The Kshatriyas, Desai’s, and Bahadurs arrived at the Rajput Mansion, greeted with warm hugs and heartfelt welcomes.

As the families settled in the grand living room, all eyes turned to the staircase where Maya and Adranksh descended gracefully. Maya’s hand curled around his bicep, a radiant smile lighting up her face.

Adranksh guided her carefully as they reached the last step. The moment her feet touched the ground, Maya rushed forward, wrapping her parents in a tight hug.

Her father chuckled; his eyes filled with warmth. “How’s it going?”

“Wonderful, Appa. I’m happy with Ansh.”

Samay huffed playfully. “Leave it, Appa. Our princess has already forgotten us.”

Maya turned to him with a mock frown before embracing him tightly. “Anna, I would never forget you.” Her voice was laced with emotion.

He smiled knowingly, patting her head.

“Maya madam, don’t forget about us!” Her uncle and aunt teased.

Maya beamed as she moved toward Vedha’s parents, Janardhan and Bhoomi Bahadur, hugging them warmly. Their eyes glistened as they blessed her.

“I miss you guys so much already,” she said.

They patted her head lovingly before she walked to Ishani’s parents, Vijendra and Smriti Desai, exchanging hugs filled with affection.

The entire family gathered for dinner, laughter echoing as they reminisced about old times. The servants arranged a lavish spread on the enormous dining table.

On one side sat Kaveri, Ajendra, Utkarsh, Shrestha, Kausalya, Rajendra, Lavanya, Karishma, Vaishali, Aadrik, and Avyansh. On the other, Surya, Kamakshi, Janardhan, Bhoomi, Vijendra, Smriti, Adranksh, Maya, Samay, Ishan, Yuvraj, Vedha, and Ishani took their seats.

While the elders engaged in cheerful conversation, the younger ones had their own silent battle unfolding.

Lavanya was glaring daggers at Samay, while Karishma pointedly ignored Ishan. Vaishali tried—and failed—to avoid looking at Yuvraj. Aadrik was busy flirting with Vedha, who rolled her eyes, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. While Avyaansh and Ishani were staring into each other’s souls.

“Surya, I hope we can finally ride the bike after years,” Utkarsh said excitedly.

Surya nodded enthusiastically.

“When are you all leaving for Bangalore?” Ajendra asked.

“Next week. We still have some work here,” Vijendra replied.

“If you’re leaving next week, how about a trip?” Rajendra suggested.

Everyone immediately agreed.

“How about Kashmir?” Utkarsh proposed.

“It’s not safe there yet,” Shrestha pointed out, and everyone nodded.

“Ladakh?” Vijendra offered.

“Not for a family trip,” Bhoomi countered.

“Manali?” Lavanya suggested excitedly.

This time, the approval was unanimous.

“Let’s leave tomorrow then,” Kaveri declared, taking everyone by surprise.

“Maa, it takes time to pack,” Utkarsh reasoned.

“It’s only for three days. One night for packing is enough,” she said in a tone that left no room for argument.

After dinner, the families began making their way home, eager to pack for the trip.

Maya and Adranksh entered their room, still buzzing with excitement.

“I can’t wait, Ansh!” Maya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Adranksh smiled as he pulled her into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

She gently pushed him away, laughing. “Not now. We need to pack! Come help me.”

He sighed dramatically but followed her to the closet.

Maya reached for the suitcase on the top shelf, jumping up and down in an attempt to grab it. Amused, Adranksh leaned against the doorframe, watching her struggle before stepping forward and effortlessly lifting her up.

She grabbed the suitcase, and as he carefully placed her back down, she kissed his cheek in gratitude.

Moving to his section of the closet, she picked out a shirt, lifting it for his approval. He nodded, and she placed it in the suitcase. She held up another one, but he shook his head.

Once his clothes were packed, she moved on to hers, neatly folding and organizing everything. After gathering her essentials from the vanity, she placed them in a separate bag.

Finally done, they slipped into bed, exhaustion settling in. Maya curled up against Adranksh, her head resting on his chest, his arms securely wrapped around her.

They soon drifted off to sleep as exhaustion takes a toll on them.
—

Early in the morning, all the families were now gathered at the mansion as the servants loaded the suitcase in the car.
Ajendra, Utkarsh, Rajendra, Surya, Janardhan and Vijendra in one car.
A driver, Kaveri, Shrestha, Kausalya, Kamakshi, Bhoomi and Smriti in one car.
Adranksh, Aadrik, Samay, Yuvraj, Avyaansh and Ishan in one car.
Maya, Vedha, Lavanya, Vaishali, Ishani and Karishma in one car.
In total, 4 cars leave the mansion to Manali.
Utkarsh, Samay and Vaishali were driving the car for 5 hours till they reached a restaurant for breakfast.

