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It was a time of dawn, four friends of a group moving towards the road from there hostel rooms where, their cab was waiting for them.

"Aditya, you're late..." Two girls shouted in a synch standing near by the cab.

A guy came running out of his breath in a hurry towards them.

"I'm sorry I was searching for my headphones." Aditya said, his breaths were out. Bending down, holding his knees catching his breaths.

"Who told you to carry your headphones along?" A guy's voice came from inside the passenger's seat.

"You shut up minal. I don't want to hear your stupid talks. That's why." Aditya said in a taunt, while minal gave him a side eye.

"oh come on guys, can you stop it for now. We've to reach their and there's a lot we have to do after that. We don't have enough time for your nonsense." A girl speaks standing, nearby that car. Folding her arms.

"Aarohi, don't spoil your mood because of these fellows, let's go." Another girl speaks holding her arm and gesturing for her to sit in the car.

The another girl was none other than Yati, she quietly opened the back door of the cab and sit inside.

While Aditya said, "I'm sorry Yati, it won't happen again." He said heading towards the back seat, guilt was clear on his face.

"you're still doing that-just get in." Yati said in an irritated tone, her head fixed ahead.

One by one everyone slid on their separated seat, Minal was sitting next to driver while rest of them were filling the back seat.

The cab rolled forward with a slow, steady screech as it pulled onto the road, carrying them towards their destination.

Two hours passed in a blur of chatter and drowsy silence. But as the car turned into the village path, something unusual caught their eyes-

A barricade stretched right across the middle of the road.

The driver slammed the brakes, and the cab jolted to a sudden, screeching halt.

"what the hell? What is going on here? Why is this barricade is placed in middle of the road?" Aarohi snapped irritation clear in her tone.

The driver speaks, leaning forward to clear his view outside, squinting his eyes, "I think there's road construction works is heading on. We can't go ahead mam."

"what should we do now? We don't have so much time it's important to finish our task today and -its Sunday. After that, we won't get time to collect those plants again." Aditya asked in a worried tone.

"you guys get on your nerves at little things. We can visit another place." Yati said resting her head back of the seat, "Minal is there any other village near this place so that we can visit there?"

Minal check up on his phone, after few minutes he speaks, "yeah there a place named 'Rajgarh' its one hour's distance from this village. And yeah it's a nearest village."

The driver heard Minal and his head snapped towards him-his stuttered voice came with panic and fear, "na sahib-hum wha na jaib, wo jagah shareef or seedhe logon ke jaan layak na ba, sahib. Wha hum na jaeb." Fear was clear in his voice.

His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, and the tremor in his voice carried unmistakable fear.

"but why? Why do you sound so afraid?" Aditya asked, leaning forward from back.

"na sahib, hum wha na jaib-or hum aap logo ko bhi bolat hai wha na jaib, wo jagah pe insaan na janwar basat hai or un janwaron ka sardaar, khud -ek haiwaan ba. sahib mat jaib wha hum konhau or jagah leke chalt hai aapp sabhi ko."

Aditya frowned at the cryptic words, but before he could say anything, Aarohi scoffed.

"what do you mean? Why are you talking like, that village is some kind of a place of gangster den or mafia hideout? Guys!! He's just wasting our time."

"na madam, humara baat suniye to..." driver tried to explain something to them, his voice trembling.

But Yati interrupts him in middle.

"listen bhaiya...we don't know what you're afraid of, or what are you talking about? But the thing is -we don't have another way. We've to do this today only. It's literally important for us." Her tone was calm, almost soothing, but firm enough to make her point.

"If you don't want to take us there, that's fine. Just drop us at the entrance of the village. After that we'll book another cab for return." Yati's voice was calm and soft. Making him understand the depth of their situation.

"as your wish mam, I won't say anything after this...but-I want to give you an advice. Don't talk to anyone stranger there. And if you find something strange going on there, anything at all-leave that place immediately." The driver said, his voice was full of concern, and shuttering again and again.

"okay..." Yati replied softly, her calm voice settling the unease for a moment.

An hour later, the cab rolled to a halt. Outside the window stood a massive archway, marking the entrance of the village. It rose tall and imposing, painted a pristine white with golden outlines that glimmered faintly in the sunlight.

The structure looked almost regal-too perfect, too polished for a quiet village.

"here's your village sir, I can't go far from this." Driver said, leaning forward looking at the main archway of the village.

There was sweat beads all over his face.

