The next day, the group decided to visit a nearby waterfall. It was a short trek, and everyone was excited. Anaya walked with Mira, taking in the beauty around her. But as they climbed a particularly steep trail, she slipped.
She barely had time to react before a strong hand caught her.
Aarav.
Their eyes met, her breath caught in her throat.
"Be careful," he said, his voice softer than it had been in months.
Anaya nodded, her heart racing—not because of the fall, but because, for the first time, she saw something in Aarav's eyes that she had never seen before.
Concern.
But just as quickly as it came, he stepped back, letting go of her hand. And just like that, the wall between them was back.
The trip was coming to an end. On the last evening, the group sat by the river, watching the sunset. Laughter filled the air, but Anaya felt a strange sense of closure.
Aarav had chosen his path, and she had chosen hers.
Maybe once, she had wanted their paths to be the same. But now, she realized—she was okay walking her own way.
Aarav noticed the change in her. She no longer sought his attention, no longer waited for him. She looked… happy. And that unsettled him in a way he didn't understand.
On the final day of the trip, the group decided to spend it at the beach. The waves crashed against the shore, the salty breeze tousled their hair, and the carefree laughter of friends echoed in the air.
They played games, built sandcastles like they were kids again, and ran barefoot on the wet sand, trying to capture every last moment of their time together.
As the sun began to set, they sat in a circle, watching the sky turn from orange to pink to deep blue. It felt like an ending—one they all knew was coming, yet none of them were ready for.
No one said it aloud, but they all knew—this was the last time they'd be together like this.
The trip had come to an end. The morning of their departure was quiet, filled with a bittersweet heaviness that none of them wanted to acknowledge. Their suitcases were packed, the homestay owners had bid them farewell, and now, they stood near the bus station, waiting for their final goodbyes.
No one wanted to be the first to speak.
Mira sighed, forcing a smile. "I guess this is it."
Rohan rubbed the back of his neck. "Feels weird, doesn't it? We've spent years together, and now, suddenly, we're going separate ways."
"I wish we had more time," Misha admitted softly.
Anaya looked around at her friends—the people who had been her world throughout school. They had laughed together, cried together, grown up together. And now, they were stepping into their futures, uncertain of when they would all meet again.
Karan, always the light-hearted one, tried to make a joke. "Well, don't forget me when you all become rich and famous."
But even he couldn't hide the emotion in his voice.
Finally, without another word, they all moved in for a group hug. It wasn't just any hug—it was a silent promise, a reassurance that no matter where life took them, the memories they had built would always remain.
Aarav's arm brushed against Anaya's for a fleeting second, but neither of them acknowledged it.
As they pulled away, one by one, they boarded their respective buses, heading toward different cities, different dreams.
Anaya took a deep breath as she settled into her seat. The past was behind her now. Ahead lay a future she was ready to embrace.
And as the bus started moving, she whispered to herself, "This is just the beginning."