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Moving on...

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 20 - Survival of the fittest

"Um...you're absolutely sure about this right?"

Nitin sighed, for what could have been the unkempt time that day. "Yes Laksh. I am sure that this is the right way to reach your precious hotel. Please stop asking the same thing over and over again."

"Oh okay okay. I just wanted to confirm. Haha...! Curious mind here." he grinned nervously at Nitin. Laksh could feel that Nitin was getting irritated.

'Confirm? Is that what have you been doing all the fifteen or twenty times you've kept asking me the same over and over again?' Nitin wanted to bite back. However, he was too tired to argue.

He, along with Laksh, Ragini, Nikhil and Uttara had been walking non-stop for over an hour in the forest to get to civilization. He had taken it uopn itself to lead the way as he knew the area. However, to avoid any trouble, he was taking them along the long route which was relatively safe as compared to the others.

A groan was heard to his left. Nitin could feel his eye twitch in anger. He knew what was coming next.

"Aaw man! Are we there yet?"

'Must not lash out. You must act like a gentleman in front of these girls. They shouldn't think you're uncultured.' this was the only thought that kept Nikhil from lashing out at Nikhil. "No Nikhil. We aren't there yet. But it cannot be far."

"That's what you said twenty minutes ago!"

"No. That's what he said twenty-two minutes ago."

"No! Your watch is late Laksh."

"No freaking way! I always reach office on time by this watch of mine I tell you!"

"Probably why you're always late but no one points it out."

Laksh hit him on the arm. "You liar!"

Nikhil hit him on the head in retort. "You ape!"

"Pig!"

"Hippo!"

"Tomato!"

"Potato!"

Nitin smiled and turned to them. "If both of you do not shut up in one second, I'll personally call the wolves in the area and let them feed on you. Would you like that, lads?"

At once, both their eyes widened and they shut up, walking on in silence.

The girls were observing everything as they walked behind the boys. They looked at each other and giggled like high school girls gossiping.

"They're worse than kids. Their patience is almost nonexistent I bet."

"Haha...! I agree with you completely Ragini. Big brother can be a joker sometimes, despite his hard no-joke-only-business attitude. I hate that Lucky bhai who closes himself up and all of his emotions!"

Ragini turned to look at Laksh's back as he walked ahead with the other two males. "Yeah. I guess you should never judge a book by its cover. You might never know what secrets might lie amidst each chapter of their lives." her gaze softened as she kept looking at Laksh.

'My Laksh.' her mind automatically added the thought.

"I'm pretty sure that blush isn't because of the cold." Uttara remarked with a smirk. "Something did happen when you two were alone, didn't it?"

"N-No. Nothing happened."

"Ooo, you're lying I can tell. Tell me all the details!"

"Nothing happened! Just...just let it go!" Ragini stressed, desperately trying to calm herself so her face doesn't keep turning redder.

"Hmm...Laksh and Ragini trapped in a cave. They really kissed, but wouldn't tell me!" Uttara singsonged, loud enough for Ragini to hear.

"How did you know?!" Ragini exclaimed in shock.

"It was just a hunch. But you confirmed that it is true!" Uttara cheered. "Awesome! You guys kissed!"

"What!? Shh!" Ragini chided out of embarrassment. "Besides, he freaking ended up fainting right after our lips met." she mumbled in disappointment. "I really wanted to smack him."

"Eh? Who the heck does that?!"

Ragini sighed. "Well, he can't exactly be blamed since he passed out of the cold."

"Hmm... I see." Uttara clasped her hands together and looked forward with a smile. "Ain't my man just so adorable?!" Uttara gushed.

"Eh? Your man?"

"Nikhil of course."

Ragini blinked a couple of times, letting the words sink in. "You two? You two are a couple? When did that happen?"

"Well, not exactly a couple. I like him and I will make him mine." she stated as if stating the obvious.

"And you're sure Nikhil will say yes to be your boyfriend?" Ragini questioned. "Uttara, I don't want you to get hurt by false hopes. I want you to be happy."

"He defended me despite my mistakes. I think he has a soft corner for me. All I have to do is widen it enough to make a room in his heart for me."

Ragini sweatdropped at the confidence in Uttara. 'Confidence, and on top of that, over-confidence.'

"WE'RE SAVED!" shouted Laksh and Nikhil at the top of their voices.

"We are?"

