The storm had subsided; the twilight was turning into night- The girls came out the stone pillared Mandapa which is in the ruins. But it was already dark. The forest was dense; there were just chirps of Crickets and occasional sounds from different nocturnal birds.
“I think we lost our way?” Aparna looked at Chandrika tensed, “No, we are in the same place but more likely inside the forest. Don’t worry.” Ritu said in an assuring voice. “How… how do you know that?” Again, Aparna asked, “Because I was collecting the Peacock feathers before the rain, did you forget? And don’t be scare his forest doesn’t have any wild animals other than some snakes.” Ritu answered holding torch in the phone. “How did you know that?” Varshika asked knitting he brows. “Because didn’t we made a plan to go to that temple? I had enough research to go around but guess looks like we didn’t right?” She answered.
“Firstly, guys… are you sure that we are safe?” Chandrika turned her phone light towards the direction of some luminating red eyes pairs which were many… their hearts were stopped as they saw it was a whole pack of Wild Boars. “RUN!!” Ritu and Aparna yelled and instinctively all of them literally sprinted into the deep forest, without looking back.
Their mobile flashlights are in front, their hearts thumped faster, the sounds of Wild Boars and those creatures foot thumps were quaking the nearby land… “Amma!! I wish we never came to here!” Aparna cried while running as fast as she could, Ritu held her hand and both ran more faster into the forest, while Varshika and Chandrika were also trailing faster along with them in the behind holding hands. The leaves in under foot were crushed but it was nothing compared the heard of those Boars… the girls were panting, sweating with fear and didn’t even glance behind their shoulders… they ran until their feet felt numb and lack of Oxygen.
“GUYS, LOOK A PLACE TO HIDE!!!” Aparna shouted pulling Ritu inside a very old shrine type of construction, the other two followed inside. Gladly, the Wild Boars went away but they heard another growl beside the shrine. Chandrika’s eyes darted in that direction only to find another pair eyes glistening in the dark, her torch light went in that direction, revealing a Leopard! “AHHH!!!” Her scream broke the forest, there three froze in their place. Their faces went pale.
“Amma… I think my bladder will blast!!!” Aparna cried without flinching from the place and Ritu held her hand tight. “Is this the end?” Chandrika whined and Varshik squeezed her hand... To their surprise, the Leopard just wandered around and went away from them like nothing happened. The girls looked at each other faces blinking and rubbing their eyes. “Wait, what is happening? I never saw a leopard this cool?” Aparna glanced at the retreating figure of the leopard. They sighed with relief and took their time to regain the normal state.
“I think we are the only one who were stuck like this in the forest” Ritu said looking up to the other three faces which were now looking like stuck by lighting. “Ritu, don’t. We are not getting our location and now you were saying it casually?” Aparna squealed. “Appu, we are indeed inside the forest compared to rest of the tourists…I think your mind is not working after what we witnessed” Chandrika said leaning on nearby big black rock which looked like a broken idol. “Shut! My phone is dead!” Varshika grunted and one of the flashlights were gone.
“Let’s call emergency number, we don’t need to be stuck in the forest whole night” Aparna took her phone and that signaled low battery only to increase her frustration. “Someone call already!” She gritted her teeth in frustration. “My mobile is about to switch off too” Chandrika’s flash went off too, straddling all of them in dark. “Yaar!” Chandrika and Aparna groaned in the dark. The only light was the moon in the now clear sky after the storm; their faces were visible to each other to an extinct.
“We are stuck in here; don’t you think the Forest Department come here for patrolling?” Varshika asked with a hope, “I didn’t expect the wild animals but one thing for sure but as of that, nope, they have orders that no one after seven. The time is already seven” Ritu said rubbing her face putting her glasses away glancing at the wristwatch. Varshika was tensed moving the Lotus pendant chain on her neck. “But I think we are in a safe place, right Ritu? Because look, the Leopard didn’t harm us and-” Aparna’s words trailed off as she saw a pond glowing with blue water lilies and Lotus near to that Shrine which they crossed earlier. “What’s happening?” Ritu found some fireflies coming towards their direction like they were here to show them a way.
“Hey… are they butterflies?” Varshika pointed towards rare blue butterflies creatin n elusive effect the fireflies and butterflies created a beautiful harmony flying together. Aparna and Chandrika picked the water lilies and Lotuses and looked the harmonic movements of butterflies and fireflies…...
The faint smell of blue waterlilies and lotuses and the harmonic union of fireflies and butterflies, in the middle of a dense forest, a waxing bright moon before full moon …. This is unfolding like a beautiful fantasy dream… but why? Are they imagining? All of this is true? Where are they exactly? What is this game? Any metaphor for every aspect in there?
“Suswagatam Devi….” (Welcome My Beloved) He said faintly in his deep voice almost to himself, standing far in the shadows, a small smile curling his lips and his eyes are far towards the girls…. Those black orbs are centered on one girl…...
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