Adranksh’s heart broke as he listened to her.  

“I was ten when I killed them, Ansh. I swear, I don’t regret it. Those men were just pawns; the real ones are still hiding. I made myself stronger to fight, and now the time has finally arrived. I’m going to make them pay,” she said, determination burning in her eyes as she looked at him.  

“I’ll be with you every step of the way, Maya. I promise.” His voice was firm, but his thoughts drifted.  

“Do you feel disgusted, Ansh?” she asked hesitantly, searching his eyes.  

“Maya, the only feelings I have right now are pride and regret. Regret that you had to go through it. Pride because of how you fought and survived.” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.  

“I promise you, Maya, we will make them wish they were never born,” he vowed, pulling her into his embrace.  

“Sleep now, Malyshka. Your time will come soon,” he murmured, patting her back gently. They soon drifted off to sleep.  

—

The next morning, Maya woke first. She looked at Adranksh’s peaceful face before planting a loving kiss on his cheek.  

“Thank you, Ansh,” she whispered before heading to the washroom.  

She took a warm shower, letting the water soothe her tense muscles. After drying off, she slipped into black leg warmers and put on a pair of jeans. She threw on a top and layered it with a cozy sweatshirt. Once dressed, she put on socks and hurried back to bed, snuggling into Adranksh’s warmth.  

A soft sigh escaped her lips as his heat enveloped her.  

Adranksh, who had been in light sleep, fully woke when he felt her nestle into his arms.  

“Good morning, Ansh,” she chirped, hugging him tightly.  

He smiled sleepily and hugged her back, pulling the blanket over both of them.  

They stayed wrapped in each other’s warmth until Maya glanced at the time.  

“Ansh, get up and get dressed,” she urged.  

He groaned and buried his face in the pillow before reluctantly sitting up.  

Maya grinned and quickly took the blanket for herself, wrapping it around her body.  

He squinted at her. “You cheeky little thing. You just wanted the blanket for yourself.”  

Her grin widened, mischief dancing in her eyes. His heart melted at her cuteness. Shaking his head with a sigh, he walked toward the washroom.  

After a quick shower, he changed into a white turtleneck shirt, a black puffer jacket, black pants, and socks.  

When he returned, he found Maya still curled up in bed.  

“Baby, wake up,” he coaxed, brushing a hand over her hair.  

She slowly opened her eyes, and her lips curled into a soft smile.  

“What a beautiful face to wake up to,” she murmured, running her fingers lightly over his hand.  

He chuckled. “Really, Maya? You should wake up next to yourself; that feeling can't be beaten.”  

She scrunched her nose, trying to hide her blush.  

Smirking, he pulled her out of bed. “Okay, shall we leave now?”  

“Yes, pick me up. I’m too lazy.”  

“As you say, Rani-saa.” He teased before effortlessly lifting her into his arms.  

Just as he was about to walk out the door, she reminded him, “Don’t we need our shoes, Mr. Adranksh?”  

“I need one, not you, Mrs. Adranksh.” He replied, looking at her. She scrunched her nose again, trying to hide the pink spreading across her cheeks.  

He quickly made a detour, placing her on the sofa.  

“That one,” she pointed at the black boots.  

He nodded, retrieving both their shoes. As he put them on, she watched him curiously.  

“Let’s go,” he said, lifting her once again.  

As they went down the stairs, all eyes turned toward them.  

A chorus of “Awws” filled the room.  

Adranksh gently placed Maya in a chair before taking the seat next to her. Without hesitation, she wrapped her hands around a warm mug of hot chocolate, seeking comfort in its heat.  

Adranksh plated some pancakes and waffles, cutting them into bite-sized pieces before holding a forkful to her lips. She smiled and took a bite.  

The others watched in stunned silence before Aadrik huffed.  

“You guys are calling us single in all languages.”  

“You didn’t seem so single last night,” Lavanya teased, laughing.  

Aadrik’s face turned red as his eyes found Vedha’s. She suddenly choked, memories of their ‘interaction’ from last night flashing through her mind.  

She nearly spit out her hot cocoa upon hearing Lavanya’s comment. Lavanya's laughter deepened at Vedha’s reaction.  

“What happened last night?” Janardhan, Vedha’s father, asked, raising an eyebrow.  

“Nothing, Appa. We were just p-playing a game,” she stammered, forcing a smile.  

“If you don’t finish breakfast in the next ten minutes, you’ll miss most of the planned activities today,” Utkarsh reminded them.  

“Yes, we decided all the kids will enjoy the activities while the adults go sightseeing,” Surya announced.  

Excited glances were exchanged among the young ones.  

They quickly finished their breakfast and left, taking two cars to their destination.  

