( I'm really sorry because it's a short chapter but my life got so busy all of sudden but I couldn't use it as an excuse for not updating so yeahhh here's an update in between my busy schedule so ENJOYYYYY!!)

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As the car came to a shuddering stop, a collective groan echoed inside.

"You've got to be kidding me," Vidyut threw his head back. "I knew this trip was cursed!"

Aarohi, pinching the bridge of her nose, sighed. "Guys, forget the car, we have to get home today. We have a test tomorrow!"

For a moment, there was silence. And then—

"What test?" Samiksha blinked, looking genuinely confused.

Aarohi turned to her in slow motion. "Samiksha… the test we've known about for weeks? The one I reminded you about yesterday?"

Vaani gasped, placing a hand on her chest dramatically. "Oh no. Not this again."

Samiksha, still unfazed, shrugged. "Hmm. Okay, no problem. I'll do something."

Abeer snorted. "Yeah, sure. Like what, manifest the answers?"

Samiksha smirked. "Why not? The universe listens to me."

Vidyut clapped his hands together. "Great, Samiksha will manifest us a way home too."

"SAMIKSHA maata ki jaiii!"

Ekansh, meanwhile, had been furiously trying to start the car again. After several failed attempts, he sighed and pulled out his phone. "I'll call a mechanic."

A few minutes later, he turned to the group with a deadpan expression. "He said it'll take at least four hours for him to get here."

Four. Hours.

A heavy silence settled among them before—

"You have to be joking," Aarohi groaned. "What are we supposed to do for four hours?"

Vaani slumped against the seat. "Guess we live here now. I'll start collecting sticks for a fire."

Ekansh rolled his eyes. "It’s not that bad. We just have to pass the time."

Vidyut leaned forward, smirking. "We could play truth or dare."

Abeer raised an eyebrow. "Why is that always your solution?"

"Because it works!"

Samiksha, meanwhile, had already made up her mind. "You all can stay here if you want, but I'm getting out. I'm not about to be stuck in a car for four hours." She pushed open the door and stepped out, stretching her arms.

Seeing her leave, the rest of them exhanged glances before reluctantly following suit.

One by one, they climbed out, groaning about the heat, the situation, and their now-ruined evening.

And just like that, the next four hours had officially begun.

Abeer wandered a little away from the group, his eyes scanning the area until he spotted the perfect spot—a large rock near a patch of wildflowers, overlooking the vast open field bathed in moonlight. A gentle breeze swayed through the grass, making the moment feel almost cinematic.

“Guys, come here!” he called out, waving his hand. “This spot is perfect.”

The others, who had been aimlessly strolling and chatting, turned to look at him.

Vaani, still busy on her phone, sighed. “Ugh, ab kya?”

Aarohi nudged her. “Come on, Miss Influencer, take your aesthetic shots there instead of the same moon we see every day.”

Vaani scoffed. “Excuse me, the moon always deserves appreciation.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just go,” Vidyut said, already making his way toward Abeer.

One by one, they all followed, settling down on the soft grass or leaning against the rock.

Samiksha, hugging her knees, took a deep breath. “Okay, I won’t lie… this is actually nice.”

Ekansh plopped down beside her, stretching his legs. “Yeah, almost makes me forget our car is dead and we’re stuck here for hours.”

Abeer chuckled, leaning back on his hands. “See? I have good taste in chill spots.”

Vidyut snorted. “Debatable.”

The group fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, just taking in the night sky. The moon was bright, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds, and the cool breeze made everything feel peaceful.

Then, of course, Vaani had to break the moment.

“Okay, aesthetic photo time.” She lifted her phone, framing the view. “And Aarohi, I will tag you this time, just so you don’t cry about it later.”

Aarohi rolled her eyes. “Itna bada ehsaan kar rahi hai tu mujhpe.”

Vaani smirked. “Koi na, bhikari kar dungi tag.”

Laughter erupted among them, breaking the serene atmosphere with warmth. It was moments like these that made all the chaos worth it.

Vidyut clapped his hands together, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Alright, since we’re stuck here for four hours, let’s play a game.”

