Forest

“Why don’t you stay over tonight and go back tomorrow morning?” asked Anita’s mother.

“I can’t Mom! I really need to go home”, replied Anita. She really did need to go back home. “I’ve to get some work done tonight before office tomorrow”, she lied.        

“Fine. Send us a text message when you reach home”, said her mother as Anita got into the car.

“I will Mom!” said Anita. She got into her car, placed the container that her mother had given in the back seat, waved one last time and started on her journey back. She had just had a really nice and pleasant dinner with her mom and dad. Usually the meals with her parents were never that pleasant. The drive was going to take her around an hour and the road went through a forest.

She checked the time in her watch. It was almost 10:30. The forest felt creepy at this hour. It was dead silent. The silence was getting on her nerves. She surfed through all the radio channels, but the reception wasn’t good on any of them so she switched it off. As she approached a certain part of the forest, she suddenly became slightly anxious.

Suddenly she saw him.

A man.

Right in the middle of the road.

He was waving initially but now as the car came closer, he was shielding his eyes from the headlights.

She slowed down and stopped a little away from the man.

The man came towards the car.

He came up to the passenger door and Anita lowered the window.

“Do you know there is absolutely no range here? I’ve been trying to call you for almost two hours!” said the man.

“Yes I do know”, replied Anita. “Mom had made fruit custard by the way. Your favourite. She has sent some for you.”

“I just got out to pee and when I returned, you were gone” said her husband. “I  know I don’t get along well with your parents but next time if you don’t want me coming to their house, please just directly tell me instead of leaving me in the middle of nowhere.”