"Bye...bye...Big sister and brother-in-law." Manu, Lara, and Fuyu said their goodbyes with smiles as they left with Rana. Today, Rana went to have a meeting with the village patriarch/chief for some important discussion. He would accompany Sara and her husband for some time before separating in their own way.
"Take care, you guys..." Nula waved her hand towards them before returning to the hall where everyone Manu, Fuyu, and Lara were waiting for their meal before doing their respective work. Although Lara used to help in serving food since many people were here, now that the three left, she was not going to help.
After some time later, Nula served them their meal as she sat down next to them, watching them eat while explaining things.
"Manu and Fuyu, be conscious and don't go too far inside the forest. As today your father isn't going to the field with you guys. And be aware of wild animals and don't leave your group." Nula explained, as she was genuinely worried that going alone would be dangerous for the kids since the wilderness has different animals that could end her sons' lives with ease.
"No need to tell us, Mother, we already know about it, and would be conscious... but to tell you the truth, there wasn't any single thing around that area, let alone wild animals. Only a few birds chirping around." Manu said as Nula nodded in understanding before saying,
"But still be conscious..."
"We will, Mother..." Fuyu said as Nula smiled towards them.
"Hmm...good, and one more thing: return before the sunset." And with this, both Manu and Fuyu left the home for the work. Lara was acting naturally like she used to—no tension, no worries, nothing, just her normal self.
"Let's go straight to the field..." Manu exclaimed as he started to run with excitement. Fuyu saw him before matching his pace so as not to be left behind. Along the way, many friends and others going in the same direction met them.
"Hah...I am truly tired. I don't want to go to the field even though my dad isn't going. But why do I need to go...?" Rayn, a friend of theirs, complained about it, as his nature was to complain about everything, even life itself.
"Come on, don't be so lazy. Today no one is coming to stop us; our father has gone to the meeting with the patriarch, so we will only go to surveillance the field for some time before going inside that forest and strolling around. It's such a terrifying forest that even our parents fear it, and if we return safely from there, our respect would go to another level, so let's do this. By doing this, I would be able to impress Hana as well. Hehe..." The young boys' group leader said, as he had a crush on a girl around his area and wanted to marry her, but by doing something courageous, he would be able to ask for her hand in marriage. That's why he decided to take this risk, even though it was life-threatening.
Although he and his friends believed that that forest was nothing to fear about, their parents were just exaggerating about it. So they agreed. Although many denied to go there, with some force they agreed. Even Fuyu wanted to reject this proposal and just wanted to work on the field, but suddenly a desire came from inside to go there. So he followed them.
"Brother Sahar, I am afraid we really shouldn't go there. See, it's so terrifying, this forest." After reaching near the forest, one of the boys said in fear.
"Well, it wouldn't be that terrifying once we enter inside. Anyway, if you are a girl, then run away, coward. We aren't going back, you trangender." The group leader said in a taunting tone. Those who were afraid heard this and immediately said they weren't afraid; after all, they weren't girls. It's not manly to fear such a thing, as bravery was taken as masculinity here.
"I am afraid myself, but I am not going back because no male would want to be labeled as female, because it's a big embarrassment," Fuyu thought as he went forward with others.
"Those cowards really ran away; they value their life more than this pathetic quest." The group leader snorted in a cold tone, as even after him saying disgraceful things to them, many ran away like rats. Only a few remained there, following him inside the forest. Those were three boys, including the group leader, Fuyu, and Manu.
"Fuyu, do you think we should also leave? Inside the forest feels more terrifying than outside." Manu whispered lightly in Fuyu's ear as the group members were ahead of them. Manu was himself scared as he looked at the surrounding forest, completely filled with woods, bushes, and plants covering the ground completely. If there were a pothole, they might really fall inside because nothing was seen beneath their feet, only leaves, grass, and insects.
"Well, this isn't scary, just trees around. And leaving wouldn't be good. Think about how Rani will feel when she would hear that you went inside and came outside without any problem." Fuyu said, and Manu got motivated on the surface, but inside he was scared.
"Brother Sahar, how much further inside are we going...?" Kie asked as he followed the leader.
"Well, see, there is nothing to worry about; there is nothing scary, just some big trees and wind rustling leaves that make sound; that's all. So we will get a bit more inside before returning." Sahar said as he became more confident and less worried as he took another step inside, because there was nothing scary.
"I guess we are far enough inside; let's get out of here." Manu suggested as Sahar immediately shouted,"No, no one is leaving. It's not scary, so why go? Wait until we find something to brag about in front of others."
"Alright, we aren't leaving; no need to shout." Everyone followed, going deep inside the forest, which later lead them to forget the way they had come from, so they all panicked, desperately finding the way out. No matter how they searched, they ended up in the forest.
"It's your mistake; why the hell didn't you mark the way we were going? Now we are trapped. Aww...hell..." The group shouted loudly, but their expedition to find the way out continued, and later they were finally able to find the way after spending three hours in the forest, doing nothing but roaming in the forest in circles.
"Hah...finally we got out. Thank goodness."
"Yes, my mother saved me." One of the boys said.
"What, your mother? She isn't here; it was me who found the way... I saved you from this forest." Sahar took the credit, as it was really him who calmly led the way, although getting angry many times. But everyone was grateful that they finally got out.
"Now, I am going to tell this to her. My love, I am coming; see what your husband can do..." Sahar exclaimed with imagination as he was ready to leave, but Manu immediately shouted,
"Wait, Sahar, what about Fuyu...? He is still inside; we haven't met him along the way nor saw him here." Manu asked, as he was worried because Fuyu was lost in that rush of panic. This took a lot of their time to find him, but they were unable to find him. Only God knows where he went or if some wild animal attacked him.
"We tried, Manu, but Fuyu... Fuyu is here... What the fuck...?" Rayn was about to comfort Manu, but suddenly Fuyu hopped outside of the bushes, shocking him completely. They immediately surrounded him, asking many questions about where he went. Fuyu told them: He was lost because he stopped to pee, but found the way at the end.