"Aree! I told you all from the beginning not to believe in Jaddu! Now look, we’re caught in this stormy night with no idea where we’re heading!" Ashwin exclaimed, his voice rising over the sound of the pelting rain as the bus swayed slightly on the narrow mountain road.
The team had decided to take a short break to refresh their minds after a thrilling victory against Punjab in Dharamshala. Jaddu, brimming with excitement, had suggested a serene mountain spot he had discovered with Sikhar.
"It’s divine, guys" Jaddu had insisted over breakfast, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "The view is like heaven on earth. You’ll thank me later!"
Mahi had hesitated at first, but the team’s excitement...and Jaddu’s relentless persuasion....eventually won him over. Now, hours later, they were deep in the wilderness, the picturesque landscape hidden behind sheets of rain and a thickening mist.
"Ash! You’re seriously boring" Jaddu retorted, leaning casually against a seat as the bus jolted over a pothole. "The evening sky is the highlight of this place! You wanted to leave before sunset? What’s the point of coming here then?"
"And tell me, guys, don’t you love how the sun sinks behind the horizon, painting the sky?" he added dramatically.
"Yess! Jaddu bhai, we love it!" Rutu piped up from the front, his grin visible even in the dim lighting.
"See? I told you!" Jaddu smirked, satisfied.
"But…" Rutu hesitated, glancing out of the window at the dark, twisting road. "Ashwin bhai is right. If we’d left before evening, we’d be at the guesthouse by now, not stuck in this storm."
"I agree" Deepak added, his tone uneasy.
"Aree yaar, you guys are such phattus! It’s just a little rain. Besides, Mahi bhai is with the driver figuring out where we’re going. We’ll be back at the guesthouse in no time!" Jaddu said confidently, brushing off their concerns.
Jaddu made his way to the front, where Mahi stood with the driver, studying the GPS on his phone. The network had been patchy for the past hour, and the bus seemed to be going in circles.
"Guys… I’m not feeling good" Pathirana muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He sat huddled beside Ashwin, his wide eyes darting nervously around the dimly lit bus.
"Don’t worry, Pathi" Ashwin said, patting his shoulder. "We’ll be fine. It’s just the rain and the dark playing tricks on your mind."
But even Ashwin’s usually calm demeanor seemed shaken.
The journey had started off well. The group, which included Mahi, Jaddu, Rutu, Ashwin, Deepak, Shivam, Pathirana, Sonu, Ajinkya, Tushar, Shardul, and Devon had been in high spirits. The excitement of exploring a new place had been infectious.
But now, as the storm intensified and the bus struggled along the slippery road, the earlier excitement had faded, replaced by unease.
"Mahi bhai…" the driver’s voice broke the tense silence. "The GPS isn’t working anymore, and I don’t recognize this route. It feels like we’ve been here before."
"What do you mean?" Mahi asked, his brow furrowing.
"There’s no signal, sir. And these roads… it’s like we’re going in circles" the driver replied, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.
Jaddu, who had been eavesdropping, leaned in. "Relax! It’s just the weather. Once the rain clears, we’ll figure it out."
Mahi gave him a skeptical look but said nothing.
The bus continued its slow, precarious journey, the headlights barely cutting through the dense fog. Every now and then, the road would narrow dangerously, and the group would hold their breath as the bus edged past steep drop-offs.
"Is it just me, or is it getting colder?" Shardul asked, shivering.
"It’s the altitude" Shivam replied, though he sounded unsure himself.
A sudden loud thud made everyone jump. The bus lurched to a halt.
"What was that?!" Devon asked, his voice trembling.
The driver stepped out with Mahi to inspect the situation, leaving the rest of the group inside.
"What if it’s an animal?" Jinks suggested nervously.
"An animal?" Sonu scoffed, though his voice wavered. "More like a tree branch or something."
Minutes passed, but the they didn’t return. The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"I think we should check on them" Ashwin finally said, standing up.
Before anyone could respond, the lights in the bus flickered and went out.
For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the sound of the rain and the howling wind. Then came a faint but distinct knocking on the side of the bus.
Everyone froze.
"Wh-Who’s there?" Pathirana stammered.
The knocking grew louder, more insistent. It moved along the side of the bus, stopping at the door.
"Open the door!" a voice shouted, muffled but unmistakable.
"Mahi bhai?" Rutu called out.
The door creaked open, revealing Mahi, soaking wet. His face was pale, his expression grim.
"Get out" he said sharply. "Now."
"What’s wrong?" Ashwin asked, his unease growing.
"No time to explain. Just grab your stuff and move!"
The urgency in his tone spurred them into action. One by one, they stepped out into the cold rain, the wind biting through their clothes.
"What happened?" Sonu asked as they huddled together.
Mahi glanced at the road ahead, his jaw tightening. "We’re not alone."
________________
why did Mahi say they’re not alone? Any guesses about what he saw? Or maybe... he’s not Mahi at all? Who knows! 🤔
That’s it for this part! I’ve been thinking about it for a long time but wasn’t sure whether to go ahead with it. After finally discussing it with a friend, I’ve decided to update it now.
One more thing, should I publish this as a completely separate book dedicated to just this story?
