My friend Ahmed was obsessed with the idea of going deep into the jungle to explore and enjoy nature. He eagerly tried to enlist me to join in the adventure, but I repeatedly declined and ignored him. However, since his birthday was approaching, I couldn`t avoid it. I wanted to find the perfect gift for him, but unfortunately, I was broke. After much thought, I came up with an idea and shared it with my younger sibling.

The next day, I presented Ahmed with my father`s old watch which he had given me. It still looked new and was a branded piece. I also promised to accompany him on any journey he desired. Hearing this, he was ecstatic and hugged me tight.

`Bro, our adventure begins tomorrow! So be ready, we`re going to be exhausted!` Ahmed exclaimed.

So the next day, Ahmed showed up with a backpack and said, `Ayaan, let`s rollout. It`s time for us to hit the road.

Just then mum showed up and put some food and water inside our bags and said in a concerned tone, `Boys take care of each other, stick together and be home before it gets dark.

I nodded, grabbed our belongings and we began to walk. After miles of trekking, the jungle came into view. As soon as we entered, the air filled with sweet sounds the soft chirping of sparrows, the melodic calls of the koel and many other indigenous birds. We were surrounded by towering green trees, immersing us in the splendour of nature. In this enchanting environment, we found ourselves completely lost, captivated by the beauty around us. We kept walking, unaware that we were losing our way.

After a couple of hours, we stopped under a massive olive tree, rested and then, tempted by its ripped fruit, we tried to grab a few, but the branches were too high. After several attempts, I finally managed to climb up and pluck two olives.

Ahmed and I tasted them, and they were incredibly delicious and sweet.

In a sudden moment of realisation, I glanced at my watch and said, `Ahmed, it`s time to go. We`d better get out of here before darkness sets in. Remember what my mother said?`But Ahmed wanted to eat more olives and convinced me to stay a little longer. We ended up eating a lot of olives together. Time slipped away, and only then did Ahmed realise it was time to head back home.

We grabbed our belongings and began our journey back home. It was getting dark, it made worse by the fact that we were in the middle of a dense jungle where sunlight could barely pierce through. The faint light we had been relying on soon disappeared entirely when the battery of our torch ran out. We were plunged into complete darkness, unable to see anything.

Frustrated, I turned to Ahmed and said, `Ahmed, we could have left earlier if you hadn`t insisted on eating more olives.

He snapped back, `Oh really? Then why did you even bother coming? You never wanted to come here in the first place. I had to beg you to come! And I can`t believe you gave me your father`s old watch on my birthday you`re so selfish! That was the last straw. Anger boiled over, and I erupted, `Then just return my father`s old watch and go! I don`t need you anymore! Ahmed glared at me, pulled the watch off his wrist,and handed it back before storming off into the darkness.

I stood there, holding the watch, my anger slowly replaced by the sinking feeling of regret as the jungle around me became eerily silent.

I was scared, but decided to find a secure refuge. It was too dark to see anything, but I somehow took shelter in a small cave-like area.

I longed to go back home and also search for Ahmed, but my legs trembled, frozen by the overwhelming fear of the jungle. So, I stayed inside, feeling helpless, gripped by fear and anxiety, with thousands of questions running through my mind. Guilt gnawed at me as I replayed our argument.

As the morning light broke through the darkness, I mustered the courage to leave the cave and search for Ahmed. I was too worried about him to wait any longer.

I walked around calling out to Ahmed. I finally caught sight of him sitting on a large stone.

I was relieved and quickly approached him and said, `I won`t mind if you join me. Let`s search for our way home together.

Ahmed looked up at me and replied, `0kay, but we better hurry. I don`t know how I`ll face my parents.

`Same here, brother,` I said with a small smile. We shook hands and just like that, we started looking for our way back home together.

On the way, I apologised to Ahmed, and he responded, `I`m sorry too, bro. I shouldn`t have spoken to you like that. Now, it would be perfect if you gave me back the watch!` he added with a laugh.

I smiled, handed him the watch, and, asif we had never had an argument, we were back to being the best of friends. Exhausted but relieved, we finally made our way out of the jungle and found our way back home. What our parents did to us, well, that is another story for some other time.