Well, it's simple. Anika Trivedi decided to let things go by writing what had happened a year ago; at Career Camps.
Filled with various feelings, all negative, she tries to keep distracting herself by staying busy. But when lockdown happens, she fi...
Things often get worse before they get better. Maybe, in our case too, this sentence applied. Because things only got worse.
"It's the dog." Adeela shouted. She was standing a few feet away from us, and yelling.
Apparently the very very bad lighting must have prevented her from seeing what was happening. We both groaned together, moment broken. I cleared my throat - loudly -because my heart clearly didn't get the message. It was still beating extremely fast, making it impossible for me to look at Akash.
Akash also refused to look at me. He was looking, er, red. Since my eyes had adjusted to darkness, I could see him all red like a beetroot. He clenched his hands together looking extremely pissed. I wasn't exactly happy either.
I groaned, watching Adeela come closer, "What?"
Adeela flashed a grin totally unware - or she was, just didn't want to us to know. Her curly hair bounced of her shoulders, a sign of her being extremely happy. If her hair were tied up she was either tired or upset. Tucking her shirt, she said, "The dog wasn't supposed to be here. Especially a street dog," she rambled on, pretending there wasn't no tension in the air, "The pamphlet said pets aren't allowed."
Akash said crankily, "So?"
Adeela pointed at the white dog. We forget it was still here trapped in the moment. Heat rushed back to my face as I recalled the butterflies that swarm in my stomach when Akash came closer. I didn't look at him, and instead said, "Adeela. What's your point?"
Adeela sighed, and said, "What I mean is, what is a dog doing in such area?"
Akash snapped, coming closer to where Adeela was standing, "For god's sake, Adeela, it's a dog! It may have jumped of the low fence or maybe from the bushes that line the back wall. Stop turning everything in a goddamn mystery!" He was looking furious, and the dim lighting and tress swaying in winds didn't help his case. It looked as if he was about to burst.
Adeela didn't even battle an eyelash. She picked off from where she had left, turning her entire attention to me - along with Akash throwing me daggers to pick his side - she said, "What I am saying is that don't you think anyone can come in the camp just like dog did?"
I sighed. Adeela was bright, extremely bright, but sometimes she failed to use common sense. Using my extremely tired voice, I said, "Adeela. This camp is at the edge of the forest. Their is a small office beside this camp, for coming and going of authorities-"
She cut me off, "Exactly. So what is a dog doing here? Especially a street one? Since dogs are not allowed and we are in forest, how can-"
Akash let out a frustrated groan, and honestly even I was starting to feel irritated. The smell of old washrooms, the memories this place had, everything was starting to bug. Why can't we talk about it in morning? Or somewhere better? Maybe take Radhika's opinion too?
As soon as I thought of it, we saw Radhika running towards us, holding a piece of paper - or so it looked in dark - and called out, "Guys! Look!"
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