"Oh, I am Vinayak Pratap Singh, but you can just call me Vinay," the stranger introduced himself with a friendly smile. Curiosity sparkled in his eyes as he leaned in. "So, Vinayak Ji, how can we be of assistance?"
Prayog and Vibhav exchanged glances, silently communicating their thoughts. Prayog turned towards Vinayak and replied, "That depends! On what exactly?"
A hint of intrigue danced across Vinayak's face as he responded, "Are you guys venturing into the forest?"
With a nod, Vibhav confirmed, "Yes, we are. But why the sudden interest from you?"
A mischievous grin played on Vinayak's lips. "I'm interested because I want to join you." His statement hung in the air, capturing their attention.
Prayog and Vibhav exchanged another quick glance, their unspoken conversation continuing. Then, facing Vinayak, Prayog spoke with a playful tone, "On one condition."
Intrigued, Vinayak's concern crept into his voice as he asked, "And what might that condition be?"
"Well, you see," Prayog began, his words interrupted before completion. Vinayak interjected with a hint of jest, "You mean you want me to clean up the mess you two made when you first arrived in the village? Sure, I'll do my best. You can count on me."
Prayog was taken aback by Vinayak's quick agreement, but he recovered swiftly. "That was surprisingly easy. Well, you're in then." A note of surprise laced his words.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Vibhav inquired, "By the way, what's in the bag?" He gestured towards the backpack Vinayak carried.
Vinayak's face lit up with pride as he explained, "Oh, just the essentials for traveling through a forest: flashlights, ropes, knives, and other useful items."
Vibhav's response was a mix of humor and disbelief. "We're exploring a forest, not planning a burial! You seem well-prepared."
A tinge of disappointment crossed Vinayak's face. "I was hoping for a compliment or two. What's wrong with you guys? You don't even have a flashlight. How will you see what's in front of you? What if you encounter some Churels?" Frustration tinged his voice.
Vibhav, in his characteristic gloomy tone, retorted, "You do realize it's nighttime with the moon illuminating the sky."
Undeterred, Vinayak responded with a touch of sarcasm, "And you do realize that it's a dense forest where even sunlight struggles to reach the ground."
Prayog interjected, attempting to restore harmony. "Alright, calm down, guys. Are we going to waste all our time here or enter the forest?"
Realizing the futility of the argument, Vibhav calmly said, "Whatever, let's go." Vinayak nodded, and the trio proceeded into the forest. They continued walking along the road, and as they made their way, Vinayak inquired, "So, what exactly are you guys searching for?"
Prayog replied, "For now, we're simply exploring the area. But if you happen to have any information about the three trees, we would be delighted to hear it."
Vinayak's face lit up with enthusiasm as he turned on his flashlight. "Ah, I see. You're interested in traversing between worlds, aren't you? The idea of such adventures fills me with a peculiar joy."
Vinayak's voice radiated happiness as he rambled on, "I do have some knowledge about the three trees, and I'd be more than thrilled to share it with you, given some terms."
Intrigued by Vinayak's earlier remark, Vibhav couldn't resist asking, "Before we delve into that, could you enlighten us about this 'terrible joy' you mentioned earlier?"
Rather than taking it lightly, Vinayak's expression turned serious, his words carrying a hint of gravity, "It's the kind of joy that can drive me to do extraordinary things. Like, for instance, sacrificing my own limbs for a chance to travel to other realms or dimensions."
Vibhav scratched his head, expressing his doubts, "Are we really supposed to trust him?"
Vinayak responded confidently, raising his voice, "HEY! You can definitely trust me. I wouldn't jeopardize my chance to explore the forest at night."
"That's not what I meant. I'm questioning your sanity," Vibhav retorted, eyeing Vinayak with a disapproving look.
Vibhav's remark triggered Prayog to join in, echoing his concerns, "What Vibhav means is, are you in your right mind? Exploring the forest at night sounds risky. As a fellow villager, shouldn't you be aware of any prohibitions? Or does that not matter at all? It's just a forest, and you can come and go as you please."
Vinayak, slightly flustered by the dual criticism, responded with a gesture toward Prayog, "Well, I'm not sure who to respond to first. But let's go with the intelligent one," he added, making it clear that Vibhav didn't fall into that category.
"I'll have you know," Vinayak continued, "I'm afraid to venture into the forest alone at night, and no one from the village is willing to accompany me. So, all my research is conducted during daylight hours," he explained, wearing a gloomy expression.
Vibhav, seizing the opportunity for sarcasm, chimed in, "Can we at least keep moving? We've been standing here, listening to an idiotic and cowardly person ramble about his failures."
Both Prayog and Vibhav followed Vibhav's lead, with Vinayak glaring at Vibhav and giving him a menacing look.
Prayog redirected the conversation, bringing up an alternative, "What about Nisha? She explores the village and forests, right? Why not join her?"
