TEMPORAL TEMPTATION

The Booth

As we made our way to the edge of the forest, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. It felt oddly familiar, even though I knew I had never been here before.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine, causing me to stop in my tracks. Rajveer turned to me with concern. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, trying to shake off the sensation. "Yeah, just got a sudden chill."

"Why though?" he asked, his brow furrowing in worry.

"I don't know, but this place feels oddly familiar," I responded.

His eyes lit up. "That means we're on the right path. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find the booth here and be able to go home."

I nodded softly, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. We continued forward, the sound of birds chirping from the tall trees and glimpses of squirrels and rabbits adding to the natural charm of the forest. I couldn't help but laugh excitedly as I watched them, because let's be honest, who doesn't love animals?

We wandered around for what seemed like hours, growing increasingly tired with each step and still no sign of the booth. "So," Rajveer asked, breaking the silence, "where exactly did you find this booth?"

"It must be somewhere around here, but I can't pinpoint the exact spot. I didn't have a compass with me, dude," I replied, walking alongside him.

He stopped abruptly. "Alright, the sun has completely set now and it's getting dark. We should find somewhere to stay for the night until we can continue searching tomorrow."

I was about to argue when he continued, "No arguments from your side. It's dangerous out here; this forest is home to more than just rabbits and squirrels. There are hyenas and foxes around, and you wouldn't want to encounter them."

I sighed in agreement, realizing the sense in his words. We headed towards a large tree, where Rajveer unpacked his backpack and laid out a big blanket on the ground.

Rajveer sat down and gestured for me to join him, so I settled against the sturdy trunk of the tree. He looked at me with a determined expression. "Now, we need to start a fire."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What for?"

"To keep wild animals away," he explained, gathering sticks and dried leaves into a small pile. He rummaged through his backpack and retrieved a box of matchsticks.

"Whoa, you guys use matchsticks?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

"You don't?" he responded, equally surprised.

I shook my head. "No, back in my time, we have lighters and other gadgets. Matchsticks are kind of old-fashioned."

He chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Anything to avoid physical labor, huh? You folks from the future are like delicate dolls, I must say."

As he struck a match and carefully lit the kindling, the flames began to dance and cast a warm glow around us. The crackling sound of the fire was comforting, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for Rajveer's wilderness skills in this unfamiliar environment.

As I gazed into the crackling flames, memories of campfires with my mom flooded back. Rajveer noticed my distant expression and asked, "What's on your mind?"

Snapping out of my reverie, I replied, "Oh, just reminiscing about the campfires I used to have with my mom when I was a kid."

He nodded in understanding. "Sounds like it was fun."

"It was," I affirmed, a hint of nostalgia in my voice.

His gaze turned somber as he looked into the fire. "I never had much time with my parents. They were always busy, and by the time I grew up, they weren't around anymore."