Chapter 1
A big ship was moving slowly in the middle of the ocean. The waves were shining under the evening sun. The sky was clear and a cool breeze was blowing.
On the deck of the ship, many college students were enjoying their picnic. Some were taking photos, some were dancing with music, and some were standing near the railing watching the endless ocean.
Everyone looked happy.
"Ay come fast!" Aarav shouted. "Let's take a group photo!"
All friends gathered together. Some made funny faces, some posed dramatically, and the camera flashed.
But among all these happy friends, there were two people who did not like each other at all.
Rajveer and Meera.
Rajveer was a very intelligent boy. He was funny and a little mischievous. He loved teasing people.
Meera, on the other hand, was an innocent girl. She was kind but also a little short-tempered. If someone bothered her, she never stayed quiet.
Because of this, Rajveer and Meera often argued.
Meera was standing near the railing, watching the waves of the ocean. The wind was moving her hair.
Suddenly a voice came from behind.
"Why are you so quiet today?"
Meera turned around.
Rajveer was standing there with a playful smile.
Meera rolled her eyes.
"You again?"
Rajveer laughed.
"I was always here. Maybe you were missing me."
Meera said angrily, "You think too much about yourself."
Some nearby friends started laughing.
Rajveer crossed his arms and said,
"Let's make a challenge."
Meera raised her eyebrow.
"What challenge?"
Rajveer smiled.
"If you are really brave, come alone to the ship's terrace tonight."
Meera replied immediately,
"That's it? I thought it would be something difficult."
Rajveer said jokingly,
"Don't get scared later."
Meera looked straight into his eyes.
"I will come."
The challenge was set.
Their friends thought it was just a joke, but a strange competition had already started between them.
Slowly evening turned into night.
The ocean now looked dark and mysterious. Thousands of stars were shining in the sky.
The ship became quiet.
Most people had gone to their rooms.
Meera slowly walked toward the ship's terrace.
She was murmuring to herself,
"Today I will teach that Rajveer a lesson."
When she reached the terrace, she looked around.
No one was there.
Cold wind was blowing and the sound of waves was echoing in the darkness.
Suddenly a voice came from behind.
"So… you really came."
Meera got scared for a moment.
She turned around.
Rajveer was standing there.
Meera frowned.
"What are you doing here?"
Rajveer laughed.
"I made the challenge."
Meera said angrily,
"Why do you always try to irritate me?"
Rajveer replied playfully,
"Because your angry face is very interesting."
Meera walked toward him angrily.
"You are impossible!"
She tried to push him.
Rajveer quickly stepped back to avoid the push.
But in that moment something unexpected happened.
Meera's foot slipped.
Her balance was lost.
And the next second—
She fell from the edge of the ship.
"Ahhhhh!"
Her scream echoed in the dark ocean.
Rajveer's heart started beating fast.
He ran to the edge and looked down.
Meera had fallen into the water.
She was struggling in the waves.
Rajveer panicked.
"MEERA!"
But no one on the ship heard them.
The ship was still moving forward.
Rajveer suddenly realized that it was his fault.
Without thinking for even a second, he jumped into the ocean.
The cold water hit his body strongly.
Meera was drowning.
She did not know how to swim.
Rajveer quickly swam toward her and caught her.
Meera had already fainted.
Now there was only water everywhere.
The ship was far away.
Rajveer understood that he had to find a way himself.
Holding Meera tightly, he started swimming.
Time kept passing.
One hour…
Two hours…
Three hours…
His arms were shaking with pain.
His breathing became heavy.
But he refused to give up.
Then suddenly he saw something far away.
A small island.
It had a hill and a very dense jungle around it.
Rajveer used all his strength and swam toward the island.
Finally he reached the shore.
He fell on the sand, breathing heavily.
For a few moments he could only breathe.
Then he remembered Meera.
He quickly went to her.
She was still unconscious.
Rajveer carefully turned her body and tried to push the water out from her stomach.
After a few seconds, Meera started coughing.
Water came out of her mouth.
Rajveer felt relieved.
After some time, Meera slowly opened her eyes.
She looked around.
Dense jungle…
Strange sounds…
Darkness everywhere…
Meera asked nervously,
"Where… are we?"
Rajveer sighed.
"I don't know."
Meera suddenly became angry.
"This is all because of you!"
Rajveer also got irritated.
"If you didn't try to push me, you wouldn't fall!"
Meera replied,
"Why did you step back?"
Rajveer said,
"I was trying to save myself!"
They kept arguing for a moment.
Suddenly a strange sound came from the jungle.
"Grrrr…"
Meera got scared.
She quickly stood close to Rajveer.
Rajveer looked toward the jungle.
"I think there are wild animals here."
Meera asked in fear,
"What will we do now?"
Rajveer looked at the dark jungle.
"It is not safe to stay near the shore. We have to go inside the jungle."
Meera said softly,
"I am scared."
Rajveer looked at her seriously for the first time.
"Don't worry… I am here."
Meera looked at him.
For the first time she felt that Rajveer might not be as bad as she thought.
Slowly they started walking toward the jungle.
The jungle was very dense.
The trees were so tall that the sky was barely visible.
Strange sounds were coming from everywhere.
The air felt mysterious.
Rajveer said quietly,
"This jungle is not normal."
Meera asked,
"How do you know?"
Rajveer smiled slightly.
"Because I studied about jungles like this."
Meera looked surprised.
And slowly both of them disappeared into the mysterious jungle.
They did not know yet…
This jungle was going to change their lives forever.
And this was the beginning of their magical and dangerous love.