“Vaishali, drive slowly! We’re not in a Fast & Furious movie!” Ishani shrieked, gripping the handle above her window as the car took a sharp turn.

“I am driving slowly,” Vaishali retorted, eyes focused on the road. “You guys just need to have more faith in me.”

Lavanya let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh yes, totally. That last turn? I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes.”

Vedha burst into laughter. “Honestly, this is thrilling. Just don’t crash, Vaishu.”

Lavanya, sitting in the passenger seat, was recording the entire scene on her phone. “Guys, let’s make a reel—‘POV: You’re on a road trip with a reckless driver’!”

Karishma, who had been munching on chips, finally spoke up. “Lavanya, if we die, make sure the caption is ‘It was a bumpy ride, but at least we had snacks.’”

The whole car erupted in laughter.

Suddenly, Vaishali hit a speed bump a little too fast, making everyone jolt in their seats.

“VAISHALI!” Ishani screeched.

“What? It was just a bump!” Vaishali said innocently, though even she was trying not to laugh.

“Oh my god, let me drive!” Lavanya attempted to reach for the steering wheel from the back seat.

“EXCUSE ME! No one touches my baby,” Vaishali gasped dramatically, swerving slightly as she pushed Lavanya’s hands away.

“Keep your eyes on the road!” Vedha shouted.

Karishma groaned, throwing a chip at Vaishali. “You people are crazy.”

“But you love us,” Maya teased, turning up the volume as a Bollywood road-trip anthem blasted through the speakers.

With the music playing, the girls sang at the top of their lungs, their voices a mix of off-key notes and laughter. It was pure chaos—the best kind.

For a moment, despite the near-death experiences, they all felt free, alive, and ridiculously happy.

“Alright,” Vaishali announced, grinning. “Who’s ready for another turn?”

A chorus of “NOOO!” filled the car, making her laugh as she hit the accelerator just a little harder.

“Ahh” Vaishali stretches as she gets out of the car.
—
Adranksh, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Samay warily. “Are you sure you know how to drive on mountain roads?”

Samay scoffed. “Excuse me? I have driven on worse roads than this.”

“You mean the time you drove into a ditch?” Ishan smirked.

“That was one time!” Samay shot back.

“Bro, you had to call a tow truck,” Yuvraj added.

“Can we focus on important things?” Avyaansh cut in, looking at his phone. “We need to finalize the plan for tomorrow—”

Before he could finish, Samay suddenly hit the brakes hard, sending everyone lurching forward.

“WHAT THE—?!” Ishan yelled, rubbing his forehead after almost slamming into the front seat.

“Why did you stop?!” Adranksh demanded, gripping the dashboard.

Samay blinked at the road ahead. “Umm… there was a squirrel.”

Dead silence.

“A squirrel?” Aadrik repeated, his tone flat.

“Yes!” Samay insisted. “Do you expect me to just run over it? What kind of monster do you think I am?”

Yuvraj groaned, leaning back. “Bro, if you brake like that again, you’ll kill us before you save any squirrels.”

Ishan muttered, “I should’ve gone with the girls. At least Vaishali’s reckless driving is predictable.”

“Okay, okay, relax. I’ll drive smoothly now.” Samay took a deep breath and started the car again.

The guys returned to their conversation—until Samay took a sharp turn without warning, making everyone grip whatever they could.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?!” Avyaansh shouted, his usual calm completely shattered.

“Dude, my soul just left my body,” Aadrik gasped dramatically.

“Samay,” Adranksh’s voice was eerily calm. “Pull over.”

“Why?”

“Because if you don’t, I will throw you out of this car and drive myself,” Adranksh said in a tone that made everyone shut up.

With a grumble, Samay pulled over to the side. Adranksh got out, walked over to the driver’s side, and motioned for Samay to move. “Get out.”

“Okay, but admit that I saved a squirrel.”

“GET. OUT.”

Samay sighed dramatically before switching seats. As soon as Adranksh took the wheel, the car moved smoothly. The guys let out a collective sigh of relief.

Yuvraj stretched. “Finally. A driver who won’t give me a heart attack.”

Avyaansh muttered, “That squirrel better be grateful.”   

Aadrik grinned. “Nah, that squirrel is probably telling his friends, ‘I just made five guys suffer, and it was hilarious.’”

