By the time they reached the edge of the next village, the sky had already begun to shade into twilight. The golden hues of the sun made the old rooftops of mud-tiled houses look like burning embers. The village, a small settlement on the outskirts of a vast valley, was calm but held an air of aged silence. There was a mild wind blowing through the trees, bringing with it a haunting familiarity.
Jai pulled the jeep over near a tea stall. The engine gave a tired rumble as it died down. Rita stepped out first, stretching her arms while keeping an eye on the wooden box in the back. Swathi was leaning on the window, exhausted, scratching her red rashes gently. Ravi stepped out without saying a word and lit a cigarette, walking toward the tea stall to ask about the route.
The shopkeeper, an old man with sunken eyes and white stubble, was stirring chai slowly in a steel pot.
"Excuse me, sir," Ravi said, trying to sound calm. "Do you know how we can get to Rangalpur? It's about 550 kilometers from here, but we want the route that avoids deep forest roads."
The man looked up. "Rangalpur? That's a long way. You'll pass through two jungles regardless. One near Narbat hill and the other through Dhanwara stretch. But I'll draw you a map."
Ravi nodded gratefully, and the man took out an old newspaper and began to sketch roughly with charcoal. Jai joined them, and the man handed him the hand-drawn route. "If you stick to this, the signals may vanish in the jungle areas, but it's better lit and used by transporters. Safer, if you ask me."
"Thanks, uncle," Jai said, and tucked the paper into his dashboard.
The sky was now navy blue. A tired moon peeked out between the clouds.
They decided to grab some dinner before continuing. The only hotel in the village was a simple dhaba with bamboo chairs and mud floors. The owner served them rice, dal, and roti. They ate in silence, occasionally exchanging glances. The weight of Harley's presence in the jeep felt like a ghost sitting among them.
After dinner, when they returned to the jeep, the smell from the wooden box had grown unbearable.
"We can't drive like this," Swathi said, covering her nose with her dupatta. "The smell… it's only going to get worse."
Jai thought for a second and then asked a vegetable vendor nearby if he knew where they could find thermocol and ice.
"There's a fish storage shop just behind the temple," the man replied. "They'll have ice blocks."
They rushed there and bought several large slabs of ice and two discarded thermocol sheets. Using their pocket knives, they broke and arranged the thermocol into makeshift insulation inside the wooden box, placing the ice blocks strategically around the remains.
Jai wrapped it tighter and shut the lid. "Hopefully, this keeps it manageable till we reach."
Swathi winced again, scratching harder now.
"I can't take it anymore," she said. "This rash is getting worse. It's burning."
They searched the entire village for a medical shop or clinic, but to their surprise, not a single one was open or even present. The only clinic board was hanging loose, its doors locked.
"Let's find a hospital," Jai said. "We can't delay much. The body needs to reach soon."
An hour later, after navigating small lanes and dim roads, they found a government hospital 14 kilometers ahead. It was almost deserted but functioning. Swathi was treated quickly. The nurse gave her a steroid cream and some tablets, warning her not to expose her skin to heat or dust too much.
Once done, they returned to the jeep and started again.
The road ahead was long.
That night, Jai drove as long as he could. The winding forest paths, the occasional flash of wildlife in headlights, and the rhythmic bumping of the jeep wheels created a hypnotic atmosphere. Around 3 AM, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I need a break," he murmured. Ravi, who had been awake in the back, volunteered to drive.
Jai slid into the backseat and leaned against the window. Within minutes, he drifted into a dream.
It was surreal.
He stood in a lush green valley, water trickling gently through smooth stones. Butterflies with bright blue wings fluttered around him, and the trees swayed as if they danced. The breeze was cool. Everything shimmered.
He heard laughter.
Turning around, he saw Harley—whole, alive, dressed in white—splashing water at Swathi and Rita. Ravi was floating on his back, laughing.
Jai smiled, tears welling in his eyes. The scene was beautiful, too peaceful to be real.
Then, a splash. The water suddenly rippled wildly.
From the other end of the stream, a crocodile emerged, its jagged mouth open wide. It lunged at Jai.
He screamed and woke up with a jolt.
The jeep was no longer moving.
The engine was off.
He looked around frantically. "Ravi? Swathi? Rita?!"
No one was inside.
He jumped out and scanned the area. Ahead, down a short slope, there was a river glimmering in dawn light. And there—his friends.
They were in the water. Splashing, laughing, playing like nothing had happened.
But something was strange.
They had the box with them.
It was floating like a raft, and they were clinging onto it like a toy.
Jai walked closer, heart pounding.
"What are you doing?!" he yelled.
Swathi turned and smiled. "Come on, Jai! It's like the old days. Harley's here too!"
Jai froze.
In that moment, something shifted. A butterfly—the same vivid blue kind from his dream—flew near his face and hovered. His smile softened, but then faded. He felt something stir in his chest.
A memory.
Something he had forgotten.
He saw the butterfly again. The flowing water. The same dream. It was repeating.
Suddenly, he remembered the coin.
The strange, metallic coin that had burned cold in his pocket when he had the first dream. He had kept it. He reached into his jeans and pulled it out.
Still cold.
Still unexplainable.
Then, a scream.
Rita.
Jai panicked. He rushed down the slope and ran to the river. But when he reached, he saw Rita laughing. She had just been splashed with water.
Swathi waved. "You looked like you saw a ghost! Come on, Jai! Just a few minutes. We need this."
He hesitated. The logical part of his mind screamed not to. But their laughter was like gravity.
Finally, he gave in.
He stepped into the water.
It was warm. Gentle.
They all splashed around for several minutes. It was quiet, surreal. For a while, it felt like time had stopped.
But every so often, Jai would look at the floating box.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Harley really was there.
Not just his body.
Something else.
Watching.
Laughing.
Saying goodbye.