Chapter 1- Winter begins

The morning light came through the thin curtains as Ram slowly woke up. His eyes opened, and he could hear the noises outside mixed with the quiet of the house. Suddenly, his mother’s voice broke the silence, “It’s 8 o’clock already!” she shouted. She sounded both worried and annoyed.

Ram blinked a few times and felt a heavy feeling in his chest. He knew he was late again. He pushed his blanket away and felt the cold air touch his skin, making him shiver as he sat up. His mother’s footsteps were loud as she moved around the house. It reminded him that time was running out.

“She must be thinking, ‘Ram is late again,’” he thought, feeling a little guilty. It was true—he was often slow in the morning, and everyone knew it. He wished he could be different, especially on cold mornings when staying in bed felt so nice.

Ram quickly put on his clothes, his cold fingers making it hard to button his shirt. He grabbed his schoolbag and walked to the front door, looking for his father. He looked out the window, hoping to see him outside, but the yard was empty.

Ram guessed his father must have gone to the farm very early. The morning air was cold, and he could smell the damp earth and smoke from nearby fires. He pulled his scarf tight around his neck, took one last look at the house, and stepped outside. The frost under his shoes made a soft crunch, marking the start of another day.

Ram picked up his bicycle and started riding to school. The school was outside the village, surrounded by tall trees and touched by the gentle morning sunshine. The road was quiet, with only the sounds of birds singing and the cool breeze rustling the leave

After a while, Ram stopped for a moment. He took a deep breath and looked around at the beauty of the place. The trees stood tall and proud, and the soft light made everything glow. He felt a sense of peace looking at nature’s work

Ram is happy seeing his both friends Pavan and avi waiting for him outside the school.gate infact they always wait for him doesn't matter the day

Their school time went by very fast, filled with laughing and joking in every period. It represented the carefree and innocent days of childhood. It is strange how, as we grow up and gain knowledge, the ability to be happy in the moment is lost.

Ram and his friends sat outside the school near a large banyan tree that afternoon. Everything around them was silent, and the warm sun cast long shadows on the ground. They opened their tiffin boxes and started eating lunch, sharing jokes and stories between bites. For them, there was no better feeling than these simple moments together.

Suddenly, Avi leaned in, his voice low and serious. “Hey guys, have you ever heard of Kali Pahadi?” he asked, his eyes wide with a hint of mystery. Ram and the others paused, the laughter fading from their faces.

“No,” they replied in unison, curiosity mixed with a slight chill that ran down their spines. The wind seemed to whisper through the banyan leaves, and the air grew colder as if the mention of Kali Pahadi had disturbed something unseen.

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