Please make sure to read Parts 1 to 5 before diving into Part 6 — only then this chapter will truly make sense.
An Educational Trip… or a Journey Within?
The college had organized a two-day educational trip to a serene hill town — known for its waterfalls, temples, forests, and ancient caves.
The name was — "Mukteshwar"
All the students were excited.
But for Arjun and Avya…?
This trip was about to become much more than sightseeing —
It was going to be a journey within.
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The Window Seat & the Silence
Mountains raced past the bus window.
Arjun and Avya sat together.
Everyone else was busy laughing, chatting, playing games —
But between them, there was silence.
The kind of silence that doesn’t need noise.
Avya’s fingers trembled slightly in the chilly wind.
Arjun noticed it… and quietly draped his shawl over her.
> “Thank you…”
Avya whispered gently.
Then, after a pause, she asked —
> “Arjun… have you ever looked at someone and felt like…
you just want to keep looking, without saying a word?”
Arjun looked into her eyes —
> “Yes.
It’s happening right now.”
They shared a silent smile —
But inside, their hearts were thundering.
---
Trapped in the Cave
That evening, the group went exploring an ancient cave.
Most were busy clicking pictures inside.
Arjun and Avya, however, lingered behind —
and unknowingly wandered into a narrow, dark passage.
It was damp, confined, and cold.
Suddenly, a large stone behind them shifted…
The path was sealed shut.
Now it was just Arjun, Avya — and darkness.
---
Avya began to panic.
Her breaths grew rapid and uneven.
> “Arjun… I’m scared of the dark…
It feels like the walls are closing in on me…”
Arjun held her hand, stepped closer, and whispered softly —
> “You’re not alone.
Look… I’m here.
We’re in this together, remember?”
He gently placed her palms on his cheeks, and said —
> “When fear becomes too much…
there’s no medicine better than the warmth of someone’s hand.”
Avya, trembling, asked in a soft voice —
> “Are you… mine, Arjun?”
> “I’ve been yours…
since the first time you looked at me in silence,
and said nothing — yet made me feel everything.”
---
Rescued… but Changed Forever
Minutes later, the teachers, with the help of a local guide, found and rescued them.
The sunlight outside was bright, but…
The closeness they had discovered in the darkness —
That was now even deeper.
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The Night, The Fire, and a Silent Confession
Later that night, students gathered around a bonfire.
Someone strummed a guitar, others sang songs…
The mood was light and joyful.
Arjun and Avya sat a little apart — just the two of them.
> “Can I tell you something?”
Arjun asked.
Avya looked at him.
That same silence again…
But now, it was her answer.
> “Your silence doesn’t scare me anymore.
Now… it soothes me.
Like the silence after a temple bell — peaceful and sacred.”
Avya leaned closer and whispered —
> “And your voice…
It feels like it’s putting broken pieces of me back together.”
She paused… and then softly added —
> “I’ve started speaking, Arjun.
But only when you are around…”
That night, the fire faded… the embers died…
But a feeling had quietly taken birth between them —
It wasn’t just companionship…
It was something like love.
Or maybe… even more than that.
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