The three of them hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of their lungs. As they slowly got up, a sense of dread washed over them. They were in a dense, dark forest, with towering trees that stretched endlessly in every direction. The sky above was an eerie shade, the setting sun casting long shadows across the strange, unfamiliar land.
Tanvi glanced around, panic starting to rise in her chest. "Where… where are we?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
Rahul stood a few feet away, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "In my nightmare," he muttered under his breath, but Tanvi heard him. Her frustration bubbled to the surface.
"You think this is funny?" she snapped. "This is all a joke to you, isn't it?"
Meanwhile, Mira lay on the ground, still unconscious. Tanvi hurried to her side and gently shook her awake. "Mira, wake up!"
Mira groaned as she slowly regained consciousness, her face pale and confused. "Where... where are we?" she asked in a trembling voice, fear creeping into her words.
Tanvi looked at her, trying to remain calm, but the fear was evident in her own voice. "We... we're lost."
Mira sat up, her eyes wide with panic. "Lost? What do you mean, lost? Where's the auction hall? What's going on?"
Rahul, leaning casually against a tree, tried to lighten the mood. "Well, we can't stay here much longer. Twilight's about to fall, and I don't know about you, but I've got business to get back to," he said with a smirk, his tone too casual for the situation.
Tanvi turned on him, fury in her eyes. "How can you be so calm right now? Look around you! We're stuck in the middle of nowhere, we don't know where we are, and you're still thinking about your damn business? Do you even care what's happening?"
Rahul sighed, his expression softening. "I'm trying to distract you," he said quietly. "If we panic, we're not going to think straight. We need to stay calm and figure this out."
Tanvi scoffed, shaking her head. "Distract us? Really? You think that's going to help?" She stood up, pulling Mira to her feet as well. "You know what, Rahul? Just leave us alone. We can figure this out on our own. At least we can trust each other."
Rahul's face darkened, his bravado fading. "My 'damn business,' huh?" he muttered, watching them walk away. "I know why you're mad. But you'll regret this." His voice dropped, almost too low to hear. "I wish we could have met under better circumstances."
The wind rustled through the trees, a cold shiver running down their spines as twilight settled in. The forest around them grew darker, more ominous, the once-distant sounds of the wild now much closer. And yet, despite everything, the real weight of their situation was just starting to sink in.
They were truly lost—strangers in an unfamiliar world.
The air grew colder as night fell, and Tanvi and Mira continued down the narrow dirt path, emerging from the dense forest into what appeared to be a small, isolated town. As they stepped out from under the trees, they were greeted by old stone buildings that looked as if they had been there for centuries. The streets were quiet, save for the distant murmur of the town's market where merchants and locals exchanged goods.
"Are we... in ancient India?" Mira asked, her voice low as her wide eyes took in the scene. Women walked past them, balancing pots on their heads, while men guided livestock down the road. Everything felt foreign, ancient, untouched by the modern world they had come from.
Tanvi glanced around, her mind reeling with questions. "It sure looks like it," she muttered, her voice tight with concern. "But wherever we are, we need to figure out what to do next. We can't just stand here."
Their legs ached from the long trek through the forest, and the sun was starting to disappear behind the horizon. The chill in the air made the situation feel even more urgent. They couldn't afford to be stranded without a place to stay. As they walked deeper into the town, the streets became quieter, and the townspeople hurried into their homes, shutting doors and windows against the cold night air.
Mira spotted an elderly woman sitting on the porch of a small stone house, her back hunched, her hands busy with some kind of embroidery. With a hopeful smile, Mira approached her cautiously. "Excuse me," she began, her voice soft but strained with exhaustion. "We're travelers... and we don't have anywhere to stay for the night. Could you—"
The old woman looked up from her work, her face weathered but kind. She studied the two women for a long moment, her sharp eyes taking them in before she finally nodded. "Come in," she said in a raspy voice, standing slowly. "The nights here are not for wandering."
Relief washed over them as they followed her inside. The hut was small and simple, with a single room that smelled of herbs and smoke. A small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The old woman motioned toward a pair of woven mats on the floor, where they could sleep for the night.
Tanvi sat down heavily, the weight of the day's confusion and fear settling into her body. Mira sank down beside her, closing her eyes for a brief moment before glancing over at their host. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "We really appreciate this."
The old woman gave a small nod, her wrinkled hands returning to her embroidery. "Rest while you can. The world is not as kind as it used to be."
