Even If It Takes Forever

LONG TIME CHAPTER VI

Do you need something, Anna?

Anna began to laugh.

"hey what made you laugh like that?",
"your phone call",
"so you heard everything?",
"ahh yes",
"oh I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep"
"Nah it's ok, I woke up an hour ago but u didn't notice as you were busy talking to your other half",
"eeeee",
"How long you've been dating him?"
"its been almost 2 years",
"oh wow, I've never had a relationship for more than a week",
"That's....sad I guess?"
"Nah, single life is fun",

Madeline stood up and strolled towards the kitchen when Anna began to say something from behind.
"Do you really love him?",
"yes"
"How are you so sure?"
"If I had a flower for every time I thought about him, I could walk in my garden forever"
"...Woah..that's some deep poetic shit girl"
"you can expect such phrases coming out of my mouth"
"Why? are u a poet or something?", Anna sarcastically questioned.
"No. but I guess love makes you feel everything deeply". Madeline answered while her cheeks got all red.

"girl you are blushing!"

Anna and Madeline gossiped all night. Anna told Madeline about her first love who left her and after that, she never got into a serious relationship with anyone as she considered love to be nothing but an assumption.

Soon they both became close to each other. Anna was an extrovert-rebellious soft-hearted girl. Madeline being an introvert stayed behind Anna until she got confident enough to communicate with new people.
The diploma was pretty tough. 10 hours of classes on campus and 4hours online at the hostel. Other than that, everyday assignments and projects increased the burden even more. Madeline hardly got time to open her phone
but the first thing she used to do was to call and tell about her day to the guy who meant everything to her.

A year passed with this busy routine. Madeline finally got a 20-day vacation. Maurice tried coming to Windsor but due to harsh climatic conditions, all flights were cancelled for a month. The dilemma depressed both of them.
Madeline was sitting numb, glaring at the wall in front of her when Anna stepped in.

"I saw lightning reach the ground so closely",
"That means the weather is still worse, aghhhh",
"I've been noticing for a week now, you're so quiet and depressed"
"why wouldn't I be depressed when even after a year I can't meet him",
"I knew this was the matter. calm down let me think of a solution"
"There's no solution. All flights are cancelled for a month. Subways are closed. Railway tracks are collapsed. I've never hated monsoon so much.",

"Relax. I know an alternate route to callas and the weather is perfect over there. from Callas, we can get a train to your home"

"and would you like to explain what route and vehicle are we going to take"

"The route is through an unsurfaced road via a forest 4km away from our hostel but don't worry I have a 4x4 jeep with me so we are safe"

"OMGGG YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE?"
"YESSS"
Madeline hugged Anna in joy.
"But Anna, the route seems to be dangerous"
"It's a route, it shall pass. Don't worry I will for sure reunite two love birds"

"I can never thank you enough, so when are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Madeline packed her bags and kept all of the handwritten notes she had been writing for Maurice for a year.
She was finally going to meet the love of her life.
it was 7 in the morning. Overwhelmed Madeline wanted to call Maurice but didn't want to disturb his sleep so she texted him.

Love will come to you from the most unexpected route at the most unexpected time. Lol, Your Maddy found a way to you and she's coming!!!! no rain no thunder can stop me now😎
✔️✔️delivered

The weather was reasonable in the morning. Rain took a halt. Roads were however flooded with water but when u have a 4x4 vehicle, you can do wonders. Usually, the time taken to reach the unsurfaced road from the hostel was about 10 mins. But due to the worse condition of the roads, it took them 45 minutes to reach.
"Maddy we might not get signals ahead. if you wanna text anyone you may do it now"

Madeline texted her dad telling him about her journey and asked him to keep it a secret from mom or else she will get worried. She then texted zetsy telling her about the plan and route which she had taken. The final text she sent was to Maurice in which she wrote

I think you are still asleep but no worries. I'm on my way to Callas via Anna's jeep from where imma get the train and reach home.
home=u lmao cheesy enough? anyways, I miss you more than you miss me, I'll be there soon love~

"I'm done texting, lets go"
The road was broken, stony with loads of hurdles. But thanks to Anna's jeep they crossed the dangerous curves safely.

"This is probably the best adventure ever."
Madeline continued with a pause "and the scariest too"...

After driving for consecutive 8 hours they both took a break in the middle of the forest. It was 3 o'clock noon. There wasn't a single human being there except them both.
"I need to rest for some time. my legs are shaking I don't think ill be able to drive more"
"...what do you mean? you know I can't drive and we need to get out of the forest before dark"

"Of course, I'm gonna drive stop panicking first!"

"ahh alright",

"I m aware and I'm trying my best Maddy. Can you get me some water please?"

"Anna we have drank every bit of water we had. we don't have any of it left"

"There's a stream 1km ahead in the west. "

"You want me to walk alone for a kilometre in the middle of nowhere?"

"Come on Madeline. I found a way for you to go home and you can't even get some water for me? I can't drive with this fatigue"

Madeline was disappointed. There was no way they could go back they had already made their way into the forest 7 hours back. If they went back, they would have to cross the forest in the dark which was not safe. But if they keep moving ahead, they will reach Callas within 2 hours.

"Fine ill go. stay here"

"Hey listen?",

"hmm?",

"I am sorry. I don't wanna sound rude Maddy I'm just very thirsty and tired",

Madeline hugged Anna and assured her that she didn't mind any of her words.

" Just stay here ill be back".

Madeline kept walking for almost an hour in between an abandoned forest. At last, she found the stream and filled the bottles.
While she was walking back towards the jeep, She heard a furious growl. She froze for a minute. The next thing she saw was probably every human being's worst nightmare.