AHANA’s POV:
When I woke up, all the things that happened yesterday came running to my mind and that made me giggle and I wrapped the duvet more while remembering those cozy moments.

Flashback Start.
As we strolled through the park on that balmy chilly evening, my heart raced with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
My fingers grazed lightly against his as we walked, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down my spine. I stole a glance at him, his eyes filled with kindness and understanding. He seemed so confident, so sure of himself, while I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a precipice. The thought of holding his hand had crossed my mind a thousand times, but my
shyness had always held me back. I wondered if he could sense my hesitation, my uncertainty about taking that step. And then, as if he could read my thoughts, he gently reached out his hand, his fingers extended toward mine.

My heart leapt into my throat as I watched his hand draw nearer. My cheeks flushed with a warm blush as I felt his fingers make contact with mine. His touch was reassuring, and I could tell that he understood my shyness. He gave my hand a soft, encouraging squeeze as if to say, "It's okay."

At that moment, my shyness began to melt away, replaced by a sense of comfort and trust. I interlocked my fingers with his, feeling the warmth of his hand enveloping mine. It was a small, simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. It said that he cared, that he wanted to bridge the gap between us, and that he was willing to take the first.
step.

With our hands entwined, we continued our walk through the park, and suddenly, my shyness didn't matter as much. It was as though we were walking together into a world of possibilities, and I couldn't help but smile, grateful for his understanding and his willingness to initiate that beautiful moment of connection.
Flashback ended.
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I got ready and went to the parking lot where everyone was waiting. Rudransh told us [Me, Ayaan and Yashika] to get ready and meet him here as he wants us to go somewhere. I wore my cargo pants with a tank top and layered it with a jumper.

I was slowly walking towards the parking while soaking all the beauty in when I heard Ayaan yelling my name.
“Jaldi aa didi, itne thumke maar ke kyu aa rhi ha!” he yelled from a distance.
I ran towards an annoyed Ayaan who was staring at me like he’d eat me alive.
“Kya hogya! Abhi tak koi nahi aya! Yash bi nahi aai!” I said to him while catching my breath.

He pointed his arm in the left direction. My eyes followed his arm’s direction and I saw Rudransh and Yashika already sitting in the car.

“Maharani, chalein abh!” Ayaan said sarcastically.
“Hn! Kiska wait for kar rha hai!” I said and started walking ahead of him.
“Didi! Tu tyaar hone meh itna late hui par lag toh tu kuch khaas nahi rhi.”
“Tere se influence hogyi na mein tbhi!” I said while pouting and he pushed me.
I pushed him back even harder but vo hilla he nahi apni jaga she and we both laughed. I know he loves me too much and his love language is teasing me. I am fine with it because mine is to hit him.

“I’m sorry we are late!” I said while sitting in the passenger seat next to
Rudransh.
“No issues di!” Yash responded and I turned towards Rudransh only to find him already looking at me. I swear my cheeks were red  I could feel the heat.
“Chalein!” He spoke out.
“Hnji!” I responded.

It was an hour and a half drive from our hotel. We reached our destination. We all jumped out of the car. Yashika stood with me and we scrutinized our
surroundings. We were standing in a parking lot which was covered by
mountains from three sides.

“Bhai, yeh don’t tell me yeh jungle surprise!” Yash sarcastically taunted him.
“Hn! Yeh toh jungle hai!” I added.
“Rudra Bhai I didn’t expect this from you!” Ayaan too added.
We three looked at him with a similar expression!
“WHAT?” He exclaimed.
“We are just in the fucking parking lot! For surprise, we need to ascend down!”
“Oooooooooooh!” We three did it all together and laughed out loud.

Ayaan and Yashika are ahead of us. The view was fascinating from where we were going down.

“What is the surprise?” I asked and tilted my head towards him.
“You will know when you'll get there!” He replied with a delicate smile. He was looking utterly handsome with messy light brown hair and caramel eyes.

It was about a 15-minute walk till we reached the spot.

The moment we reached I was captivated by the beauty of what I saw. Beas River flows with its high current waves, the noise of water, birds chirping and surrounded by trees. It was a place where rafting and other water activities took place. And I of all am the most adventurous person.

“Omg! Woow! This is beautiful!” Yashika and I squealed in delight while Ayaan was too happy to see rafting like me.
“This is amazing!” I said while looking at him and his face was all lightened with a bright smile.

Yash and Yaan ran and hugged him, almost squeezing him.
“Bs! Karo! Abi someone was saying, I didn’t expect this from you!”

He taunted them teasingly.
They both smiled and said thank you and ran ahead of us.

I stood at the place for a moment to absorb all the beauty as the mountains were my peace. My maternal grandparents also lived in Himachal. So, I guess they made me fall for them even more.

“Princess, You like it!” I heard him and looked at him as he stood right next to
me.
“I love it,” I said while looking at the view and I could feel his gaze on me.
“And you should swear in front of them!” I said while eyeing him and he
chuckled.

