The four individuals huddled together in the dimly lit room, their eyes fixed upon the worn pages clutched in Prayog's trembling hands. A sense of trepidation hung in the air, for they had been forewarned about venturing into forbidden territory.
"I've only heard whispers about the Churels, but never had the chance to encounter one myself," Prayog confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Vibhav felt the weight of the women's gazes upon him, their eyes filled with curiosity. "Don't look at me like that," he retorted. "I never believed in these supernatural tales until I met him. So, anything he hasn't witnessed, neither have I."
"Does that mean we're completely clueless about the Churels?" inquired the elderly lady, her voice laden with concern.
"Not necessarily. We still have a trove of knowledge waiting to be unveiled beneath these grotesque illustrations. Let's not jump to conclusions until we've delved into the depths of these pages," Prayog asserted, his voice resolute.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, the little girl chimed in, "Well, then, what are you waiting for? Start reading! Or are you waiting for a fancy invitation?"
Exasperated, Prayog erupted, "Are you kidding me? While you three make a ruckus, I'm the one laboring through this research!"
A sudden silence fell upon the room as everyone's attention shifted towards Prayog and the papers he held. With a sense of anticipation, he began to read aloud, "According to this text, Churels exclusively prey upon men. Unless provoked by a woman, they seldom harm females. These creatures can be categorized into three types. The first type is the weakest, feeding primarily on young animal offspring. Due to their frailty, they avoid confrontation with adult humans."
Before the little girl could interject, her grandmother swiftly hushed her, urging Prayog to continue. He obliged, "The second type possesses formidable strength, capable of engaging in battles with grown adults. They exhibit intelligence and, when outnumbered, even employ tactics to overpower their adversaries."
Prayog's eyes widened as he read the final section, "As for the last type, it remains largely shrouded in mystery. Rumors suggest that only a few of these elusive beings exist in the entire world. The remaining information is concealed within a location hidden in a code... Wait, what? Is that all?" Prayog exclaimed in disbelief.
Glances of confusion were exchanged among the gathered individuals, their faces mirroring Prayog's bewilderment.
"Seriously?" Prayog muttered under his breath, but before he could voice his frustration, Vibhav interjected with irritation evident in his tone.
"I have a question!" Vibhav declared, his exasperation palpable.
"What now?" Prayog responded, his patience wearing thin.
"Why is the information I found encoded so intricately, while yours is laid out in plain detail? It's like deciphering it will take me a century!" Vibhav lamented.
Curiosity piqued, Prayog took hold of the papers from his companions' hands, scanning the coded symbols. "Let me see what's written here," he requested.
"The mirror image of the mirror image becomes reality," he read aloud, his brow furrowing in contemplation. The remaining pages were filled with an intricate pattern of dashes and dots.
"That's it?" Prayog turned to the elderly woman, seeking confirmation.
"Nisha always took everything in her bag. Most things she remembered because she believed that when the time comes, no one will have the time to read something from a bunch of papers," the old woman replied.
"And I take it that she was carrying that back when she vanished?" Prayog asked.
"Yes, she always did so," was the reply.
"We still have a lot to search. Why not check and see if we could find anything more?" Vibhav said.
AN HOUR LATER -
The four individuals settled on the ground, exhausted after an hour of meticulously scouring the basement. Disappointment was etched across their faces.
"Is this all? What a disappointment!" Vibhav sighed. "We didn't even find anything more useful! It was just some tools and storybooks."
"Perhaps we overlooked a place? How about another thorough search?" the young girl suggested.
"Even if we search ten more times, we won't uncover anything else," Vibhav responded.
"You're quite confident in your searching skills. It makes me curious about your approach," he added.
"Hey, watch your words, kid!"
"Enough of this, you two. Stop quarreling," Prayog interjected wearily.
"Well, grandma, why was your daughter-in-law so captivated by these supernatural things?" he inquired.
"She was the sole provider in this household. The financial burden was overwhelming. She believed that if she could find evidence of these phenomena and present it to the government, things would change. Our circumstances would improve, and the village would receive the attention it needs... Or, at least, that's what she told me," the old woman said, her gaze fixed on the ground.
"I share her sentiment. The government would be invested in a matter like this. She might even secure a lucrative position with them," Prayog commented.
"Well, if there's nothing else, we should depart. We have much to accomplish," Prayog rose to his feet, followed by Vibhav. The old lady also stood up, cradling Nishika in her arms, and led the way upstairs.
As they bid their farewells, Nishika wished them good luck, offering a special wish for Vibhav that made him blush. Prayog promised to notify them if any developments arose.
They had requested the papers discovered during the basement search, and the old woman had agreed to lend them with the condition that they be kept safe and returned when no longer needed.
With everything settled, the two men said their goodbyes and soon found themselves walking along the road.
"So, where to now?" Vibhav inquired of Prayog.
"To the South Forest," came the reply.
"Then let's head to the South Forest," Vibhav said, falling into step behind Prayog.
"What are your thoughts?" Vibhav asked from behind.
"About what?"
