After a big breakfast, the four of us happily packed our bags. Finally, the day had come. We were all ready to start our much-anticipated journey to a place famous for its mystery and stories.
Our small 2015 Jeep, named Rosy because of its rose-red color, was our reliable friend.
Even though she was small, she had a strong metal body and had never let us down, even in extreme heat, dust, and storms.
Our first big stretch of road was the Mehran Highway towards Nawabshah.
Before starting, we did a full check. The fuel tank was full, and Rosy's engine had been serviced just a week ago, running smoothly. Everything was in order.
Being ready was really important.
We brought a lot of water, canned food, a complete tool kit with wrenches, a jack, a lifting rod, and four spare tires to handle any unexpected problems. We planned to change drivers every one hour and forty-five minutes, as the trip was expected to take almost seven hours.
The journey officially started after locking the house and giving the keys to the front gate to the guards.
While Peter was navigating with a detailed route plan, I took the first driving shift. We planned to spend at least two days in Nawabshah to rest, explore, and maybe solve a small mystery.
We reached Hyderabad via the Superhighway Road.
After showing our ID cards at a checkpoint, we were allowed to proceed on the Hyderabad Highway. The road was lined with plants, rivers, and canals, creating a different kind of landscape.
Amit shared stories from his past travels to keep us entertained.
Some were funny, others were scary. He mentioned dacoits, who were real in these areas, and half-joked about not going out after dark. We laughed but stayed alert.
The mood stayed cheerful.
We laughed, sang, and enjoyed the breeze. Except for Diljeet, who had his service weapon as a police officer, everyone carried legal weapons.
Diljeet took over driving after my shift.
Surprisingly, he drove slower than usual, which was different from his reputation for fast driving. As we entered the suburbs, Amit's tone became more serious. He talked about local legends, shape-shifters, and Naags Ichchha Dhari.
He told a story about a snake couple that could turn into humans and were said to have given a powerful jewel to a noble family, making them incredibly rich.
We were really interested in the story.
Diljeet moved forward as the sun was about to set, our aim was to arrive before darkness.
Then, at dusk, we saw it. Our first accomplishment.