Aditi stood at the edge of the forest, her heart hammering in her chest as she gazed into the maze of towering trees stretching before her. The shadows grew long and deep in the dimming evening light, wrapping the forest in an eerie twilight. Her hand drifted to her bandaged arm, where the ointment she'd applied still tingled—a silent reminder of the wolf, the claws, and the strange boy who'd saved her.

"Why am I doing this?" she thought, the question echoing in her mind. She had no reason to believe he would even show up. But something inside her—a strange, unexplainable pull—urged her forward.

Taking a deep breath, Aditi took her first step into the forest, steeling herself against the apprehension bubbling in her chest. She'd come prepared this time. Inside her pocket was a small knife and tucked beside it were tiny Diwali cracker bombs she'd bought at the corner shop. The shopkeeper had looked at her oddly when she'd handed him the money.

"Planning an early celebration, are you?" he'd asked with a smirk.

"Yeah," she'd murmured, managing a tight smile, hoping he wouldn't press further.

Now, the little bombs felt like a shaky source of comfort in her pocket. They might not scare off a wolf, but she hoped the noise would startle anything that came too close. She let her fingers close around one, just in case, as she walked deeper, the familiar sounds of her world fading with each step.

The deeper she went, the quieter the world became. The wind whispered through the leaves, rustling like faint whispers around her, and the scent of moss and earth grew stronger. Her phone's screen flickered as she pulled it out, showing only a blinking bar of a weak signal before cutting out entirely. She knew she couldn't count on it if anything happened. "This is ridiculous," she thought, though a part of her felt that same urge, that instinct that she would find him here—or maybe he would find her.

Finally, she reached the lake, where the water, sparkled under the sunlight. Aditi sat down, pulling a book from her bag, trying to look casual as if she'd come here just to read. But her gaze kept straying back to the trees, to the path she'd come down, her heart beating faster each time a branch snapped, or a shadow shifted.

The minutes dragged by, and with every passing second, her hope started to wane. The sun was dipping lower, and the shadows stretched across the forest floor. A shiver ran down her spine as the breeze picked up, making her pull her jacket tighter. She knew she couldn't stay much longer.

"Maybe he's not coming," she told herself, with a pang of disappointment. She stood, brushing the dirt from her jeans, and tucked the book back into her bag, feeling a little foolish. "Priya was right. I should have waited for the festival, or maybe asked around in town." She sighed, turning to leave.

Just as she took a step, a low voice spoke from behind her, calm and steady, sending a jolt through her.

"I thought I warned you about this place," the voice said, familiar and laced with a hint of amusement.

Aditi whirled around, heart pounding as she came face-to-face with him. The boy stood a few feet away, his expression as unreadable as ever, his dark hair falling over his forehead. He wore the same green jacket, and those piercing grey eyes watched her intently as if he could see right through her.

For a moment, she could only stare, half-convinced he was a figment of her imagination. "He's real," she thought, both surprised and relieved.

"I..." she started, then caught herself, dropping her gaze in embarrassment. What am I supposed to say? She scrambled for words, forcing herself to look back up. "I didn't think you'd show up," she murmured, half to herself. Then, louder, she added, "But it's... beautiful here, by the lake. I thought I'd come to enjoy the view."

The boy raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "The view?" he said. "And here I thought you'd learned your lesson about wandering into the woods."

She folded her arms, lifting her chin with a hint of defiance. "Well, I came prepared this time," she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out one of the tiny crackers. She held it up, letting it catch the dim light. "See? I brought back up."

Amusement flickered in his eyes as he watched her, arms crossed and head tilted with that faint, unreadable smile. "A firecracker?" he asked, clearly trying to stifle a laugh. "You think that's going to protect you?"

Aditi shrugged, forcing her chin up a little defiantly. "Maybe not. But it's better than nothing." Without waiting for his reaction, she pulled a cracker from her pocket, tossed it a few feet away, and watched as it exploded with a sharp crack! A thin cloud of smoke billowed up, and birds scattered from the nearby trees, startled by the noise.

The boy laughed—a low, quiet sound as if he hadn't expected to be genuinely amused. "You really are something, aren't you?" He shook his head, looking at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "But these wolves..." His face grew more serious. "They're not the kind you scare off with noise."

Aditi took a cautious step closer, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" she asked, searching his face for answers.

