🌌 A Journey into the Night
When Friendship Never Fades-18-That evening, after returning from work, having dinner, and getting ready, they started their journey towards Madikeri at exactly ten o’clock in the night.
As Nakul drove the car, Meera sat beside him, talking and keeping him company. The two continued their conversation as the car moved steadily forward through the silent roads.
By exactly two in the night, they reached Periyapatna. Sleep slowly began to take over Nakul, and realizing this, he decided to stop for tea. He pulled over near a roadside tea junction on the highway and took Meera along with him.
Meanwhile, Prakash tried calling Meera to check where they had reached. However, Meera didn’t pick up the call. He then tried calling Nakul, but he too didn’t answer. Since both their phones were left inside the car, neither of them noticed the calls.
“Once they see the missed calls, they will call back,” Prakash thought to himself and stayed calm.
Even after getting back into the car, neither Meera nor Nakul checked their phones, unaware of the concern building behind them.
🎭 The Unseen Shadow
After leaving Periyapatna city, Meera suddenly felt uneasy. A strange fear crept into her heart.
“Nakul… I feel like someone is following us,” she said nervously.
Nakul chuckled lightly and replied, “Oh come on, Meera… who would follow us? It’s just your imagination. Night travel makes you feel that way.”
But Meera wasn’t convinced. Her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.
“No, Nakul… look behind. That car has been following us for a long time,” she said, pointing at the vehicle behind them while wiping the sweat forming on her forehead.
Still, Nakul tried to calm her.
“Relax, Meera. They must be going somewhere just like us. If you’re scared, just rest. I’ll drive.”
But Meera’s fear only grew stronger.
“No, Nakul… they were following us even when we were in Madikeri… even in Bangalore… and now here too!”
Now, even Nakul started paying attention. Still, he said,
“I’ve always been with you. I never noticed anything like that.”
“This is not the time to argue, Nakul. Please… drive faster,” she pleaded.
Listening to her, Nakul increased the speed of the car. But as he did, the car behind them also sped up equally.
At that moment, Nakul realized—Meera was right.
They were being followed.
🚨 The Trap in the Darkness
They reached Kushalnagar, and even there, the car continued to follow them.
However, just as they exited the city, the car behind suddenly sped ahead and overtook them.
Relieved, Nakul sighed and turned towards Meera,
“See? You were just scared for no reason. The car has gone ahead.”
But Meera, staring ahead, suddenly screamed—
“Nakul…!!!”
Startled, Nakul slammed the brakes and looked forward.
A group of goons had blocked the road. Their car was parked sideways, and large stones were placed across the road, forming a deadly barricade.
There was dense forest all around. No sign of human presence anywhere.
Without wasting a second, Nakul turned the car into a narrow forest path beside the road and drove inside.
The goons immediately followed them in their vehicle.
Inside the dark forest, Nakul drove blindly, not even knowing where he was going.
Suddenly—
The car crashed into a tree and came to a halt.
🌑 Fall into Fear
Without thinking, Meera and Nakul got out of the car and started running in fear.
While running, Meera tripped over a tree root and fell. Losing Nakul’s grip, she slipped away.
“Nakul… Nakul…!” she screamed as she fell into a steep cliff.
While falling, she managed to grab a hanging vine and remained suspended in mid-air.
At that very moment, a snake slithered across her hand. Terrified, Meera stayed completely silent, not even daring to breathe.
Meanwhile, Nakul, shouting her name and searching for her, was caught by the goons who had been chasing them.
“Who are you? Why are you catching me?” Nakul shouted.
“You’ll understand soon,” one of them said, covering his mouth.
“Take him away. I’ll finish the girl,” another ordered.
But another goon interrupted,
“If she fell into that cliff, she’s as good as dead. Let’s go.”
“Yes… all we needed was her death,” they agreed and dragged Nakul away forcefully.
🌿 Between Life and Death
After the snake moved away, Meera slowly climbed up using the vine.
“Nakul… Nakul… where are you?” she screamed in fear.
But there was no response.
Her palms were torn and bleeding badly. Weak and trembling, she walked forward in the darkness.
By sheer luck, she found her way back towards the highway.
However, due to heavy blood loss, she collapsed unconscious on the roadside.
🛡️ The Silent Protector
Meanwhile, Chiru, who had come searching for Nakul and Meera, noticed the stones blocking the road.
Sensing something wrong, he followed the forest path.
There, he found Meera lying unconscious.
“Meera… Meera…” he called, patting her cheeks. But she didn’t respond.
He searched around for Nakul, but there was no trace of him.
At once, Chiru understood—
“This is definitely Shivaram’s doing.”
Without wasting time, he carried Meera to the car and rushed her to the hospital.
🏥 Between Fear and Hope
At the hospital, Chiru called Tulasi and asked her to come immediately.
Tulasi arrived and began treatment. Meera had lost a lot of blood and had fainted.
After stabilizing her condition, Tulasi asked Chiru to stay beside her.
By morning, Nidhi also arrived at the hospital after hearing everything.
Seeing Chiru sitting beside Meera, exhausted and asleep on a chair, she gently woke him up.
“Chiru…” she called softly.
He woke up and asked, “When did you come, Nidhi?”
“Just now. How is Meera?” she asked.
“She’s stable… she’ll regain consciousness in a couple of hours,” he replied, his eyes filling with tears.
💔 Pain Beyond Words
“Why are you crying, Chiru?” Nidhi asked gently.
Chiru looked at Meera and said with a broken voice,
“I couldn’t even bear a tear in her eyes… and now seeing her like this… injured, bleeding, alone in that forest… it’s unbearable.”
Nidhi stayed silent, understanding his pain.
When Meera regained consciousness, she immediately panicked.
“Nakul… Nakul…” she cried.
Seeing Chiru, she got angry and threw things around.
“Where is Nakul? Tell me!” she shouted.
Chiru tried calming her,
“He’s safe… I know where he is.”
“Take me to him!” she demanded.
Finally, after forcing her to eat and take medicine, Chiru agreed.
He helped her into the car.
And then—
He drove towards Karwar.
When Friendship Never Fades-18 to be Continued……
You can also read this story When Friendship Never Fades-18 in Kannada.
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When Friendship Never Fades-18
