Chapter 12
Luni and Ariya walked and walked, until finally, they reached a place Luni remembered.
Luni gasped. "Ariya! This is the city I saw when I first came here — from that very boat!"
Ariya looked around, confused. "But... I don't see any way out of here. No path, no road — nothing."
Luni nodded slowly. "I know. But when you came here... where did you come from?"
Ariya thought for a moment. "The place I entered from... it must be somewhere near this jungle."
They began searching — quietly, carefully, looking for any trace of the way back.
Then — growl. A deep, low sound echoed from somewhere close.
Ariya froze. "A bear?"
Luni giggled nervously. "No... that was my stomach."
Ariya sighed. "Luni... control your stomach, please."
They kept walking.
Two hours later — they found themselves back at the same river.
"Again?!" Ariya groaned. "We're back where we started!"
They didn't stop. They kept walking, kept searching.
After almost an hour, they saw something strange — a shimmering light, glowing softly in the distance.
Luni's eyes widened. "Ariya... this is where I came from. But when I arrived, I was trapped. I couldn't go back."
Ariya looked at the light. "If we go in... the others will be left behind."
He quickly grabbed his phone and called Nashito.
"Hello?" Nashito's voice crackled through.
Ariya spoke fast. "Nashito, we need help. Tell everyone — we've found the way out. The path is here."
Nashito replied, "I'm on my way."
Two hours later, under the shade of a large tree, Nashito arrived — with Grandma on his shoulder, and Rashito carrying bags of supplies.
Behind them, five or six more people came running — villagers who had heard the news.
Everyone gathered around Ariya and Luni.
Ariya asked, "Where are the others?"
Rashito replied, "They didn't want to come. Some of them... have already made this place their home."
Ariya nodded. He understood.
Then, one by one, they jumped through the glowing light — leaving the forest behind, and stepping back into their own world.
Everyone was happy. They had returned.
But Ariya stood still, looking at Luni.
"I have to go now," he said quietly.
Luni nodded. "Me too."
They turned and started walking — away from each other, toward their own lives.
Then — Luni stopped.
She turned around and called out, "Ariya!"
He turned back.
Luni smiled. "Will you take me around your India someday?"
Ariya laughed softly. "Yes... I will."
Luni grinned. "Then first, you have to come to my home."
And with that, she took him by the hand — and led him toward her world.
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💫 Ending Note (by Diksha Story Soul):
The story isn't over yet.
There's still so much left to tell.
So hold on — because Luni and Ariya have only just begun. ✨
Diksha story soul 🧿