As Ishika and Shreya’s conversation lingered in the air, the sound of running water ceased. A moment later, Khushi stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around her as she rubbed her hair with a towel.
“Shreya, you go take a shower too,” Khushi said, glancing at her.
“Yeah, okay,” Shreya replied, springing up from the bed and slipping into the bathroom. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Khushi turned her attention to Ishika, tilting her head curiously. “What happened to you?”
Ishika blinked, startled. “Huh? Me?”
“Yeah,” Khushi said, studying her face intently. “Your face is looking red. Do you have a fever?”
“N… no, it’s nothing,” Ishika stammered, trying to avert her gaze.
“But your face…” Khushi began, her tone dripping with suspicion.
“Stop looking at me!” Ishika grabbed a pillow and flung it at her friend in a swift, defensive move.
“Wha—what are you doing?!” Khushi exclaimed, half-laughing, as the pillow hit her shoulder.
“It’s nothing,” Ishika muttered, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
“You…” Khushi narrowed her eyes, but before she could finish, she grabbed the pillow and hurled it back.
And that was the spark. In moments, the quiet room erupted into a flurry of laughter and soft thuds as the two of them launched into a playful pillow fight. Feathers puffed slightly from the worn edges, their giggles echoing against the walls. Eventually, both collapsed side by side on the bed, breathless and smiling. Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the world was still—then they broke into uncontrollable laughter again, the kind that left their cheeks aching and their worries forgotten.
After their baths, Aarav and Vivan wandered leisurely through the quiet resort grounds. The air was fresh with the scent of flowers, and the soft glow of the setting sun painted the surroundings in shades of gold and pink.
“This place is really beautiful,” Vivan remarked, his gaze sweeping over the gardens and distant hills.
“Yeah, right,” Aarav agreed, his voice calm but his mind elsewhere.
Vivan glanced at him with a sly smile. “So? Have you thought about how you’re going to propose to Ishika?”
Aarav stopped mid-step. “Propose? I’m just… telling her how I feel.”
“Huh? Isn’t that the same thing?” Vivan asked, his brows lifting in mock innocence.
Aarav gave a small sigh. “Well… I guess it is.”
He had to admit—Vivan wasn’t wrong. Whether it was called a confession or a proposal, the meaning was the same. Still, Aarav shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Shouldn’t you plan something?” Vivan suggested, a hint of excitement in his tone.
“No,” Aarav said firmly. “I want to tell her exactly how I feel. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Ohh…” Vivan dragged out the sound teasingly, his grin widening.
“What?” Aarav narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing,” Vivan replied, but laughter was already bubbling in his chest.
“What’s so funny?” Aarav asked, trying to sound annoyed but failing to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Nothing really… It’s just the first time I’m seeing you like this. You really like her, huh?” Vivan said, his tone softening slightly.
Aarav didn’t answer right away, but inside, he knew Vivan was right. He had never imagined he could feel this strongly about someone.
“Stop laughing now,” he muttered.
“Yeah, okay,” Vivan said, still struggling to smother his grin.
Later that day.....
The afternoon sun bathed the hotel in a warm golden glow as Aarav, Ishika, Vivan, Khushi, and Shreya made their way toward the open garden behind the cottages. Laughter seemed to trail behind them like a stubborn shadow.
“Okay, Aarav, if you lose this time, you’re buying all of us ice cream,” Shreya declared, clutching the volleyball with a mischievous grin.
“Deal. But when I win, I’m making you carry my bag the whole day,” Aarav shot back.
Vivan smirked. “Big words for someone who tripped over his own shoelace ten minutes ago.”
“That was a strategic fall,” Aarav argued, earning a round of laughter from Ishika and Khushi.
They started a casual game, with Shreya’s playful competitiveness making everyone run around more than necessary. Ishika kept pretending to miss easy passes just to watch Aarav’s frustrated expressions, while Vivan occasionally teased her with exaggerated cheers for the other team.
Rohan, who had joined them earlier from another group, stood a little away at first, simply watching. But whenever Khushi’s turn came, his attention sharpened. She was radiant when she laughed — tucking her hair behind her ear, the sunlight catching in her eyes. He smiled faintly, unnoticed, whenever she flashed her dimpled grin after a good serve.
At one point, Khushi stumbled trying to reach a tricky ball, and Rohan instinctively stepped forward. “Careful,” he said, steadying her by the arm. She gave him a quick “Thanks, Rohan!” before dashing back into the game, but the way she said his name lingered in his ears longer than it should have.
By the time they finally flopped onto the grass, the air was filled with breathless laughter. Ishika leaned back on her elbows, still catching her breath. “This trip is already worth it,” she said.
“And we’ve just started,” Aarav added with a grin.
No one noticed the way Rohan’s gaze drifted to Khushi again, as if silently agreeing — yes, it was worth it.
Just as Aarav was about to challenge Vivan to a “one-on-one rematch” that no one asked for, a familiar voice cut through their chatter.
