39 The picnic-2

Zara slowly opened her eyes and gaped at the scene in front of her. It was a lake nestled between the mountains, the atmosphere serene and quiet. The sunrays gleamed on the water, making it seem like the lake was filled with diamonds and there was light snow sprinkled on the top of the mountains, as if dusted with white gold.

Zara sucked in her breath. It was the same spot Ryan had taken her to on her birthday. She had come here in the dead of the night, to celebrate her birthday with a boy she barely knew. The last time she had been there, she was too focussed on the boy sitting beside her to look at the road through which they were driving. And, it had been fairly dark.

It might have looked reckless- to go with someone you didn't know, but Ryan had had enough time to kidnap her if he had wanted to. He could have steered his car in any direction he wished but he had promised to be on his best behavior and he had stayed true to his word.

Yet, another painful memory of him greeted her. Whenever she wished of giving up on him, somehow he would weave back in her life.

Veronica asked her excitedly, "How is it?"

Zara stared at the view and managed to say, "It is nice."

Veronica stepped out of the car and banged the door loudly, "Nice? It is not nice. It is freaking amazing."

Zara got out of the car too and took hold of their picnic basket, "How did you find this spot anyway?"

Veronica giggled, "Well, I heard Rebecca talking to someone on the phone mentioning a spot around 10 miles from your place to meet secretly. I couldn't help but want to see it."

Zara shook her head, "How many people do you plan on spying, V?"

"Just my enemies. And there's only one."

They both took out the large picnic blanket and put it on the grass while Zara began rummaging through the food items.

"Gosh, I am hungry" Veronica said as she nibbled on an apple.

Zara had lost her appetite, she kept looking in the direction of the place where she had been with Ryan on her birthday. Tiny goosebumps erupted on her hands as she recalled the way he had lifted her and made her sit on the car's hood, of the way she had asked him to kiss her and his reply. Had he really wanted to kiss her?

Zara shook her head trying to clear that memory from her head. Despite the warm sunny day, she shivered. Wanting to get away from the spot, she got up. She dusted her hands and asked Veronica, "I'll just roam around for a while. Want to join me?"

Veronica had settled against a tree trunk and was gazing at the water wistfully, "Nah, enjoy your walk."

Zara began walking through the edge of the lake, looking around. The scenery was breath-taking. The trees were denser on this side of the lake and as she began inching towards them, she saw various shades of green all around her with tiny birds chirping around.

Fascinated by a small bird, she neared a tree to get a closer look when she heard someone talk. The clearing where they had set up their picnic was a good spot to hang out, but the place where she currently stood barely had enough space to stand as trees cropped up all around her.

Puzzled as to who would be in there, she began treading in the direction of the voice. Trees provided a dense canopy and hence it grew darker as she walked further. She was beginning to doubt her decision to go venturing in the woods alone.

She turned around and took a few steps, when she heard a scream that rattled her. The scream was a high-pitch wail that crept up her spine. Someone was in trouble.