He held her gaze for a moment, then looked away, his eyes drifting toward the shadows between the trees. "These wolves... they're different. Not like the ones you learn about in biology class." His voice softened, though his expression was serious again. "This isn't a game, you know. There are things here that... well, they're best left undisturbed."

"But, I mean, it's beautiful here by the Lake. And you're here too, so clearly you must like it too."

He looked away, his gaze shifting to the lake as if considering her question. "I come here to keep an eye on things," he said finally. "And to make sure people stay out of trouble." His gaze flicked back to her, and there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips, though it faded quickly.

"Trouble?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes at him. "You mean like wolves?"

"Wolves are just one danger," he said quietly, and for a moment, his face seemed to darken, a shadow of something unreadable crossing his expression.

His hand shifted, pulling back the edge of his jacket just enough for her to glimpse the silver blade tucked into his belt.

Aditi's eyes widened as she caught sight of the polished metal. "Is that... silver?"

"Yes," He nodded, tucking the dagger back out of sight. "And There is danger here. I don't say that to scare you—I'm saying it to keep you safe."

She hesitated, feeling a strange warmth at his words. "Well... thank you," she murmured. She took a breath, gathering the courage to ask, "And thank you for helping me that day. I never got the chance to ask—what's your name?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Ved."

"Ved," she repeated with a smile. "Nice to meet you properly." She extended her hand cheerfully. "I'm Aditi."

Ved glanced at her hand, but he didn't take it, instead giving a small nod. Aditi awkwardly pulled her hand back, her smile faltering. Before she could say anything more, a high-pitched cry echoed through the trees, startling them both.

"Did you hear that?" she whispered.

Ved's eyes sharpened. "This way," he said, already moving toward the sound. Aditi hurried after him, trying to keep up as he wove through the undergrowth with ease.

They emerged into a small clearing, and Aditi's heart sank. A young deer lay on the ground, its side heaving as it struggled to breathe. Its leg was bleeding badly, staining the forest floor a dark red. A large wolf stood a few paces away, watching them with a wary, golden-eyed stare. For a moment, it locked eyes with Ved, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Ved knelt beside the deer, his expression softening. "Jay..." he murmured, gently placing a hand on the creature's side. The deer let out a weak, pained cry.

Aditi quickly pulled off her scarf, handing it to him. "Here, use this to wrap the wound," she said, as she looked at the injured animal.

Ved took the scarf, wrapping it tightly around the deer's leg to slow the bleeding. "Thank you," he murmured. He stroked the deer's head, murmuring something softly under his breath as the creature calmed slightly.

"We should take him to a vet," Aditi suggested.

Ved shook his head, glancing up at her with a determined look. "It's all right—I'll take care of him. He's... he's mine."

Aditi frowned. "Maybe he is, but he needs medical attention. He's bleeding badly!"

Ved's jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. "I have medicine at my home. I can treat him there."

"Let's go," Aditi insisted, her voice steady.

Ved hesitated. His expression torn. "I... think you should head home. I can take care of him."

Aditi frowned but kept her tone light. "It's fine. It's not even dark yet. I'll come with you—maybe you'll need help."

"No, it's okay. I can handle it," he said quickly, his voice firm.

She paused, searching his face. "If you don't want me to come to your home, that's fine. Just say so."

Ved looked flustered, running a hand through his dark hair. "I don't mean it like that. Sorry if I sounded rude."

"It's okay," Aditi said softly, though she couldn't hide the hint of hurt in her voice.

Ved opened his mouth as if to explain further, but the deer's plaintive cry broke through the moment. He glanced at the animal, urgency flashing in his grey eyes. "Let's go," he said abruptly.

They moved carefully through the forest, with Ved cradling the small deer in his arms, and Aditi keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Soon, they reached a small clearing with a modest house surrounded by a bamboo fence. Beside the house was a small stable, where a few cows, goats, and two dogs lay curled up in the hay. As Ved approached, the animals lifted their heads, as if sensing his presence, their eyes brightening with recognition.

He laid the deer on a wooden bench outside the house, giving the creature a gentle pat on the head. "Wait here," he said to Aditi before slipping inside.

When he returned, he carried a wooden box filled with small glass bottles, dried leaves, and neatly wrapped bundles of herbs. Aditi watched curiously as he set the box beside the deer and began pulling out various leaves and vials.

"What is all this?" she asked, her brows furrowing as he crushed a handful of roots and leaves with a mortar and pestle.

