Fitoor

Chapter 16

2 weeks later

Mishti Bose

No phone calls, no irritating messages, no Abir for 2 weeks. Aahhhh, I agree it was hell! But kya kare! It's camp season. We were in rural areas of Hoskote. Precisely todays camp was in Belamangala. The last day.

This was the day I was waiting for. As final year students, we are usually advised to live here if we can't travel. Since our great MS Ramaiah medical college set up tents and hotel rooms, we had to pack our bags.

"Baayi tegi. Eekade tirgu." Kuhu instructed as she was checking a kids mouth with her torch on.
(Open your mouth. Turn this side.)
"Thanks Akka." The lad smiled as Kuhu gave him a chocolate as she had promised. Can't believe this girl is getting engaged forcefully in 3 days.

Yep. We got a word before we left from Kuhu's mother that they're going to get these both engaged right after the camp finishes. Then they said they'd give a good 2 months gap and fix the marriage date. We, in the sense me and Abir haven't still figured out why tho.

Maa and Baba were frantically skipping when I told them that Abir would be helping. Shashank uncle and Roopa aunty were skeptical. They agreed but they were afraid of the consequences. And now finally, we're all set to execute my plan. To steal the transaction documents.

"Kuhu? Hogaya?" I asked and she nodded silently as she was writing the prescription. I went inside the tent and took out mine and Kuhu's bags. I was about to check if everything was packed when I heard a sweet voice of cuckoo bird. My ears perked up immediately.

I ran out and followed it's voice. My friends followed me too. Maanav, Kuhu, Swathi and Divya were right behind me when we found a beautiful waterfall nearby. It was a tree filled area. But our camp was just in a walking distance. Strange that we never found it.

"Hey Mishti! Chal na sir bula rahe hai. Bus nikal raha hai abhi." Divya said.
"Dekhna. Kitna sundar hai ye jagah. Yaha se jaane ka mann hi nahi kar raha." I groaned and sat on a rock.
"Ms.Nature admirer! Chalegi? Warna bus choot jayegi. Train tickets bhi phir koi kaam nahi ayenge." Maanav added.
"Spoiltsport." Just when I was about to get up the cuckoo sang again.

"Aye tu usko mimic karna." Swathi chuckled as she nudged Divya and Maanav.
"Kooo!" Maanav the poor dude believed her bullshit and sang but a monkey growled at him. We all giggled and Swathi's eyes found me.
"Mishti! Tu kar na." She pleaded.
"Ab kaun der kar raha hai huh?" I smirked.
"Karna yaar. Warna ye chodegi nahi." Kuhu rolled her eyes.

"Ooo madam! Mereko pata hai ki tum log mujhe us bandar ko bhechna chahte ho. Itna bhi ullu nahi hu mai. Chalo chalo." Maanav scolded but nevertheless I tried hesitantly and slowly.
"Koo!" I sang and closed my eyes. Seconds later there was a response. I chuckled happily and did it again. And again the cuckoo responded. I giggled loudly.

"Pata tha. Sirf jaanwar hi pasand karte hai tumhe." Maanav said.
"Yaar! Wo naadaan parinda sach me isko animal lover samajh ke rakhi hai. Usko pata nahi hai ki ye dinosaur hai dinosaur." Kuhu added and I finally glanced at them.
"Itna jealousy? Wo bhi kisi chidiya ki wajah se? Grow up guys." I scoffed at them.
"Aarahi hai ki nahi?" Divya finally asked.

"Chalo." I said and we heard it sing again. My heart swelled with happiness. I guess the bird really liked my voice.
"Hum jaa rahe hai. Karke aao apna bird expedition." Swathi said and went away with Divya. It was me, Kuhu and Maanav now.
"Meri maa. Aapke charanon me girunga chal na. Bhook lagi hai yaar." Maanav pleaded.

"Tu aur tera pet kahi british museum me rehna chahiye tha." I ignored them as I searched for the bird. Call me stupid but I'll not leave this place without atleast seeing it fly or up in some tree.
"What about you and your brain Ms.Mishti Mahaan?" Someone asked and I flinched.
"Kaun hai?" Kuhu questioned.
"Hogaya satyanaas! Bhoot hai yaar bhaago!" Maanav shrieked.