Upon arrival, a man was waiting for them. He led them inside to change into skiing suits. Excitement rushed through their veins as they hurried to get ready, eager for the adventure ahead.  

Maya adjusted her gloves when Adranksh pulled her close. “Stay near me, Malyshka. I don’t want you to get hurt.”  

She rolled her eyes playfully. “I can take care of myself, Ansh.”  

“I know,” he murmured, kissing her temple softly. “But let me take care of you too.”  

Meanwhile, Vedha struggled to get her ski boots on when Aadrik crouched down, helping her fasten them.  

She looked at him, warmth filling her heart. “Thank you.”  

He smirked. “I should be rewarded for my good deeds, don’t you think?”  

She nudged him playfully. “You wish.”  

Vaishali was changing into her suit when Yuvraj walked in with his.  

“If you wanted to see me change, you should have just asked,” she teased.  

“Would you let me watch then?” he asked, walking close to her.  

With every step she took backward, he took one forward until her back hit the wall.  

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he looked at her. A shiver ran down her spine when she felt his hand on her face.  

“Yes,” she whispered. He stiffened before sighing,  

“We can’t Bee. You know that.” He whispered before leaving her.  

Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away.  

Karishma adjusted her gloves when Ishan leaned in, fixing her scarf for her.  

“Stay warm, troublemaker,” he murmured, his fingers lingering longer than necessary.  

She smirked. “Worried about me, Ishan?”  

He chuckled. “Always.”  

A slight blush dusted her cheeks, but she masked it with confidence. “Try to keep up with me on the slopes, then.”  

Karishma leaned closer. “Or maybe I’ll just have to catch you.”  

As the group prepared to hit the slopes, laughter and anticipation filled the air, and the bonds among them grew even stronger.  

Lavanya tightened the straps of her skiing boots, her fingers moving swiftly as she prepared for the day’s activities. Just as she was about to stand up, a sharp voice cut through the air.  

"Try not to fall on your face today, Lavanya. We wouldn’t want to rescue you—again."  

She turned her head, already rolling her eyes as she found Samay leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, his signature smirk on his face.  

"Funny, coming from the guy who almost took me down with him last time," she shot back, standing up.  

Samay scoffed. "Please, I was being a gentleman. You, on the other hand, nearly took us both down the slope like a lunatic."  

Lavanya stepped closer, narrowing her eyes. "You mean when you decided to cut in front of me because you couldn’t stand that I was beating you?"  

Samay raised a brow. "Beating me? In what universe?"  

"The one where I don’t let arrogant, self-absorbed show-offs win," she quipped, tilting her head with a smirk.  

Samay’s jaw twitched, but he masked it with a chuckle. "Alright then, Ms. Spoiled. How about a little bet?"  

Lavanya crossed her arms, intrigued. "I’m listening."  

"First one down the slope wins. Loser owes the winner a dinner date."  

Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Make it a full week of doing whatever the winner says."  

His smirk faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Confident, aren’t you?"  

"Terrified, aren’t you?" she shot back.  

Samay’s eyes darkened with challenge. He stepped forward, leaving barely any space between them. "You’re on, Lavanya. Get ready to lose."  

She leaned in, matching his intensity. "Oh, Samay, you’re going to regret this."  

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him staring after her.  

This was going to be fun.  

Ishani felt the cold rush of wind against her face as she skied down the slope, her speed increasing with every second. She had always been competitive and always needed to prove she was the best. But this time, she miscalculated.  

Her foot hit an uneven patch of snow, throwing her off balance. Her arms flailed as she felt herself tipping backward.  

But before she could crash, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back upright.  

"Careful," a familiar, frustrating voice murmured in her ear.  

Ishani stiffened. Of all people, it had to be him.  

"Let. Me. Go," she gritted out, pushing against Avyaansh’s hold.  

"You're welcome, by the way," he replied lazily, loosening his grip, though he didn’t let her go right away.  

Ishani regained her footing and spun around, glaring at him. "I didn’t ask for your help."  

Avyaansh smirked, unfazed by her glare. "And yet, you were two seconds away from eating snow."  

Her jaw clenched. "I could have handled it myself."  

"Right. Just like you handled almost falling off the cliff a few years ago?" he taunted, crossing his arms.  

Ishani’s eyes burned with fury. "That was because you pushed me!"  

"Correction," he drawled. "I nudged you. You were the one who lost control—just like today."  

She wanted to punch that smug look off his face. "You think you're so perfect, don’t you?"  

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "I don’t think, Ishani. I know."  

Her hands curled into fists. "I swear, if we weren’t standing on slippery snow, I would have knocked you flat on your back by now."  

Avyaansh chuckled. "You? Knock me down? That’s adorable."  

Ishani gritted her teeth. "I hate you."  

