Faizal breathed in and out in a systematic fashion in order to regulate the oxygen flow to his blood. He still had a few more rounds left to complete, and wanted to conserve his stamina to the best of his abilities. Besides, jogging on relatively undulating terrain with rocks and stones in his path, had proven to be more difficult than he'd first estimated.

He'd slept quite soundly the previous night, despite the discomfort he'd felt initially. Perhaps he'd given too much importance to the sense of foreboding that'd engulfed him once he'd been left alone.

It was either that or the fact that his exhaustion had eventually outweighed the fears on his mind. His five hour journey from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar, after which he'd had to hire a different local cab to arrive at the homestay had been arduous, to say the least.

Faizal's sleep pattern was a pretty organised one. He usually couldn't function without his eight hours, and felt like a zombie if he'd been deprived of the luxury. However, since he'd nodded off a few hours prior to his designated sleep time the previous night, his body clock had woken him up nearly an hour earlier than usual.

Unable to quell his restlessness, Faizal had decided to get dressed and go out for a run so as to explore the area. Since it was barely six 'o' clock in the morning, the other occupants of the homestay as well as the town nearby, still hadn't awoken to begin their day.

Faizal could hear the gleeful chirping of the birds, as he ran on the trail bounded by forests on both sides. It was music to his ears for all he could hear in the city at this time of the day were the beginnings of invasive, neighbourly chatter.

Faizal decided to take a new route as he moved on to his last round for the morning. He panted slightly, and wiped the sweat on his brow as he immersed himself in the shade of the trees, which scarcely allowed any sunlight to reach the ground.

Faizal's mind flitted back to the alluring damsel he'd met the previous night. She was definitely an enigma-one whom he wanted to uncover more about, for her presence seemed quite conducive to get his creative juices flowing.

It was a stroke of luck that she was an employee at Paradise Homestay. The fact that Mr. Batra had even revealed her name to Faizal, without him having inquired about her, was also a plus point.

A few metres or so later, Faizal noticed a large raised rock and decided to take a few moments to rest before he found his way back to the compound of the homestay. Since he'd strayed from the conventional route, he knew it would take a while to do so.

He plopped himself down on the jagged rock and took out his miniature water bottle which just about fit into the pocket of his jacket. He sipped on it lethargically, savouring the water droplets trickling down his parched throat.

Faizal took a moment to observe his surroundings. He was suddenly wary of the numerous animals he could have encountered during his morning run. For a moment, it almost seemed as if he were encroaching upon their territory.

All of a sudden, Faizal could hear the leaves rustling nearby.

Who could be wandering in the woods at this hour? He wondered to himself.

He stood up from the rock with a jerk and dusted the leaves that had hooked themselves to his tracksuit. He took quick steps towards the crackling of the leaves, and was elated to learn the identity of the trespasser.

The very person that he'd been trying to find, had found her way to him instead.

Taqdeer humein dobara milane ki koshish kar rahi hai. Faizal thought to himself with a smirk.

He could see her in the distance. She had the same set of perpetually frightened orbs, and looked just as alarmed to see him as she had the night before. She even appeared to be wearing the same apparel that she'd had on during their first meet.

Did she not go home? Faizal speculated as he tried to close the gap between them.

Nevertheless, before he could start a conversation, she swerved, and began to run in the opposite direction, camouflaging herself among the trees and the brambles.

"Hey! Wait! Where are you going?" He yelled, as he tried to follow her.

The girl's petite form clearly gave her an advantage. She was able to slide through the gaps among the protruding tree branches, while Faizal struggled to catch up.

Faizal could feel the twigs scraping against his skin as he broke into a run. To add to his woes, his vision was largely impaired since his considerable height brought him in contact with the branches, all too frequently.

"Meera! Wait!" He shouted out to her once again, hoping that she'd finally cut him some slack and slow down.

However, he had no such luck.

Faizal paused for a second in order to catch his breath and realised that she'd managed to give him the slip. In fact, it almost seemed as if she'd disappeared into thin air.

Faizal felt a strong sense of disappointment setting in on him as he realised that he'd missed an opportunity to converse with her.

Aapke aane se,
Dil mein toofan si machi hai.

Aapke aane se,
Dil ki hasratein nayi hai.

Shayad anjaane mein,
Hum aapse ishq kar baithe hai.

Faizal was shocked as the lines snuck up on him spontaneously. It was almost as if he could visualise them in his mental canvas.

He knew that the couplets were quite rough around the edges. But with a little tweaking, perhaps he could make them publish-worthy.

She was truly intriguing. So much so, that Faizal felt compelled to mobilize his artistic expression in order to find a fitting elucidation for her aura.

But did the words in the couplets have any truth to them?

