This chapter is dedicated to @shivika2417.. Thank you for the wonderful cover..

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The two girls are seen ascending the hilltop. It seems as if they have become tired due to continuous walking. Ragini lags. She stops abruptly feeling uneasy.

Ragini:"Hey Shona."

Swara: "Mmm What happened Ragu?"

Ragini: "You would tell me na if we were lost, wouldn't you?"

Swara:"(furrowing her brows)And what makes you think like that?"

Ragini:"I don't know. We just passed two turnoffs back there and I haven't seen a trail marker since so long. So was just wondering."

Swara:"Ragu, Why fear when Swara is here? It's the right way and by the way, we are still heading north."

Ragini: "North. Shona, are you sure? Then why is the sun at our back now? You know na It wasn't before."

Suddenly Swara gets rooted to the place . She seems uncertain. She pauses a moment as the two friends look to one another, each at a loss.

They stand around not knowing what to do.

Unknown to both of them, there was someone keeping account of what they both were doing. Partially obscured by a drooping branch limb the stranger observes the two girls from the edge of the road a short way back.

He stands motionless next to his bike, keenly observing his surroundings.

Ragini and Swara continue to linger.

Ragini: "Shona, Listen to me. Why don't we just turn back, find the nearest trail marker and go from there? What do you say?"

She looks to her friend but Swara is intensely focused now, gazing trance-like down the road ahead.

Swara:"No need Ragu. This is the right way."

Ragini: "How can you be so sure?"

Swara"Because I am saying. Don't worry Ragu. We're on the right path. I can feel it."

A delicious grin quickly spreads across Swara's face.

Swara: "Can there be any greater joy than wandering down an unknown road, towards an uncertain destination? I strongly feel that we must go.

She marches boldly forth. Ragini tags reluctantly behind.

Ragini:"(sighs defeated)Well, as long as you're sure."

 Time passes by. Ragini and Swara lie seated next to each other in the tall grass in front of a wooden trail marker at the edge of the road.

Ragini exhausted lies down on the grass feeling its warmness.

Swara gets to her feet and performs a stretch. She takes a red scarf from her pack and ties it around her forehead.

She takes in the scenery now. The view from this point offers them a glimpse of a lake at the valley bottom.

Swara:"Did I not tell you we were on the right path? "

Ragini just hummed.

Swara stares back out at the scenery. Just then her eyes catch a glimpse of the stranger eyeing them from behind a cluster of trees.

Swara:"Shit"

Ragini:'What?..What is it?"

Swara:"Look over there. That man."

Ragini gets to her feet. She sees him now too. The stranger retreats back, as if realizing his cover were blown.

Ragini:"Hey I think I have seen him some where, I don't remember....wait. That's him. That man was there in the coffee shop the other day"

Swara:"Are you sure?"

Ragini:"100%"

They look to each other, averting their eyes for only a split second but when they glance back at him...he's not there.

Swara:"Wait – where'd he go? Do you see him now?"

They both scan the horizon. The spot he occupied is now empty, however a few trees and branches obscure their view; he could still be lurking about somewhere.

Ragini:"I'm not sure."

They continue to look.

Ragini:"I guess he's gone."

Swara:"Leave him. Let's just go."

Swara heads off, follows the trail marker down a narrow side road. Ragini pauses a moment as she eyes the sign. It reads 'Way to the hill top'.She nudges it a few times in the ground – it's fairly loose, shifting and turning quite easily.

Swara:"Are you planning to stay here itself Ragu?"

Ragini:"I don't know – are you sure this is the right way?"

Swara:"Ragu, If you again ask this question na , I will just go on my own.Come na yaar." 

Ragini reluctantly follows Swara.

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