Samay crossed his arms. “You guys suck.”

Ishan patted his shoulder. “No, you suck. We just have a strong will to live.”

Laughter filled the car as Adranksh drove them safely back to the hotel, leaving Samay to sulk in silence.
—
After finishing their breakfast, the boys agreed to let Adranksh continue driving.

But just as he settled into the driver’s seat, Maya walked over, snatching the keys from Vaishali’s hand.

“I’ll drive. You go rest,” she said with a confident smile.

Vaishali nodded, too tired to argue, and moved to the backseat.

As soon as Maya started the car, she pulled up beside Adranksh, rolled down the window, and shot him a playful wink before accelerating ahead.

Adranksh’s lips curled into a smirk as he watched her car speed past him.

“Bhai, what are you doing? You can’t just let Bhabhi overtake you like that! Izzat ka sawaal hai!” Aadrik exclaimed, looking scandalized.

Adranksh chuckled, shaking his head. “Izzat ka sawaal, huh?” His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he shifted gears, determination flashing in his eyes.

“Oh, this is about to get interesting,” Yuvraj grinned, leaning back with amusement.
Meanwhile, in Maya’s car, the girls were already laughing as they saw Adranksh’s car picking up speed.

“Oh-ho, looks like he’s taking the challenge,” Vedha smirked.

“Bhabhi, show him who's boss,” Lavanya encouraged, leaning forward excitedly.

Maya smirked. “Of course.” With that, she pressed her foot on the accelerator, weaving through the mountain road with effortless skill.

Back in Adranksh’s car, Aadrik, Ishan, and Avyaansh watched as Maya’s car smoothly overtook them again.

“Bhai, you’re embarrassing us,” Ishan teased.

“Enough talking,” Adranksh muttered before accelerating again, his car gliding forward with precision.

The race was on.

Both cars zipped through the scenic mountain roads, their passengers either laughing or holding onto their seats.

Karishma covered her eyes dramatically. “Maya Bhabhi , I love you, but please don’t kill us.”

Vaishali, on the other hand, was hyped. “We’re Rajput women! We fear nothing!” Energy rushing back

Adranksh finally caught up, rolling down his window. Maya did the same, looking at him with an amused smile.

“Impressed yet?” she asked.

He chuckled. “A little.” Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, “But I don’t lose, Jaan.”

Maya’s heart skipped a beat at the nickname, but she quickly covered it with a smirk. “Let’s see about that.”

Both cars pushed forward, neither backing down. The boys in Adranksh’s car were yelling at him to go faster, while the girls in Maya’s car were cheering her on.

Finally, as they neared a turn, Maya made her move, smoothly overtaking Adranksh. Adranksh just let her without a fight.
Adranksh caught up with ease.
Just then another car rushed in between the two, Ajendra who was watching the two cars for a while scolded them before Rajendra sped off.
The drive continued smoothly without any races, now filled with laughter and playful banter. It wasn’t just a race—it was a memory in the making.
MANALI: A CLASSIC

 After a long day of travel, they finally arrived in Manali. Exhausted but excited, everyone headed straight to their rooms to rest.

The Desai’s owned a beautiful family farmhouse in the area, providing the perfect stay. While the married couples settled into their shared rooms, the unmarried ones each got a private room to themselves—a rare luxury they were more than happy to enjoy.
—

 After a while, everyone gathered downstairs for dinner. Once dinner was over, the adults retired for the night, leaving the younger ones eager for some fun.

They made their way outside, where a bonfire crackled warmly against the chilly night. Wrapped in cozy shawls, they settled onto the sofas arranged around the fire, letting its warmth seep in.

"Let’s do something different this time," Vaishali suggested, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "How about we play 21 Dares?"

Excitement buzzed through the group as everyone exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. This was about to get interesting.
Vedha smirked as she grabbed an empty bottle and placed it in the center of the group. "Alright, let’s get started!" she announced, spinning the bottle swiftly.

Everyone watched with anticipation as the bottle slowed down and finally landed on Ishani.

"Alright, Ishani," Lavanya grinned.
“Uska, chakr Avyaansh ke sat chal raha hai.” Aadrik reminds. Ishani sighs.
Aadrik smirked, sensing the brewing storm. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Ishani rolled her eyes. "Just get it over with."

Vaishali and Karishma exchanged mischievous looks before Vaishali announced, "Your dare—write a heartfelt love letter to Avyaansh and read it out loud."

The laughter around the bonfire was instant—except from two people.

