central California!
24 years old, Mac woke up. Looked up into the mirror and smiled.
His smile was the only thing that made him feel alive. In a sense, he was his favorite. It was obvious because he did not have anyone in his family.
Yes, he was an orphan.
He always called himself, "The son of God". This was the only belief helped him to survive in his tough times when his own smile was not working for him.
Sitting in the Church every Sunday and singing the prayer was something, he did not miss in the last 18 years. When first-time father made him believe that God takes care of everything, we just need to stick to and complete the tasks that are assigned to us by mighty universal power.
He cherished those words of father deep inside.
Mac was one of the handsome tourist guides at Yosemite National Park. He was excellent at his work. He knew, at what time and where should be the tourist to see the wonders of nature. The tourists he deals with did not have any complaint about him ever rather out of happiness they used to give him an extra tip.
For Mac, every day was just like the previous one but still different, he had chosen this profession because he was fond of meeting new people from different parts of the country. He had the habit of capturing pictures with people he guided, along with that he used to write how he spent the day with them.
This activity helped him to improve his business and also as a good human being.
One sunny day, he was sitting on the bench whistling at the park, waiting for tourists to visit, talking with his friends.
Suddenly, one Mercedes entered through the gates of the park and got parked. One of the gentlemen came forward from the group jumped off the car and asked for the guide. Gentleman made a deal with Mac, introduced his friends. All three were from different professions. A girl named Lilly was a photographer, Dan was a psychologist, Mathew was a professional tracker. Mac gave the briefing to the people and also asked to carry all the necessary things like a torch, 2 water bottles, one extra pair of clothes and one lighter. Shoes were mandatory, without that no one was allowed to go forward to visit the park.
It was 9:00 AM when they started the journey.
Flowing wind whistles, chirping of birds, the magical voice of the waterfall from the west side of the park were making the journey more joyful.
Mac had his own route and way of showing the park, he never followed the traditional ways by which other tourist guides take their visitors.
At one beautiful spot, Mac took out his camera and asked all of them for a picture. They agreed! After a picture, they moved on.
Mac was explaining each and every spot which they were visiting. The stories and the incidences he went across all the years, some of them were really thrilling, few were romantic moments of a newly married couple. He was also explaining how difficult is to deal with such couples on trekking and park visits.
Lilly was getting impressed by his explanations and was wondering about how can one get through these many situations. Dan was enjoying the mood, he was trying to match the terminologies from the psychology with the explanations that Mac was giving through his previous experiences. Mathew was enjoying the weather and walking a bit forward than these people and the gentleman was smiling.
Everything was just calm and perfect. Till 2:30 PM they climbed the mountain and reached the spot from where a small waterfall was falling down. They had lunch there. Mac had a beautiful voice, he started bumbling the songs.
On the request of Mathew and Lilly, he opened up his voice and sung loudly. Dan wasn't looking that okay with his singing but he couldn't ask him to stop his singing.
After one or two songs, they packed up their belongings again. Bagged all the waste like paper plates, tissues, and empty water bottles and headed for the next destination.
Till then Lilly had a really nice collection of photographs. The beautiful Lilly. This was the first time Mac was captivated by any woman but, as he was so professional he did not compromise his professional values. The gentleman was observing all that and smiling. Somehow Mac managed to smile back at the gentleman.
24 years old, Mac woke up. Looked up into the mirror and smiled.
His smile was the only thing that made him feel alive. In a sense, he was his favorite. It was obvious because he did not have anyone in his family.
Yes, he was an orphan.
He always called himself, "The son of God". This was the only belief helped him to survive in his tough times when his own smile was not working for him.
Sitting in the Church every Sunday and singing the prayer was something, he did not miss in the last 18 years. When first-time father made him believe that God takes care of everything, we just need to stick to and complete the tasks that are assigned to us by mighty universal power.
He cherished those words of father deep inside.
Mac was one of the handsome tourist guides at Yosemite National Park. He was excellent at his work. He knew, at what time and where should be the tourist to see the wonders of nature. The tourists he deals with did not have any complaint about him ever rather out of happiness they used to give him an extra tip.
For Mac, every day was just like the previous one but still different, he had chosen this profession because he was fond of meeting new people from different parts of the country. He had the habit of capturing pictures with people he guided, along with that he used to write how he spent the day with them.
This activity helped him to improve his business and also as a good human being.
One sunny day, he was sitting on the bench whistling at the park, waiting for tourists to visit, talking with his friends.
Suddenly, one Mercedes entered through the gates of the park and got parked. One of the gentlemen came forward from the group jumped off the car and asked for the guide. Gentleman made a deal with Mac, introduced his friends. All three were from different professions. A girl named Lilly was a photographer, Dan was a psychologist, Mathew was a professional tracker. Mac gave the briefing to the people and also asked to carry all the necessary things like a torch, 2 water bottles, one extra pair of clothes and one lighter. Shoes were mandatory, without that no one was allowed to go forward to visit the park.
It was 9:00 AM when they started the journey.
Flowing wind whistles, chirping of birds, the magical voice of the waterfall from the west side of the park were making the journey more joyful.
Mac had his own route and way of showing the park, he never followed the traditional ways by which other tourist guides take their visitors.
At one beautiful spot, Mac took out his camera and asked all of them for a picture. They agreed! After a picture, they moved on.