It was a matter Faizal refused to dwell upon, for even a second.

~*~

"Good morning, Mr. Faizal! Did you sleep well last night?" Mr. Batra's energetic voice greeted Faizal as he walked down the stairs.

Faizal had returned to his room to take a long hot shower after his unexpectedly eventful run. Now that he was all bathed and dressed, he was finally ready to begin exploring Mahabaleshwar as a tourist.

Faizal descended the staircase quickly and approached Mr. Batra, beaming from ear to ear.

"Like a log." He replied with a wink.

"That's great!" Mr. Batra said, as he leaned on the counter at the reception.

Faizal glanced sideways in order to confirm Meera's absence. And surely, much to his dismay, the space behind the counter was bare and empty.

"So, what's the plan for today? Sightseeing, are we?" Mr. Batra asked with great enthusiasm.

"Yes! My itinerary is pretty cliche, but still..." Faizal replied with a chuckle.

"So, would you like me to arrange any transport? A cab or something?" Mr. Batra asked.

"Um...I was just wondering if I could hail an autorickshaw from the main road." Faizal said, running his hand through his hair, casually.

"That should be fine. Just make sure they don't overcharge you, though." He warned.

"Of course. Did you have my breakfast packed as I requested?" Faizal asked.

"Yes. Some fruit and toast..All packed up and ready to go!" Mr. Batra said, as he handed Faizal a brown paper packet with a box inside.

"Thank you!" Faizal responded with a nod.

"Alright, if you need any help, please feel free to call the reception! I can give you my personal number too, if you wish..." Mr. Batra offered.

"No. That's not necessary! I'll manage..." Faizal remarked, slightly embarrassed.

Faizal then gave his acquaintance a slight nod of goodbye and started walking towards the exit of the bungalow.

"Have a good day!" Mr. Batra screamed, as he stepped out the door.

Faizal shook his head in amusement and walked forth on the narrow cobbled path that led to the main road.

Mr. Batra's zest was quite extraordinary. Perhaps, Faizal's arrival at the homestay was a matter of excitement for him. Especially, since the influx of guests at the homestay seemed to be on the lower side, perennially.

Faizal reached the main road in just a few minutes. It seemed like Lady Luck had decided to favour him again for he could see an autorickshaw approaching the lane, just as he set foot on the tarred road.

"Auto! Auto!" He yelled, waving his arms, so as to grab the driver's attention.

Faizal's animated gesture appeared to have yielded positive results, for the driver brought the diminutive vehicle to a screeching halt, barely a foot or two away from his position.

Faizal walked up to the driver and asked. "Aap Mapro Garden chalenge?"

"Haan Sahab. Sab jagah jaayenge. Mapro garden, Elphinstone Point, Pratapgarh Qila,...Aap baithiye toh sahi!" The driver replied, excitedly.

"Abhi ke liye, sirf Mapro Garden. Kitna loge?" Faizal asked firmly.

"Aane-jaane ka hazaar, Sahab. Round trip samajh lijiye...Takreeban bees kilometre ki doori par hai." The driver said dramatically.

Faizal crinkled his features slightly upon hearing the driver's price. However, he wasn't so sure he'd find another rickshaw any time soon.

"Theek hai. Chaliye..." Faizal said as he hopped into the vehicle along with his belongings.

The driver started the auto's engine immediately, and within just a few seconds they were coasting along at a comfortable pace over the hilly roads and the steep hairpin bends.

It was only after he'd fully settled in that he was reminded of his hunger pangs. Faizal removed the box from the brown paper bag Mr. Batra had handed him, fully intending to enjoy his breakfast without a glitch.

"Sahab, ek aur baat. Aap sau rupaiye extra add kar dijiyega. Main driver hone ke saath-saath, guide bhi hoon..." The driver remarked, cheerfully.

Faizal rolled his eyes in annoyance as the driver proceeded to laugh hoarsely.

Mr. Batra had been right. No matter which city or town one visited in India, the auto drivers would always be crooks.

~*~

Faizal gasped as he set his eyes on the breathtaking landscape before him. The scenery from his room definitely couldn't hold a candle to the panoramic view he was witnessing at present.

Faizal could spot innumerable mountains and valleys, partially covered by the fluffy cumulus clouds in the sky. Moreover, the edge of the cliff top also allowed him to get a good look at the peculiar form of the rocky mountains, resembling the shape of an elephant head- a fact responsible for coining the very same epithet for the spot.

"Achcha hai na, Sahab?" The driver asked, eagerly.

"Yeh toh Jannat hai..." Faizal said absentmindedly, as he observed the setting sun in the distance.

