Reborn to love

Follow Thy Heart

Part 29

It was late afternoon and they hadn't stopped hiking since morning. Naina was starting to get restless. She wasn't sure that the deviation from the path was normal or was it a result of her questions. She was starting to worry if something was wrong. Though her psychic was dampened, her sixth sense kicked in and all those years of being wary suggested something fishy. But she decided to maintain a calm composure to handle the situation. She had also realized a few moments ago that she was no longer connected to Sameer, and it might have been a while that it was so. She smacked herself on the head mentally for not paying attention to that before, so lost she was in the excitement of the new site and trying to carve her own niche as a future archeologist. She was sure he must have been worried to death but however hard she tried, she couldn't establish the path to his mind.

It felt unusual coz that was exactly why she had carved out that piece of rock as this place was blocking her mind powers. She caressed her pocket wherein the rock was hidden but didn't feel anything. Avoiding all the eyes that were focused on the hike, she checked both the deep pockets of her jeans inserting her hand and feeing around. She pulled out empty-handed.

Now she was really alarmed because she had lost the only mode of communication with Sameer. May be that was the reason the connect was broken. But how did she lose the rock, she had it on her all the time. That's when she recalled that it might have fallen out from her pocket when she took a fall after colliding with Abbas. May be it was still lying there somewhere in the sand. She could only hope that no one spotted it and connected it to her, lest she be barred from the field forever for stealing an artefact.

Now she only hoped and prayed that the new site, allegedly had similar rocks and inscriptions, and hopefully have the same powers so she could connect with him. She also hoped that she could see those visions again and may be understand what it all meant. But answers to all her questions were at the new site.

"Abbas Bhaiyya, him kabse chal rahe hai, kab pahunchenge? Thoda thakk gayi hoon, 5 min rukkar paani pee le?" She asked as calmly as she could without showing the panic in her voice.

Everyone had stopped when she was speaking. Abbas was walking in front of her and the rear end was flanked by George and Mikhail. Abbas looked at the burly guys who shook their head in a no, even before Naina saw them.

"Madamji...hmm jyaada durr nahi hai. Buss pahunchne hi wale hai". He urged Naina to keep going, which actually confirmed her suspicions that something might be fishy. But gauging the two burly guys, she knew she had no chance to outrun or overpower them. However, either of them had not done anything untoward yet for her to doubt them, but Chachi had taught her that the sixth sense of a woman was never wrong and that she should learn to trust it rather than ignore it. Things may not always seem as they appear. So, she decided her only course of action was to stay alert and act accordingly.

So, she only nodded to Abbas's response and continued to follow him. After another 2-3 mile hike, they reached an area with very dense foliage and covering a narrow walkway leading up to a hill. From the foothill, Naina gazed above and though the caves were obscured from view, the hill was clearly visible.

"Madamji...buss thodi si hi chadhdhai hai...yahan se dikh nahi raha...par gufaein jyaada durr nahi hai!"

Naina looked at Abbas and processed the new piece of information while simultaneously gazing upwards to gauge the distance with naked eye. The climb didn't seem too steep but she wasn't yet very used to such treks. She had also started feeling wary of the whole situation but now that she was here, the archeologist in her was also curious to find out the hidden history in those caves.

Abbas took the lead and Naina followed in his footsteps but had yet to establish her own foothold. Seeing her hustling upwards to find balance, Abbas offered his hand. She thought for a second but without accepting or refusing, held on to the nearby rocks and pushed herself forward. Discouraged by her non-friendly response, she pursed his lips and turned around and took the lead. He didn't feel good about the situation that a young innocent girl was put into but the orders were from some rich, powerful and dangerous people, who he couldn't upset and stand a chance. As much as he wished, he couldn't help the poor girl.