"Right back at you, jungle billi," he replied, his smirk widening. "Now, if you're done pretending you don’t need me, I suggest you focus. Wouldn't want to lose to me again."  

She pushed past him, her blood boiling.  

This wasn’t over.  

Not by a long shot.Maya let out a delighted laugh as she glided down the snowy slope, the cold wind rushing past her face. She turned her head slightly and sparkled with excitement while looking at Adranksh skiing beside her.  

“You’re getting good at this, Malyshka,” he called out, his deep voice full of amusement.  

Maya smirked. “Better than you, Mr. Expert?”  

“Oh, is that a challenge?” His eyes gleamed with mischief.  

“Maybe.” She grinned and pushed herself forward, gaining more speed.  

Adranksh narrowed his eyes playfully. Within seconds, he matched her pace. “You really think you can outrun me?”  

Maya giggled. “It’s not about outrunning you—it’s about having more fun than you.”  

Adranksh chuckled as he shook his head. “We’ll see about that.” Without warning, he swooped in closer and reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm before giving her a gentle push to the side.  

Maya gasped as she lost a bit of control but quickly steadied herself. She turned to glare at him. “Did you just push me?”  

He shrugged, trying to look innocent. “I was just helping you adjust your balance.”  

“Oh, you’re so going to pay for that.”  

Before he could react, she playfully swerved in his direction, nudging him just enough to throw him off balance. He staggered slightly but managed to stay upright.  

“You little—” he started, but Maya let out a triumphant laugh and sped ahead.  

Adranksh smirked. “Alright, that’s it.”  

Determined to catch up, he skied faster, gliding smoothly. Within seconds, he was right beside her. Just as he was about to grab her, Maya suddenly jumped. Her skis lifted off a small ridge, sending her soaring for a moment before she landed perfectly.  

She turned back with a smug smile. “Beat that.”  

Adranksh raised a brow, impressed. “Oh, we’re showing off now?”  

Before she could respond, he took a sharp turn and picked up speed. With perfect precision, he performed a flawless spin mid-air before landing smoothly.  

Maya’s jaw dropped. “Okay, that was kind of unfair.”  

He grinned. “You started it, Malyshka.”  

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the wide smile spreading across her face.  

As they reached the bottom of the slope, Adranksh pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You looked beautiful up there,” he murmured, resting his forehead against hers.  

Maya felt warmth spread through her despite the cold. “And you looked cocky as always.”  

He chuckled. “But you love it.”  

She sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”  

He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her nose before whispering, “Let’s go again.”  

Maya’s laughter filled the air as they raced back up for another round.  

Their happy trip soon came to an end as they had to leave for Jaipur the next morning.  

After skiing, they arrived at a little café nestled between snow-covered trees. The warmth inside felt like a welcome contrast to the cold outside. They found a cozy corner and settled in, their faces still flushed from the excitement of skiing.  

They ordered hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, and an assortment of brownies, still buzzing from their adventures on the slopes.  

“That was amazing!” Maya gushed, her eyes sparkling. “I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in a long time.”  

Adranksh chuckled and took a sip of his coffee. “I’ll admit, you never fail to surprise me, Malyshka,” he replied.  

Maya picked up a piece of brownie, breaking off a bite-sized piece before holding it up to Adranksh. Without thinking, she smiled, waiting for him to take a bite.  

Before he could, Lavanya interjected. “Bhabhi, Bhaiya doesn’t eat chocolate.”  

Maya blinked in surprise and turned to Adranksh, her brows furrowing. “You don’t?”  

Before Adranksh could respond, Samay leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Lavanya, you’re so innocent,” he said, shaking his head. “Maya made Adranksh promise her when they were little. He wouldn’t eat chocolate until she fed it to him.”  

The entire table fell into stunned silence. Eyes widened in disbelief as they all turned toward Adranksh, who simply nodded before leaning forward and eating the brownie from Maya’s fingers.  

As the rich chocolate melted in his mouth, nostalgia washed over him. It had been years since he tasted this, yet the moment felt oddly familiar and comforting.  

Maya stared at him, guilt settling in her chest. “I’m sorry, Ansh,” she murmured, her voice softening. “I was just a jealous little kid. You shouldn’t have waited for me.”  

Adranksh set his coffee down and turned to her, his lips curling into a small smile. “No matter how small you were, Maya, your words have always meant a lot to me.”  

Her guilt deepened, and without thinking, she slid her mug of hot cocoa toward him. He glanced at it, shook his head, and took another sip of his coffee instead.  

Still feeling guilty, Maya broke off another piece of brownie and held it out to him. This time, he didn’t hesitate. He ate it from her fingers, looking content as he chewed.  

Maya smiled as she fed him the whole brownie, feeling happy and content.