The night was still, wrapped in a thick cloak of darkness, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant chirp of a night creature breaking the silence. The moon cast a pale glow over the landscape, its light barely enough to illuminate the narrow paths that wound through the property. Gowthami moved cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest as she crept through the back entrance of Ram's home. She had wrapped herself tightly in a duvet, the thick fabric concealing her frame, and donned a face mask that covered most of her features.
Her steps were light, almost soundless, as she carefully made her way toward the outer gate. She had planned this moment meticulously, waiting until everyone was fast asleep before slipping away. But despite her caution, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides, as though the darkness itself was watching her every move.
Abhi, however, wasn't asleep. His late-night meeting with an international acquaintance had dragged on longer than expected, and by the time he wrapped up, the hour was well past midnight. Needing a moment to clear his head after the intense discussions, he stepped outside, hoping to find some solace in the tranquil night air.
As he stood on the veranda, breathing in the cool, crisp air, something caught his eye. In the dim light, he spotted a figure moving stealthily from the rear side of the Ram house, cloaked in a large, shapeless blanket. The sight was so unexpected, so out of place, that for a moment Abhi thought his tired eyes were playing tricks on him. But as the figure continued to move, inching closer to the outer gate, he knew this was no illusion.
"Ho gosh," Abhi murmured to himself, his brow furrowing in concern. "Who is this guy emerging from the Ram house at this late hour?"
Without a second thought, Abhi began to follow the mysterious figure. He moved with practiced stealth, his footsteps silent as he trailed behind at a safe distance, careful not to alert the person to his presence. His mind raced with questions: Who could this be? What were they doing sneaking around in the middle of the night? And why were they leaving Ram's house in such a secretive manner?
The figure continued to move forward, oblivious to Abhi's pursuit. The blanket wrapped around them created an odd, almost ghostly silhouette in the faint moonlight, making it difficult for Abhi to discern any details. But he was determined to find out who this person was and what they were up to. He couldn't let them slip away without answers.
As they approached the gate, Abhi quickened his pace, careful to remain in the shadows. The figure hesitated for a moment, glancing around as if sensing something amiss, but then continued onward, their movements now more hurried. Abhi's suspicions deepened; whoever this was, they were clearly up to something they didn't want anyone else to know about.
Finally, the figure reached the gate, pausing for a moment before slipping through it. Abhi seized the opportunity and closed the distance between them, ready to confront this intruder. His heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety as he reached out, his hand nearly grazing the figure's shoulder.
Gowthami's breath came in heavy, labored gasps as she trudged deeper into the jungle. The dense foliage seemed to close in around her, every shadow and rustle in the underbrush sending a shiver down her spine. The darkness was thick, almost tangible, with the only light coming from the slivers of moonlight that managed to pierce through the canopy overhead. She had walked far, much farther than she had anticipated, and the weight of the duvet she'd wrapped around herself earlier now felt like a burden.
Finally, she spotted a large, flat rock and made her way toward it, her legs trembling with exhaustion. With a weary sigh, she sank down onto the cool surface, the stone's chill seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes. She could feel the weight of the night pressing down on her, the solitude of the jungle amplifying the pounding of her heart.
"I've barely gone half the distance, ho god , please assist me get there quickly and get back to Dharmagiri before dawn. If any individual discovers that there's no me in Dharmagiri, there will be serious issues."
Gowthami sat there for a moment, gathering her breath, and then slowly, cautiously, began to remove the duvet that had served as her makeshift camouflage. The cool night air kissed her skin as she peeled away the heavy fabric, revealing herself to the quiet wilderness. She glanced around, still alert, her senses on high alert for any sign of movement in the shadows.
As she settled onto the rock, trying to collect her thoughts, she had no idea that Abhi was not far behind, hidden in the dense thicket, watching her every move.
Abhi had followed her silently, his curiosity and concern growing with each step. The further she ventured into the jungle, the more certain he became that this was no ordinary late-night stroll. He had maintained a careful distance, far enough not to be noticed but close enough to keep her in sight. As she finally sat down and discarded the duvet, he caught his first real glimpse of the person he had been tailing.
Through the dim light, the figure was unmistakably feminine—the graceful way she moved, the outline of her form now clearer without the heavy blanket draped over her. But it wasn't just her movements that caught his attention. There was something familiar in her posture, the way she held herself, and as he strained to see her face, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"Who is she, and is she Gowthami? She genuinely came from the Ram House. Yes, she is Gowthami, and she lives in Ram House alone among women. What is she hiding and why is she walking through the woods at this late hour? "Abhi was suspicious about Gowthami and had multiple inquiries , he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible even to his own ears.
Stunned, Abhi stepped back, his mind reeling. What on earth was Gowthami doing, sneaking out of the house at this hour? And why was she trying so hard not to be seen?
His heart pounded in his chest as the realization dawned on him. It made sense now—the sneaking out, the careful disguise, the desperate need for secrecy. But why was she here? And more importantly, what had driven her to take such a risk, venturing alone into the jungle in the dead of night?
Abhi's mind raced with questions, a swirl of confusion and concern. He knew he had to confront her, to find out what was going on, but he hesitated. Gowthami's actions had already puzzled him, and he wasn't sure how she would react to being followed, especially if she was already on edge.
He took a step closer, the underbrush rustling softly beneath his feet. He could see her more clearly now—her face pale in the moonlight, her eyes distant as if lost in thought. She looked so small, so vulnerable out here in the wild, and for a moment, Abhi felt a pang of guilt for intruding on her solitude.
But the worry gnawing at him was stronger. He couldn't just leave her out here, alone and unprotected. He had to know what had brought her to this place, what secret she was hiding in the depths of the jungle. And, perhaps more importantly, he had to ensure she was safe.
With a deep breath, Abhi stepped forward, ready to reveal himself and confront Gowthami. The night was still, the jungle holding its breath, as if waiting for the moment when everything would come to light.
Abruptly, a mask-wearing individual rode up to Gowthami and responded, "Do you need a ride?"