Four men were thriving in that hideous place.

The temple had a huge hall where devotees might have gathered for prayers, and there was a place at the far end of the hall where God's idol might have been placed. There were three entrances into the temple, one from the front and one each from the right and left sides. The place was in vestiges as it had not been in use for a long time. Amit and Pankaj decided to explore the temple, which was quite dark inside and tried to ensure that it was safe, lest a wild animal might have made the place its den in the absence of any human existence nearby. No animal was found, and we were reassured. 

I was feeling ravishing and told them to unpack the lunch boxes, I was exhausted by the long journey, and gobble down the sandwiches which we had packed for the trip, and we had energy drinks to keep us energise. The depressing weather coupled with the rains made us really nervous, but there was nothing that we could do until the next morning. We decided to take sleep, and decided the leave the place at the crack of dawn, we laid the mats, cushions and bed sheets, I looked at the time, and it was around 7.30. I closed my eyes, and there was nothing but wide darkness lofting, and it didn't knew when I slipped in to slumber.

It was close to 8 pm, I was waked up by a gentle push on my shoulder, and it was Pankaj as he got up silently, but by mistake his elbow nudged my shoulder, so I was awake, meanwhile the others were still sleeping. When I peeked outside, I found out that the rains had stopped and the whole area was dark. I sat up, the skies had become clear, and the stars were twinkling brighter, but something made me sceptical as there was no moon in the sky, and I understood that it was a new moon night. I felt very eerie indeed, in that strange place and I couldn't help wondering how this place may turn malevolence towards us. Pankaj told me that he wanted to go out to answer the call of nature. I volunteered to come along but he told me that he would be fine and would be back in a jiffy. I told him to be watchful, and don't venture too much in to darkness, he assured me and tiptoed out of the temple.

We were about to brace the fear of our lifetime.