Aarohi groaned. “Vidyut, if this is one of your dumb games—”

“Hear me out!” he interrupted, raising a finger. “It’s Guess the Song by Gestures. If you fail to guess, you pick between Truth or Dare—and no backing out.”

Vaani raised an eyebrow. “So basically, an excuse for you to torture us?”

Vidyut grinned. “Exactly.”

Abeer smirked. “Sounds interesting. Let’s do it.”

They all sat in a circle, placing an empty bottle in the center. Ekansh, already regretting his life choices, sighed. “We’re really doing this, huh?”

Samiksha grinned. “Too late to back out now, bhaiya.”

Vidyut spun the bottle dramatically, and it whirled around before slowing down and landing on—

Ekansh.

A collective oohhh echoed through the group as Ekansh groaned and got up. “Great. Just great.”

Samiksha’s eyes lit up as a song popped into her head. “Bhaiya, bhaiya, bhaiya!!” She bounced on her feet, rushing toward him.

Ekansh sighed. “Samiksha, I swear if this is something weird—”

She tiptoed, cupping her hands around his ear, and whispered the song to him.

Ekansh pulled back immediately, his face twisting in sheer disgust. “NO WAY.”

But the damage was done. Everyone had already caught on to her deviousness.

Vaani gasped dramatically. “You did not.”

Aarohi clapped. “Oh, you have to do it now.”

Vidyut smirked. “C’mon, dude. It’s the rules.”

Abeer leaned back, chuckling. “Ekansh bhaiya, don’t fight it.”

Ekansh looked up at the sky, as if praying for strength, before groaning. “I hate you, Samiksha.”

Samiksha, grinning like the devil, took a step back and crossed her arms. “Rules are rules, bhaiya.”

Ekansh sighed dramatically before rolling his shoulders, mentally preparing himself. Then, with absolute pain in his soul, he started acting out the gestures of Beedi Jalaile.

The group lost it.

Vidyut was on the ground, wheezing. Vaani had tears in her eyes. Aarohi was clapping like a seal. Abeer had his head in his hands, shaking with laughter.

Samiksha, the mastermind, cheered the loudest. “THAT’S MY BHAIYA!!!”

Ekansh shot her a glare but continued dramatically enacting the song—rolling his hands, shaking his imaginary beedi, and looking up at the nonexistent sky like a tragic Bollywood hero.

As he finished, he dramatically collapsed onto the ground. “There. I did it. Happy?”

The group burst into another round of laughter and applause.

Samiksha wiped a fake tear. “So proud of you.”

Ekansh shot her a deadpan look. “I will get my revenge.”

Vidyut wiped his eyes. “Damn, that was gold. Alright, spin the bottle again!”

The bottle spun and, with a clatter, landed on Samiksha. For a split second, she sat quietly, her face a mask of nonchalance—until Ekansh erupted into a dramatic cheer. "Yoohoo! Ab tu dekh beta!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Samiksha’s heart skipped a beat as she rose, glancing sideways at him. Leaning in close, Ekansh whispered something in her ear—a secret, teasing line meant only for her—but the effect was immediate. Her expression contorted into a mix of playful disgust and reluctant delight as she muttered, "Yuck, ew... chii, nahi, never!"

It was clear he had just given her  “taagdi”—a bold, rough bhojpuri song that both infuriated and amused her. In that very instant, she recalled, almost imperceptibly, the choreography of that uncle in the blue kurta from a long-forgotten school performance—a set of moves she had secretly memorized over time. Yet, in front of everyone, she was determined not to give in.

Ekansh’s smirk widened as he watched her reaction, his eyes dancing with satisfaction. Unable to contain herself, Samiksha playfully smacked his arm and exclaimed, "Bhaiyaa yaar!" His laughter, warm and infectious, echoed around the circle, and the group began teasing, urging her to at least try the routine. "Come on, just do it already!" they chorused, their voices a blend of encouragement and mischief. Samiksha shook her head multiple times, her face stubbornly set in a mix of defiance and secret amusement. It was obvious to everyone that while she loathed the idea publicly, a tiny part of her was tempted by the challenge.

