Gauravi's POV

The weather was so good that I didn't want to go to the room. I turned to look at Shaurya again. He was still bent over his notes.

He was younger than Arun and was just two years older than me, but he looked much older here. He was not his usual one, wasn't even flirting.

He was looking super dull, super presided, super boring in his neat cream Linen suit and with black hair carefully parted, there was something wrong... He looked boring, not the super famous Casanova. In fact, even his boring twin, Shlok, didn't ever look like this. I would not be able to sleep till I knew his secret.

Though I knew for sure by now that he was Shaurya, because Shlok was a simple man, he could not think of doing all these things and he had never talked to me like that, I was just intrigued to know why he was using a fake name and why was he looking different?

I was tempted to go and ask him but he made a face as soon as he saw that I turned to look at him. Irritating man. I hated him, but the need to know what he was up to, was making me go crazy.

" What? " He asked.

" I am a bit hungry. Will you come to eat something with me?? " I asked.

" We just had dinner, what were you doing at that time?? Thinking of your precious fiancee or busy appreciating Arun?? " He replied with another condescending question.

" I was not hungry at that time. Are you coming or not? " I said.

" I don't want to do anything with you. Even if I was dying to eat something, I would have run in the opposite direction than eating with you. Ms Jindal. " He said.

Same here, you idiot !! I am not at all interested in you, it's just that I want to know what you are up to...

" Fine Mr. M... Sharma. "

He waved his notebook at me and then slowly got to his feet and with his shoulder slightly stooped, he went inside without another glance at me.

I stared angrily at his retreating back but then followed him in.

I went back to my room thinking of calling everyone but since I was very tired, I got in my bed and slept before I could call anyone.

********

We all met in the morning. After breakfast, we went to see another place and when we came back it was about 11 AM. Some of the members wanted to do some shopping so Arun said that he could spare 3 hours and we would have lunch after 3 hours and then leave for the next destination.

Everyone started rushing away, I was thinking what to do when Arun came towards me.

" What would you like to do during these three hours? If you are not going anywhere, why don't you come with me? " Arun asked me.

" Well... I have no... " I was saying when the irritating man interrupted.

" Sorry, but she is coming with me for shopping. " He said with a fake smile.

" No, I am not," I said.

" You forgot you promised to help me buy some gifts for my mom. You got to come with me! " Shaurya said glaring at me.

" Is that how you ask someone to help you? " I said raising my eyebrow.

" Will you, come with me? " He took a deep breath and asked.

" What?? " I asked.

" Pleeease! " He said with a very fake smile. I knew he would have made a face if Arun was not there.

" Fine!! " I said and when I thought of saying bye to Arun politely, Shaurya caught my hand and pulled me away from him, " Let's go."

As soon as we came away from Arun, I asked him, " What is your problem?? Why are you behaving like this? You have been avoiding me like the plague but whenever I am talking to Arun, you come back running to me. If you are scared that I will tell him about his identity, don't be, I will not since our parents are good friends. So leave me alone! "

" Oh, please, I am not scared for myself, but since you are the daughter of my dad's friend, and no one else is here to take care of you, I have to come to save you. " He replied. I laughed sarcastically.

" Save me?? From Arun? Oh, please he is a gentleman. I should stay away from you to be safe. " I said and he took a few deep breaths as if he was trying to calm himself down.

" Gauravi, don't try my patience. Stay away from him. " He said clenching his jaw.

" Why are you behaving like a possessive boyfriend? " I asked as he was behaving just in the same way, and if I didn't know better I could have imagined that he had something for me.

" I would rather hang myself than do that in this lifetime. As it is, you are engaged... or have you already forgotten that while flirting with Arun and me?? " He smiled sarcastically.

" Shut up before I kill you. Even I would jump off the Himalayas before flirting with you." I almost yelled.

" Oh, but you didn't deny that you were flirting with Arun... I am sure that even, your very sweet and out-of-the-world fiance, would not appreciate your conduct with this tour guide. "

" Shut up!! I am not doing any such thing. " I yelled at him.

" Then you also keep your mouth shut!! Do whatever you want, but stay away from him and be with other tour members. " He said and left me alone.

Back in my room, I stood at the windows looking out through half-closed eyes with a feeling of dissatisfaction. I didn't want to waste time sitting in my room but didn't want to go shopping or spend another moment with the irritating man.

I wanted to go and look around, and explore the place a bit more. Everyone had left for the shopping and I sneaked out of my room to roam around. They had given us a supervised and controlled stroll accompanied by Arun and some locals. But somehow, I felt that there was more of it that I missed. So it was the perfect time to explore it.

I wanted to see the whole site again, the ruined temples, the city, and the forest behind our hotel. It seemed that they had scrubbed the area they showed us with disinfectant every night and hygienically cling-wrapped for the next group. I wanted to see the real thing.

We had to leave from there in three hours, three hours.

I could sneak out and have a look at those ruins that I had glimpsed from the top of the temple yesterday. Arun told us that there was nothing worth seeing there as that site had not been excavated yet. He told us not to go anywhere unescorted. But today, since everyone is gone, I can go there.

I packed a small bag pack for myself for the day and taking a water bottle and my phone, I let myself out of the rear door of the hotel. It was just a few yards away from the nearest trees that led to the jungle. I rushed there running as fast and as quietly as possible.

Once I reached there, I turned to look but could not see anyone who had seen me coming here. I wore olive green colored trousers and a shirt so that I could become invisible from afar. I took a deep breath and relaxed. Clutching my phone tightly I walked off through the bushes.

About an hour later, I was leaning up against a tree whipping my forehead with the back of my hand, my shirt was sticking to my back and the sweat was trickling down my thighs. Though I could not reach the ruins, saw some real jungle and was excited about it. I saw a few rare birds and insects but got scared when I saw a long snake.

Oh, God!!

I was scared, but I was keen to reach the ruins as it has really enchanted me. I looked at the watch, one and a half hours already spent, I would need the rest of the time to go back. Or Arun would send a search party looking for me.

I must go back...

I turned to go back and just then I heard some voices and I stopped, strained my ears to hear again and yes, I heard some voices. I hesitated a bit but then pushed a bush and came to a sudden halt.

What the hell???

Oh, my God!!

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Good morning friends

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Chhavi. 😊😊😊