They entered the tunnel, the tunnel was looking the same. Dark. Roots were hanging from the roof. They told Sidharth to show them the way he had found and he started to lead them in the tunnel. According to Sidharth, it was not too far but 10 minutes were passed but they were still wandering in the tunnel. Every so often they came to a crossway and Sidharth turn on one side without even hesitating for a second like he knows this place quite well. Although they had weapons still this was not helping to control their racing heartbeats. Aditya was sure that something was watching them, perhaps many things but whatever they were, they had maintained their distance maybe because of the Panchdhatu weapons. 'how far?' Rajveer broke the silence.
'just two more turns' Sidharth replied with such confidence and as he said, a squeaking voice started to come from somewhere behind in the tunnel. Like something was getting rubbed on a plank of polished wood, continuously. Aditya heard it and ran toward the sound 'come' he yelled from behind. Rajveer gestured Sidharth and ran behind him before he could get disappeared. Sidharth followed. They catch up with him and jogged together toward the sound. 'where are you going?' Rajveer asked.
'Someone is in danger'
'wait Aditya' Rajveer stopped him while grabbing his arm 'it can be anything. Don't be a fool. It can be..' Rajveer looked around then whispered 'a demon also'
'I have to check' Aditya pleaded. The sound was getting louder.
'then go slow' Rajveer wasn't getting angry because he knows Aditya can't see an animal in danger. Whenever he saw any starving, wounded or troubled animal, he always tries his best to help them but he was amazed that even in these conditions when he himself was in danger he was thinking to rescue an animal. That influenced Rajveer himself and they started to walk toward the animal. The sound was getting louder but shallow as well, as the creature was finding it hard to breathe. They glanced at each other and ran without even caring about themselves. They stopped when their light fell on a green shiny thing. the sound was coming from a white rabbit who was raped in a python's spiral. The python was looking young because he was neither too small nor too huge. Rabbit's breathing was now shallow, soon he was going to pass out and the snake would swallow him. 'we have to do something' Aditya said in a hurry and pulled his sword out. 'hey man' Rajveer jumped in front of him 'you can kill this poor snake, he is doing his job, if he will not eat him then he will die'
'I am not killing it' Rajveer snapped 'I just can't see this rabbit dying like this' he turned his sword and held it upside down. He crossed around Rajveer and went behind Python head. Sidharth was still standing there holding lights and his axe. The python was not even looking at Aditya it was too busy for that. Python's full concentration was on his prey. Then Aditya used hilt of his sword to tie python's head to the ground. Rajveer was stunned to see his friend messing with a python and maybe python was also because he left the rabbit and started to coil around the hilt of the sword. Just as the rabbit freed from the spiral, something happened that made both Rajveer and Aditya gulp. Snake and the rabbit both turned to shadows and disappeared.
Now it was clear that it was a trap but for what? Everyone was fine and Everything was looking fine.
'now let's find the museum' Sidharth said with a weird grin on his face. They nodded and followed. Rajveer patted Aditya on his shoulder 'that was nice'
'what?'
'you are asking what? you just put your life on risk for a rabbit. That was really.. noble'
There was not enough light but he was surely blushing.
'it's just felt right'
'I know but we have to be more careful now' Rajveer said gently 'I think who did that probably know our weaknesses. It knows that what you will do in a situation like this.'
'I understand'
Then they followed Sidharth who was now humming something. Something that was too old they can't even guess which song it could be but they didn't mind and kept following him.
After about five or six turns the exit was still nowhere to be seen. Rajveer was sure that they hadn't crossed more than two turns while chasing the rabbit's sound and according to Sidharth they should have reached the exit till now. Also, if Mantrik was controlling Sidharth, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find the way. Finally, Rajveer ran out of patience after one more turn and cleared his throat 'hey Sidharth wasn't we were about to reach the place?'
'yeah I think we are lost buddy, when we ran for the rabbit's sound, I got confused and took the wrong turn maybe' Sidharth replied like it was no big deal.