Mac was explaining each and every spot which they were visiting. The stories and the incidences he went across all the years, some of them were really thrilling, few were romantic moments of a newly married couple. He was also explaining how difficult is to deal with such couples on trekking and park visits.
Lilly was getting impressed by his explanations and was wondering about how can one get through these many situations. Dan was enjoying the mood, he was trying to match the terminologies from the psychology with the explanations that Mac was giving through his previous experiences. Mathew was enjoying the weather and walking a bit forward than these people and the gentleman was smiling.
Everything was just calm and perfect. Till 2:30 PM they climbed the mountain and reached the spot from where a small waterfall was falling down. They had lunch there. Mac had a beautiful voice, he started bumbling the songs.
On the request of Mathew and Lilly, he opened up his voice and sung loudly. Dan wasn't looking that okay with his singing but he couldn't ask him to stop his singing.
After one or two songs, they packed up their belongings again. Bagged all the waste like paper plates, tissues, and empty water bottles and headed for the next destination.
Till then Lilly had a really nice collection of photographs. The beautiful Lilly. This was the first time Mac was captivated by any woman but, as he was so professional he did not compromise his professional values. The gentleman was observing all that and smiling. Somehow Mac managed to smile back at the gentleman.
They continued walking towards the next destination from where they planned to enjoy the sunset. When they reached on the top of that mountain. Lilly was continuously taking the pictures from different angles. Dan started to note down his own observations in his personal diary. Whereas Mathew was helping Mac to set up the camp. Once camp set up done Mathew joined rest two, It was really awesome to be there. When all three were enjoying the weather. Gentleman and Mac went to bring a few sticks for the campfire.
They collected sticks and came back to the base. Mathew lit up the fire and took out beer cans from his bag. It was against the rules but, as Mac was getting paid off he couldn't strongly oppose him to not to drink, but he expressed his oppose in other way asking Mathew not to go for another one. Mathew unhappily agreed on that.
They sang they danced, they slept under the sky full of moonlight and stars. There was a music of leaves and freely falling water at the waterfall. After chatting, knowing about each other and having dinner Mathew, Dan and Lilly went for sleep wishing Mac good night!
as Mac had his separate tent. Sitting on the big rock at midnight Mac sank into deep thoughts. He was remembering every trek and the park visit right from he started as a guide. He was remembering his childhood, his struggle as a teenager for survival. The Father of the church and the mighty God who was the only family Mac has.
After looking at Lilly he felt that he is still alone and there is a part of his life which was still empty. When he was fighting with his thoughts, Gentleman came stood back to him. Mac noticed his existence and asked, "Sir, Aren't you sleeping, huh?" With the same smile on his face, the man said, "My boy, unless you don't sleep, how can I? go for bed leaving you alone."
Mac said, "Sir, I have been here several times before and I am used to with this darkness and the voices you are hearing, there is nothing to worry about."
Mam replied, "Boy, I am worried for you not because of the outer voices, but the inner ones that you are currently struggling with!"
Mac mesmerizingly looked at the Gentleman.
The gentleman smiled divinely and replied, "Son, I am observing you since morning. You were extra caring for Lilly throughout the day, have you fallen in love with her?"
Mac blushed, accepted and replied, "Lilly is way different than the girls I met till date. The passion for work she has and the way of listening to others, her way of nodding and accepting the things made me fall in love with her."
A gentleman tapped on his shoulder gently and in a cheerful voice said, "Young man, she is beautiful too! You skipped this part while talking about her, Umm Haan ! that I can understand. "
Mac smiled at the gentleman.
The man said, "Mac, now it is too late, let us go to sleep."
Mac nodded.
Next morning, Mac was waiting for Dan, Mathew, Lilly and especially for the gentleman with whom he talked whole night. All of them got ready to return to the base and then back to their respective places.
This time Mac took a difficult path to go down. Mathew thanked him for that Mac just smiled.
Mathew started to apply his trekking skills and go down so fastly. Dan had Vertigo so he has chosen the way they followed to come up. Gentleman started to go down with Mac and Lilly. Mac helped Lilly to reach safely till base. Meanwhile, Dan reached the car and ignited the engine. All of them thanked Mac and assured to visit again. Gentleman waved his hand as well to Mac and sat into the car. When the car was about to leave the compound, someone patted on Mac's back, when he turned around and he was shocked, the gentleman asked him to stop that car. Mac shouted and the car stopped. Lilly stepped out, came to him, her eyes were filled with tears. She hugged Mac so tightly and kissed him and whispered in his ears, "I love you, Mac"
At the same time, another voice whispered in his ears, this time it was gentleman's voice, he said, "Mac, My boy, Now the ball is in your court!"
Mac smiled and replied to Lilly, "I love you too!"
When he turned around to look at the gentleman, the gentleman was not there. it was again a shock for Mac. He asked about that gentleman to Lilly. She just replied that they were only three, Dan, Mathew and herself and there was no fourth person with them.
Mac was not ready to accept that there was no gentleman. Then he recalled all their conversation and sat on the ground praying for god, he found the similarity between the smile of Jesus and the gentleman's smile. The calmness he had in his voice.
Till that time Mathew and Dan reached to him. They took him and Lilly to his place. While sitting in the car Lilly was holding his hand and helping him to sit carefully inside the car.
This time another bus took over their car advertising the US open tournament and once again voice whispered, "My boy, you have aced it!"
and Mac smiled.
©Bhargav Hirwe
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