Chapter 2:The Endless Jungle

Roy touched the hand of Joy. Joy's hands fell lifelessly down the bed. Panicked, Roy ran to his father and cried, "Uncle isn't moving!"

Chris Winson, Roy's father, rushed to his brother's bedroom. His heart sank as he saw his brother lying motionless. Trembling, he exclaimed, "Oh God!" and immediately called the family. Together, they carefully lifted Joy's lifeless body from the bed.

Thirty minutes later, Joy's daughter, Tina Davidson, arrived at the house. She found everyone engulfed in sorrow as they prepared for the funeral.But Tina's behavior was unusual. Distracted, she seemed more focused on her phone, speaking to someone with hushed urgency. In a sudden outburst of frustration, she threw her phone against the wall, shattering it. As the family mourned and made arrangements for Joy's cremation, Tina remained distant and silent.After the funeral ceremony, the family dispersed. A heavy silence settled over the house.

A week later, Tina entered her father's room, her eyes scanning his belongings with a mixture of grief and determination. She began packing up his things, holding back tears.

"Tina didi," Roy said softly as he entered the room. He hesitated before continuing, "Uncle promised he would tell me about his life… how he escaped from that endless jungle. On that last night, he said he would tell me everything."

Tina looked at him with watery eyes. Without a word, she pulled him into a hug. After a moment, she reached for her father's diary.

"Tina didi, how did uncle reach there? Who did this to him? And where is that jungle?" Roy asked with childlike curiosity.

Tina flipped through the diary, her hands trembling. "Dad didn't write about that in the first pages. He didn't even know where he was at first. He was confused… disoriented."

"Okay, then tell me how he survived after he opened his eyes," Roy insisted.

Tina took a deep breath. "After waking up, Dad was utterly confused. He realized he was in the middle of an endless jungle. Trees surrounded him in every direction. The thick canopy above blocked the sunlight, and the only sounds he could hear were the rustling leaves and distant animal cries. He didn't know how he ended up there or how long he had been unconscious.Dad realized he had no choice but to survive. His strong will kept him alive. He climbed a nearby tree to get a better view, but all he could see were endless stretches of greenery. No signs of civilization, no landmarks—just trees for miles."

Roy's face reflected his awe as Tina continued, "That night, he stayed up, sleeping lightly on the tree, clinging to a branch. He was afraid of the dangers lurking below—wild animals, unknown predators."

"When the sun rose, Dad climbed down and searched for food. He found wild fruits and cautiously ate them. He knew he had to stay alert, always watching for danger. Little by little, he began to understand the jungle, relying on his instincts and strength to keep going." Tina paused, her voice softening. "Dad was a fighter, Roy. That's how he survived. He always believed that no matter how dire the situation,

there's always a way to persevere." Roy stared at the diary in Tina's hands, his mind imagining the struggles his uncle must have faced. He whispered, "Uncle was truly brave."

"I need to find a safe place to survive and gather supplies before the sun sets." Joy murmured to himself.

Feeling weak and unable to walk properly, he spotted some sweet berries hanging from a tree. Climbing carefully, he picked a handful and ate them to regain some strength.

"There are more berries on this tree. I should pluck as many as I can,"he thought, filling his makeshift pouch made of leaves and vines.

As he wandered, Joy's throat became parched. The need for water drove him forward until he noticed the faint sound of flowing water. Picking up his pace, he stumbled upon a river. Dropping to his knees, he cupped his hands and drank deeply. The cool water revived him.