Chapter 6

The next morning, the sun rays flash on my face, startling me, as I slowly open my eyes and move my face towards the other end of the bed. Just then I hear my name being called very well rather curiously. "Manya, Manya it's time to leave for the camp. Hurry before, sir walks in!" My eyes open quickly, I push the covers off me and rush towards the bathroom. Luckily there was no line, although I woke up quite late, I rush and rush out in a record timing of ten minutes, dressed completely, brushed teeth and smelling better.

Heading off to my room, I grab all the other necessities, my bag, and put my hiking boots on; then making a run for it I rush towards the bush, nearly catching it before the doors closed. Thankfully, Rupa had saved me a seat, I put my bag in the compartment and settled down, quietly listening to all that General Shashank had to say. "Welcome all of those who came early and on top, and to those of you who came late, just beware I am not currently happy with you, and it'd be better if you learned to come on time!" I could have sworn he glanced at me for a fraction of a second, but moved his eyes before he continued. I frowned, he wasn't letting go of his grudge, great I loved challenges, if he was going to play rough, wait until I begin playing. I chuckle under my breath and ignore the words coming out of his mouth, rolling my eyes every second or now when I did pay attention.

The bus came to a halt just outside of a little camp, I groan, I hated this place, I used to come to this place just a few more miles outside of Mumbai, with my friends. Bad memories, loved falling me; I mentally kick myself for not bringing a camera. What can I say I love this place and I hate it. Grabbing my bag, I rush out and feel myself being dragged away towards my favorite tree. Whoever was touching me, turned sideways to make sure no one was watching and then twirled me around, as if were dancing! I mean can you believe this guy, well actually I am not even sure if it is a guy, but I had a feeling it was a guy!

I open my eyes and see Akash smirking at me! A sickening growl erupts through my throat, unleashing full power as Akash steps back a few steps, no longer wearing that ugly little smirk on his face. Startled by my sudden expressions, he continues moving back; and finally after a ten foot distance yacks, well actually he was speaking but he sounded like the nagging duck that yacks and yacks, never stopping. I mentally kick myself for not paying attention to him, but then feel myself being lost in his eyes, glancing at me as he continued speaking. His lips moved gracefully, open, close, wow! Wait a minute did I just do that! OH MY God! I can't believe myself, I just tuned him out and I was thinking about him! I start to hyperventilating, Akash notices and rushes towards me, shaking me until my breathing was under control. I glance into his eyes full of worry, and find concern for me! Yayy! I nearly scream my insides at him, while a small smile plays its way at the corner of my lips.

"Manya are you okay? You got me worried, everything fine, do you need to sit?" Akash blurted out innocently, I nod my head no; he finally begins calming down as I relax against the tree and ask him to continue. "Manya, I'm sorry for misbehaving the other night, and Om is sorry for misbehaving as well, I mean it's hard for us men to see women working as police officers, for some reason it hurts our ego because we have always seen girls as the weaker gender, I mean like the other day Rupa's condition when her feet were bleeding, she was silently taking it until you came and yelled at General Shashank. That was when we realized, we should be respecting you more, the way you stood up made me and Om think what you were made of, I mean we've never seen someone so full of anger, it looked like you were going to snap sir's head off, never have I seen a girl with so much anger, before you. I like it, and I hope you can forgive me! Please it's an earnest request." I squint my eyes, and pout slightly, he chuckles at me and walks near me, "love the pout babes, and I'll take that as a yes!" he kisses my cheek quickly before I can say anything and walks away before I processed what happened.

I frown, and make faces behind his back. He turns around and winks at me, I glare at him with my crazy eyes, but he just smirks back and blows me another kiss. I cross my arms and stand there trying to allow my anger to calm down, counting backwards from 100, 99, 98, 97.…but no that didn't help, instead I grew angrier, for some reason I was loosing control way too fast around Akash, it was like he did it on purpose. A small smile appears on my face, thinking of his name, just the name had a rhythm to it, I sigh, things were now suddenly out of control .

"Hey Manya, come and sit here, naa!" I glance towards Rupa, and walk over. "So, any plans of where you want to work, after you've "graduated" training here?" Rupa asks with curiosity. "Mhmm, I plan on heading somewhere near my home, so just a few miles out, to ride back and forth!" I smile slightly just thinking about being in the uniform, although this was not my dream I was beginning to feel as though it were.