Nitin turned to Ragini and nodded. "See that tree over there? This one is marked with red paint. It's the sign that ahead there is a habitation. I'm sure its the resort area where your hotel is as well."

Uttara nodded enthusiastically. "YES! It's right next to it."

"LET'S GO! WHY ARE WE WAITING!?" chorused both the obnoxious ones.

"It's still thirty minutes away. Calm down both of you."

"You won't get there even then." came a voice from the nearby trees to their right, making their heads turn that direction.

It was the face of the person they would have gladly avoided seeing.

"Udip, you bastard!" shouted Nikhil in anger. "You are the main cause of all of us being in this mess!"

Udip smirked. "If I remember correctly, I have my family with me. You're the one who might be some bastard's son."

Nikhil flinched at his words. Udip was digging on wounds that still hurt. He was about to shout back, but Laksh beat him to it.

"Why you stupid bilingual orangutan! Can't believe you could drop so low as to pick on personal things! Uncle was right when he said that you're nothing but a good for nothing lazy kid eating off their riches!"

"Take that back! I da-"

"Enough!" shouted Kuwar as he burst through the trees with his four men and stood beside Udip. "Ragini, Laksh and whoever are with you, I don't give a flying rat ass about it! You guys made us run throughout the forest."

"He's right! Now, you're ours!" Udip grinned at them nastily. "Who's got the last laugh, eh!? Hah!"

"Oi oi! What do you mean yours!?" came another voice from their left, making all heads turn that direction. "They're ours! Right, men?!"

"Yes Buster! Yes Boss!"

As they watched, five men came out with looks of anger, standing regally. For some reason, they looked more like actors to Ragini, than real thugs.

Buster raised his hand into the air and pointed at the sky. "We shall be victorious in our quest! Ragini, Laksh...you are to come with us!"

Kuwar and Udip glared at them. Kuwar raised his fist towards them. "They're our targets. Don't you dare interfere or me and my men will not hesitate to shoot you as well!"

'Their targets?' Buster wondered in confusion.

"Oh no!" exclaimed one of his men."Boss, our manager must have noticed that we were taking too long in our job. That was why he had sent another group of actors" he whispered in panic for his group to hear.

Buster's eyes widened. 'NO! I can't lose my job. My pals would lose theirs as well. I can't let that happen!' Buster raised his own fist and growled at Kuwar. "They come with us. You guys can scram. Shoo!" seeing his determination, his partners readied themselves as well.

Udip could feel smoke coming out of his ears in anger. He was trapped in the forest for over a night searching for Ragini and Laksh. And now, after all the hardships that he was made to go through, these guys come and demand they hand them over!? "If you do not leave this instant I'll order my men to kill you as well!"

"We'll be more than glad." Kuwar grinned and took out his gun. So did the rest of his goons.

"Wow! They really are great actors boss." commented one of Buster's men.

"We are too damn it!" Buster whispered back and turned to Kuwar with a glare. "Same here! We're not afraid of you!"

Amidst all the quarrels that was going on and on in between the two parties, Nitin, along with the other four looked from left to right. Even the bear cub in his arms was watching from one side to the other with a confused look.

Nikhil snickered. "Maybe the bear thinks these wreckless and loud ones are animals like him."

"Joking? Now, Nikhil? Really?!"

"Sorry Uttara. Bad habits die hard."

"Well guys, just to remind you that these guys are both trying to kill the both of us!" Laksh pointed out in anger. "And here we are joking and discussing. Sure, sure. It's not like we have anything important to do, right? Like, making an escape!?" he added with sarcasm. "Let's bicker some more, no?"

"He's right. We should move out of here silently as they are distracted." Ragini suggested, turning around. However, only a yelp left her mouth as she looked back.

"What are you yelping ab-aaaaa!" Laksh shouted in fright as he turned as well.

There, in the open, amidst the tiny path amidst the trees, stood a bear.

An angry momma bear that looked ready to rip apart anything that stepped in between her and her cub.

Laksh gulped as he looked at the sharp fangs of the bear. "Do you think it will think we are dead if we don't move?"

"It's a she. Don't mess up the gender."

"That's what you're concerned about right now Ragini!?" he shook his head and grabbed the cub in Nitin's arms. "Let me through it at the mother. It will stop chasing us then."

"What!? No! It could fall and get hurt. Once it cries, everything that is happeneing will get worse."

"What could be worse than a bear ready to tear us like fried chicken!?"

"I don't know that. But it won't be pretty Laksh. Trust me."