“Ok! I won’t! Anything else!” He said while chuckling and I nodded.
“Yes” He nodded

“I know every place of river rafting exists here in Manali but I haven’t heard about this one ever! It seems like a hidden spot because there aren’t many people. How did you know about this?” I asked him while we were walking down to the starting point and I was damn curious.

“I have my ways!” He replied and grinned. He took pace and I yelled his name and there was laughter in the air.
We reached the starting point and He made us jump the queue which was
hell long. He made a call and now we were treated as a VIP.

“Enjoy you guys and take care will meet at the end!” Rudransh said.
“Why you won’t be doing this?” I replied.
“Di! In bhai’s language, it is not his cup of f*** tea!” Yashika mimicked him and laughed.
“No, it’s not that! I don’t want to!” He replied while glaring at Yashika.
“Please come na! Baht mazza aayega!” I emitted.
“No! I’m fine here!”
“You will do it!”
“Ummhmm Not happening!”
“Please Rudransh!”
“Nahi princess!”
“I will pakka hold your hand full time! Trust me!” The moment I said this his
eyes started glowing.

He stepped closer to me while Yash and Yaan were wearing life jackets.
“Pakka?”
“Trust me Rudransh!”
“Okayy! Let’s do it then!”
“He is also gonna do it!” I announced and we all hooted.

The moment I sat on the raft I held his hand tight.
The rafting was incredible. We all screamed, making our way into the water. To my surprise, he knew how to do it. Like was perfectly matching with the boat guards as if he had done it several times.

“You had fun?” He asked while offering me a hand to step out.
“Of course! My favourite!” I responded with a big smile.
After that, we did Zipline and other water activities. We all had so much fun just because of him.

The sun was about to set when we all sat in the car to go back to the hotel.
“Bhai! Today was fun! Thank you!” Yaan and Yash said to him and nodded with a smile.

“Chalein?” He asked.
“Hnji” I responded.
We came back hotel singing all our way. But one thing I observed was that He didn’t sing. But he was singing when we were together and not now. I looked at him several times but he was not. I made a mental note about it without even thinking.

We reached the hotel and went to our rooms. There was time for dinner so, Yashika and I took a nap.

After nap when we were getting ready for dinner, I noticed my favourite hair tie was not in my hair. I tied it loose so, I thought I might have lost it while rafting.

And I was so captivated by the beauty that I didn’t even notice that my hair
was open!

After Sometime
We all kids sat at one table for dinner including those bitches. But he was nowhere to be found. Ayaan entered the dining area with eyes glued on his phone. He came and sat beside Yashika. I thought he would be coming with Ayaan but Yaan came alone.

"Bhai nahi aaye?" Yashika inquired from Ayaan and I was happy enough that she asked him.

"He said he'll be joining baad meh cuz he is busy at the moment!" He responded and she nodded.
Disappointment filled me from inside.
"Aaj we went for rafting!" Yash announced in excitement.

I move my eyes around the table I get to see only shocked faces. As if what they heard was a betrayal to them.
"I and Ashutosh too went for some water sports!" Rikshit Bhai said in excitement too.

"How was it bhai?" Ayaan uttered.
"It was fun and amazing! How was yours?" He said with genuine interest.
And then the conversation between Yaan, Yash, Ashutosh and Rikshit went long.

"Why didn't anyone take us with them?" Tania exclaimed and was upset as it was pretty evident from her face.

"Because you busy bitching behind my fucking back! And no one wants toxicity around them. I guess tabhi!" I responded to them while staring dead right in their eyes because no one is allowed to treat some other person as shit.

Their eyes were widened with shock flushed on their fucking faces.

'Bitches!'

We all were done eating! Then Yaan and Yash told me to come with them to the patio which the dining area had.

The moment I stepped out, a cold breeze touched my face sending chills down my down. It was cold and I was warm enough cuz I had worn layers!

"Arre Yahn toh kuch zada he thand hai!" Yash said while chattering her teeth.
"Wait lemme give you..." I was interrupted by Ayaan.

"I'll give Kyuki I have extra and I am warm enough!" He said with a serious.
And I was in full shock to see him like that. Being Responsible. I do feel they have something between them but I just let that thought slip.

"Chalo Di! Let me click a picture of yours!"Yash said after wearing Ayaan's jumper.

"Come! Lemme click yours first!" I took her phone from her hand and made her go forward.

After I clicked Yash's pictures. She insisted I get clicks of myself too.
Although I was least interested. At that moment I just missed his presence around me. I didn't know why he didn't come.

Yash positioned me right in front of the door and instructed me how to pose.
I suck at posing like I am clueless when I stand to click pictures.
There was some space between the door and me so that it could open easily. I heard it opening but didn't bother to look who came.

"Can I too join you in the frame?" On hearing the familiar sexy voice I turned immediately towards the direction from which the voice came.
It was him.
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