Faizal's trip to Mapro Garden had been quite memorable. Although it was a place one mostly visited with family, Faizal had made it a point to include it in his itinerary. He'd thoroughly enjoyed the short tour of the strawberry gardens and the production centres. In addition to this, he'd also had a blast, tasting an assortment of their fresh strawberry produce as well as their strawberry flavoured products.

His childish joyride had taken more than half the day, however. That's when he decided to head over to Elphinstone Point in order to watch the sunset, for it was just a kilometre or two away from the homestay.

"Bas ek problem hai. Log bahut zyaada hai...Jahannum ke barabar." Faizal said with a snicker, as yet another tourist nudged him aside to get a better view.

"Hahaha! Woh toh hai..." The driver laughed in response.

"Toh? Aur bataiye. Aap guide hai.. Mahabaleshwar ke rehnewale bhi hai...Toh kuch aisa bataiye iss jagah ke baare mein jo kisi bhi kitaab ya akhbaar mein nahi milega." Faizal said teasingly, as he perched himself rather precariously on the railing.

If Faizal truly was to pay the man an extra hundred rupees, he decided that he'd milk him for information, to the greatest extent possible.

"Main kya batau, Sahab? Log yahaan sunset, sunrise dekhne aate hai, bas." The driver said, brushing off the topic, nonchalantly.

"Koi dilchasp kahaani hi suna dijiye..." Faizal egged him on, pleased to see the driver in distress.

"Kahaani toh hai, waise...lekin shayad aap pehle se hi jaante hai. Aap Paradise mein thehre hai, na?" The driver asked, as he swung to the side, in order to let the crowd pass.

"Haan. Kyun?" Faizal asked curiously.

"Toh aap Batra ji ko toh jaante hi honge. Woh maalik hai na, homestay ka?" The driver asked in confirmation.

"Haan. Kal hi mila hoon, unse." Faizal stated.

"Darasal, kuch bees, pachchees saal pehle ki baat hai. Batra ji shayad ek zamaane mein bade paise wale the. Dilli mein business tha unka. Lekin unhone sab chod-chad kar, yahaan aakar, ghar basa liya, apni Mrs. ke saath..." The driver started to recite.

"Unki shaadi ho chuki hai?!" Faizal asked in a puzzled manner.

Mr. Batra hadn't mentioned anything about a wife in the few conversations that Faizal had engaged in, with him.

"Haan, Sahab. Gaanv ke buzurg yahi kehte hain, ki unki biwi Gauri, bahut khoobsoorat thi. Lekin badkismati se, unki tabiyat kabhie bhi theek nahi rehti thi. Dilli ki dhool aur bheed mein unki saansein shayad dabne lagi thi. Isliye, shaadi ke do saal baad hi woh dono yahaan shift ho gaye. Aur Batra ji ne ek aalishaan bangla bhi khareed li." The driver explained, animatedly.

"Par ab unki biwi kahaan hai? Maine toh kisi ko-" Faizal asked adamantly, but was interrupted by his driver-cum-guide.

"Pehle poori kahaani toh sun lijiye, Sahab!" The driver urged.

"Bataiye..." Faizal said with a chuckle, as he folded his arms.

"Toh suniye...yahaan par rehne ke bawjood bhi, Gauri ji ki tabiyat aur bigadne lagi... aur saath mein, unki mansik sthiti bhi. Kaafi saare doctor log aaye unki ilaaj karne ke liye, lekin sabhi nakamyaab rahe...Batra ji ke paas aur koi chaara bacha hi nahi tha. Woh apni biwi ko ghar mein hi rakhte the, full-time nurse ke saath, taaki unki dekh bhaal theek thaak ho sake..." The driver claimed.

"Aur phir?" Faizal asked, frown lines forming on his forehead.

"Phir ek raat, ek durghatna ghat gayi. Dhyaan rakhne ke baad bhi, Gauri ji ghar se nikal gayi, aur isi taraf chalne lagi. Aur bas...woh lapataa ho gayi..." The driver said in a sinister tone.

"Kya? Kisine dekha nahi kya, unko?" Faizal asked, shocked.

"Pata nahi, Sahab. Raat ko yahaan koi nahi ghoomta. Sirf pairon ke nishaan hi the yahaan tak, aur kuch nahi... Kuch logon ka maanna hai ki woh isi pahaad se phisal kar gir gayi. Aur kuch log toh yeh bhi sochte hai...ki unhone aatmahatya kar li..." The driver said in a grave voice.

"Ab aap kuch bhi bole ja rahein hai..." Faizal said, shaking his head.

For some reason, he found it difficult to fathom that the cheerful Mr. Batra had gone through such a painful ordeal in his life.

"Sab hi boltein hai, Sahab!" The driver exclaimed, defensively.

"Police ne koi karyavahi nahi ki, kya?" Faizal asked, skeptically.