"let's go guys, step out." Aarohi said briskly as she pushed the door open and climbing out of the cab.

One by one, the others followed. The heavy silence of the place wrapped around them as their shoes touched the dusty ground.

Minal quickly handled the fare, tapping his phone screen. He leaned towards the driver, showing him the online receipt. "done. You've got the payment."

The driver barely nodded, his gaze still locked on the archway, as if watching something the other couldn't see.

They picked up their bags, adjusting the straps over their shoulders and walked straightly towards the archway of the village.

Just as their feet brushed against the entrance line of the archway, they heard the roar of cab's engine which tore through that silence of the place.

The driver sped off in a frenzy, wheels screeching against the dirt road. Within seconds, the vehicle disappeared down the path, leaving behind nothing but a cloud of dust and the faint echo of its engine.

The four of them froze for a moment, exchanging uneasy glances.

"he didn't even wait for a second..." Aditya muttered under his breath.

But the village awaited, silent and watching.

"leave it, let's go." Minal said, as everyone went straight inside-following each other. As their footsteps were echoing while crossing the archway of the village.

"well that's a good news that today is a cloudy day, otherwise it'll be a hell day for us if it's sunny one." Aarohi said, adjust her bag strap against her shoulder.

Her light remark tried to cut through the heaviness in the air, but the silence of the village swallowed her words whole.

They walked for about 5 minutes, when they start seeing the fields of different crops...

Basically they all were the student of master's in botany and were here because of their research thesis. As their university was well known, hence, the university gives the opportunity of placement of their students in different fields respectively.

They were also placed in a research center as an intern at Botanical Research & Education Center where they used to research on different plants that helps them in their career.

They all were went in that village to collect some different species of plants, that will be going to help them in both college thesis and in their internship.

While walking and collecting the plants they were enjoying and giggling at each other.

It took them whole day to collect the plants.

"Yati, look at this flower-" Aditya's voice cut through the chatter. He plucked a red marigold from the edge of the field and held it out with a sly grin. "it looks exactly like you."

Yati turned and stopped to look at the flower and then at him, when he was holding a red marigold in his hand.

"what do you want?" Yati asked after looking deeply into his face, squinting her eyes and it was clear she knew about his meaning but still she asked.

"you." Aditya said stepping closer to her, his smile growing mischievous.

Before Yati could even react, suddenly Aarohi came in middle and push him away by the shoulder.

"aree, bandar jaise shakal ke aadmi! Kitni baar bola hai-meri bandi se door raha kar!" she scolded, glaring like a protective elder sister.

Aditya stumbled, muttering under his breath, while Yati stifled a laugh. The road once again filled with their bickering voices, echoing across the lonely village fields.

"see, she smiles when she's with me." Aditya twirled the marigold between his fingers, holding a sharp grin over his lips with that unshakable confidence. "Yati, why don't you get marry me?"

The words hung in the air, heavier than his usual tone.

Yati froze. Her footsteps faltered as she turned sharply, her eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, the laughter and chatter of their group seemed to dissolve into silence.

Her face was blank, drained of expression-as if her mind had paused, searching for meaning his words.

'you...what did you just say?" she asked softly, her voice steady but her gaze piercing straight through him.

Aditya didn't flinch. He only grinned wider, holding up the red flower like it was a ring, like it meant more than it should be.

"will you marry me?" this time his voice was firm and serious-other than the usual flirting tone.

Minal and Aarohi fell silent. The depth of that moment was heavier. The air shifted, the weight of his words pulling everyone into the moment.

Even the marigold he was holding was feel less like a joke and more like a confession.

For a heartbeat, Yati just held her placed, trying to understand the situation.

"pfft..." Aarohi broke first, pressing her hand against her mouth.

Within seconds, Yati and Minal joined in, bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Their giggles echoed across the quiet fields, bending them over, wiping tears from their eyes.

Aditya blinked at them, baffled.

"what? Why the hell are you laughing?" his brows furrowed, shifting between irritation and confusion.

"are, bandar!" Aarohi managed between laughs, "tu serious bhi hota hai kabhi?!"

Yati held her stomach, laughing harder than the rest. Aditya still holding that marigold, looked at her like she'd just betrayed him, completely lost in their amusement.

After a moment Yati controlled her laugh and slowly moved closer to Aditya.

She plugs the marigold between his finger and starts twirling it between her fingers with a smile on her lips.

"panditayin hai hum, Aditya..." she said, her tone light but her words cutting deep.