With the playful atmosphere reaching its peak, the rules of the game dictated that she now choose between Truth or Dare—since everyone already knew the truth about her secret crush and her own mischievous nature, she reluctantly opted for Dare. Aarohi’s eyes lit up as she leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin. “Alright, Samiksha, here’s a dare that’s just as crazy as it gets,” she declared. “I dare you to go up to a random stranger in this parking lot, look them dead in the eye, and recite—yes, recite—a heartfelt, improvised love poem about how this very moment is the beginning of a legendary romance. And you must do it with full Bollywood flair!”

"You know I'll never do that and fuck you for giving such a dare to me." She said while making a weird face.

"Ganji chudail."

The room exploded into laughter, everyone egging her on. Samiksha’s face flushed as she hesitated, caught between the embarrassment of such a public display and the undeniable thrill of the challenge. For one long, charged moment, time seemed to hang in the balance as she weighed her options, the playful glint in Aarohi’s eyes daring her to break free of her inhibitions.

The game continued with its usual madness—reckless arguments, loud laughter, and playful teasing echoing into the night. Time slipped away unnoticed, and before they knew it, Ekansh checked his phone again and groaned. “Bro, the mechanic says it’ll take another hour,” he announced.

The group, instead of complaining, simply shrugged it off. The night sky was breathtaking, painted in hues of deep blue and silver, and the air carried the perfect mix of cool breeze and adventure. They weren’t in a hurry. This moment, this unexpected pause in their journey, felt oddly perfect.

Avya, stretching her arms, suddenly turned to Abeer. “Sing something,” she suggested, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Abeer leaned back, shaking his head with a smirk. “No way. Not happening.”

“Oh, come on,” Vaani nudged him. “We know you secretly want to.”

He rolled his eyes but, deep down, he wanted to. His gaze instinctively found Samiksha, who was distractedly playing with a loose thread on her jeans, oblivious to how much space she occupied in his mind. He still couldn't believe it—she was finally with him. After everything, after all those moments of teasing, pushing, and pulling, she was his. And if singing would make her smile even once, he’d do it.

Too hai to mere rou-ba-rou par kya karoon

Yaqin hee nahin aathaa

Shaam se subah karoon dekha karoon

Raha bhee nahin jaataa

Afimi afimi afimi hai ye pyaar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

Taking a deep breath, he started humming, his voice soft at first, before the melody settled in. His voice was deep, rich, carrying the weight of all the things he never put into words. Every line he sang was unspoken poetry—his heart speaking when his lips couldn’t.

Ho afimi, afimi, afimi he ye pyaar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

Khumaari khumaari naa aaye re qaraar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

Thodi pighalati hoon thodi phisalati hoon

Gash kha ke teri hee bahon mein girti hoon

Thodi sarakati hai thodi khisakati hai

Niyat bighad ke ye tujhse ye sanbhale

Tere mere faasale bas aaj se

Sanson hee sanson mein gumne lage

Tere mere raste bas aaj se

Ho aankhon hi aankhon main milane lage

As he reached the chorus, Samiksha suddenly joined in, picking up where he left off. Her voice, lighter, more playful, wove seamlessly into his. It was unexpected, yet so natural. Abeer froze for a second, his fingers twitching as he held onto the moment.

Afimi afimi afimi hai ye pyaar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

Afimi afimi afimi hai ye pyaar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

Khumaari khumaari naa aaye re qaraar

Afimi he tera meraa pyaar

The way she sang—the way her eyes held his for a fraction of a second longer than they should have—told him everything. Her voice carried a message, a confession hidden between the lines, a silent admission that his love was something she couldn't resist. That she was just as caught up in this as he was.

Their voices merged, blending into a single melody, their harmony echoing in the silent night. And then, as if the universe itself had scripted it, the lyrics shifted—symbolizing the end of distance, the beginning of something real. Their story had changed. The waiting, the longing—it was over.

But while Abeer could hold her gaze effortlessly, drinking in the way she looked at him, Samiksha couldn't. She tried, but it was impossible. There was something about the way he looked at her—like she was the only thing that existed, like she was the most beautiful chaos he'd ever known—that made her heart race. She broke eye contact, biting her lip, suddenly very aware of how much he affected her.

