Prajakta, Sumedh, Rohit and Bandana stood in silence looking at the jungle before them. They couldn't describe how were they feeling at that moment. Scared? Anxious? Nervous? Everything was mixed up. Jack was the first to make a move. He started walking like a drunk man, which he probably was, towards the vast forest.
The sky was painted in purple, red and blue, the colours were blended in a panoramic way.

"It will be dark soon, we need to find a safe place to sleep in the forest" Jack said still feeling guilty about what he will be doing tomorrow.

Sumedh, Prajakta, Rohit, Bandana and some men from the crew just followed him without making any comment.

Sumedh held Prajakta's hand, who gave her a confused look. "Tumhe dar lag raha hoga" he gave an innocent smile. The darkness hid Prajakta's deep blush as she just nodded.

"Kitne cute hai..." Bandana said looking at them with a smile. Rohit looked at her in a mixture of shock and surprise.

"Aaj suraj kaha se nikla?" He asked with a smirk. Bandana rolled her eyes and ignored him. "Yaar, itne hot bande ko kese ignore kar sakti ho tum?" He asked again after some minutes.

"Hot? Like seriously? I would rather marry Jack" Bandana teased him with a serious expression. Rohit's jaw nearly touched the grass.

"Anybody said my name?" Jack asked stopping for a moment. "Uh... um. No, no. Nothing" Bandana said nervously and flushed red. He looked at her suspiciously and started walking again.

"Bandana, yeh tumhe bohot bhari padega... is nazuk dil ko hazaro tukdo me tod dia tumne" he said putting his hand on his chest dramatically.

"Drama Queen" Bandana simply said.
Rohit finally gave in and chuckled. He was happy that Bandana changed a lot. From a mysterious person, finally she was opening up with him... he felt proud.

They walked for another half an hour. The trees were becoming very high because they were walking towards the heart of the forest. There was barely any light as the sun had set.

"Jack, can we rest for a bit please? We can continue walking tomorrow morning..." Prajakta asked with a tired tone.

"Itna alsi hona sehat ke liye accha nhi he mohotarma" Rohit said. Prajakta gave him a death glare which he gladly returned with an annoying smirk.

"Apne kaminepan pe aa hi gey tum" she said. He made a 'haw' face and looked towards Bandana for support but she was already laughing madly.

Jack agreed after some ifs and buts as he looked tired as well. They sat under three big trees. Jack and his crew under one, Bandana and Rohit under the next tree, Sumedh and Prajakt into the other one.

After some moments, Jack was already snoring. Bandana was resting her head on Rohit's shoulder.

"I am sorry Rohit..." she whispered. Rohit put his hand at the top of hers. "Don't be. Tumhari koi galati nhi thi Bandana, it was just one of those moments" he said. Bandana smiled.

She was glad to have someone who could understand her. It was beyond her understanding how could Rohit still behave like everything was fine and nothing bad ever happened.

"Thank you" she said. Rohit didn't ask why because he knew that sometimes silence works better than words.

In the other tree, Sumedh and Prajakta were talking about random stuff. They were sitting facing each other and laughing at a joke that Sumedh just cracked.

"I miss those days yaar... koi problem hi nhi hoti thi" Prajakta said smiling. Sumedh nodded.

"Tumhe yaad he? Jab hamne Rohit par prank kiya tha?" Sumedh asked with a big smile. Prajakta mirrored.
"Woh fake spider wala?" She asked.

"Haan... kese bhaga tha woh! Harry Potter ko usne ek hafte ke liye hath nhi lagaya" Sumedh said and burst into laughter. Prajakta joined him.

After a bit, they finally calmed down to catch their breath as Prajakta's stomach started hurting because of the continuous laughing.

Suddenly, Prajakta noticed something. A pendant was hanging around Sumedh's neck, it shone into the moonlight.

"You still have it?" Prajakta asked in surprise as she didn't expect it. Sumedh gave her a confused look. Prajakta pointed towards the pendant and Sumedh realised what she was talking about.

"Well, of course! Bohot special hai mere liye! It was the first gift that you gave me. I remember it as if it was yesterday..." Sumedh smiled thinking about old memories when they were kids.

*Flashback*
At Indra Gandhi Primary School...

It was a hot sunny day and the playground was packed with little kids running around carelessly as it was break time. Teachers were enjoying watching the kids and everyone was living in their happy bubble. Yet, there is a 9 years old boy sitting under a tree a bit far from everyone else with an annoyed expression.

Suddenly, a 8 years old girl ran out from the crowd of kids towards the boy under the tree.

"Sumedh, tum abhi tak gussa ho mujhse?" The little girl asked the boy in a high pitched voice. The boy, Sumedh, looked at her with an angry expression.

"Tune meri lollipop kyu khayi?! Woh meri thi!" He shouted at the girl, who gave him an innocent look.

"I am sorry... mujhe pata nhi tha ki woh tumhari thi..." she said with hurt in her voice.

"Yeh dekh kya layi hu tere liye. Isse shayad tu mujhe maaf karde" she said with hope glistening in her eyes. She took out a pendant with half of a coin and gave it to him.

"Are wah... yeh toh- bohot khubsurat hai..." Sumedh said, admiring the pendant. A huge smile formed at his lips.

"Thank you Prajakta!!!" He said and hugged the girl, Prajakta.

"Friendship me, no thank you and-"

"And no sorry!" Sumedh completed for her. They broke the hug and sat on the grass under the tree enjoying each other's company while talking about stuff which made no sense.

*Flashback ends*

"Kitne acche din hote the woh" Sumedh said while playing with the half heart. Prajakta smiled and took something from under her shirt.

When Sumedh noticed it, his eyes widened in surprise and admiration. It was another pendant with the other half of the coin.

"Wow..." Sumedh said unable to find any other words. Prajakta smiled again.

"Chal ab so ja. Raat bohot ho gayi he" Prajakta said looking up at the dark sky decorated with stars. Sumedh nodded and laid on the grass. He closed his eyes but was soon disturbed by a loud snore. He opened his eyes to see Jack snoring carelessly.

Sumedh shook his head and tried to sleep again, this time succeeding.

************

Hello everybody!!! Yep, I am still alive. I am really sorry because this update took AGES. But it's Christmas!!!! This is a gift from me to you all who take time to read this story ♥ I cannot thank you all enough. Merry Christmas!!!!