Indu could hear the melodious tunes of various birds fluttering among the branches, communicating with one another. However, the travelers had no time to pause and appreciate the surroundings. They had to maintain a steady pace, particularly Indu and Jitu, as they needed to reach Jatkhor by four in the afternoon. After the group maneuvered through a puddle by crossing over a fallen log, they stumbled upon an oddly shaped depression accompanied by fresh dung, illuminated directly by the afternoon sun.
Jitu exclaimed to the older woman, "Aunty, there must be elephants here. Look at the trees, their bark has been completely consumed. And we really must hurry. We cannot wait for the elephants to pass here." The woman replied, "Don't worry, nephew. They have already crossed our path. Look at the break in the forest to your left, they have moved to the other side, away from our route." Indu wondered how the elderly woman knew this, as to her, the forest appeared the same everywhere.
Similar to her journey to the village earlier, they had their midday meal on the bank of the nearly dry river, and once again, Jitu assisted Indu in crossing the river. As they reached flatter terrain, the direct rays of the sun began to scorch Indu's skin, causing her thirst and discomfort. However, she had to maintain pace with the others, who had increased their speed. Furthermore, she couldn't use the water from her provisions as Jitu was behind her, and it would raise suspicion if water seemingly appeared out of thin air.
As the winter sun was on the verge of setting, Indu and Jitu arrived at the railway platform. There was no time to purchase tickets, so they swiftly boarded the train, which immediately departed from the station. It was one of those suburban trains that halted at various stations, sometimes even for a single passenger, and occasionally it halted unnecessarily. Throughout the journey, Indu and Jitu stood, gripping the window frames to prevent themselves from falling. After some time, Indu felt a tap on her shoulder, and a man gestured towards a small space beside him. She attempted to sit, but the space was so cramped that she had to turn sideways to fit her bottom onto the hard wooden plank of the seat. Nevertheless, Indu was grateful for the minimal space and rested her head against the wall, dozing off.
During a slightly lengthier stop at one of the smaller stations, Jitu quickly disembarked and purchased two samosas and two cups of lukewarm tea. The term 'single' in the context of the tea stall referred to half a cup of tea served in a small earthen kullar to create an illusion of a full cup. The samosa was cold, and the tea itself lacked the flavor of true tea; nevertheless, it provided sustenance, and Indu was grateful for that. After enduring what felt like endless jostling and bumps, the train finally came to a halt at its final destination, Utarting, the closest station to the college.