💙

|He'd let the world burn down if she remains safe in his arms|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

All of us were anonymously invited to the extended lawn of the rented guesthouse that we have occupied during our stay in Manali and according to Six and Kicks' promising and resourceful reporter-Samiksha Khanna, someone has called upon an urgent meeting for all the students.

I had no idea about what such an unanticipated meeting would've been called for because this morning itself I secretly overheard officer Sammy's discussion with another of our secret agents named Bhavesh, of this trip being organized unofficially. Though the dean of our college was involved in the process to convince orthodox students like me to visit Manali.

It wasn't ideal ethically but if the authorities themselves have played this unscrupulous move then who am I to question the righteousness of the whole Manali thing besides everything here until now was going great.

The popular group of infamous bullies of the campus soon came into my line of sight as they stood up on a higher place of the lawn probably assuming it would be a podium to serve their verdict for vicious plans.

If they were the organizers of this session then surely nothing productive is going to yield out because they never possessed great intentions. Even if Geetika had been good with me through that unmemorable evening and stayed low for a while doesn't mean that I completely trust her. Prevention is better than cure so I have been maintaining my distance with her for now.

Everyone including myself looked on at them in utter confusion and deception discerning that they had some sort of callous agenda brewing in their dangerous minds depending on what their postures reeked of.

My mean gaze unknowingly clashed with Mr. Stupid, like a pair of smoldering charcoal being mildly dipped in ice-cold water without any traces of inhibitions. I quickly averted my judgmental eyes from him afraid of being caught by my own consciousness that'd reprimand for innumerable reasons I couldn't fathom. I started talking back to Sarah who until now was speaking about missing her homemade food and to save my poor attempt at theft, I instead laid out the severe consequences of Rohit Mehra's sacrifice to save his son Krishna who in turn being Krrish kills Kaal because unfortunately that was all my mind could build up.

I'm trying to avoid any kind of interaction with him as much as I could have done since the waterfall incident because I feel miserable to admit that I'm not over that stupid crush on him yet. It wasn't like I was not trying but the 'forgetting thing' was turning a lot harder than I took it as before. I've never failed at something so giving up on the dangerous demands of my lame excuse of a heart wasn't a solution and neither was my call. I had people waiting for me back home and I'm definitely not rupturing their expectations due to my selfishness. So, I was determined to plague harder.

And I so wanted the Gods residing in the sky to help me a bit.

"Everyone we are heading towards the end of this trip but seriously it has been nothing more than boring. C'mon guys we are not schoolies who go for some normal sightseeing!! And with the pace we are heading we might spoil our campus diaries without the actual fun." Geetika began her speech that earned her curious glances from everyone.

The confidence and superiority that oozes out of Geetika sometimes makes me feel threatened. Being bold was great but she was on some other level with her bravery. What else does she want us to do? Sab toh ghum liya hai yaha ab isko kon sa adult entertainment chahiye?

["We have seen everything here. Now what adult entertainment does she need?]

"So to make up for the loss, why don't we turn it up to an unforgettable journey?" She denoted, rubbing her hands together. "What say everybody? Are you ready for the change in plan?"

Others who were piqued by her opinion readily nodded their head in agreement but I just felt skeptical about this whole process. It was unbelievably fishy to an extent. Geetika and her gang that was filled with rich, obnoxious and emotionless snobs were capable of making a faint-hearted human run naked with their insecurities. What was this sudden change of heart?

Kuch to gadbad hai, Daya!

[Something is suspicious, Daya!]

"How about we go for a forest tour?" Another guy named Ojas Mehra who was also Geetika's right hand man, said on behalf of their army. "Hum-tum, Manali ki sisakti thand aur ghana jungle." He hollered, "Kya scene hoga wo dude?" He hi-fied with her.

["You and us, Manali's shivering cold and dense forest. What a scenario it would be, dude?"]

My mouth gaped open in fright and the siren of my mind rang sensing foul, when I heard Ojas discarding his excitement. The tour guide who was hired by the student council had already restricted us not to do something which might land us into serious problems and this scandalous idea is one such warning.

"Abhi se dar gaye ho kya sab?" He cried out an evil laugh just like the Crime Master Gogo in Andaz Apna Apna except that he lacked the great humor in his dialogue delivery.

["Are you all already scared?"]

