Chapter 1: The Himalayas
One bright morning, I was waiting for my cousins to arrive, as we were planning for something special and secret. “Luna!” my mother called, “your cousins have arrived.” I went downstairs with excitement. We were five cousins—Luna, Ash, Jack, Rose, and Mariam. Rose was the wittiest among us.
“Listen to me, guys,” I said, “it is believed that in the great Himalayas, there is immense treasure. We should go there, guys, but that adventure would be tough.”
Suddenly Mariam said, “Luna, why are you so boring? Listen, we should go there and get that treasure. We will have a lot of fame and money.”
Ash rejected Mariam and said, “Are you people mad? Our family will not allow us there, and I have also heard that in the Himalayas, whoever goes to find that treasure has never come again. I have also studied that a dangerous witch lives there.”
Well, all were in trouble except Mariam, as she was very motivated to go there. I asked Ash, “Whatever you have studied about the Himalayas, just tell us, and also bring the book.”
Which book?” ash asked me
The book your granny has, and be sure she shouldn’t even get the news.”
The next day, we all sat on the sofa and opened the book. After one hour, we came to know that it is very difficult to reach there. A witch known as Mefeen lives there. Before we go to the Himalayas, we have to pass through the dark forest, and before the forest, a village known as Rawo is there. The villagers too talked about the witch Mefeen. That forest is called Marina.
After a long discussion, we decided to go, and we also decided that we will tell our family that we are going to a trip. The next day, we went to our car and started our journey. We sat in the car, and I was filled with fear. It was the first time I was going on such a dangerous adventure. Other than me, Mariam, Ash, Jack, and Rose slept. Obviously, Mariam was excited, but I was not.
The next morning, when I opened my eyes, we saw darkness everywhere. We went out of the car and asked the driver where we were right now. The driver said, “We are in the town of Rishikesh. The Himalayas are quite far away from us, and we have to travel alone.” But at the very same time, we were closer to the village of Rawo. The driver told us to stay one day in Rishikesh. Then the next day, we would travel to Rawo. But the driver refused to come with us after Rawo. He got the news; he too knew that a witch known as Mefeen lives there.
We enjoyed the beauty of Rishikesh. From Goa, where we live, Rishikesh was too different. We all decided that we would stay one day in Rishikesh and then continue our journey towards the Himalayas.
After one hour, Ash took my bag, and suddenly a beautiful covered book came out of it. When I opened it, I saw that it was my own book, which I had kept in my bag so that we could take it as a guide towards the Himalayas. But now I didn’t want to show it to anyone, as everyone in my group was greedy, because they were all thinking of their own needs and demands.