Ishani stiffened. Avyaansh, who had been leaning back lazily, suddenly tensed, his smirk vanishing. His sharp gaze landed on her, dark and unreadable.

"Not happening," Ishani said flatly.

"Oh, come on," Yuvraj teased. "Unless you're scared."

Ishani scoffed, snatching the notepad Maya handed her. "Fine. You want a letter? Here." She scribbled furiously, then looked up, her expression unreadable.

Clearing her throat dramatically, she began:

"Dear Avyaansh,
I hope this letter finds you exactly as I left you—bitter, brooding, and painfully arrogant. It’s honestly impressive how much effort you put into hating me. If you used half that energy on something productive, you might actually be tolerable.
Anyway, here’s my heartfelt confession: I don’t regret losing you. I regret ever believing you would trust me.
Not Sincerely,
Ishani."*

Silence.

The laughter had died. The only sound was the crackling fire.

Avyaansh’s jaw clenched. His fingers dug into his knee, but his face remained cold.

"Wow, Ishani," Aadrik let out a low whistle. "That was... poetic."

Ishani tossed the notepad aside. "Happy now?"

Avyaansh gave a hollow chuckle. "You haven’t changed."

"And you still think I did something I didn’t," she shot back, voice laced with frustration.

Avyaansh’s expression darkened, but before he could reply, Maya quickly clapped her hands. "Okay, who’s next?"

Tension still lingered, but the bottle spun again. The game continued, yet everyone knew—that round had been anything but a game.

The bottle now landed on Vaishali.

Vaishali arched a brow. "Alright, what’s my dare?"

Karishma and Lavanya exchanged a knowing look before Karishma smirked. "Dance with Yuvraj. A slow dance."

The group erupted into teasing hoots and whistles.

Vaishali’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before she scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "That’s it? Easy."

Yuvraj, who had been lounging comfortably, suddenly sat up straighter. His expression remained unreadable, but his clenched jaw betrayed him.

"I’ll pass," he muttered.

The reaction was instant.

"Arrey, Yuvraj, kya yaar!" Avyaansh groaned. "Scared?"

"I don’t dance," Yuvraj said coolly, reaching for his drink.

Vedha grinned. "Good thing Vaishali does."

Before Yuvraj could protest, Vaishali stood up, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him. She stopped right in front of him and tilted her head.

"Afraid you’ll like it?" she whispered, just loud enough for only him to hear.

Yuvraj’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—annoyance, defiance, maybe something else. But whatever it was, he stood up.

Aadrik quickly connected his phone to the speakers, playing a soft, romantic tune.

Vaishali smirked, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Try to keep up, Bahadur."

Yuvraj sighed but let his hands settle at her waist, the warmth of his touch making Vaishali’s breath hitch for just a second.

They swayed to the music, their movements slow yet charged with unspoken tension. Vaishali’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show it.

Yuvraj leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Happy now?"

Vaishali smirked. "Not yet."

She suddenly spun, pressing closer, forcing him to match her steps. His grip on her waist tightened instinctively, but his face remained impassive.

The others watched in fascination—half expecting one of them to push the other away any second. But they didn’t.

As the song came to an end, Vaishali took a step back, her smirk returning. "See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?"

Yuvraj’s gaze lingered on her for a second longer than necessary before he turned away.

"You talk too much," was all he said before walking back to his seat.
“But you love that!” She huffs.

The group burst into laughter as she spins the bottle.
As the bottle came to a stop, all eyes turned to Aadrik.

Lavanya’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Aadrik leaned back, raising a brow. "I’m almost afraid to ask. Almost."

Lavanya tapped her chin dramatically before grinning. "I dare you to flirt with Vedha until she approves."

The group exploded into laughter, while Vedha's eyes widened. "Absolutely not!" she protested immediately.

Aadrik, however, only grinned wider, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, this is too easy."

Vedha shot Lavanya a murderous glare. "I hate you."

"No, you don’t," Lavanya said smugly. "Now, let's enjoy the show."

Aadrik turned to Vedha, his expression suddenly turning intense. "Vedha," he said in a deep, dramatic voice, scooting closer. "I must confess something."

Vedha groaned. "Don’t."

"Too late." He placed a hand over his heart. "From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special. But now, in the glow of this bonfire, I realize—you're not just special. You’re extraordinary."

The others cheered them on.

Vedha rolled her eyes. "Aadrik, shut up."