Exhausted, the two friends lay down on the mats, wrapping themselves in the thin blankets provided. The fire's warmth seeped into their bones, easing some of the tension from the day, but as Tanvi closed her eyes, the uncertainty of their situation weighed heavily on her mind.
The next morning, they awoke to the soft light of dawn creeping through the cracks in the walls. The old woman was already awake, stoking the fire and preparing a simple meal. She handed them each a piece of bread and a cup of warm tea, her gestures quiet but kind.
"Eat. You'll need your strength," she said, her voice rough but not unkind.
After thanking the woman once more, they stepped out into the cool morning air, feeling slightly more grounded than the night before. The town was already coming alive, with merchants setting up stalls in the square and villagers going about their daily chores.
"So we're really stuck here, aren't we?" Mira said, glancing around with a mix of wonder and frustration. "Ancient India of all places."
Tanvi sighed, her practical mind already working to form a plan. "Yeah. And if we're going to survive here, we need to figure out how to make money. Food, shelter… we need to earn something if we're going to stay alive."
Mira groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Oh, come on! Why couldn't I have ended up as a princess or something? I could've married a prince and lived in a palace! Instead, I'm just… this."
Tanvi shot her a look, unable to suppress a small smile. "This isn't some fairy tale. We've got to be smart about this."
The weeks that followed were grueling. They scoured the town for work, but opportunities were scarce. Tanvi eventually found work as a seamstress, mending old clothes for the townspeople. It was tedious, and the pay was barely enough to buy them food, but it kept them going. Mira managed to get a job at a small bakery, helping the owner prepare bread and pastries. The two of them would meet up at the end of each long day, exhausted and frustrated, but somehow still managing to find comfort in each other's company.
"Do you think we'll ever find a way back home?" Tanvi asked one night as they sat by a small fire in the rented room they could barely afford. She stared out at the darkening sky, her thoughts heavy.
Mira shrugged, nibbling on a piece of stale bread. "Maybe we're not meant to go back. Maybe this is it. Our new life."
Tanvi didn't reply. The idea unsettled her. As much as she tried to adapt, a part of her refused to accept that this was their fate. She had to believe there was a way out.
Then, one afternoon, Mira stumbled upon a possible solution.
She had been wandering the market when she noticed a large wooden board near the town square. Her eyes scanned over it, noticing the posters plastered across the surface—each one showing the face of a wanted or missing person, with rewards written in large, bold letters underneath.
Her heart raced as she stared at the sums of money promised for capturing these criminals. It was far more than they could ever make with their current jobs.
She ran back to Tanvi, practically dragging her to the board. "Look! Look at these bounties!" Mira said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "If we can catch one of these people, we'll be rich! We could live comfortably and finally stop worrying about survival."
Tanvi frowned, her eyes scanning the posters. "You're suggesting we go after dangerous criminals? We have no idea what we're getting ourselves into, Mira. We don't even know how this world works, let alone how to be bounty hunters."
Mira grinned, unphased by the risks. "Come on, we've faced worse! We can figure it out. All we need is a solid plan. Think about it—this could be our ticket to a better life."
Tanvi hesitated. She knew the risks, but the thought of finally escaping their hand-to-mouth existence was tempting. After a long silence, she nodded. "Okay. But we have to be careful. No rushing in blindly."
The days that followed were filled with careful planning. They studied the habits of one of the most wanted men in the area, observing him from a distance, learning his patterns. It wasn't easy, but they were determined. And eventually, their patience paid off.
With a well-thought-out trap, they not only captured the man but also managed to take down several of his associates. The townspeople were amazed, and the local authorities were impressed. In return, Tanvi and Mira received a sum of money far greater than anything they had ever earned.
For the first time since arriving in this strange world, they felt the weight of uncertainty lift from their shoulders. They no longer had to worry about where their next meal would come from. They had made it.
Sitting in their small room, counting the pile of coins they had earned, Tanvi leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "You know what? I've been thinking… I want to open a sweet shop. Something steady. A business we can build and run together. We could have a stable life here."
Mira's eyes lit up. "A sweet shop? That sounds perfect! I never thought we'd end up doing something like that, but… maybe it's not so bad."
Tanvi smiled, a sense of calm settling over her. They had been through so much, but somehow, they had found a way to survive—and maybe even thrive—in this strange world. Together, they could handle whatever came next.
And for the first time in a long while, she felt hope.