The Hidden World

My legs are on fire. Every step I take feels like walking on nails, my muscles screaming in protest. My lungs burn, my breath comes in short, painful bursts, and sweat drips down my forehead, stinging my eyes. I force myself to keep moving, but at this point, even sheer stubbornness is starting to fail me.

And we’re still not at the top.

I take a moment to glance to my side. Ananya looks just as miserable—if not worse. Her perfectly styled hair is a mess, strands sticking to her flushed face, and her once-pristine clothes are covered in dust. She’s gasping, her entire body trembling with exhaustion.

I’ll admit, I’m a little impressed she’s still going.

I thought she’d quit within an hour. I thought she’d throw a tantrum and demand someone carry her. But she hasn’t. She’s still dragging herself forward step by step, her jaw clenched so tightly I can hear her teeth grinding.

Not that I’d ever say it out loud. No way am I feeding her ego. Maybe this suffering will knock her down a peg.

The only one completely unfazed is OM.

That damn old man is practically skipping up the trail. His movements are quick, precise, effortless. His breathing is normal, his expression completely relaxed. If anything, he looks like he’s enjoying this.

He’s moving so fast that I swear he’s showing off.

"How… how are you… not tired?" I manage to pant out.

He glances back at me, grinning. "Strong legs. Maybe you should do more squats."

I shoot him a glare, but I don’t have the energy to snap back.

Ananya, however, does. "Are you human?" she demands, staggering forward. "No, seriously. Are you some kind of ancient mountain goat disguised as a man?"

The geezer chuckles. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn’t one," she snaps, her hands on her knees. "You’re a freak."

I roll my eyes. "For once, I agree with you."

OM just laughs, as if we’re not dying behind him. No more 'Mr' for him. I can't keep saying it again. I am tired of him and him and HIM.

But I really can't afford to hold a word war with him while we still have more climbing to do.

After what feels like forever, OM finally, finally lets us take a break.

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I drop onto a flat rock, rolling my aching shoulders. My legs are trembling, my arms feel heavy, and my entire body feels like it’s been put through a grinder. Ananya slumps down beside me, her legs sprawled out, eyes shut like she’s about to pass out.

OM, of course, isn’t even winded.

He pulls out a water bottle and tosses it at me. I barely catch it.

"Drink," he says casually. "Unless you want to pass out halfway through."

I mutter something about old men and their annoying stamina but take a long gulp anyway. The water is blissfully cold against my parched throat.

Ananya doesn’t say anything—just takes her bottle and drinks in silence.

For once, she’s too exhausted to complain.

The wind is cooler up here. It carries the scent of damp earth, pine, and something sharper—like fresh rain on stone. The air is thinner, making every breath feel lighter, yet somehow heavier at the same time. There’s a strange stillness to the mountain, like the world is holding its breath.

Somewhere in the distance, a bird cries out. Its voice echoes, fading into silence.

I don’t know why, but it makes me uneasy.

It’s too quiet.

As if this place has been untouched for centuries.

I glance at OM, but his expression is unreadable. He’s staring ahead, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. Like he’s waiting. Or maybe listening.

We start again with our work.

The terrain gets rougher. The path narrows, twisting between jagged cliffs and loose rocks. The sun glares down, casting long shadows that make the mountain feel even taller than it already is. The air grows thinner, drier, making it harder to breathe.

Every step feels heavier.

I glance at Ananya. She’s struggling.

Her face is pale, her breath ragged. Her fingers are trembling slightly, whether from exhaustion or the altitude, I don’t know. She stumbles on a loose rock, catching herself at the last second.

OM suddenly stops ahead of us.

In front of us, the mountain splits open into a narrow crevice, barely wide enough for a person to slip through. It looks wrong, like the stone was deliberately carved rather than shaped by nature.

A chill runs down my spine.

OM steps forward without hesitation. He doesn’t even glance back.

Ananya hesitates. "You sure this is safe?"

"Safe?" OM chuckles. "Ofcourse it is. Do you think I would take you girl somewhere that's not safe? You really think too bad of me."

Like you aren't a danger yourself!

She scowls, but before she can argue, I push forward. "Whatever. Let’s just get this over with."

The passage is relatively easy to pass through. It's not as I expected. There is enough room for both of us girls to pass through it walking side by side. Even a giant like OM is not having any trouble moving through it. The air smells of moss and old stone. Our footsteps echo inside the tunnel.

Then—

Light.

The passage opens up, and I step out onto the other side— And stop breathing.

It’s unreal.

The valley stretches before us, golden sunlight filtering through towering cliffs. The air is warm, thick with the scent of wildflowers, damp earth, and something… ancient.

A river runs through the center, its water so clear I can see the smooth stones at the bottom. It winds lazily through the valley, feeding into a still lake that reflects the sky like a mirror.

On the far side, waterfalls cascade down moss-covered cliffs, their silver streams catching the light like strands of silk. Mist rises from where the water crashes into rocks, creating tiny rainbows that shimmer and disappear.

The wind moves gently, carrying the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional distant call of birds. Everything here feels untouched. Sacred.

Like the world itself forgot this place existed.

I glance at Ananya.

She’s silent.

Her wide eyes take in the sight before her, lips slightly parted. No sarcasm. No biting remarks.

For once, she’s speechless.

Seems like she has finally seen something out of ordinary, better than her 5 star hotels.

I shake off my thoughts ,forcing my attention back to OM. He stands at the edge of the path, hands on his hips, staring at the valley like it’s an old friend.

"Well," he says finally. "

"Welcome to the beginning of your real journey."

I frown. "This wasn’t real enough for you?"

He just grins. "Oh, you’ll see."

"And try not offend the person you are about to meet." He says in a serious tone this time, it feels like a warning "He is not as easygoing as I am."

Who is this "Not easygoing" person now? And what the hell is he doing at this place?

Let's see what's waiting ahead for us.