"Manya!" I look up. "Looking GORGEOUS!" Akash winks at me. I feel my face turn crimson red, as I stumble to say something back, Rupa glances at Akash and me, and walks away quickly. I watch her walk away and realize something is up, but then again Rupa is always like that. I turn my attention once again towards Akash, "Looking rather HOT, you ugly panda, duffer, Buddha, chindichor!" I scream back and run away from the fire while Akash tries chasing me. Eventually he catches up when I think he was "done" my mistake he wasn't, instead he startled me by grabbing me by the waist and spinning me around. My laughter fills the air, Om, Gul, Rupa, and the others watch smiling. Finally after ages Akash lets go, I step on his foot with my boots and run behind Gul, pulling him into a hug from the back.

General Shashank walks out of his tent, his walk full of anger, something had happened that angered him. "Stop messing around everyone, we are not here to have fun, we are here to track down your senses and find the terrorists lurking in the jungle! Do you understand, now I have decided who stays with you, Akash, Om, and Gul are together, Arjun, Sanjay, Ajay are together and from the girls Manya [his tone was livid when he spoke my name], Rupa, Gurdeep are together and Payal, Ayesha and Kareena are together. Now all of you head off to your respective tents and no one go in either tents, I don't care if you ask for permission I do not want any of the guys in the girls' tents or the girls in the guys' tents. Understood?" all nod while I frown, I mean look at the thoughts of this guy, creep, I mutter under my breath and feel his gaze rest upon me. "you better understood!" his tone full of sharpness and his eyes refusing to let go of me.

The next morning I walked out of my tent, dressed in my khaki's, a white tee, my hiking boots and hair pulled back into a ponytail, ready for this mission we were being forced to do. I glance around my surroundings and wait for the others to arrive, after an hour or so the others began walking near me rather restless. That's when I waited, my eyes on every single person, someone was missing. My eyes turn anxiously one way or the other. "Where's Ayesha?" my voice startles everyone. "Ayesha! Ayesha! Ayesha! Ayesha!" everyone begins screaming her name, glancing this way and that hoping to find her somewhere nearby. An hour goes by but no sign of her, all the tents checked but she was no were near.

Suddenly Om's voice rang throughout the entire camp. "This is why you Woman are not respected much here, damn it now because of you all of will be punished, those who did nothing just because of of that that girl! If I get in trouble I swear I will make sure none of you girls will stay here! Understood?" his voice full of fury, I glare at him and a snarl rips through me, "keep your bloody mouth shut, you beast, no body gives a damn if you get in trouble, whats more important is there is a person lost from camp without any trace and that too in a forest where bears, mountain lions, lions and tigers hang around effortlessly, now unless you want anything happening to the rest of us or Ayesha! I hope you get of your lazy bum, shut your mouth and start looking!" I walk away, and grab a few flashlights just incase it got late, I threw one towards Rupa, Sanjay, and Akash.

Om flared behind me cursing me under his breath but I could care less, my friend was out there in the wilderness, with no food, no protection and with a lot of intruders. I head north with the rest of the gang, 3 north, 3 west and 3 east while 3 others stayed back just incase Ayesha arrived anytime soon and were to sent a smoke bomb in the air. Hours passed by, and I kept watching for Ayesha but to no help, she was no were near the camp. My breathing quickened, what if something happened to her, oh god I feared the worst but I wouldn't give up just yet. I break off from the group looking around for her. They hours continued passing by, and darkness finally filled the forest, I turned my flashlight looking around for her continuously screaming her name.

I branch snapped behind me, I stopped dead in my tracks, forgetting to breath. The footsteps came near me and lightly tapped me on my shoulder. I turned around too fast, the flashlight hitting the ground and snapped off. I looked up and noticed Akash staring at me, surprised, "sorry! Did you find her yet?" I nod negatively and reach down to grab the flashlight smacking it against my hand to turn it back on, but it refused to side with me. Akash and I walked side by side screaming for Ayesha. I continued walking but backwards not noticing a ditch in front of me. I fell with a snap my foot badly hurting. "Akash, Akash, help please!" I screamed from the bottom of the pit. He rushed near me and froze, I was at the bottom of the pit covered with scratches on my knees, my arms and a little on my head, reaching lower he grabbed my hand and began pulling my hand when suddenly….

To Be continued on Tuesday!

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