A dense forest, a river flowing by, the moonlight & dew drops on the grass perfect for a date. Isn't it?  Can the same setting be so apt for two friends lost in jungle having no idea how to get out?
Read on to find out
Happy Reading amazing people!!  ❤

"Dev!!  It's 8:30 hum kabse chale jaa rahe hain" Sonakshi's voice was clearly reflecting her fatigue

"Bas waha se left lenge" Dev replied with enthusiasm pointing towards a clearing far to the left.  It had been hours since the duo were walking trying to find the way back to their group but success was far away from them.  After realising his feelings for Sona Dev thought that this walk in the forest will do wonders for them & he may get the strength to propose Sonakshi (Bahut tez jaa rahe ho Dev Babu thodi speed kam karo) but our well sculpted Dev was not as fit as he seemed & our dubli-patli Sonakshi was too quick & to match with her pace on the uneven rocky forest was doing nothing but making Dev
1. Out of breath
2. Want water
3. Curse himself for his stupid game of dwelling deep into the forest without his phone in a working condition.

"Sona!!  Dheere chalo" Dev shouted

"Chilane ki jagah chalne pe focus karo" Sona spat back

"Ab kaun chila raha hai" Dev said cocking an eyebrow at her

"To kya karu mai!!! Kab se left right left right turn karwa rahe ho kab pahuchenge hum ... Mere phone ki battery bhi khatam hone wali hai phir Ye flashlight bhi nahi jal paayegi"Sona  said pointing towards her phone's flashlight

They took the left turn which according to Dev would lead them towards the rest of the group but the turn lead them to the bank of the river. They could hear the splashing of water & instead of being pleasing it sounded more angry.  To hype the misery Sona's phone went dead

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"I've brought wood Sonakshi...  I guess this would be enough for igniting a fire" Dev said & let the pieces of wood fall on the ground. They went rolling towards Sonakshi. "Are you even listening?"

Sonakshi was looking at the river. On hearing his voice she pulled her legs towards herself & let her chin rest on her knees. Her eyes were fixed on the flow of the river. "Look at this" she spoke

"What?"

"The river"

"What's so special about it? "

"Nothing"

Sonakshi again became quiet. The moonlight was kissing her face,while the wind caressed it. She fixed the loose strands of her hair behind her ear & closed her eyes to inhale the fresh aroma of the forest.

Dev sat next to her, in the same way.  After staying quiet for a while he spoke up.

"We are friends right?"

"Obviously... Why are you asking this? "

"Aren't friends supposed to share everything with each other?" Dev finally asked this question. The day he knew Sona had a troubled past he wanted to help her get out of it. He could sense the air of mystery she created around her whenever  they talked about her personal life.  He felt she was building a wall around her which was binding her soul rather than safeguarding it.  Had Sonali not stopped Ghunghroo that day he would have asked her all these questions straight away but just because of her advice he felt that he should listen to Payal's chanchan but his Payal refused to produce any music & he needed to shake her a bit maybe in the hope that she would open up.

Dev looked at Sona with anticipation & finally her lips parted to say something, " Aren't friends supposed to protect each other?"

This cross question left Dev dumb & filled him with even more curiosity & concern.  What is her past?  His mind kept hammering the question but Sona spoke again to break his chain of thoughts.

"Look at the moon's image in the river it looks so shiny,so bright... Moon is the giver of light at night but in all this we don't realise that it isn't the moon it's just the part of it that we are seeing. Even the moon has a darker side Dev"🌓🌔

For Dev Sona had always been bright, chirpy,  funny full of light. She was his problem solver. Always showing him the right path, giving him the right advice even when not asked for.  Was she referring to herself when she spoke of the moon?  Dev felt the need to address her emotions

"You are right Sonakshi. Even the moon has a darker side but that is only for the world. The moon is equally bright & beautiful from all angles for the Sun. The sun can illuminate all sides of the moon Sonakshi. It's the Earth that chooses to look only at the brighter side."

Sonakshi had said all that while looking at the river blankly but this statement of Dev made her turn at him. For some reasons her eyes welled up. She didn't knew how to react because her theory of the dual nature of the moon & the ill fate of the darker side was so deep routed in her system that the concept of a sun illuminating even the darker side shook her & gave her hope.

" Are you afraid of darkness Sonakshi? " Dev asked

"No. Not darkness itself but the emotions that come with it fear,  anxiety & a vague perspective" She did reply to him but her mind was still wondering why on Earth was he asking such questions

"Clarity & ambiguity can't be afllitated to light & darkness.  Some times too much of light blinds us it is then when darkness or maybe dim light forces us to look inside to see what we actually need to see this moment. Maybe then we can understand that what will make us happy & what path should we choose" Dev said all of that with complete sincerity

There was no need for these words now but the surroundings made her ponder on them so much. In that darkness, she the moon had just sufficient light to look around & find her sun in the man sitting next to her promising to take away all that was not right in her life.

Na jaane mere dil ko kya ho gaya
Abhi to yahin tha abhi kho gaya

Even before Sonakshi decided to say something. Some voices called out their names.  They turned around to find Karan, Krystle & Nikki looking for them. They shouted & indicated there location.Soon they were fetched & they joined the rest of the group

"Bhai...  Humari cars aa gayin hai Chalo Sab Ghar chalte hain" Nikki said

"Teri flight na miss ho jaaye Jatin" Karan said

"Changed my mind.  Nahi jaa raha main" Jatin said looking at Brinda

"Oh!  You  changed your mind" Krystle said mischievously " Accha hua change kar liya purana wala chalta nahi tha"

Everyone laughed & then they got into the cars.  Nikki, Brinda & Dev got into one car. While Jatin, Karan,Krystle, Golu & Sona got into another. Dev's car left first & as it overtook Sona's car Sona looked at Dev intently who was sitting next to the Driver

Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Diladaar sajna
Hai yeh pyaar sajna

While Dev's car overtook Sona's Dev saw her sitting on the backseat & his heart resonated with Sonakshi's & sang the same song

Aa..aa..ho..aa…
Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Diladaar sajna
Hai yeh pyaar sajna

As they went ahead Dev's car stopped at a petrol pump while Sona's car went ahead. Dev expected them particularly Sonakshi to stop & wait for them but their car just went forward.

Dekha na tune
Mudake bhi pichhe
Kuch der to main ruka tha

Jab dil ne tujh ko
Rokana chaha
Door tu ja chuka tha

Hua kya
Naa jaana,
Yeh dil kyon
Diwana

Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Diladaar sajna
Hai yeh pyaar sajna

When Dev's car was totally out of sight. Sona opened the window next to her in the car & the wind blowing due to the fast speed of the car blew her hair back gentally. The sun-moon convo was still playing in her head

Aye waqt ruk jaa
Tham jaa thahar jaa
Wapas zara daud pichhe..

Main chhod aayi
Khud ko jahaan pe
Woh rah gaya mod pichhe..

Kahaan main
Kahaan tu
Yeh kaisa
Hai jaadu

Arrey Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyar sajna
Laakh kar le tu inakaar sajna
Diladaar sajna
Hai yeh pyaar sajna

Aa..aa..aa..aa..

Na jaane mere
Dil ko kya ho gaya
Abhi to yahin
Tha abhi
Kho gaya
Ho gaya..

Precap- Opening the suspense a little bit!!!

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