Perennial Love

20. Lost in the woods

A/N

So here is the update, will not bother you guys with my author's note this time... Excuse me if I did some mistakes regarding the places as I haven't been there before...

Enjoy reading!!!

And do give inline comments...

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Swayam's POV

"Bhaiya(bro), is this the route to Connaught peak trek???" Rey asked a roadside stall vendor showing the direction with his hand... Though we had Google maps, but it's always safe to ask some localite...

"Yes sir... Just take a right turn after nearly 2 kms for the parking" the person replied and  Rey drove the car off. After parking, we got down with our trekking backpacks and things required. We were going on a trek to the Connaught peak, the second highest peak in Mahabaleshwar. We heard that it is the most adventurous and the view from the top is marvelous, of the Pratapgarh fort, Rajgarh fort and beautiful Venna lake. After this trek, which would be till half of the day, as it is six in the morning now, we would go the Pratapgarh fort trek again which is a small one... A long day, but completely filled with adventure and thrill.

We had started the trek and there were other tourists too, here and there. There wasn't much crowd, as this trek was little rough and more of adventures than others. The route was crooked at places too. The trek was completely through the dense evergreen forests. It was a bit risky...

We were halfway up and when I was climbing a small rock, I saw Pia getting seperate and going on a different route, not even the trekking one, but one that leads to the forest... What is this girl upto now? Has she hit her head somewhere?? Where is she going??? I climbed up and went to Rey.

"Hey dude, I saw Pia going on some other route. You carry on with others, I am going behind her and guide her back..." I said eyeing the pathway where Pia took a turn, I hope I don't loose her track. I saw Rey smirking at me with wiggling eyes and he said...

"Why are you so concerned bro? She will come back! She is not a child!!! Or else is there any reason why you care for her so much?" He asked raising his eyebrows. God! Will he ever think of something else? Ever? I don't understand him sometimes. Here I am in a hurry and he is teasing me. Like seriously? I looked at him and gave a tight smile.

"I care, coz she is a member of a group and our friend!" I said and without waiting for response walked past him towards the direction where Pia went.

"Okay bro, enjoy!!!" I heard him yell at my back and I rolled my eyes.

The same thing happened what I was afraid of! Pia is nowhere to be seen now! What shall I do now!? Where is this Sid!? Doesn't he care for his girlfriend, that is she following or not!? What kind of a boyfriend he is! He got so busy in the company of Amar and Bharat that he forgot about his own girlfriend??? This is gross!!! Where should I find her now!?

I just kept walking on the path that is just a trail as walking many times. When I walked little deeper, I saw a human figure far away. I walked little faster on the crooked route and saw that the person was Pia! She sat on her knees in a corner, close to the steep and was eyeing something very keenly, with interest. Thank god I finally found her!!! Is she even aware of what would be the consequences of the stunt she pulled now??? This girl always gets me so worried for her!!!

I strolled towards her not making much of noise and stood behind her. I tapped her shoulders and she got up startled facing me. But in this process, her foot tripped and she was about to fall but I held her by her waist and jerked her close to my body. She clutched my t-shirt with a tight grip and shut her eyes tightly, anticipating a fall, but opened when she realised I held her. Even I had lost my balance a bit when she caught me forcefully, but regained it soon enough! She was breathing heavily and I can feel the rising and falling of her chest against mine, as they touched because I held her real close. I was on the edge too and I don't want to take any risk. Our faces were very close and I could feel her hurried breath fanning my throat area. She then tilted back glared at me and wiggled in my arms...