He gasped theatrically. "Shut up? No, no, sweetheart. Silencing me would be a crime. The world needs to hear how deeply—" he grabbed her hand dramatically, "—how profoundly* I admire you."*

Vedha snatched her hand away, trying to fight the heat creeping up her face. "I swear, if you don’t stop—"

"Or what?" Aadrik wiggled his brows. "You’ll fall for my undeniable charm?"

Vedha exhaled sharply, looking anywhere but at him.

Aadrik leaned in, lowering his voice. "You blushing yet?"

"I AM NOT BLUSHING!"

The group burst into laughter again.

Lavanya clapped her hands. "Come on, Vedha! Just say you approve, and he’ll stop."

Vedha crossed her arms stubbornly. "I’d rather die."

Aadrik smirked. "In that case, I’ll just have to turn up the heat."

He shifted closer, lowering his voice to a husky whisper. "Vedha, tell me... do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?"

Vedha groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I hate you all."

Aadrik chuckled. "That’s not approval, sweetheart. Guess I have to keep going."

Vedha peeked at him through her fingers before sighing heavily. "Fine! Fine. I approve. Just STOP."

Aadrik leaned back, looking victorious. "Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case."

The group erupted into cheers while Vedha shot a glare at Lavanya, who was doubled over laughing.

"Next time, I’m daring YOU, Lavanya," Vedha muttered, still red-faced.

Lavanya winked. "Can’t wait."
As if Vedha cursed worked, the bottle lands on Lavanya. Her smile falter..
As the bottle came to a stop, it pointed directly at Lavanya.

Everyone immediately sat up, sensing the brewing storm.

"Oh, this is going to be good," Vaishali smirked.

Lavanya crossed her arms. "Whatever it is, I’m not doing it if it’s stupid."

Samay, who was leaning lazily against the couch, scoffed. "Then maybe you should just quit now, princess. We all know you can’t handle a real dare."

Lavanya’s eyes narrowed. "Try me."

Vedha grinned, jumping in. "Alright then. Lavanya, I dare you to kiss Samay all over his face."

The entire group erupted into chaos.

"WHAT?" Lavanya and Samay shouted at the same time.

"Absolutely not!" Samay protested, sitting up straight as if he’d been electrocuted.

"I’d rather die," Lavanya spat, looking disgusted.

"Rules are rules!" Aadrik reminded with a wicked grin. "Either do the dare, or face the consequence."

"Which is?" Lavanya challenged.

"We’ll think of something," Ishan shrugged. "But trust me, it’ll be worse."

Lavanya clenched her jaw before turning to Samay. He looked just as horrified as she felt, his nose scrunching up like he was bracing for disaster.

"Fine," she gritted out, rolling up her sleeves like she was preparing for battle.

Samay leaned back. "Don’t even think about it."

"Oh, I’m thinking about it," she shot back.

Everyone cheered as Lavanya moved closer.

Samay held up a hand. "Just do it fast and—"

Before he could finish, Lavanya grabbed his face and planted a quick, exaggerated kiss on his forehead. Then, before he could react, she landed another one on his cheek. And another. And another.

"Ugh—STOP IT, LAVANYA!" Samay jerked back, but she grabbed his collar, holding him in place.

"Oh no, Sammy, you’re not getting out of this so easily," she cooed mockingly, kissing his other cheek, then his jaw.

The group howled with laughter as Samay squirmed like a trapped animal.

"I swear to—LAVANYA, ENOUGH!" he barked, pushing her back.

She smirked, wiping her lips dramatically. "Wow, Samay, you taste like regret and poor life choices."

Samay groaned, scrubbing his face aggressively. "I’m burning this face off."

Lavanya grinned at him smugly. "Aww, did I make you flustered?"

"Shut. Up." Samay glared at her, his ears turning red.

"Oh, come on, Sammy," Aadrik teased. "Was it really that bad?"

"YES."

Lavanya leaned back, looking victorious. "That was fun."

Vaishali laughed. "Oh, you two are a disaster waiting to happen."

Lavanya just smirked. "Well, at least now he’ll think twice before challenging me."

Lavanya sighs before spinning the bottle.
As the bottle slowed to a stop, it landed squarely on Ishan.

He leaned back, exhaling dramatically. "Alright, let’s get this over with."

Vaishali smirked. "Ishan, I dare you… to make Karishma happy."

A teasing silence fell over the group as all eyes darted between Ishan and Karishma. She had been unusually quiet the entire game, avoiding eye contact with him.

Ishan raised a brow. "That’s it? That’s my dare?"

Vaishali grinned. "Yep. You just have to make her genuinely happy."

