Detective Rajesh Kumar leaned back in his worn-out chair, exhaling as he closed the final page of the case file. The fluorescent light above flickered faintly, casting elongated shadows across the walls of the police station's investigation room. A cup of cold tea sat untouched on the desk beside him, forgotten during his deep dive into the file.
Photos of five smiling youngsters—Jai, Harley, Rita, Swathi, and Ravi—were pinned on the board beside maps and notes. Each face now carried a weight far heavier than the light-hearted smiles they wore.
Rajesh rubbed his forehead and turned to Officer Murthy, who stood silently in the corner, waiting.
"They were just kids…" Rajesh said softly, his voice edged with exhaustion.
Murthy stepped forward. "What now, sir?"
Rajesh rose, tightening the buttons on his khaki shirt. "Now we visit the locations. Let's see the trail they left behind before it went cold."
"Yes, sir. The last digital ping from one of their phones came from near Kondari riverbank."
Rajesh's eyes darkened. "Then that's where we begin."
---
The sun peeked over the horizon, golden beams illuminating the hostel grounds as birds chirped over eucalyptus trees. That morning was full of joy for Jai and his friends—unaware that a storm of fate quietly followed them.
In front of the hostel gate, a shiny old open-top Mahindra jeep, gifted temporarily by the principal, awaited their departure.
Harley jumped into the back seat, holding up his compact DSLR camera with a grin. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Trip to Heaven, Day One!" he declared dramatically, hitting record.
Jai sat in the front, glancing at the camera with a smile, though a shadow still lingered in his mind from the previous night's dream. He said nothing about it. Maybe it was just a dream.
Rita climbed into the back beside Harley. "Try not to film while I'm chewing gum this time," she scolded, poking his ribs.
Swathi sat next to Jai, putting on her sunglasses. "Let's go before the sun roasts us alive."
Ravi, always the quiet one, hopped in and took the rear end seat, already plugging in his earbuds.
The jeep roared to life, dust rising behind them as they drove away from Bright Pen College, laughter trailing in their wake. Fields stretched out to either side, dotted with occasional thatched huts and herds of cattle moving lazily along.
Harley filmed the entire journey:
— Rita singing out of tune.
— Swathi glaring every time the jeep hit a bump.
— Jai switching gears while smiling faintly.
— Ravi half-asleep with wind brushing his hair.
They stopped at a roadside stall around noon, munching on pakoras and coconut water, then resumed their journey.
After lunch, Jai took the wheel. The dusty road curved and dipped, winding deeper into forest territory. As the jeep rolled forward, the air grew cooler and the sky overhead dimmed ever so slightly, clouds creeping in from the west.
Around 5:40 PM, just as the sun dipped below the canopy line of trees, Harley yawned and stretched. "Guys, I'm dead. Let's not push through the night."
"Agreed," Ravi said, rubbing his eyes.
"There's a river nearby. The maps showed it," Swathi pointed out, checking her phone.
"Perfect spot to camp!" Harley said, slapping Jai on the back.
They followed the muddy trail down to a flat bank near a slow-moving river. The water gleamed like gold under the evening sky, and the surrounding area was perfect for a stop—quiet, remote, shaded by tall trees.
Jai parked the jeep beside a large stone. They unloaded bags, sleeping mats, cooking gear, and a single large green tent, enough to squeeze all five if they huddled.
"I call corner space!" Rita said, tossing her pillow into the tent before anyone could argue.
They worked together to pitch the tent and light a small fire with dry wood. By the time the first stars appeared, the smoke from the fire was already curling up into the darkening sky.
"I'll get us some meat," Harley announced with a smirk, grabbing his makeshift bow and a sling.
Rita raised an eyebrow. "You? A hunter?"
"Watch and learn, madam."
He disappeared into the woods with exaggerated stealth. The others began prepping rice and basic spices near the fire. Swathi boiled water while Jai gathered extra wood, eyes scanning the tree line.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Then Harley returned—mud on his jeans, a few scratches on his arm, and triumph on his face.
He proudly held up a small rabbit and three fish tied with a vine. "Dinner," he declared.
"Poor thing…" Swathi murmured about the rabbit.
"But I must say… impressive," Ravi said, genuinely surprised.
They fried the fish and meat over the open flame, the smell thick and smoky. The crackle of the fire, mixed with the sizzling food, made the riverbank feel almost magical.
For a moment, the world seemed normal. Peaceful.
After dinner, they lay on the ground near the fire, looking up at the stars. Harley recorded more videos. Jai stayed unusually quiet.
"You still thinking about that dream?" Swathi asked him softly.
Jai glanced at her. "You remember?"
"Of course. You screamed loud enough to wake the next building."
He chuckled nervously. "Yeah… I don't know. Something still feels off."
Swathi looked at him. "Then let's be careful."
The fire crackled. Crickets chirped. Somewhere in the darkness, an owl hooted.
One by one, they crawled into the tent, tucking themselves into sleeping bags or blankets.
Outside, the fire slowly died down… but behind the trees, something watched.
Golden eyes blinked once. Then disappeared.