Vinayak sighed, revealing his strained relationship with Nisha, "Unfortunately, we got off to a bad start. I was attempting something and nearly burned down her house."
"Wow! It's a miracle you're still alive," Vibhav interjected, a mischievous grin forming on his face. "Are there any people you actually get along with?"
Vinayak gritted his teeth, his frustration evident as he replied, "Well, I'd be happy to answer that question if the wise one here actually asked it."
"Enough about that. Let's get to the information you have about the three trees," Prayog urged.
Vinayak, reminding them of the condition, interjected, "Aren't you forgetting about our agreement?"
Prayog expressed his disagreement, "I advise against accepting."
"Alright, I accept. Now, what is it?" Prayog conceded, scanning the forest around them.
Vinayak smiled proudly, surprising his companions as he revealed, "I have actually discovered one of the trees."
"You have? And not only that, you know how to find them," Prayog exclaimed, glancing at Vibhav, who mirrored his astonishment.
Impressed, Vibhav interrupted himself, leaving his sentence unfinished as he stared deeply into the forest ahead. "What's going on?" Prayog inquired.
"I sense something, but it's far away," Vibhav replied, his tone indicating a mixture of curiosity and alertness.
A sudden worry crossed Vinayak's face, "Wait, what?"
Suddenly, Vibhav attempted to startle Vinayak with a loud scream, but Vinayak remained unfazed. Prayog couldn't help but suppress his curiosity, asking Vinayak, "Aren't you even a little scared?"
Vinayak confidently responded, shedding light on his perspective, "I'm not scared, and let me explain why. I feel fear only when I'm alone. But when I'm with someone or something alive and friendly, not even a hint of fear creeps in. As long as there's a living presence beside me, fear doesn't stand a chance."
The trio exchanged glances, intrigued and fascinated by Vinayak's explanation, as they continued their journey into the forest, anticipation building with every step.
Vibhav's curiosity got the better of him as he asked, "But what if your companion is scared?"
Vinayak's irritation grew apparent as he replied, "It doesn't matter. I just need someone to be there with me. Even if they're scared enough to soil themselves, it makes no difference to me."
"In that case, you could have simply taken an animal as your companion and enjoyed the night show in the forest," Vibhav suggested, now looking perplexed.
Vinayak's face fell, as if he had lost his entire fortune due to some foolish oversight. Prayog couldn't help but remark, "That expression suits you better."
"It never even crossed my mind, not even once. I feel like I've wasted my entire life doing nothing at all. This is so humiliating," Vinayak mumbled, avoiding eye contact with his companions. Meanwhile, Prayog and Vibhav burst into laughter, finding amusement in the situation.
"Alright, I get it. I'm the fool here. Cut it out. It's not like you've never made a mistake in your life," Vinayak yelled out in frustration.
"Enough about me. What about you?" he pointed at Prayog. "You dress traditionally, which is fine, but what's with the medical gloves covering your hands? And there's a scar that disappears under your clothes, dividing your lips. You have one of the most peculiar physiques I've ever seen. It's like you're a Slender Man," Vinayak posed a seemingly "weighty" question.
"Shhh... I sense something!" Prayog hushed everyone abruptly. Vinayak initially thought it was a means to divert attention from his question, but upon looking at Prayog's face, he knew the Slender Man was dead serious.
A silence fell over the forest, as if even the insects and crickets had ceased their symphony. Near them, a profound stillness enveloped the surroundings, as if the forest had become lifeless.
"It's here," Prayog and Vibhav simultaneously whispered.
Vinayak felt the weight of the forest's silence, realizing that the best course of action was to remain silent as well. He stood motionless, not making a sound, until his attention was abruptly captured by movement in the bushes ahead.
The figure was obscured, and Vinayak couldn't discern its exact nature. But one thing was certain—it was swiftly approaching them.
Suddenly, faster than the blink of an eye, Vinayak witnessed the shadowy figure closing the distance between them in an instant. Just as the mysterious entity was about to reach Vinayak, a stroke of luck intervened as Vibhav's leg collided with it mid-air.
Both combatants stood momentarily, balanced on one leg, their other limbs clashing in mid-air. In that fleeting moment, Vinayak managed to catch a glimpse of the creature, and it was nothing short of horrifying. Its disheveled hair cascaded over its face, concealing its features in a grotesque manner.
A repugnant stench emanated from its body, causing Vinayak to instinctively cover his nose with his hands. Amidst the darkness, his visibility was limited, and he struggled to discern much detail.
Suddenly, he witnessed the creature's leg transforming into an elastic-like appendage, swiftly coiling itself around Vibhav's legs. At first, Vibhav mistook it for a snake, but it soon became apparent that the creature's limb had morphed into a ribbon-like structure, tightly wrapping around his ankles.
The next thing Vibhav knew, he was propelled into the air, soaring momentarily before crashing onto the ground with a resounding thud.