Yeh sach-much mein apna dimag Delhi mein hi bhul ke aa gaya hai!! Kaisa faltu ka experience lena chahte hain yeh log?!!?

[He for sure has forgotten his brain in Delhi!! What rubbish experience do these people need?]

"This is the real time for us to enjoy our lives, bae!!" Geetika convinced, "Just think about it once, we're mature adults and we are bound to take such challenges at some point of life. Aren't we? Then let's start from today itself." She urged without any second thoughts. "Our group is organizing this forest camping and taking the full-fledged responsibility for its expenses. You don't have to spend a single penny." The devil cruela kept on going for some crucial minutes. "But the condition is that no one is allowed to let out a word about this to anyone that includes the instructor and your immediate fam-jam."

The crowd went mad in confounding acceptance and howled in gratitude meanwhile I still couldn't understand why these idiots were digging themselves a pit by putting up with such a risk. Why can't they just finish the trip in a day peacefully instead and stay clear without falling for any troubles. Why do humans think that taking up a hard way makes them the supervisor of the ones who had chosen an easy way out? Sabke liye unke questions aur answers alag hote hai phir ye bhed-bhav kyu kiya jata hai? It's not like the other person is a loser or something but different in his approach to reach the destination.

[For everyone their questions and answers are different then why this partiality?]

"So now it is final that we will be leaving early in the morning at four before the sunrise. We'll see you all in the morning, peeps!!"

They finished their monologue and the rest of the students were already planning for tomorrow's endeavor. Why God? Why did these fools agree for such stupidity!?

"Aww!!" Ojas cooed, stopping before us. "Six and Kicks are scared? Can't kick the coward shivering inside you?" Geetika cocked along, "Well it suits you all!!"

It's hard for me to believe that she was the same person who showed me a different shade of her altogether that day where she was a little less malicious and moderately considerate. But alas, as they say old habits die hard and Geetika is a living example for the proverb.

"Scared or not we are not going with you and that's suitably a wise decision on our part." Vivek exacted and smartly indicated to them to get lost but had a chameleon ever lost its capability to camouflage.

"We don't expect anything from you but the tendency to run away!" Ojas revoked a pathetic attempt to get Vivek angered by his comments which were actually very mean. Don't they have any work other than targeting us?

"Why don't you concentrate on better things rather than piously inquiring about our well-being?" Vivek leered, "Hamara soche bina raaton ko neend nahi aati kya tujhe?"

["Don't you get sleep without thinking about us?"]

"You wish!" Ojas scoffed, "I don't take monkeys to the bed."

"Of course, I know you are used to having an ape in your bed." Vivek countered leaving no room for him to retort. Burly poor Ojas could just boil in rage!

Geetika awkwardly coughed to cover up the embarrassment faced by her friend and came back to the point she was definitely crazy about, "Why don't you all join kindergarten then? You don't seem like adults and you shall be the crybaby amongst your six best friends.." She pointed out her index finger at me, "Ruchi Batra, isn't the role just made for you?"

I closed my eyes in unmatched frustration. What is the appropriate definition of adulthood for these goons because as per my knowledge, a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of majority and is therefore regarded as independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. Then when the hell is being reckless and impatient added into the country law?

I swallowed the urge of turning one because these rogue people had tried their best to instigate me at every point. Only if I was a butler and had a special set of knives then by now they would've been diced like onions.

"Let's go back inside everyone." Sarah intercepted, "We are not wasting our time on their good-for-nothing ass!!"

"Yes! Go and don't open the door of your rooms until we leave. Stay hidden under the covers."

Geetika allegedly provoked us but we were not getting into any of their plotting. Hush! Now we will end Manali's chapter in pure nirvana.

But hey! How can I forget about some ignorant fellas residing in our group too who have been gallantly determined to fall in a known pit of disaster.

"You really are a pungent specimen, Geetika Vohra. Just shut up okay!!" Sammy hollered, "We are not afraid of your stupid challenges. We are coming tomorrow. Happy?" She yelled back at them, making the four of us widen our eyes in shock.

"Sam-"

"She's just acting, Baby. Let's just fulfill her wish to tag along with her or else these lizards would be pinning on us." Another traitor, Bhavesh insisted. "Let us prove this sadist!!"

