Way to D

The sun was climbing slowly in the pale sky, brushing the forest edges with a thin golden hue. But even with light, there was no warmth in their hearts. The horror of the previous night still hung heavily over them.

Swathi and Ravi worked silently, carefully gathering what was left of Harley.

The torn flesh, shattered bones, scraps of cloth—everything they could respectfully retrieve. They had found a wooden box behind the tent—used earlier to carry equipment—and now, with trembling hands and tearful eyes, they turned it into a makeshift coffin.

The smell still lingered faintly. Blood. Burnt hair. Jungle.

Swathi lined the bottom with a cloth sheet while Ravi lifted each piece with near reverence, like a priest handling relics.

Rita stood nearby, unable to watch for long. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her eyes brimmed with silent tears. Jai helped seal the box, using belts and rope from the tent to tighten it shut. No one dared speak a word.

They placed it gently in the jeep's decky, ensuring it didn't shift or rattle.

Jai wiped sweat from his forehead and exhaled hard, as though releasing some deep, hidden grief.

He turned to the others. "We're going back to college. No more delays. Let's see how far this jeep takes us with what fuel we have left. If it dies on the road, I'll try to get a lift to the nearest petrol station."

Everyone nodded in solemn agreement.

The forest seemed to part for them this time—as if silently allowing them to leave. No lions. No strange dreams. No whispers.

They were lucky—after 3 kilometers of slow jungle driving, the trees began to thin, and finally, the broken trail merged with a tarmac road again. The contrast of sunlight on asphalt felt surreal. The last time they had passed this way—just yesterday—they had been laughing, singing, full of wild adventure.

Now… there was only silence.

---

They drove steadily toward the outskirts of town, and just before reaching the city limits, a petrol pump came into view.

"Thank God," Swathi muttered.

They all climbed down from the jeep. As expected, the moment they stepped into the station's open area, their phones lit up—networks returned. Notifications buzzed. Messages flowed in.

Rita didn't waste a second. She immediately dialed the principal's number, stepping aside to avoid the noise of traffic.

"Hello, sir? It's Rita."

From the other end came a concerned voice, heavy with emotion. "Rita? Where are you all? What happened? I just got your voicemail—what's going on?"

Rita's voice cracked as she explained—Harley's death, the lion attack, Ravi's trauma, the night they had spent in the jungle. She tried to keep herself together, but at one point, the words came out as whispers. Jai watched her from a distance, concerned.

The principal was in shock.

"Oh my God… I can't believe it," he said. "That place… I had no idea it could be that dangerous. Listen, come back to the college as soon as possible. you understand. Just get back safely, alright?"

"Yes, sir," Rita whispered. "We're on the way."

She turned back to Jai, eyes moist. "He said we should get back to college. Harley's parents… they know. They're waiting."

Jai nodded. "We'll reach by evening. Hopefully."

---

The road stretched ahead now—open, quiet, still. For a while, things seemed like they were returning to normal.

But as they rounded a bend an hour later, a loud crack echoed across the sky.

Just a few meters ahead, a massive tree—old and wide—split and fell, blocking the road entirely.

Dust rose in clouds. A bus screeched to a halt behind it, and within seconds, a long traffic jam began to form.

"Just our luck," Ravi muttered, staring at the fallen trunk.

Swathi leaned forward. "Jai, let's take a different route. It'll be faster. This traffic might take hours to clear."

Jai hesitated. "We can wait. It's safer than taking unknown roads again."

"No, I need to get back quickly," Swathi said, scratching her arm. "I've got skin irritation from yesterday's sweat and heat. I need my meds. I'm not feeling right."

Jai looked into her eyes. She wasn't exaggerating. The red patches on her arms were clearly visible. "Okay," he agreed after a pause. "Let's find a jungle side road and bypass this mess."

They took a narrow detour, moving off-road, toward a quieter trail that curved through the forest's edge.

The route was bumpy, winding, with tall trees rising like silent watchers. They all hoped it would reconnect to the main highway soon.

Halfway through the forest trail, Rita's phone buzzed again.

It was the principal.

She picked up. "Yes sir?"

The principal sounded more tired this time. "I just got word from the management. The college is being closed for a week."

"What? Why?" Rita asked, confused.

"There's… some issue. The head of the institution is caught in a legal mess. False accusations. Media's involved. For safety and reputation, they're suspending classes and asking everyone to go home."

Rita swallowed. "Then what should we do? We were heading back…"

"I recommend this: Don't come to the college now. I've spoken to Harley's parents. They are shattered… they want to see him immediately. Please take his body directly to them. I'll message you their address. I'll stay in touch."

She went silent for a moment. "Okay. We'll do it."

After she ended the call, she turned to Jai and repeated everything.

Jai sat back in the driver's seat, eyes fixed on the road. "His house is too far from here. It'll take hours."

"I know," Rita said quietly.

From the back seat, Swathi asked, "What did the principal say?"

"We're not going to college," Rita replied. "We're taking Harley… home."

A heavy silence fell again.

Jai tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "If that's what they want… we'll do it."

He pressed the pedal, the jeep humming softly over the gravel trail.

In the rearview mirror, the wooden box trembled slightly with every bump.

It felt like Harley was still with them.

But none of them noticed the strange metallic object—the coin Jai had seen earlier—still lying in his pocket. Cold. Unmoving. Waiting.