Aarohi, who had been watching the entire scene unfold with amused eyes, whispered, “Okay, this is getting too obvious.” She wanted to tease them, but not in a way that would make Vidyut suspicious. Because, well, he was completely oblivious.

Abeer chuckled at Samiksha’s flustered expression but said nothing, simply enjoying the fact that she couldn't meet his gaze anymore.

As time passed, everyone got lost in their own conversations. Some were discussing random things, others were simply enjoying the serenity of the night. Samiksha leaned back against the car, scrolling through her phone mindlessly when a notification popped up.

A message from him.

"Please padhai kar lo. Mujhe tumhare liye darr lag raha hai."

Her lips parted slightly as she read it. A warmth spread through her chest, unfamiliar yet comforting. She quickly typed back, sending him a series of crying emojis. "Mann nahi hai."

Abeer, who was casually looking at her from a distance, smiled at her dramatic response before sending, "Please. Mere liye."

And just like that, she was convinced. No hesitation, no second thoughts. Just one simple request from him, and her entire resolve melted.

Her fingers confidently typed back, "Ab toh I'll top."

Abeer chuckled softly, shaking his head before replying, "Jaisa aap kahe."

For Samiksha, this sensation was different. She had thought falling for someone would feel like a crush—a fleeting, exciting feeling. But this? This was different. This was steady, warm, and all-consuming in the best way. It felt like home.

Just then, Avya’s voice broke her thoughts. “Omg, look at the view! It’s sooo pretty!”

“I know, right?” Vaani agreed, pulling out her phone.

Avya turned to Abeer. “Take our picture!”

Abeer sighed but took out his phone. Just as he was about to take the shot, he quickly typed out a message to Samiksha:

"Is it okay with you if I keep your picture as my wallpaper?"

Samiksha, who had just read it, didn’t text back. Instead, she smiled slightly, shaking her head before standing up and sitting beside Avya. Flashing her best grin, she looked straight at Abeer and said, “Take the picture.”

And in that moment, Abeer knew.

It was a metaphorical yes. A silent confirmation.

And God, he was so in love with her. All over again.

As the car rumbled back to life, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Ekansh, who had been helping the mechanic, dusted his hands and got back behind the wheel. One by one, everyone climbed in, exhaustion settling over them.

Samiksha, however, was still wide awake, her focus glued to her phone as she revised for the test. The screen cast a soft glow on her face, illuminating the slight crease of concentration on her forehead.

Abeer, on the other hand, had no interest in sleep. Not when she was sitting right next to him, looking effortlessly beautiful even in the dim light. His attention was solely on her—the way she absentmindedly bit her lip while reading, the way her fingers scrolled through the notes with urgency.

As the car moved steadily down the road, a calm silence had settled over the group. Ekansh focused on driving while most of the others had dozed off. Samiksha, however, was still wide awake, her eyes glued to her phone as she revised for the upcoming test. The dim glow of the screen illuminated her face, highlighting the focused crease between her brows as she absorbed the information.

Abeer, sitting across from her, had no interest in anything else. His eyes kept drifting toward her—watching the way she absentmindedly played with the end of her baggy t-shirt, the way she lightly tapped her fingers on her phone screen, lost in thought.

As he stretched slightly, he realized something—there wasn’t much space to keep their legs comfortably. His long frame made it difficult to sit without brushing against hers, and knowing Samiksha, she wouldn’t complain even if she was uncomfortable.

With a small smirk, he leaned forward ever so slightly and tapped her foot with his own.

Samiksha jolted slightly, startled. She looked up at him, her brows furrowing in confusion. “What?” she mouthed.

Abeer tilted his head and gestured downward.

Still confused, she raised a brow, but before she could ask, he pointed to her feet again.

She hesitated for a moment before giving him a slight nod.

Taking that as permission, he leaned forward and, with gentle fingers, reached for her ankle. His touch was featherlight as he carefully slipped off her footwear. Samiksha’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to protest.

