“I’ve arranged for some fresh towels and sheets up in your room, I hope we are treating you well”

“You’ve given us more than we could ask for” Anika gushed at Mary. It had been past 8 when they had finally pulled up to the camp, a short plump woman, Mary, had received them who was all smiles and warm hugs and smelled like home. She worked as a head nurse for the town and was currently volunteering for the camp, and was all too happy to show them around the farm house they were going to stay.

“We had quite a few patients today, but am sure we’ll be ploughed over tomorrow” Mary continued “So both of you should take good rest tonight”

“Oh no, it’s just me who’ll be working, she’s just a friend I brought along” Anika explained. Mary’s face fell and her eyes ran over disapprovingly over Priyanka “not a doctor?”

Priyanka narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest “is…that a problem..?”  Mary’s face morphed into a sweet smile again “No. not at all” she said quickly “I’ll let you both be then”

Priyanka pursed her lips “ is it just me, or was that last bit really weird to you too?”

Anika shrugged “am used to it, they think us doctors are like ultimate beings and expect our friends, boyfriends, parents, relatives, dogs to be sharing the same profession”

“Judgy much?”

"A lot, if you ask me” Anika fell back onto her mattress, sinking into the softness. “I mean, anyone can hang out who ever the fuck they want to, and I personally feel having the friends of the same profession blah and blah is so boring”

“good to know you feel that way” Prinku dropped her bag on her bed “I was seconds away from leaving you with your judgmental Mary and leaving” Anika chuckled “ hungry? I think she made us dinner”

Prinku scrunched up her face “please can we eat somewhere else? I don’t think I’ll be able to swallow with her around”

“Hey, she’s not that bad”

“Easy for you to say, you are a doctor” she said making air quotes with her fingers.

Anika rolled her eyes “what excuse are we going to give her anyway. I think she made rotis and all”

“I’ll say am allergic to rotis” Prinku shot. Anika laughed “alright lets go, I think I saw a small restaurant up the road”

Minutes later both the girls were trudging up a grassy lane, bundled in sweaters as the cold clouds clustered above them, rumbling a low warning of rain. “You said it was up the road” Prinku grumbled, shivering.

“I said it was a ten minute’s walk”

“You said up the road!”

“Ya well, up the road is ten minutes away. And why you complaining!? You’re the one who said you didn’t want to ride the car”

“Because we have been riding it the entire day!” Prinku explained throwing up her hands.

“Don’t yell!” Anika hissed “people will think we are some kind of lunatics”

“Oh yeah?” Prinku snorted “what people” she stopped doing a full turn “I don’t see anybody!” I wish we did! So that we could ask directions. Cause we are FUCKING lost!”

“We aren’t lost! It’s showing us ten more minutes!” Anika waved her phone in Prinku’s face.

“You said that half an hour ago” Prinku seethed.

“Why you so mad! Am lost with you!”

“Cause am starved and tired and cold and I just wanna sleep!” Prinku wailed stomping her foot.

Anika turned away “why did I think getting a baby along was a good idea”
“Fine. Lets just go back the way we came k?”

“But….What about my roti allergy?” Prinku sniffed.

“Not my problem” Anika shot back walking back angrily.

“Anika…”

“Let’s just go Prinku. Am cold too”

“No there’s something-“

“will you just come on! It looks like it’s gonna rain anytime”

“Anika!” Prinku whisper screamed

“what!?” Anika whipped around anger radiating off her “what is it now! Why can’t you just-“

Prinku grabbed her arm and squeezed it hard “there’s something- someone lying on the ground” she whispered, her lips barely moving, face pale.

Anika froze, her eyes zooming in on a dark bundle lying partly on the rugged road and partly hidden in the grass. “What is that….?” her throat felt dry suddenly.

“Maybe some farm animal?” Prinku whispered, her hold tightening around her arm.

“Yeah it’s probably just that.”

“We should leave” but neither of them could move a muscle. They stood there in the stranded moon lit road, a slow drizzle beginning to fall.

They shuffled slowly towards the body, hands tightly clutched together.

A few feet away “give me your phone” Anika whispered, she didn’t know why they were whispering. Prinku handed her with the flash on, Anika’s hand trembled as she lifted the phone.  

Prinku gasped her hands flying to her mouth “oh my god!!!!!”

Anika dashed forward, crouching on the ground. The rain hit harder. Her hands felt numb as she turned the body that was facing down. “It’s a girl” her head pounded as she felt the lean muscles under her grasp, dark hair was strewn across her face. That was lying lifelessly to a side.  “call the police!” Anika screamed. Prinku sobbed and frantically fumbled her phone, pressing it to her ear.

“They want to…”Prinku sobbed “If she’s….”

“Tell them, we found a body” Anika looked up at her, her eyes filled with terror “she’s dead”