"The missing woman!"
"We must ensure she remains alive, no matter what. We require additional manpower at present. If we hope to stand a chance against 'them,' we need her alive and fighting alongside us," Prayog's voice brimmed with urgency.
"But we don't have any solid leads. We don't even know where to begin!" Vibhav hurried, trying to catch up with Prayog's pace.
"It's too early to make any decisions. Let's explore the forest. This village is too valuable for us to let slip away, Vibhav. We can't afford to take any risks. We need an opportunity, and this place is our best bet," Prayog said, deep in thought.
"It's incredibly challenging, especially for me. I feel like I'm suffocating," Vibhav lamented. "I mean, I truly feel suffocated."
"Hmm, I can relate. Although I find some amusement in it as well. Pretending to be ordinary in front of all these people can be quite tiresome."
"Well, why is it that I feel more frustrated then?" Vibhav asked.
"It stems from our respective lives. I've experienced that so-called normal life for as long as it lasted, and I won't deny that I genuinely enjoyed it. On the other hand, you've lived your previous life fighting for your own survival and hers, and you lost her, so..." Prayog trailed off, looking at Vibhav without completing his sentence.
"But you seemed to enjoy conversing with your newfound friend," Prayog chuckled.
"Oh, who might that be?" Vibhav sighed.
"Well, who else but our lovely Nishika?" Prayog playfully teased his companion.
"Enough!"
"Ohh, is that a blush I see on your face?"
"No, it's not, and you know it. I don't experience normal human emotions like that."
"Well, your facial expression suggests otherwise!"
"Stop it."
"Hahaha..."
"I said cut it out."
"I must admit, the old lady was quite perceptive," Vibhav sighed.
"That's how they all are. They've lived in this place since birth, and their ancestral connections run deep in this village. They can see through everything," Prayog replied, lost in contemplation.
Evening had arrived, and people were returning from work or visiting the market. The village was vibrant, yet once again, these two friends became the center of attention.
As they were about to enter the forest, they noticed someone approaching them. "Excuse me!" the person called out loudly.
"Looks like we've caught someone's interest," Vibhav whispered.
"What do you mean? We've been the subject of every villager's conversation since we arrived here," Prayog remarked, still in high spirits.
"Yes, but this person is coming toward us. That makes them the first," Vibhav spoke softly.
"Technically, he is the second. I wonder who was the first!" Prayog grinned mischievously.
"I told you to stop, man."
"Aww, hahaha..."
Prayog regained his composure as the mysterious stranger finally reached them.
"Um, did I miss something?" he inquired.
"No, it's just two friends chatting and enjoying the evening. You know, villagers rarely engage in conversation with us!" Prayog responded.
"From what I remember, you two were the ones who didn't interact with the villagers when they offered their help in getting settled," the stranger remarked. "I was one of those people, too."
"I suppose you're right," Prayog nervously admitted, while Vibhav averted his gaze.
"But let's not dwell on that. I'm Prayog, and this is my friend Vibhav. And you are?" Prayog introduced himself and his partner to the stranger.
"Oh, I'm Vinayak Pratap Singh. You can call me Vinay," the stranger introduced himself.
"So, Vinayak Ji, how can we assist you?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Are you both heading into the forest?"
"Yes, we are. Why are you interested in that?" Prayog inquired.
I'm interested because I want to join you," Vinayak revealed.
Hearing this, Prayog glanced at Vibhav, who returned his gaze. The two friends communicated silently through gestures. Then Prayog turned back to face Vinayak and said, "On one condition."
"And what would that be?" Vinayak asked, now displaying a hint of concern.
"Well, you see, we'd like to learn more about this village and its people, especially its people. You know, like..." But Prayog didn't have a chance to finish his sentence.
"You mean you want me to help rectify the mess you two caused when you arrived in the village? Sure, I'll do my best. You can count on me," Vinayak cheerfully agreed.
"Well, that was an incisive sum up, but yeah, you're in," Prayog said, slightly surprised by the swift agreement between the two parties.
"Oh, by the way, what's in the bag?" Vibhav asked their new companion.
"Oh, just the essentials for traveling in a forest: flashlights, ropes, knives, and other things," Vinayak explained, sporting a proud expression.
"Uh, we're going through a forest, not burying someone!" Vibhav sarcastically remarked.
Vinayak appeared slightly disappointed. "I was hoping for some compliments. What's wrong with you two? You don't even have a flashlight. How will you see what's ahead? What if you encounter some Churels?" Vinayak expressed his frustration.
"You do realize it's a moonlit night, right?" Vibhav responded in his typical gloomy tone.
"And you do realize it's a dense forest where even sunlight struggles to reach the ground," Vinayak retorted sarcastically.
"Alright, everyone calm down. Shall we stop wasting time here and venture into the forest?" Prayog intervened, attempting to restore peace.
"Whatever, let's go. We can talk as we walk," Vibhav calmly suggested.
And so, the trio embarked on their journey into the forest, filled with anticipation of finding answers and uncovering the truth hidden within the depths of the South Forest.