“Abeer—”

“Shh,” he whispered, flashing her a small smile as he grasped her foot and placed it on his lap.

She stiffened instantly. “What are you—”

“You’ve been sitting like this for so long. Let me,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

His fingers pressed gently into the arch of her foot, massaging with slow, careful movements. The unexpected warmth of his touch sent a shiver up her spine.

She inhaled sharply. “Abeer, it’s really not—”

“Let me, please,” he interrupted, his eyes locking with hers. There was something in his gaze—something unshakably tender.

She swallowed. There was no teasing smirk this time, no mischief in his eyes. Just raw sincerity.

Her lips parted slightly as if to say something, but then she stopped. Slowly, hesitantly, she let herself relax against the seat, still holding his gaze.

Abeer, however, never looked away. His fingers moved with slow precision, easing away the strain she didn’t even realize she was carrying. The warmth of his palms, the soft yet firm pressure, the way he touched her like she was something delicate—it was all new. Different.

As the car slowed to a stop outside Vidyut, Samiksha, and Avya’s place, everyone stirred awake—except Aarohi. She was still fast asleep, her head nestled comfortably in Vidyut’s lap, arms loosely wrapped around his waist. Vidyut sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glanced down at her.

"Aarohi... utho," he said softly, shaking her lightly.

She didn’t even budge.

Everyone groaned.

"Wake her up, bro, we don’t have all night," Abeer mumbled, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I’ve been trying!" Vidyut defended himself, shaking her a little more firmly this time. "Aarohi, uth ja yaar," he cooed, his voice affectionate.

Nothing. Not even a twitch.

Samiksha, who had already effortlessly slipped out of the car, didn’t bother engaging in the struggle. She casually stretched her arms, waved a lazy goodbye to Abeer and Vaani, and walked off without a care.

"How is she sleeping like this?" Vaani muttered, poking Aarohi’s arm.

One by one, they all tried waking her up—Ekansh clapped near her ear, Abeer nudged her shoulder, Avya even tried tickling her fingers, but nothing worked.

Vidyut sighed dramatically "Aarohi please wake up, I swear mein roo dunga.

"

Samiksha, hearing the chaos behind her, finally turned around. She took one look at the situation, smirked, and leisurely walked back to the car. Without a word, she bent down, leaned into Aarohi’s ear, and whispered just loud enough for her alone to hear—

"Babe, you are sleeping on his dic—"

That was all it took.

Aarohi shot up as if electrocuted, eyes wide and groggy, immediately shoving Vidyut away like he was on fire.

"What the hell, Samiksha?!" she shrieked, her face burning red as she scrambled out of the car.

Samiksha burst out laughing, effortlessly dodging as Aarohi lunged at her.

"YOU’RE DEAD!" Aarohi yelled, chasing her around.

Samiksha, still laughing, tossed her head back. "Sach toh bola!"

Aarohi stopped mid-run, shaking her head with a helpless smile. "Main na, tujhe ek din sach mein maar dalungi."

Meanwhile, Avya was busy helping Ekansh take the luggage out of the car. He turned to her, smirking, "Office aaogi na?"

Avya groaned, stretching lazily. "Ugh, don't remind me." Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes, she smirked. "But haan, tumhe dekhne ke liye toh aa jaungi."

Ekansh pouted before pulling her into a quick side hug. "I'll miss you till then," he said dramatically.

They both burst into fists of giggles.

Meanwhile, Abeer had taken the opportunity to tease Vidyut, throwing jabs at him for how helpless he looked with Aarohi sleeping on his lap.

But before Vidyut could retort, Aarohi, still very much in her bold, sassy mode, walked straight up to him and—without hesitation—planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

Right in front of Abeer.

Vidyut smirked. Abeer, however, was frozen. His expression shifted from shock to pure, burning sulkiness in record time.

Vidyut turned to him with an amused smirk. "What happened,bro?"

Abeer clenched his jaw but sighed, letting it go. "Whatever," he muttered, crossing his arms like a child.

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(I'm really sorry if it felt boring but I swear the upcoming chapters will be way more interesting)

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I'll update soon 🎀

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