"aur humri shaadi bhi ek pandit se hi hogi. Tum Randhawa ho-tumhare liye to humri family bhi tayar nahi hone wali."

Her laughter returned as she patted his cheek softly, almost mockingly, before turning back to the group.

Aditya stood frozen for a second, his smile fading as the sting of her words sank in.

Yati turned around with the marigold still in her hand, her smile playful.

"tum tension na lo, Aditya. Tumhe koi humse bhi zyada achi milegi."

Her words brought aditya's grin back. He leaned a little closer, eyes glinting "will you search one for me?" he asked, half-teasing, half-serious.

Yati rolled her eyes, smacking his arm lightly. 'bas shuru ho gaye phir."

Minal groaned dramatically from the side. "are, tum dono ki shadi ka rishta humare thesis se bhi lamba hone wala hai."

And just like that, their chatter started again-echoing laughter across the quiet fields, mixing with the rustle of leaves and the heavy clouds rolling above.

The twilight was started in the sky, birds were heading back to their nests, dark clouds starts covering the sky from west as the wind change its direction.

Aarohi turns to their friends, "hurry up guys, I'm booking a cab now. The sun is in its way to set down."

Winds was flowing in the air with good speed, as Minal speaks, "okay, we're almost done." He said plucking up a last flower.

Aarohi turns towards Yati, she was standing a little far from them, "Yati are you done?"

Yati turns towards them and shows a thumbs up. When reached them, she starts showing the collection of her plants.

But suddenly-she feels something.

she fell silent. Not even blinking her eyes.

Aarohi noticed immediately. She placed a hand on Yati's shoulder and shook her gently, brows knitting concern. "what happened?"

But Yati raised a finger to her lips, silently asking her to wait. Then, closing her eyes, she drew in slow, deliberate breaths.

The others exchanged confused glances. They could hear her inhaling deeply, almost reverently-like she was breathing in something unseen, something intoxicating. Something fascinating.

She slowly opens up her eyes, "this smell, dude, this smell is making me crazy..." she almost jumped in her place.

Yati

As those words slips from my lips everyone started frowning their brows in confusion. And slowly they also started breathing that same smell.

"isn't it?" I asked in an excited tone.

"yeah, but what kind of smell is this? It feels so mesmerizing..." Minal said sharply inhaling and looking around for any sign of that smell.

"it must be a flower." Aditya said, he was looking in the way that only deepens the forest and the way close to that village.

Yes, we were standing in the village but we were at the fields and cropping area. Since morning we only saw one or two persons that were going out from the village maybe for their work.

Except that neither we went deep inside the village nor we saw any kind of strange thing in that village as that driver warned us about, in Rajgarh.

"should we check it for once?" I asked everyone with my most sweet voice and puppy face.

"no way, neither you're going anywhere nor we're letting you go. Understand? Didn't you remember what that driver warned us for? This village has some kind of mafia and gangster's issues." Aarohi scold me like a mother. She always does this.

Acts like my mother.

"chill Aarohi we're just going for a quick check." Minal said, as he started moving towards in the direction of that smell.

And I quickly followed him. meanwhile, Aditya and Aarohi, both of them doesn't wanted to join us but left no way except following us.

After about five minutes of walk we reached that place, from where that smell was coming.

Just after getting a mere glance of that field, I quickly rushed towards it.

And sat down on my knees, holding those natural beauties in between my fingers that too ever softly.

"guys this...this...this is a Epiphyllum oxypetalum. This is the rarest and most difficultly found species." I said still holding that one piece of unopened bud...I was shuddering, my hands, my whole body was shaking.

Because this a kind of an ancient discovery type.

"what is this?" Aarohi asked, sitting next to me...

"you don't know about this?" I asked looking at her face, when Minal spoke, 'neither both of us." I turned to look at them.

They both were also as much confused as Aarohi.

I sighed...

"This is an ancient flower which is almost extinct but some places have left with its natural cropping. This plant was widely known for its widely advantages, like, ancient people used it as medicine for many diseases...and its beautiful smell is expensive than its existence except that, it releases a rare oil which is used not even in medicinal and fragrances but also even in drug making."

Everyone was looking at me, "but what's so special in this plant? These properties are common we can find them easily like agarwood." Aditya said, pointing out the common things.

"yeah, you're right. But the thing that makes it differently is its unique smell, the amount of diseases it cures all alone and the most importantly its cost, for use as drugs in black market. You know how it costs in black market?"

