PART 3 — THE RAINY TREK 🖤
PART 3 — THE RAINY TREK 🖤
The rainy trek was a horrible idea from the beginning.
The roads were muddy, everyone’s shoes were already wet, and the four of them had been arguing since they entered the car.
Mostly Aarohi and Manav.
“Why are we even doing this in rain?” Aarohi complained while trying to fix her hoodie.
“Because normal people enjoy nature.”
“Normal people also enjoy staying alive.”
Manav laughed from the driver’s seat while Shanaya connected music to the speaker.
“You complain too much.”
“And you behave like you’re immortal.”
Aditya sighed from beside her. “Please don’t start already.”
Too late.
They had already started.
By the time they reached the trekking point, light rain had covered everything in fog. The entire trail smelled like wet soil and trees while cold wind brushed against their skin.
Beautiful.
And extremely slippery.
Aarohi immediately regretted coming.
“This place looks like a setup for accidental death.”
“You’re dramatic,” Manav replied casually while walking ahead.
“No, I’m intelligent.”
Shanaya laughed softly beside her while Aditya carried the bags.
The trek itself was chaos.
Aarohi almost slipped twice.
Manav laughed both times.
She threatened to push him down the hill at least six times.
At one point, everyone stopped near a narrow rocky path covered in rainwater.
Shanaya crossed first carefully while holding Manav’s hand for balance.
Then Aarohi stepped forward confidently.
“I can do it myself.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Yes, I can.”
“You’re literally about to slip.”
“I’m literally not—”
Her foot slid slightly.
Instantly, Manav grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him before she could lose balance completely.
One hand holding hers tightly.
The other steadying her lightly by the waist.
Everything froze for one second.
Rain falling softly around them.
Cold wind.
His face way too close.
Aarohi’s heartbeat betrayed her immediately.
“I was fine,” she muttered weakly after stepping away.
“Clearly.”
“You enjoy irritating me.”
“You make it very easy.”
God.
That stupid calm expression again.
Behind them, Aditya shook his head tiredly while Shanaya laughed.
“You both seriously act like children.”
“She started it,” Manav replied instantly.
Aarohi stared at him in disbelief. “YOU grabbed me!”
“You slipped.”
“I almost slipped.”
“Exactly.”
Everyone laughed again.
Later, after reaching the top, all four of them sat quietly near the edge while rain poured harder around them.
For once, nobody argued.
Aarohi sat beside Shanaya scrolling through pictures while Aditya talked to Manav nearby.
That’s when she noticed it again.
Even while talking to someone else—
Manav’s eyes kept shifting toward her automatically.
Like checking if she was still there had become a habit without him realizing it. 🖤