Rajveer and Aditya both frowned at each other and mouthed the same word "buddy". Sidharth hadn't spoked like this since all this was stared. Then what happened to him now? The optimistic mind of Rajveer told him that maybe Sidharth was getting back to normal. Suresh also said that Mantrik can't enter in this tomb because of lord buddha's powers. Perhaps Mantrik's control was losing on Sidharth. Rajveer was happy that now they didn't have to do what Suresh had told them to do. Although He knows this also meant that they couldn't be able to find the measure's entrance but that time Sidharth's being good was enough for him to be delighted. As Sidharth was ahead and Rajveer and Aditya were following him, Rajveer slid to Sidharth side without even telling Aditya what he was thinking. 'so, if you don't know the way' Rajveer put it nervously 'where are we going?'
'so, should we sit here' Sidharth chided 'and let the entrance come to us.'
That makes Rajveer laugh this was surely Sidharth's kind of reply, a balloon of happiness seemed to filling inside his chest. His friend was back.
Whereas in Aditya's view something was wrong, he was still walking behind when Rajveer was now enjoying Sidharth's company. Rajveer was asking Sidharth about his marriage, which was kind of a strange topic while predicting a second in that tunnel was hard. Aditya figured that Rajveer was trying to be sure that it was Sidharth of not but what was hard to figure out was the real problem. Aditya was sure that the incident of the rabbit and the snake was a distraction but for what? He was thinking really hard when he heard someone yelling his name. he sheered back to see, but there was nothing. just endless darkness of the tunnel. it seemed like's Sidharth's voice but that was not possible he was walking right in front of him. he stood there for few second in dilemma till Rajveer called him. 'hey,' he yelled 'what happened?' Aditya took a last glance and then ran to his friends. 'nothing' Aditya said thinking maybe that was also a trick of the ghosts or he was hallucinating. Which could be also possible, Aditya was just starting to feel the lack of oxygen. It was not too much but still, their breathing was fast. He was also had a vague feeling that they were going deeper in the tunnel. Now there were no roots hanging from the roof. Finally, he decided to thought about it later and he started to examine the roof and walls as they were walking for any possible way to get out of there.
After 3 hours of continues search in the tunnel, when they didn't find any exit. They decided to take a short break. Because of the cold and exhaustion, their legs were like lead. Rajveer and Aditya took the food out of their bags. Potato chips and cookies. They sat cross-legged in a circle. They have matches but they do not have any wood to burn so they sat their phones in the middle. That didn't give them any warmth but casting lights to each of their faces. That's when Aditya noticed Sidharth gazing the food. He was behaving like he never ate anything from days. Rajveer was also noticing that but for him, it was just because Sidharth was getting out of the Mantrik's possession. They gave Sidharth one-one packs of chips and cookies and Sidharth ripped opened the packs and started to eat like a freak. While Sidharth was gormandizing the food Rajveer whispered in Aditya's ears. 'I think he is getting normal'
'do you think it is normal' Aditya asked 'look at him who eat like this'
Sidharth finished his food and brushed crumbs of chips and cookies out of his face.
'sorry guys I don't know what's..' Sidharth burped 'the matter but I am too much hungry' Sidharth said appealingly 'Can I get your cookies also'
Aditya and Rajveer who hadn't even opened their packs of cookies yet handed them to Sidharth. Sidharth snatched the packs in middle as if he was afraid his friends would change their decision. Rajveer and Aditya opened their packs of potato chips and started to eat while Sidharth continued gobbling 3-4 cookies at a time. Yet Sidharth was eating with one hand. so, it seemed like he was trying to show some manners but his hunger was making him out of himself. For some time, they ate in silence except for Sidharth's gobbling sound. Finally when their food finished.
'Sidharth do you still think you can find the way' Rajveer asked
'I think something is wrong with' Sidharth replied darkly 'with this place. It feels like we are close but still can't reach it, like something is embrangling us' when Sidharth was telling that, Aditya was noticing him very carefully though he didn't know why his eyes were wide open and reddish. Although he was talking like he was very concerned, but in his expressions, Aditya could catch a glimpse of dupery 'well let's try one more time' Sidharth said and got up clambering 'then if we won't be able to find anything, we will try to find an exit and try next time' then they got up and started to follow Sidharth who was now walking ahead and inspecting the walls and roofs
'Embrangling' Sidharth just said Aditya thought and stray people away from their path is only could be work of one kind of demon "Chalawa".