“Everyone, gather up! We’re heading for the sightseeing tour now!” their teacher called from near the cottages.
Shreya groaned dramatically. “But I was about to win.”
“You were about to lose,” Aarav corrected, standing up and dusting grass off his clothes.
Khushi rolled her eyes with a smile. “Come on, before ma’am starts her ‘punctuality is important’ speech again.”
The five of them walked toward the bus, still teasing and laughing along the way. Aarav kept trying to convince Ishika that his “strategic fall” during volleyball was part of a genius plan, while Vivan kept interrupting with exaggerated imitations of Aarav’s stumble, making everyone laugh harder.
The bus was already buzzing with chatter when they climbed aboard. They took seats together near the back, the kind of spot where laughter feels louder and the view from the window a little freer.
The sightseeing route wound through hills and valleys painted in shades of green. The teacher occasionally pointed out historical sites, but most of the group’s attention was on their own running commentary.
“Look, that rock looks like a giant sleeping buffalo,” Shreya said, pressing her face to the glass.
“That’s just your imagination,” Aarav chuckled.
“No, she’s right,” Khushi said, leaning over to see. “It even has ears… sort of.”
Ishika laughed. “If we start naming rocks, this trip will take forever.”
The bus slowed as they approached the first stop — a centuries-old temple perched on a hilltop. From there, the valley stretched endlessly, dotted with small houses and winding streams. The cool breeze carried a faint scent of wildflowers.
Aarav pulled out his phone for pictures, but ended up taking more candid shots of his friends than the scenery. “Natural expressions are the best,” he said when Ishika complained about not being ready for the photo.
They wandered through the temple grounds, ringing the big bronze bell, tossing coins into the wishing fountain, and taking turns posing under the carved stone archway.
By the time they climbed back onto the bus for the next stop, the air inside was filled with the kind of warmth that only comes from shared moments — the kind that quietly turn into memories.
That trip had been one of the best experiences they had ever shared. From early morning walks to late-night jokes, every moment had been stitched with laughter, teasing, and small adventures that would live in their memories far longer than they realised. But, as with all good things, it passed quicker than anyone wanted.
By the time the morning sun rose on their final day, a quiet melancholy had already settled in the air.
“I can’t believe we’re going back tomorrow,” Shreya sighed, dragging her feet a little as they walked back from breakfast.
“Yeah… we really enjoyed a lot here,” Khushi said, her eyes glancing toward the hills as if she could imprint the view in her mind.
“I don’t want to go back,” Shreya added, puffing her cheeks and making an exaggeratedly sad face that made Aarav chuckle.
“Come on, you two,” Ishika said with a small smile. “Stop it already, we still have today.”
Just then, the sharp but familiar voice of their teacher rang out from the front yard. “Everyone, listen!”
The students shuffled closer, conversations quieting as the teacher’s calm yet authoritative tone took over.
“As it is our last day of the trip,” she announced, “we will have a bonfire tonight. Until then, you can stroll around the market downtown, but don’t go too far.”
A murmur of excitement swept through the group.
“Yay! I love bonfires!” someone shouted from the crowd, making a few others laugh.
“It’s a really good idea,” Shreya said, her earlier gloom already fading.
“Yeah,” Aarav agreed, flashing his usual easy grin.
Vivan leaned back against the fence, smirking. “Last bonfire I went to ended with half the group singing terribly off-key. Can’t wait to see who takes the crown this time.”
That sent Khushi and Shreya into an enthusiastic discussion about games and songs they could do around the fire. Aarav jumped in to suggest roasted marshmallows, which earned him a confused look from Khushi — marshmallows weren’t exactly common here — and soon they were laughing again.
Ishika stayed quiet, listening to them, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She had never been to a bonfire before. She didn’t know the customs, the atmosphere, or what exactly made it so special. And though she tried to smile and nod along, a tiny part of her felt like an outsider looking in.
Shreya’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Ishika?”
“Ye… yes?” She straightened slightly, realising she had been staring at the ground.
“What happened?” Shreya asked, her brows knitting in mild concern.
“Actually… I’ve never experienced a bonfire before, so…” Ishika admitted, her voice trailing off.
“That’s it?” Shreya’s face softened into a wide, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry — it will be your first and best bonfire ever. We’ll make sure of it.”
Ishika blinked, a little surprised at the warmth in her tone. Vivan grinned from the side. “Yeah, we’ll set the bar so high you’ll expect every bonfire in your life to be just as good.”
Aarav chimed in, “And if it’s not, we’ll redo it for you. Deal?”
Khushi gave her an approving nod. “It’s going to be perfect. Trust me.”
For a moment, Ishika just looked at them — their smiles so genuine, their eyes lit with an easy sincerity. A faint warmth spread in her chest, chasing away the faint sense of being left out. That was the first time she truly realised how good it felt to have people who cared for her — not out of obligation, but simply because they wanted to.