"It's not a good idea at all." Chhaya whispered in my ear and I couldn't help but agree. Log apne pairon pe kulhadi maarte hai par humne to apna sir hi kulhadi pe de maara.

[People unknowingly step into problems but we have willingly dived into it.]

"Let's see you tomorrow then unless you all get scared and change your mind." Geetika walked off clinging upon Ojas's arm. But that was not my least concern at the moment. Both of them can go to Narnia for all I care.

"Are you mad?" I, Sarah, Chhaya and Vivek collectively bombarded both of them. Had they vowed to never calculate their actions? Had they not predicted the possibilities of this measure?

"It's not going to be a problem at all." Sammy replied placidly.

"I'm telling you that we're going to regret it." Vivek clamored in displeasure. "You people are impossible!!"

"Once upon a time the possibility to fly in air was considered to be madness but when the Thomas Man designed an airplane we got our illusions fulfilled." Sammy advertised her own theory.

"The Wright Brothers invented an airplane, doofus." Vivek paraded with a glare, "Thomas Alva Edison gave us an electric bulb."

"Words pe mat ja mere Bhai, emotions pe dhyan de!" She flocked ahead, continuing her own tale of foolishness.

["Don't mind the words, concentrate on emotions!"]

You're right to quote, Bhai!

"Sammy is an open invitation to trouble!" I muttered in a sense of foreboding.

Beginning with the next day when we almost finished the preposterous forest voyage to enhance adventure in our unhappening lives ended till the late evening and thanks to our goodness without Geetika's hostile intervention. I breathed a needful sigh of relief alongside Sarah, Chhaya and Vivek who were equally incredulous unlike the other two hassle magnets. My legs had given up and were fighting my body for a much needed rest.

I stumbled down on the rock being energy deficient and consuming the whole day just on a boiled maggi didn't help either. The temperature here was terribly low along with the oxygen levels that drained the life out of me. Also the abundant wrapping of woolen clothes was weighing me down.

"Move a little!!" Bhavesh knocked Sammy with his elbow to make a space for himself, "You are bodybuilder, shitface! Still you have such shameful stamina, huh!!" Sammy hissed and continued hearing from each other.

"I've a task for you guys!" Geetika's voice resonated and we looked up to see her from where we were sitting. Ironically we were panting to respire and she still looked fresh as a flower. Which diet and exercise does she follow? Mujhe bhi batado koi! "Let us go deep into the jungle here. What do you say? Maza aayega. Chalein sab?"

[Someone lent it to me too.]

["It will be fun. Shall we go?"]

"We're not doing this."

I declined right away having enough of this drama increasing one after the other. Aaj ise jungle mein jaana hai kal ko bolegi suraj pe chalte hai! And we will follow her blindly...No way!!

[Today she wants to go into the jungle then tomorrow she would want to travel to the sun!]

"C'mon don't whine, crybaby! Itni takat dikhai hai, bas thodi aur..." She conversed.

["You've shown so much courage, just a little more..."]

"You can say whatever you want to or even call me names but we won't do this stupidity. We're already here due to you and that's more than enough!" I articulated, "If we go inside the forest without any assistance then not just for us but for you too it might get ugly." I reasoned.

"Geetika, let's leave it. It's quite dangerous there." Aryan piped in the conversation. Thankfully, for the very first time he used that mouth of his to make sense else I never realized his presence until now. Now he may better make his psycho girlfriend understand or I may break the anatomy of his jaw.

"C'mon Aryan, we were never afraid of this. We are not fraidy-cats like these cry-babies."

"Stop saying that you bitch!!" Chhaya hustled breaking free of restraints with a notion of hitting her but I somehow held her back half-heartedly because my thoughts matched with hers, "Leave me, Baby!! I'll push her off the cliff today!! Who the hell does she think of herself!!??"

"Then simply accept that you all are losers. The kind of losers who don't run to win the race but to save their sorry inscribed asses!!" She vouched.

"We will do it." Sammy, the lady-gaga, invited the wolves for their supper.

"No!!" Four of us screamed in horror.

"Obviously yes, guys. You know that this swine will be shut forever by this once chance? She will never cross her paths with us in the future." Sammy implied as if she had to marry Geetika to endure for her seven births and this was their Manali peace treaty to sustain harmony. "But if we win that we obviously would then none of you would pick on us ever."