"Medicine," he replied, glancing at her briefly. "Ayurvedic remedies. We use herbs for treating animals here. It's a tradition... it's worked for us for generations."

She crossed her arms, feeling a bit skeptical. "But what about real medicine? Like ointments, antibiotics, vaccines? This deer could have rabies or an infection."

Ved met her gaze, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "This is real medicine, Aditi. Nature's gift. It's worked longer than you might think." He applied the paste he'd made to the deer's wound, then wrapped it securely with a strip of clean white cloth. He also took a small vial and poured a few drops into the deer's mouth. As they watched, the deer's pained breathing began to slow, its body relaxing slightly.

Aditi's eyes widened, her skepticism melting into awe. "It... seems to be working."

Ved smiled, gently patting the deer's side. "It always does."

She looked up at him, fascinated. "But... don't you worry about infections? Or rabies?"

Ved shook his head, giving her a confident look. "We have remedies for those, too. This has worked for as long as I can remember. We trust in it."

Aditi glanced around at the animals, watching them with calm, familiar eyes. She had to admit, there was something peaceful, almost magical, about the scene. She opened her mouth to ask more, but Ved's expression suddenly shifted, his gaze lifting to the sky.

"It's getting dark," he said, his tone quiet but insistent. "I think you should head home now."

Aditi felt a pang of disappointment but nodded. "Alright. But... thank you, Ved. For helping me—and for letting me come here."

Ved's gaze softened as he nodded. "I'll walk you to the edge of the woods."

Aditi's heart fluttered a little as they started to walk side by side, a comfortable silence settling between them. Now and then, she glanced at him, catching small details—the way his footsteps made barely a sound, as though he were part of the forest itself, or how his expression stayed so carefully guarded.

"So, you live here?" she ventured, breaking the quiet.

He nodded. "Yeah. This is my... home, I guess."

She looked around at the darkening trees, surprised. "Your home?"

He paused, his jaw tightening slightly before he spoke again, his voice low. "My family... they live somewhere else. This is their property, though. I stay here to look after the trees." He glanced at her, the hint of a sad smile playing on his lips. "People try to cut them down sometimes."

Aditi studied his face, noticing a flicker of something—sadness, maybe, or a kind of resignation. She hesitated, wanting to stay longer, to ask him more, to understand why he had chosen this quiet, lonely existence. But as she looked around at the deepening shadows, she knew he was right about one thing: it was getting late. She nodded, and they continued walking, her curiosity tempered by a growing respect for his silence.

"So... you're a local?" she asked, her tone gentle.

"Something like that," he said, giving her a brief, tight-lipped smile. There was a guardedness in his voice as if he'd built walls around himself that no one could penetrate. She wanted to ask more but didn't want to push him, so she just nodded, absorbing the small glimpse he'd given her.

The trees thinned out as they reached the forest's edge. Beyond, the streetlights of town cast a warm glow over the empty road, a comforting reminder of safety and familiarity. Ved stopped, turning to face her, his expression unreadable.

"Here we are," he murmured, his voice soft.

Aditi felt a pang of disappointment mixed with gratitude as she met his eyes. "Thank you... again," she said, her voice faltering a little. She wanted to say so much more, to tell him how grateful she was not just for his help, but for this strange, unexpected connection that seemed to pull her toward him. She took a breath, then offered, "You know... if you ever come into town, you should come by my house. I make a mean masala chai."

For a moment, she thought he might actually say yes. His gaze softened, and he looked at her, almost as if he were considering it. But then, something shifted in his expression, and he glanced back toward the forest, his face growing serious again. "Maybe... sometime." His tone was hesitant, almost regretful. "But tonight, I have to get back. The animals..."

Aditi bit back her disappointment, forcing a small smile. "Right. They're lucky to have you."

He gave her a faint, appreciative nod, then stepped back, his figure beginning to melt into the shadows of the trees. "Stay safe, Aditi," he said quietly. He nodded, his expression softening. "Stay safe, Aditi. And... try not to come back into the woods alone, okay?"

She smiled, feeling her cheeks warm a little. "I'll keep that in mind," she promised.

With one last lingering look, he slipped deeper into the trees, disappearing as if he'd never been there at all, leaving her standing at the edge of the woods, her heart racing and her mind spinning with questions.

As she turned to walk back toward the warm lights of town, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd only just begun to understand Ved and that something in those woods had bound them together in a way she couldn't yet explain.

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