"Ki na, Sahab. Lekin phir bhi koi thos saboot nahi mili. Jab kai saal beet gaye, toh log yahi samajhne lage, ki Gauri ji ki maut ho gayi hai...Batra ji bhi haar maan gaye...unhone bhi is baat ko svikaar kar li." He continued.

"Lekin unki laash mili ya nahi?" Faizal asked, rather uncomfortably.

"Yahi toh aashcharya ki baat hai, Sahab. Bahut dhoondne ke bawjood bhi nahi mili...shayad jangal ke kisi jaanwar ne kuch kiya hoga...Pata nahi, Sahab... " The driver said agitatedly, clapping his hands together. "Kuch logon ka yeh bhi kehna hai, ki unki aatma abhi bhi bhatakti hai, in vaadiyo aur jangalon mein..."

Faizal couldn't help but let out a slight laugh at the self-proclaimed guide's last statement. He couldn't believe that the villagers had turned the tale of Mr. Batra's personal loss into a pulpy ghost story.

"Gaanv vaale in faaltu cheezon mein kaise vishwas kar sakte hain? Bhoot, pretatma, yeh sab khayali pulao hai..." Faizal said, arrogantly.

"Nahi, Sahab. Mere dada ji ne dekha hai unhe, jangal mein..." The driver said, obstinately.

Faizal merely shook his head and stood up from the railing. He was pretty certain that no matter how hard he reasoned with the driver, he wouldn't be able to change his beliefs.

"Aur yeh homestay, yeh unka ghar tha kya pehle?" Faizal asked, as the thought popped into his head.

"Haan, Sahab. Lekin ab zyaada tourists wahaan par rukte nahi hai..." The driver said.

Faizal nodded his head in amusement and said. "Kahaani toh kaafi dilchasp hai. Khatam ho gayi ho, toh waapas chalein?"

"Jee, Sahab." The driver said promptly, as he turned around and started walking to the parking spot.

As Faizal followed the man, he couldn't help but be curious about Gauri Batra's death. However, he brushed the thought aside temporarily, so as to retain his peace of mind.

On a lighter note, there was one thing he was sure of. His driver may not have been much of a guide, but sure was an ace in theatrics.

~*~

Faizal drew the curtains of the large window in his room, plugged his phone in for charging and tucked himself in bed.

He'd had a pretty tiring day out, and after a rather sumptuous meal of grilled chicken, all he wanted to do was hit the hay and wake up with a fresh mind. He'd hoped to meet Meera at the reception upon returning, but sadly, she'd left especially early. At least, that's what Mr. Batra had told him.

He switched off nearly all the lights using the controls at his bedside, but made sure to keep a lamp on like he'd done the previous night. Immediately after, he shut his eyes, and tried to go to sleep.

However, about fifteen minutes later, when he'd almost dozed off, he was startled by a violent cry emanating from outside his room.

Faizal awoke with a start and sat up on his bed, rubbing his eyelids. He wasn't sure as to whether the sound had been real or if he were simply imagining it.

He was just about to go back to sleep, when he heard yet another howling noise from outside.

He knew it wasn't a delusion anymore. He switched on the lights swiftly, and grabbed the key to his room.

He opened the door hurriedly and stepped outside.

"Aaaah!!"

There it was again.

Faizal realised that the noise was coming from downstairs. He proceeded to run down the steps in the next minute.

As far as he knew, he was the only guest staying at the bungalow that night. The other two had checked out sometime during the day.

That left only a single possibility. The sound was echoing from Mr. Batra's room.

Faizal ran to the only seemingly occupied room on the first floor, and tried to use his keys in order to enter the room.

When he was unsuccessful, he couldn't help but bang on the door in consternation.

"Mr. Batra! Are you alright?!" He screamed, as he pounded on the door.

"Mr. Batra?!" Faizal asked again, hoping for a response.

Unable to contain himself, Faizal tried to force the door open. He ran straight at the door and broke it open using the brunt of his torso.

As soon as the door swung open, Faizal rushed inside to find a shivering and frightened Mr. Batra on the floor.

His eyes were aghast with fear. His skin, pale and discoloured. Sweat beads were dripping from his face at an alarming rate, and his teeth seemed to be clattering slightly.

Faizal hurried to Mr. Batra's side and placed a hand on his shoulder, gently.

"What's the matter Mr. Batra?! What happened?" Faizal asked in an anxious voice.

Mr. Batra merely raised his right hand up and pointed towards the balcony in his room, overlooking the mountains.

"I saw her." He whispered softly.

"Who?!" Faizal asked, as a deluge of uneasiness spread across his chest.

Mr. Batra looked up to face Faizal and said, with blank eyes.

"Gauri."

~*~