Allure of Darkness!

65. Found Her?

Author's POV

"What clues?"
Marona frowned.

Mikhail looked at her suspicious face. For some reason his instincts told him not to tell her the truth, no matter how much he wants her opinion.
"Clues on what Drogo is planning to do next... He is creating problems for us."
He lied.

She nodded in understanding.
"Ohh, okay... I just came here to tell you that I am going out shopping with girls. We might come late tonight, we are planning to have a girls time."

Mikhail saw the advantage in it, he needs time to go to the forest anyway. It would be helpful if she stays busy with girls.
"Good, you should enjoy it with girls. It will be relaxing for you..."
He smiled while calling her closer and kissed her cheek.
"Take my card and don't walk too much while looking for things which don't exist."

She chuckled and slapped his arm playfully.
"I am not going to buy unicorns."

"Take guards with you and don't do crazy things under the influence of that crazy girl."
He warned.

"Mira is not that crazy!"
She started leaving.

"Ask Damon about it!"
He scoffed.

"God knows when you two will tag along."
She huffed and waved a bye.

"Marona could have helped us in finding Miguel."
Jeh suggested.

"No, let her enjoy her life... I'll take the stress."
He grabbed his keys and Jeh followed him out.

They went to the forest and Mikhail saw old marks on trees. It was faded and some were almost invisible but he could find some with extra effort.

They followed the marks and Mikhail understood that it was the same forest where he had chased Marona when she was trying to run.
The Hotel Hywala was visible from where he was standing.
"I have been here before... This way goes to the railway station."
He informed Jeh.

"It means she took the train!"
Jeh said.
"But which one?"

Mikhail dragged his eyes from the hotel towards Jeh.
"Only one train which runs through forests... Finding a train isn't an issue, but finding a station where she got off is a challenge..."

"Mikhail, I think the train is coming!"
Jeh got alert when he heard the honk.

"But we don't have tickets!"
Mikhail said, he also wanted to board it.

Jeh grabbed his arm and encouraged him to run towards the train. Mikhail followed and boarded the train without tickets.
"This is not the metro where we get entry with tickets..."
Jeh chuckled.
"You have never travelled by train so I can understand."

Mikhail looked around and saw that hardly few people were in the train, that too from tribal areas.
Only one man looked from the city and he was holding a huge camera.

"Now what?"
Jeh asked and Mikhail looked at him mockingly.

"It was your plan, why are you asking me?"
He scolded.

To their bad luck the railway official entered the cabin and started checking tickets. He skipped all the tribals and checked the photographer's ticket and then approached Mikhail and Jeh.
"Gentleman, show me your tickets."

"Why only us and not tribals?"
Jeh questioned.

"Tribals have concessions, this railway is only for them. Others are supposed to book tickets online."
He informed.

Jeh pulled out the money from his pocket and handed it to him.
"We didn't know!"
The official took the fine and entered the next cabin.

"Looks like you are traveling on this train for the first time?"
The photographer asked.

Jeh smiled.
"Yeah, are you familiar with this system?"
Mikhail nodded for him to go ahead, he was looking for more information.

"Yes, it's been years that I am doing the research on our tribals... Their problems, negligence they are facing from the government, their underdevelopment and the way they survive..."
He was excited to share and Mikhail understood that he will be an advantage.

"Where are you going now?"
Mikhail questioned.

"This train crosses the forest and then stops at the end of the city... There are only two stops. One is the Kolara tribe and the other is the city."
He informed.

"Kolara tribe?"
Mikhail frowned.
"Mallika!"
He mumbled and closed his eyes with a sigh. His doubts were turning into reality.

"Yes, it's the most powerful and biggest tribe... I have been doing research on them for almost five years now..."
The man said.

"And what did you find out?"
Jeh was bored.

"That the tribe is self sustainable... They have created their own economy and almost don't need to get connected with the outer world. They make their own clothes, they have their own language, they make their own medicines and weapons, the tribe is intelligent..."
He explained.
"I have even found out that they have medicines and remedies for the deadliest diseases too and they pass it on to the next generation. It's incredible."

The train soon stopped and they got out in the Kolara tribal area. Mikhail was already aware of it.
They stick with the man to find out what he has seen there.
They saw everything which the man was telling them. The tribe was more intelligent than any city which runs on a systematic approach. It was incredible.

Mikhail on the other hand was looking for the marks on the trees, he wanted to make sure if Miguel was there or not. He finally saw the mark and smiled, knowing he was on the right track.

"Miguel is Mallika, Jeh"
Mikhail declared.

"Great! Then let's meet her."
Jeh was so excited that they finally found her.

"She is in a coma!"
Mikhail informed him sadly.
"She can't answer your questions."

"Fuck!"
He cursed.
"Now how do we know what happened with him... I mean her!"

"Maybe, Rotero can help!"
Mikhail was confident that he would answer his questions because he had given money for her treatment.

They went to Rotero's house, he was busy teaching kids. The exercise was a little weird but the kids seemed to do it well.

"Leo?"
Rotero greeted him when he saw them.

"Rotero!"
Mikhail greeted.
"I wanted to see Mallika!"

Rotero smiled.
"Of course, because of you she has opened her eyes... The health is still weak but at least she can talk... I am so grateful to you, you gave me my world back."

"She can talk?"
Mikhail turned eager.
"Can I meet her?"

"Of course!"
He agreed with hesitancy.

Mikhail quickly entered the house and saw Mallika leaning against her bedpost while her mother was feeding her.
He looked at her and gulped when he saw her state.
"Mallika?"
He mumbled.

She frowned at him. Her hair was cut short, the face was still lifeless but she was surviving.
"Who?"

"Leo!"
He replied as he stood in front of her with a heavy heart.
"Do you remember me?"

She looked at him from head to toe. He was a huge man.
"Leo!... Yes, I do!"
She nodded with a soft smile.

There were so many questions in his mind and he wanted to bombard her with that but her state was not allowing him.
He couldn't understand where he should start from, which memory he should bring out first.

"So you really turned into a big human, Leo!"
She asked amused.
"And handsome one"
Jeh was watching them curiously. He didn't know that Mikhail had a friend.
"Thank you for helping me... I wouldn't be talking if it wasn't for you..."
She thanked him.

He nodded.
"That's okay! You are fine and that's all it matters... Mallika, I need to ask you some questions."
She nodded in approval.
"Are you Miguel?"

She looked at his father nervously.
"Yes, but how did you find out?"