“Every instinct of mine tells me this is not the way we should be going,” said Haris, observing the ghastly surroundings.

“On the contrary,” said Danial, “all my instincts tell me this is exactly the way we should be going. I have been here several times. And besides, who can know the way to my house better than me?”

“I want to go home,” said Talha softly. He was missing the comfort of his bed and was on the verge of breaking into tears.

“Now honestly, Talha,” said Danial. “Stop being a cry baby.” At this, Haris opened his mouth to side with Talha because he was feeling no better than him.

“No, Haris, not a word will I hear anymore. Just be quiet and follow me,” Danial said angrily.

The two boys zipped their mouths, although it was evident from their faces that they did not trust their boss in the least, but it was no use arguing with him; Danial would always have his own way.

The three boys were on their way to Danial’s house after playing cricket till midnight in a secluded ground with several other boys, all of whom were probably snoring in their beds by now. However, Haris and Talha did not have the courage to go home alone at this late hour of the night, so their friend (and self-proclaimed boss) Danial had volunteered to let them spend the night at his house and leave in the morning. This being settled, they were now in search of his house.

It was a scary time to be out alone and their only companion (besides each other) was the darkness and silence. Every looming shadow sent chills down their spines. Whenever, Haris and Talha opened their mouth to protest or ask “How much longer?” the muscular Danial would ask them to shut up and “act like brave boys”.

All colour drained from Talha’s face as horrible thoughts flashed in his mind — a kidnapper throwing a sack over them and carrying them to a car, the kidnapper shutting them up in a small, dark cellar, the kidnapper demanding ransom from their families and the three of them rotting away in a small place, starving to death.

At length, during which they walked a great distance counting the number of houses they passed, taking many turns right and left, and Talha twice screaming because he thought he saw a ghost (which only turned out to be a stray cat), they stopped and, on Danial’s instructions, sat on a footpath to rest.

“Now what?” asked Haris. His legs were aching terribly. As for poor Talha, he didn’t even have the strength to utter a few words.

“Just sit quietly,” ordered Danial. When several minutes of dreadful silence had passed, Danial spoke, “Boys, I want to tell you something.” Two bewildered faces stared back at him. “I am pretty sure we have come the wrong way. We are lost. The only way left now is to call our parents here. Haris, ring your father. Don’t look at me like that. Hurry up.”

The indignant Haris began to dial a number on his phone. “Blow! My phone battery has died down.”

“Idiot!” said the boss. “Why do you keep that phone with you when you don’t even charge it? Stupid, useless thing!” He turned to Talha. “Now what are you waiting for? Take out your phone and ring your father.”

“I don’t have a phone, you know that,” he said with his eyes fixed on the ground. “I use my mum’s phone all the time. And she doesn’t let me take it anywhere.”

“What!” exclaimed Danial. “Let’s get up and try to find the way ourselves. I’m starving and if I don’t get to my home soon, I’ll eat one of you.” The two boys cringed.

So once again, the trio set off, their big shadows chasing them. Only the pale yellow light of the lampposts stained the black roads and the boys were grateful for this little light. Some minutes passed in silence during which each of them was absorbed in his own thoughts. Then Haris became aware of being. Glancing sideways, he could make out a thin, tall figure. His heart leapt to his mouth.

“Boys,” he whispered anxiously. “I think someone is following us.”

“What nonsense,” said Danial but he turned around to check. Sure enough, behind them was a tall man in dark clothes with a hood drawn over his head that hid his face. He was walking briskly towards them.

“Let’s change our track and check if he’s really following us!” suggested Danial. They turned round a corner, all the while glancing above their shoulders. But the mysterious man was still following them. Once again, they turned another corner only to find the stranger still tracing their steps. For the first time, fear and suspicion crept inside Danial.

“Run! Run! Run!” he yelled and they began to run, first slowly then frantically. All colour drained from Talha’s face as horrible thoughts flashed in his mind — a kidnapper throwing a sack over them and carrying them to a car, the kidnapper shutting them up in a small, dark cellar, the kidnapper demanding ransom from their families and the three of them rotting away in a small place, starving to death. Slowly, his legs seemed to weaken and his steps slowed down. The world around him became blurred and suddenly he fell on the ground.

Haris and Danial, who had been running like wild animals, now stopped. “Talha! Talha! Get up!” they screamed shaking him frantically. Meanwhile, the stranger was getting closer to them ... closer and closer ....

Suddenly his tall, dark figure was towering over them. ‘This is the end,’ thought the boys. The stranger pulled back his hood revealing a long, thin and pale face.

The boys did not doubt that it was a friendly face.

“What a chase it has been!” he said panting. “Does this belong to you?” he said producing a brown, leather wallet. “I found it near the footpath and thought it could only be yours since there was no one else around.”

The boys stared at each other and then at the man. Their expressions were those of utter disbelief, confusion and most of all relief. Then Danial burst into laughter. Talha followed.

Now it was the stranger’s turn to look confused. “Excuse me?” he said.

When their fit of laughter had ended, they thanked him and briefly explained the entire story — how they got lost, how they assumed him to be a threat, etc. With a generous smile, the stranger offered to lead them to where they wanted to go. Talha had by now, recovered his senses and they followed the man. Finally, they reached Danial’s house and the stranger departed.

As for the wallet the stranger had brought to them, it belonged to Talha. He had dropped it while frantically taking out his phone from his pocket and it contained nothing of value save a few coins. They thought they had given the stranger too much trouble for nothing.

“But just think about the little adventure we had!” said Danial when they safely back inside his house.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 11th, 2017