"It could be life-threatening for all we know, you dimwit!!" Vivek grouched angrily, "There are ominous wild animals in the forest that we are absolutely clueless about." He reprimanded.

"Except this cunning fox no one else can harm us."

"It's not a bloody joke!!" Sarah snapped.

"Cool dude!" Bhavesh smiled and both of them looked up to say that we were ready to adhere to this crazy challenge.

So finally after gathering tons of courage and optimism side-by-side beating Sammy and Bhavesh for their unintelligence if something goes wrong along with the help of the flashlights of our respective mobile phones we went inside the forest.

It was a dark and eerie night, when we all ventured into the depths of the scary forest. As we made our way deeper into the woods, strange noises echoed around us with unfamiliar shadows that danced in the moonlight. Our heartbeats were quickened and nerves on edge as we moved ahead with an abated breath. Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes caused them to freeze. Was it just an animal, or something more sinister? We friends huddled together, trying to shake off our fear as we continued on an unknown way. The night seemed to go on forever, but eventually we would emerge out of this bhool bhulaiya, the thought itself shook me but relief to be safe once again overpowered anything else.

"I'm scared, dude." Sammy clattered her teeth when we couldn't see a single thing due to the darkness that didn't give away anything.

Chhaya and I hit her on the head resulting in her to wince in pain which was well-deserved. She brought us here.

"That was a rouge idea I tell you." Vivek blamed no one in particular.

"I told you to not come here." Chhaya advocated.

"Me too." Bhavesh stated in an inaudible gasp and I couldn't help but feel incapable to smack across his face.

"Be positive, bro!" I mimicked.

We all would be lying for life if we tried to pretend normal. If possible then we would end up bawling like new-born infants.

I was clutching onto Sarah's hand in my death grip as we walked ahead to find back our lost way. Very soon I spotted Geetika which kept me sane for a wicked reason. No matter what happens, I won't let them escape alone.

I let my hold loose on Sarah when I was feeling a bit sweaty on my palm and continued to trample with small steps ahead ardently matching her speed. But when I was not able to see anyone again after almost covering an hour or more my blood ran cold. The footsteps were near yet I felt like wandering on the dead end of a road. An alarming feeling of being observed literally left worms to crawl over my skin.

"My phone is about to be dead." I whispered in Sarah's ears but she strangely didn't speak or even respond to me.

And as predicted after ten minutes my phone switched off. The obscurity of light petrified me to wits and couldn't help but yell on the top of my lungs simultaneously knocking down on a rock I was about to lose my balance but was astonished to be saved until I sensed a hand corking down my squeaking mouth.

I will die today.

I'll definitely die tonight.

"Sarah!! Vivek!! Bhavesh!! BadiMa!! BadePapa!! Kartik Bhai!!"

"Save me!!"

"Chhaya!! Sammy!! Please save me!!"

"I'm lost here! Please save me-"

"Stop shouting or else my ears will go bleed and you're surely not alone. I'm here with you, Baby!!" The distinctly affiliated, deep, rumbling and traumatized grouching voice gagged me up in an instant.

"Aryan-You..Aryan!!" I gasped in recognition, "Oh My God!!" I stared at him due to the assistance of his flashlight dimly glowing between us. I satisfactorily soaked into his appearance that spread the hue of crimson unknowingly reassuring my palpitating heart that I wasn't left alone by others. He was here with me and that was a breath of salvation in itself.

But where and how did he come closer to me? I was with my friends and he was with his. Sarah was with me then where did she disappear?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, pushing him away from me floored by the guesswork done by my brain. He did not just kidnap my friends to stand here with me. I hope he did not because if he did then trust me I am capable of making him regret.

"I felt indigestion consuming noodles all day so thought why not try jogging on this rough track." He shared, "Would you like to join me?"

That bloody tongue of his-

"Shut up!" I upbraided and tried to switch back my dead phone but it was of no avail. Isko bhi abhi band hona tha kya? Why did I let Sammy use my phone to read her stupid novels last night, she didn't even charge my phone.

[This phone too chose this moment to be lifeless?"]

"Idhar bahut shor hai shayad!" Aryan spoke, "Tum 'me too' bol rahi ho aur mujhe 'shut up' sunai de raha hai." He grinned stupidly.

["It's too noisy here, I think! You're saying 'me too' while I am hearing 'shut up'."]