I asked them and they started looking at each other's face.

"50 lac per 500gm." I exclaimed.

"what???" everyone exclaimed in a sync.

"yati, we should leave this place now. I'm not feeling good after hearing your words. I thing this...this flower..." Aarohi's breathing was heavy. "this flower is the reason because of which that driver warned us about. Please Yati let's go."

Suddenly the atmosphere felt heavy.

"I think so. But guys this is a rare plant if we get to research on it, it'll definitely help in our career." I know the fear everyone was feeling that time but this was an opportunity, and I didn't want to lose it.

"yati but..." Aarohi tried to say something but suddenly I interrupt.

"we'll ask for the permission from the owner of this field. He must be around. He can't refuse us only for one piece." I said, searching for any clue of human being around us. But there was none.

"yati you're out of your mind. You told us that this flower cost more than our kidneys and now you're expecting for a free piece of flower from its owner." Aarohi was out of her rage.

But I knew how to control her. I convinced her and we waited for half an hour for the owner of the field. But no one came in our views. So, we decide to pluck only one flower and take it with us.

When I was plucking it I speak, "you know, it commonly known as Queen of the Night."

As I said and was about to put that flower in my bag, I heard a sharp voice and...

BANG...

"Yati..." Minal shouts and pull me down hiding me back in behind the field of crops.

It was a gun shot and that too someone pointed it towards us.

My ears were ringing with sharp sting. It felt like I had gone deaf for a moment. Everything I noticed at that moment was nothing but just my friend's face-full of fear of death.

Suddenly, Aditya shook me so hard that made me snapped back into my senses, "Yati run! Run Yati run!... they pointed that gun at us...their aim is us...run Yati! Get up..." Aditya shouted pulling me to my feet.

I started running for my life...along with everyone. We run as fast as we could. Clutching our bags tight over our shoulders, constantly looking back, only to find those people following us with sharp knives and guns in their hands.

There were more than 5 person behind us...shouting to each other to catch us...giving us cruses...

It was as if that flower had made death itself follow us.

We didn't get any option except running into that village-Rajgarh.

As we crossed the open field area, it vanished behind us within a minute and we were swallowed by maze of narrow galiyaan. (lanes)

Some lanes were so thin that only two people could walk side by side. While some were so thick that even a big rally could move along within it. Some of the paths were build up with old red bricks, uneven and cracked, while others were well build up with cement and charcoal.

Buffalos stood lazily outside mud houses, their tails swishing against the buzzing flies. The smell of wet soil mixed with dung filled with air. Women's and children's voice came from the courtyard's faintly. But as we ran past, curtains dropped quickly and doors shut tight-as if the whole village already knew what was chasing us.

The walls of the houses were rough, some freshly plastered with mud, some broken with exposed straw. Every gali twisted sharply, one turn after another, and our feet slapped against the bricks as we tried not to stumble.

Behind us, their footsteps and shouts grew closer. The knives clinked. A gun cocked. And the galiyaan of Rajgarh turned into a deadly maze.

I was wearing a red anarkali, full of layers, because I thought it would be a beautiful day-but it turned out to be a hell for me.

Because of that anarkali suit, it was almost impossible for me to run, and I was scared what if my feet stuck into my own dress and I fell? I would definitely get caught.

And as I feared, it came true.

As I was running suddenly, because of those uneven red bricks road and my own heavy suit, I slipped and fell onto my knees. A sharp cry tore out from my throat, "aahhh...."

Author

Hearing her cry, Aditya, Aarohi and Minal stops and turned back-only to find Yati on her knees, struggling to get up-but her foot had twisted in a sprain.

Just as Aditya and Minal was about to reach out to help her, those man behind them caught hold of her.

Aarohi shouted, "noooooo...Yati..."

The rest of the men charged toward them, forcing the three to run again. Aarohi's voice cracked with tears as she ran, "why did you leave her alone?"

Minal shouted back, breathless, "we have to get out of here first! then we'll return with the police to rescue her..."

"but what if they do something to her?" Aarohi sobbed, her words breaking as tears streamed down.

"don't worry..." Aditya's voice was heavy, but steady. "Yati is smart. Nothing will happen to her."

And with that, the three of them disappeared into the narrow lanes, swallowed by night.

To be continued......

So, hello to everyone out there. The first chapter is here...hope you loved it.

And I promise I won't left you down in this story...with full of romance, suspense, adult language and much more..

So let me know about the chapter...

Do vote and comment...