Episode -2. Unexpected encounter...

In a small town lived the young man. Life had never been easy for him. Growing up alone in poverty, he learned from an early age that no one else would build a future for him. Every hard ship strengthened his determination and he made himself one promise--- to work hard, earn money honestly, and create the life he had always dreamed of.

Despite his difficult past, he never let bitterness take over his heart. he was kind to everyone he met, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. His gentle nature earned him the respect of the people around him.

He was also strikingly handsome. His sharp features, sparkling eyes and warm smile easily caught people's attention. Many girls in town admired him and tried to get close to him, but he never encouraged their feelings, love was never his priority. To him success came first.

One weekend hoping to take a break from his busy routine he booked a forest trip through a local tourist company. he had always loved photography and the peaceful wilderness seemed like a perfect place to clear his mind.

Early the next morning, wearing a comfortable jacket, carrying a backpack over his shoulders and holding his favorite camera in his hands, he arrived at the entrance of the vast forest near his town.

A smile appeared on his face as he looked at the towering trees stretching toward the sky.

" What a beautiful place," he whispered to himself.

Filled with excitement and curiosity he stepped into the forest unaware that this journey was about to change his life forever.

The beauty of the forest completely captured his attention. Every corner seemed like a painting waiting to be discovered. The boy captured everything. He felt everything magical capturing every view in his camera lens.

He walked deeper into the forest stopping every few minutes to take pictures. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he captured moments that most people would never notice.

Time passed without him realizing it.

By the time he looked at the sky again, the golden evening light had disappeared. Darkness slowly covered the forest and the ones familiar paths became difficult to see.

" Looks like I stayed too long, " he murmured.

Knowing it was unsafe to continue walking at night he found a suitable place and set up his tent. After arranging is belongings, he sat inside and looked through the pictures he had taken that day.

Each photo reminded him of peaceful moments he had experienced.

But then, one picture got his attention.

He zoomed in.

Behind the large Rock in the background, there was something unusual.

A hand.

His expression changed.

" Is that... a person?"

For a moment, he thought about going to check. If someone was hurt, they might need help. but the forest was completely dark now and he couldn't see what was beyond The rocks.

A thousand thoughts crossed his mind.

"What if it's dangerous?"

Reluctantly, he decided to wait until morning. He told himself that he would search the place when there was enough light.

Even though he tried to forget about it, the image of that hand stayed in his mind.

After a while, exhaustion took over. Lying inside the tent, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Deep in the night, he suddenly saw a dream.

A girl was lying alone in the darkness, her hand reaching out as if begging someone for help.

"Please... "

Her voice echoed through the forest.

He saw the same hand from the picture.

The hand that needed help.

He suddenly opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

The dream felt too real.

Without thinking twice, he grabbed his flashlight and ran out of the tent. The forest was silent under the moonlight as he hurried toward the place where he had seen the hand.

He searched behind the rocks, around the trees and along the nearby path.

But there was nothing.

No person.

No sign of anyone.

Only the cold when moving through the leaves.

After searching for a long time, he finally stopped. Disappointment filled his heart.

" Was it just my imagination?"

He looked around one last time before slowly returning to his tent.

It was the next morning ! he again went to search for the girl. He couldn't find anything so he went to the bus stop, he was pulling himself to the bustop but his heart stayed there.

The bus has arrived, but he was still thinking of that person, the moment he was stepping on the bus he couldn't stop himself but to go to the Person in need.

He all of a sudden ran away again to the same place and searched again. he searched everywhere but did not find anything... He was stepping back with disappointment slowly, then suddenly he found that he was stepped on something when he turned around he saw that it was a hand and there was a beautiful girl lying down, She was unconscious with wounds on her body and forehead. Her clothes were torn. The boy felt pity on the girl, so he took her to his tent and applied medicine on wounds. He observed that she got a severe wound on her forehead and wondered

" who is she?

" why is she in this state? "

Later he searched for water to clean the wounds, but found that the bottle was empty, so went out to find some water.

Later, when he came back he was shocked to see.....!

When our male lead came back to his tent with some fruits and water, he was shocked to see that, there was no one in the tent.

ML: " where is she ? Where could she have gone ? "

He was so worried, he searched everywhere, looked around the tent inside out, but he couldn't find her anywhere.

He thinks " Maybe she came to consciousness and went her way, but where could she go in this dark and dangerous forest. Also it's already getting dark " he wonders...

Later, It became night, it was the second night for him in this forest, all the tourists who came with him for the trip went back, he is the only one left in this dark forest.

He sleeps in his tent and thinks...

" Looks like I am the only one left here, I missed the one and only bus to help a stranger girl, at last.. I was left alone, What a fate, hmm..." sighs in himself.

Later in the middle of the night, when he was in deep sleep, the night was sooo calm, no one was around him, suddenly some sounds were coming out of the tent, by hearing those sounds, he woke up...he was hesitating.. but slowly opened his eyes to check what that sound was and saw a shadow moving outside his tent. It's been moving around his tent for a long time.

He immediately took the torch beside him, got up and walked slowwly towards the shadow...he was nervous but shouted loudly " Who is there ? ! Why are you roaming around my tent ? ". Immediately that shadow runs away.

He was like " God almighty, What is that ? It scared me to hell, Looks like It is not safe to stay here anymore, I have to go from here immediately tomorrow morning "

He was frightened and decided to go as soon as possible from here.

It was the next morning... The sun rises slowly, bringing its bright light into the boys tent, waking him up gently.

Due to that sunny light facing his tent, the boy wakes up making him more charismatic and energetic. He walks out of the tent, enjoys the rising sun..... but suddenly the shadow from last night flashes in his mind, he all of a sudden trembled with fear and says---

" I don't think it is time for me to enjoy the sunrise, I must hurry up "

Immediately runs into the tent and starts packing.

As decided, he packed all his belongings and was ready to go to his town.

ML: " Finally, I can escape from this dangerous forest, I am not gonna come here ever again. "

By carrying his luggage he is walking to the bus stop, he suddenly feels something is not right on the way, he stops and turns back to check, but no one is there.

ML: " What is this, I can sense that something is strange, but nothing is here, What's happening ? "

And continues his walk to the bus stop, again he hears some strange sound coming from behind, so he stops and turns back again, but no one is there.

ML: " What is that sound, I am not able to figure out what's happening exactly...! "

He suddenly thinks...

" Is it the shadow from last night...? It's still following me... ? !!! "

" Holy god ! What does it want exactly from me. I am the only one left in my family on this earth, I can't die in this forest ?"

He was shivering from head to toe and all of a sudden started running with fear, not even giving a glance at the back.

He finally reached the bus stop and there was a bus ready to dispatch, he immediately got on to the bus and relaxed peacefully.

" Finally, I caught the bus, now I can go back home, there's no way I am gonna come here again !... "

He is now very relaxed and happy that he was leaving this forest, when the cool breeze from outside came through the window, he slowly rested his head on to the window, closed his eyes and started thinking ---

" It's been only 2 days in this forest, but already I feel like I haven't rested for a whole week, Ufff... This is the worst experience I have faced in my life. "

After some time ...

The bus started, after travelling for some distance, there was a fight started in the bus, the people in the bus were also murmuring about something, Our male lead heard all this noise, woke up...thinks...

" What's this fuss about again " and turned back---

The movement he turned back, his eyes were shocked and became wide, by watching the scene. He was like

" What the hell ? Is she really her? looks like I still have to face difficulties in this forest "....

To be continued....

Moral of the story-- one can never escape one's fate 😉

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