"Maine 'shut up' hi bola hai tumhe, stupid!!" I demonstrated angrily fed up with his administration.

["I spoke 'shut up' only to you, stupid!"]

"Oh!" He sighed for barely ten seconds then got back to display his thirty-two set of pearly teeth, "Wo bhi chalega!!" He added.

["It would do too."]

I shook my head and called out for my friends who were nowhere in sight but still no one responded.

"Where am I?" I felt completely idiotic to agree to this stupid challenge.

"Why are you yelling again?"

"You just shut it!! You stupid man!! It's because of you and your girlfriend's sadistic psyche that I'm stuck here. I have no idea about the whereabouts of my friends. I don't even have any idea of their well-being and all the shit that's going on in my life right now is because of you!! I want to reach back to the guesthouse and be safe with my friends sound and safe." I deemed while sticking onto his arm keeping him locked in my death grip. "And until I do so, I'll not leave you, Mr. Mallik. You can't just leave me here to die alone, Mr. Mallik!!"

"Are you insane, Baby? Do you plan on inviting the whole family of wild animals here to dine us out?" He whisper-yelled at me but I wasn't hearing his crap now.

"I don't care. It's because of your idiotic idea that I am here. Crybaby! Crybaby! Crybaby, bolte ho na tum saare mujhe!? Huh! Now I'll tell you what a crybaby is." I demanded and the deal was non-negotiable. "Now you better plan to take me home."

["You all call me that, right!?"]

"I am not going to leave you ever, Baby!! I wish that I could leave you here alone so that everyone of us can live peacefully without you. How can anyone tolerate a problem like you!?" He promulgated holding my palm in his as he dragged me ahead without any prior notice. "Your family and your friends must be fed up with your childish behavior."

I don't know when the tears formed and stung my eyes after hearing his words. I sniffled an agonizing sob by biting on my lips hard, I wiped each of the tears that escaped my eyes with the help of my free hand. Each time when I am called a problem, the disheartening reality tears apart my wounded soul, pierces the sea of feelings residing in my chest and pushes me into an unending ocean of repentance. Even strangers might know the possibility of me being a burden to my dear ones.

I couldn't afford to say anything further as we walked ahead. The terrible silence being the only key to the lock of solace between me and him. I wish that it wasn't this choking but such wishes are meant to remain unfulfilled.

"What happened to you now?" Aryan stopped leaving me startled by turning back to observe me. Why now? He didn't need to see me like this so I shrugged in indifference with my head facing the other side.

"Why are you crying now?"

I feel like. I always feel like this.

"Do you know the way back to the guest house?" I inquired, ignoring his first question because it ought to be unanswered.

"Counter-questioning is bad, Baby." He conferred indignantly, "And well I'm too trying to navigate our way to the guesthouse but unfortunately there is no network and thus the location is out of our reach."

"Do you have a compass?"

"No! But don't worry we will find some way to get out of here." He fortified, gently wiping away the tears off my cheeks. Who is this gentleman talking to me? Isn't he the same guy with a devil-may-care attitude. What about his badboy image? What if someone catches him consoling a nuisance like me? "C'mon now, Baby!" He nudged my palm softly, "We need to get you home too."

I obliged without a word and we were back to meandering.

"Why did you agree to come here if you were not sure about this whole thing?"

"I was afraid, Mr. Mallik. Aren't you too?" I prodded my nose in his matter regardless of my lesson, "Have you seen the forest here? It's thick and creepy. No doubt that it must be having a fair share of its wildlife."

"You shouldn't be afraid of anything." He revised, looking back at me over his shoulder at regular intervals, "Who can be more terrible than your melodramatic friends?"

"Haww!! You can't say it like that on my face. It's insulting." I preached. "You should be scared of the brigade behind me. Six and Kick are people that you can't mess with, Mr. Mallik!"

Aryan chuckled at my predicament and confessed proudly, "I'm not afraid of anything. Neither of insulting the force behind your people or anything else around us-"

He couldn't even complete his sentence when a thunderous growl caught our attention, making my feet go numb. Aryan's hold on my hands tightened and turned sweaty, increasing the tingles on my skin due to unexplained terror. I was shivering along with him and none of us knew if we were going to make it alive from here or not.

The unmemorable forever is a fantasy because from now on I am going to hate challenges.

Lots of Love,

ANKITA