Karishma shot Vaishali a glare. "I don’t need him to—"

"Oh, but you do," Lavanya cut in, winking. "C’mon, Ishan, let’s see what you’ve got."

Ishan turned toward Karishma, his usual arrogance replaced with something unreadable. He studied her for a second, then, without warning, scooted closer.

"What are you doing?" she asked warily.

"Trying to make you happy, obviously," he said, resting his chin on his hand.

"I highly doubt you’re capable of that."

He smirked. "You used to laugh at my jokes."

"I used to do a lot of things," she muttered under her breath.

The group fell silent at her words, sensing the tension.

Ishan’s smirk faltered for a brief second, but then he clapped his hands together. "Alright, no sad faces allowed! Since you’re impossible to please, I’ll go with Plan B."

Karishma raised a brow. "And what exactly is Plan B?"

Before she could react, Ishan suddenly grabbed a nearby throw pillow and whacked her lightly on the arm.

She blinked. "Did you just—"

WHACK.

She gasped. "Ishan!"

The room erupted into laughter as Ishan held up the pillow like a weapon. "You will smile, Karishma. It’s happening."

She narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn’t dare—"

WHACK.

She let out a small, incredulous laugh, quickly biting her lip to hide it.

Ishan’s grin widened. "Ohhh, was that a giggle, Miss Karishma?"

"Shut up!" she snapped, but the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her.

Vaishali clapped her hands. "Mission accomplished!"

Ishan smirked and leaned back, tossing the pillow aside. "See? Making you happy isn’t that hard."

Karishma rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

"I’d call that a success," Aadrik teased.

"Yeah, yeah," Karishma muttered, but the slight smile remained on her face.

Ishan winked. "I missed your laugh, by the way." He whispers as he moves away.
Ishan spins the bottle and it lands on Maya , all eyes turned to her with anticipation.

Aadrik smirks. "I dare you to sit on bhaiya’s lap for the whole game."

The room erupted in gasps and teasing laughter. Vaishali let out an excited squeal, while Lavanya and Karishma exchanged knowing glances. Samay and Yuvraj stared at Maya, waiting for her reaction.

Maya scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. "That’s ridiculous."

"A dare is a dare," Vaishali sang, her grin only growing.

Maya rolled her eyes but knew there was no way out. She had never backed down from a challenge, and she wouldn’t start now. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked over to Adranksh.

He watched her closely, his eyes dark with something unreadable. But unlike before, there was no tension between them, no resistance—only a quiet understanding.

Without hesitation, she lowered herself onto his lap, shifting so she was sitting sideways. His arms automatically wrapped around her, steadying her as if she belonged there. The heat of his touch sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.

"Comfortable?" he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

Maya smirked, tilting her head to meet his gaze. "Very."

Adranksh’s fingers tightened slightly on her waist, his eyes softening as they held hers. For a moment, the rest of the room faded into the background, their laughter and teasing nothing more than distant noise.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them wanted to.
Soon the game came to an end, they all retired to their room to recharge for tomorrow's event.
—
Adranksh stirred awake, his brow furrowing as he felt Maya shivering beside him.

"No, no! Leave her! Leave her!" she whimpered, her hands pushing against the air, as if trying to fight off invisible figures.

His sleep vanished instantly. Concern gripped his chest as he sat up, gently placing a hand on her forehead. "Maya… wake up. It’s just a dream," he whispered, his voice soft yet firm.

But the nightmare held her in its grasp. A tear slipped down her cheek, dampening his shirt. Adranksh felt his heart clench at the sight.

What if this isn't just a nightmare? The thought unsettled him.

Suddenly, she jolted awake with a sharp gasp, sweat beading on her forehead. Her teary, terrified eyes locked onto his before she crumbled against his chest, sobbing.

"They killed them, Ansh… they killed them in front of me." Her voice trembled, her fingers clutching his shirt.

Adranksh stiffened. His arms wrapped around her protectively as he rubbed slow circles on her back. "Who?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with tension.

"I don’t know… but I swear to God, I’ll avenge Ajji and Thatha’s deaths." Her voice wavered, but the determination in her words was evident.

She pulled away slightly, her palm coming up to cup his face. The warmth of her touch contrasted with the pain in her eyes. "I’m sorry… I disturbed your sleep. You should rest now." She lays down.

Adranksh exhaled, watching her attempt to compose herself. Without hesitation, he lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms.

"Talk to me, Maya," he murmured, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

She sighed, turning to face him, her fingers resting lightly against his chest. "It still feels so real," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.