A Night Of Unanswered Questions

The howling noise, which still echoes vividly in my ears, stems from the sketchiest night I have ever experienced. This event occurred in the midst of June, a season known for sweats, discomfort and unimaginable amount of water for keeping ourselves alive. Being a cadet in NCC, we went on a camp which was undoubtedly my favorite part of training. So, I planned an adventurous series of tasks for myself until an unforgettable event unfolded. While the camp took place in the heart of the forest our tents were arranged at the outskirt for a safer environment. Each of us were assigned a responsibility and I was assigned to cut 10-12 logs of wood for fireplace. Since there were enough of the woods, I didn’t venture the forest again, and we slept. 

It was around 3:10 in the midnight, when my friend woke me up for the woods as the commander requested. So, I dressed up and packed my bag with a torch and a bottle of water. As I embarked on the journey towards the forest, my companion, Riya, accompanied me. The forest was definitely not the good idea at such a time. It was all black and small insects were lingering our feet. Due to the restricted space, Riya followed behind me. After 3-4 meters, we stopped to cut the logs. I felt thirsty and uneasy, so I sat down on the ground and had some water. I asked Riya to sit with me, but she declined. After 1-2 minutes, I restarted my work and handed the torch to Riya. I asked her to point it towards the log so that I could see it clearly. Soon after we cut 3-4 logs, Riya gradually distanced herself from the woods. In an attempt to regain proper illumination, I asked her to redirect the light towards me, but she seemed to not hear my voice. I sensed something suspicious, so I snatched the torch from her. Riya wasn’t visible so I yelled her name out loud. But there was no one visible. I felt scared so I started walking very slowly. 

I was assuming Riya left out of fear. So, I also ran towards the tent. I reached safely and was really disappointed with Riya’s behavior. As the sun ascended, signaling the dawn of a new day at 5:30 in the morning, I threw my bag and walked straight to Riya’s tent and asked her about abandoning me alone. Her answer to my question was expected. She claimed that she never went. I was in shock and was hoping it to be pranked, but it wasn’t. She never accompanied me. That night remained an event of many unanswered questions.