Vaishnavi ka saans abhi tak theek se normal nahi hua tha.
Aarav itna close khada tha ki uski aankhon ki intensity se bachna mushkil ho raha tha.
"Then you have no idea how wrong you are."
Uske words abhi bhi hawa me the.
Heavy. Dangerous. Honest.
Vaishnavi ne mushkil se poocha—
"Then why…?"
Aarav ki brows slightly furrow hui.
"Why what?"
"Why do you keep pushing me away… if I matter that much?"
Silence.
Wahi silence jo hamesha Aarav ke aas-paas answers se zyada hota tha.
Usne aankhen band karke slow breath li.
"Because things aren't simple."
Vaishnavi ke lips par hurt smile aayi.
"Exactly."
Usne dheere se apna wrist uski grip se nikaala.
"And I'm tired of things never being simple with you."
Aur iss baar—
Wo chali gayi.
Aarav ne roka nahi.
Next Morning — Trip Ka Last Day
Resort unusually lively tha.
Sabko pata tha— Aaj last day hai.
Aaj ke baad normal life.
Normal distance.
Normal pretending.
Naina room me storm ki tarah ghusi.
"LAST DAY BEST DAY! Sab ready ho jao!"
Vaishnavi ne forced smile di.
"Aa rahi hoon."
Aaj usne khud se promise kiya—
No more expectations. No more reading between Aarav's lines.
Breakfast Scene
Vaishnavi breakfast hall me enter hui—
Aur turant slow ho gayi.
Rhea already wahan thi.
Aarav ke side.
Again.
"Morning, gorgeous," Rhea casually smiled.
Vaishnavi ne polite nod kiya.
Aur jaake Sumit ke paas baith gayi.
Aarav's gaze immediately shifted.
Waiter coffee rakhne hi wala tha ki Rhea ne bina dekhe kaha—
"No sugar. He hates sweet coffee."
Vaishnavi ka chest slightly tighten hua.
Itni familiarity.
Itni ease.
Tabhi Sumit ne uski plate me pancakes slide kar diye.
"Eat. Tum mood off ho to aur zyada
cute lagti ho, dangerous combo hai."
Vaishnavi couldn't help laughing.
"Tum impossible ho."
"Aur tum obsessed ho. Accept it."
Aarav ka jaw visibly tighten hua.
Rhea ne notice kiya.
And smirked.
Adventure Park / Final Activity
Last day ke liye group adventure park gaya.
Zipline. Rope bridge. Cliff swings.
Pure chaos.
Pure fun.
Naina panic mode me thi zipline dekh kar.
"Mujhe neeche utaro, main nahi kar rahi!"
Sumit laughed.
"Abhi to chilla rahi thi fearless queen ho."
Sab hass rahe the.
Even Vaishnavi.
Aur Aarav bas usse dekh raha tha.
Again.
Too much.
Too long.
Rhea leaned beside him.
"You're staring again."
"Mind your business."
"She's moving on, Aarav."
That hit.
Hard.
The Slip
Rope bridge cross karte waqt Vaishnavi ka foot slip hua.
Ek sharp gasp nikla uske muh se—
Before she could fall—
Sumit ne instantly uska hand pakad liya.
Strong grip.
Protective.
"Careful, idiot."
His tone teasing tha— Par aankhon me genuine concern.
Vaishnavi laughed nervously.
"Thanks…"
"Tum girti bohot ho. Good thing main hoon."
Aarav ne ye scene poora dekha.
And for once—
Usne apni jealousy hide nahi ki.
Private Rhea Scene
Rhea Aarav ke paas aayi.
Low voice me boli—
"Tumhare hesitate karne se koi aur advantage le lega."
Aarav coldly bola—
"Shut up.
Rhea's smile faded.
"Then stop acting like you don't care."
Sunset Lakeside — The Memory
They'll Never Forget
Evening.
Trip ka final planned memory moment.
Private lakeside setup.
Lanterns. Music. Bonfire. Golden sunset over water.
The kind of moment jo years baad bhi yaad rahe.
Naina emotional ho gayi.
"Guys… we're never getting this trip back."
Sab thoda sentimental hue.
Photos. Laughs. Teasing. Memories.
Vaishnavi shoreline ke paas khadi paani dekh rahi thi.
Sumit uske paas aaya.
"Tum phir deep thoughts mode me ho."
"Bas… yaad rakhne layak din tha."
Sumit smiled softly.
"Good. Kyunki jab sab bhool jayenge,
main sabko remind karunga ki tum rope bridge par girne wali thi."
Vaishnavi laughed.
Then quietly said—
"Tum hamesha aise hi ho na?"
"Kaise?"
"Straightforward. Jo feel karte ho woh bol dete ho."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then softer than usual—
"Mostly. Life complicated karne ka shauk nahi hai mujhe."
That line hit her.
Because complicated…
Was all Aarav had ever been.
For one second—
Vaishnavi just looked at Sumit.
Really looked.
And noticed something she had ignored before—
He never hid. Never confused. Never made her guess.
Dance / First Shift
Music slow hua.
Naina screamed—
"Dance time!"
Before anyone could react—
Sumit dramatically bowed.
"May I have this dance?"
Vaishnavi laughed.
"Tum extra ho."
"Aur tum lucky ho."
Usne uska hand le liya.
They danced.
Playful. Close. Comfortable.
Natural.
Aarav stood frozen watching.
Every laugh. Every smile. Every second of it.
Rhea quietly muttered—
"You're losing her."
And for the first time—
Aarav looked shaken.
Final Scene — Cliffhanger
Night.
Sab pack karne chale gaye.
Vaishnavi balcony me akeli khadi thi.
Cold wind. Quiet sky.
Footsteps.
Aarav.
He stopped beside her.
"You enjoyed yourself today."
"Yeah."
"A lot."
She frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
His eyes darkened.
"You know exactly what it means."
Vaishnavi crossed her arms.
"If you have something to say, say it clearly for once."
That hit him.
Hard.
Aarav stepped closer.
"Fine."
Another step.
"Stop acting like Sumit suddenly matters more."
Vaishnavi's breath hitched.
"He matters because he's there."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
"He says what he means." "He doesn't confuse people." "He doesn't make me guess whether I matter or not."
Aarav's jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
She whispered—
"Maybe I need someone simpler than you."
That snapped something in him.
He grabbed her wrist. Pulled her flush against him.
Eyes burning.
Voice low and shaking with jealousy—
"Then let me make one thing simple for you, Vaishnavi…"
He leaned in.
Forehead almost touching hers.
"If he touches what's mine again—"
He paused.
Breathing hard.
Eyes dropping to her lips.
"I won't stay quiet next time."
To be continued....