Aditya's heart skipped a beat. Could Sidharth be a Chalawa? Aditya thought Why not, this is exactly what a Chalawa does. First, it created distraction then it replaced Sidharth. this is because he is behaving even weird.
Aditya tightened his grip on his chakram. He raised it to attack Sidharth but he stopped when he thought he could be wrong also.
I must confirm before doing anything he decided and there is only one way to find that. A Chalawa can never blink. His eyes always stay open I should check on his eyes.
at that time, they were walking in a line and Aditya was in last. Aditya stepped to Rajveer right and gestured him to give him an ear. Rajveer lowered his head 'listen' Aditya whispered 'I..'
'what's so privet' Sidharth cut in really loud from behind and make both Rajveer and Aditya flinch. They were wondering who he reached there in a second. Just one second earlier he was walking in front and in another he was behind them.
'man!' Rajveer yelled 'that creeps!'
'we were about to do a prank on you' adyta maintained 'but you just spoiled it'
Aditya tried to see Sidharth's eyes but he moved from there and came beside them.
'prank eh?' Sidharth babbled 'I love pranks. Tell me'
'not before trying on you' Aditya replied he flashed light state in Sidharth's eyes and he neither blinked nor he tried to block the light with his hand.
Sidharth laughed 'that'll be fun' Sidharth was enjoying the subject like someone just started to talk to you about your favourite hobby. 'you know I am also preparing one for you though I am not sure you will be able to laugh after that' all the time Sidharth was saying that he didn't blinked even once then he changed the direction of his face.
'we'll see' Rajveer said he was completely unaware what was Aditya wanted to tell him but he decided to go with the flow. 'well, for now, let's just find the way and make jokes later'
On the other side, Aditya's suspicion was getting stronger now, almost to the height. But still attacking a friend with a seriously sharp weapon was hard for him and there were still chances of him to be wrong. They started to search again but now all three of them together. Now Sidharth didn't want to give them any second alone. Either because he knows what Aditya wanted to tell Rajveer or he didn't want them to play a joke on him. that was really not clear.
Once Aditya thought to say out loud Rajveer he is not Sidharth he is Chalawa
But the problem is he was not sure that they will be able to kill him directly so he thought to play with mind his biggest weapon. As Aditya was planning suddenly Sidharth stopped in his way. 'guys I think we are close' Sidharth exclaimed 'let's go' and he started to run. Rajveer followed him and left Aditya with no other choice. As they were running, they passed many crossways. Left then right then again right and so on. Aditya was wondering how long this tunnel could be and more than that how Sidharth could possibly remember the way when every ally was exactly the same. It strengthens Aditya's doubt. After about 5 minutes a sound started to echo in the tunnel. At first, it was to low to hear in the sound of footsteps but as they were advancing it was getting louder and lauder. The sound of running water.
Oh no Aditya thought and sprinted to stop Rajveer who was running about 10 meters away from him. he garbed Rajveer's arm and dragged him into one ally on left, just in time Sidharth could notice. He cupped his hand on Rajveer's mouth to shut him up. He shushed Rajveer and handed Rajveer his chakram and fetch his sword out. 'stay put' he whispered. Rajveer was amazed but he nodded. Till now Sidharth had noticed that his friends were no longer behind him. 'Rajveer' he shouted 'Aditya. Where are you guys'
Aditya stood close to the corner hiding behind it. Rajveer tried to come close to him but Aditya gestured him to stay where he was.
'come out guys' Sidharth reassured 'there is nothing to worry about'
Guessing from his voice Aditya estimated that he was not more than 5 meters far and he was coming closer. Aditya was holding his short sword with both hands and close to his chest. He was pressing himself with the wall so Sidharth could not be able to see him.
'Aditya' he said again very politely just from one foot this time. His light was now falling on the wall in front of Aditya. Aditya's heart was pounding really hard. He stopped his breath. Three. Two. One. he stepped in front of Sidharth and stabbed him in the gut with all his might. the sword literally crossed through Sidharth's body. Sidharth made a sound like he was about to vomit. Aditya left his sword in his gut and Sidharth fell on the ground. For a minute Rajveer too stunned to do anything.