"You I trust. Your opinion, I don't! Now hand it over!" Laksh pulled at the cub, which whimpered in fear.

"You're scaring it! Let go!" Nitin pulled back.

"Let go!"

"No, I won't!"

"Let go damn it!"

"I said I won't. And that's final!"

"Well, you leave me no choice!" Nikhil came and pulled Nitin back as Laksh held on tightly to the cub, successfully bringing it into his own arms.

"Yes! Now all I have to do is through you to your mother." Laksh grinned looking down at the cub. However, his eyes widened as he saw it open its mouth to bite him. Out of shock he ended up throwing it up in the air. 'Shit! That wasn't the direction it should have gone.'

To everyone's surprise, it went and landed right into Udip's arms.

"Wh-what the heck?" he brought it to his eye level and glared. "I don't have time to deal with stupid animals like you. Piss off!" he tossed it away towards a tree. Fortunately, it managed to steady itself so as to cling on to the branch without getting hurt. "Yeah. Stay out of the way you mutt!"

"I don't think it's mother is very happy about it." Laksh muttered as he heard a growl from nearby.

As if agreeing to the comment, the mother bear roared and rushed ahead. Everyone moved out of the way knowing fully well who was the target now.

Poor Udip probably never expected this turn of events. He at once ran as fast as his feet would carry him, using the canopy of dense trees to slow down thee bear. The cub hopped down from the ttree and followed his mother on its tiny paws.

Kuwar, who had been fighting with Buster cursed under his breath. "Oi! If he's dead, we won't have any one to pay us the amount we had been promised. Let's get back that annoying brat. I'm taking double the money from him now!" he gave one last punch to Buster's nose and ran away. "You got lucky to be saved this time. Until next time dolts!"

Buster watched as Kuwar went away with his men. "Yeah, yeah! Run away like sissies. You're no match for us!"

"Boss. shh please. It was us who were getting beaten up."

"Oh hush you!" he turned to glare at the rest. "Ragini, Laksh. Now, you are to come with us!" he shouted pointing at Uttara and Nikhil.

"I'm Uttara! It is me who paid you to get Ragini and Lucky bhai!"

"Ha-freaking-ha! And I'm the Prince of India." he uttered with sarcasm. "Now, come with us!"

"Why won't you believe me!? How do I make you believe?! HOW DO I MAKE YOU BELIEVE?!" she shouted at the top of her voice in frustration.

"HE WILL NOW THAT I'M HERE!" came a voice from nearby. It seemed to be coming from a loud speaker.

Ragini gasped at the sound. She could recognize it anywhere. "Sw-Swara?!"

Soon, they heard the rumble of vehicles. They didn't have to think for long if they heard it right as the SUVs came into view in a few seconds.

The first one opened and a tiny bundle of clothes rushed out.

A tiny bundle that was Swara wrapped in heavy but warm fabrics.

She at once rushed towards Ragini, who caught her in her arms and hugged her with all her love.

"I missed you so, so much little munchkin."

"I missed you more di!" Swara hugged back with an excited voice. "Never leave me like that again!"

"I won't dear."

Swara broke free of the hug and came near Uttara. "You too Uttara di! I missed you as well!" Swara hugged her with a grin.

"Aww...so sweet. I missed you too my little doll. I'll not leave like that again."

"I'll make sure you don't!" Ram confirmed, coming near them. "And neither should you make any of those crazy plans of yours." he chided, glaring at his daughter.

Uttara looked down in guilt. "Sorry."

Ram sighed. It was really hard for him to be angry at his daughter with her looking so sad. He walked forward and hugged her. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks father. But how did you find out about my plan?"

"Swara told me. And the manager just confirmed it." he spoke, pointing towards the man who was speaking with Buster and his men. "He shall clear all the confusion to his actors."

"I see." suddenly, Uttara remembered something. "Father, I almost forgot to introduce you to Nitin. He's the one who made it possible for us to find our way through this entire catastrophe."

Nitin bowed in respect. "Hello sir. I'm the ranger of this forest."

"Thank you for everything Nitin."

"You're welcome sir. I was just doing my duties."

Seeing everything, Nikhil pouted. "Ya know, I suddenly feel less loved. I was in the forest, lost and hungry too!"

"I can feel your pain. No one asked me either." Laksh huffed out in anger.

"Well, you two can always hug each other. Brother to brother." Ram joked.

"WHATEVER!" they shouted in unison.

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