The crackling bonfire cast flickering shadows on their faces, and the crisp mountain air carried the faint scent of pine. The group sat huddled around the warmth, wrapped in blankets and the comfort of shared laughter. Naina had just finished recounting a hilarious incident from their school days, leaving everyone in splits.

Mayank leaned back and stretched his arms. "Alright, people, enough stories. Let’s add some music to this night. Who’s singing first?"

Naina nudged Milli. "You’ve got the voice of an angel. Come on, sing something!"

Milli shook her head, laughing nervously. "Not tonight. Let someone else start."

Mayank’s eyes landed on Kush. "Kush, how about you? You’ve been suspiciously quiet. Sing something for us."

Kush raised an eyebrow, pretending to be disinterested. "Why me? I’m terrible at singing."

Naina smirked. "Don’t lie. I’ve seen you humming under your breath. Come on, don’t be shy."

Encouraged by the playful teasing, Kush finally relented. He grabbed a stick and poked at the fire, his expression softening. "Alright, fine. But don’t laugh if I mess up."

As he began, his deep voice carried over the quiet mountainside, blending perfectly with the night’s stillness.

"Mohabbat agar karni ho toh mujhse kar lena,
Main zakhmon ko bhi pyar karta hoon…
Wafa ke badle wafa chahta hoon,
Mujhse mohabbat karni ho toh mujhse kar lena…”

The group fell silent, the intensity of his voice capturing their attention. Kush’s gaze remained fixed on the fire, but his words seemed to float toward Milli, who listened with rapt attention.

"Na gehri chaahat, na shartein koi,
Bas dil se dil ka ek vaasta ho…"

As he continued, Milli’s eyes glistened. She could feel the raw emotion in his voice, a vulnerability he rarely showed. The others watched in awe, sensing the unspoken connection between the two.

When he finished, the silence lingered for a moment before Mayank broke it with a loud cheer. "Kush! That was incredible, man!"

Naina clapped enthusiastically. "You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? That was beautiful!"

Milli smiled softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It really was."

Kush finally looked up, his cheeks tinged with the faintest blush. "Thanks, but don’t make a big deal out of it."

Mayank smirked, nudging Naina. "I think we all know who that song was meant for."

Kush shot him a warning look, but the playful banter continued. Milli, however, remained quiet, her thoughts tangled with the lyrics and the emotions they carried.

As the night wore on, the group’s laughter resumed, but Milli found herself stealing glances at Kush, her heart heavy with questions she couldn’t yet answer. And Kush, for all his playful demeanor, couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just bared his soul in a way he hadn’t intended.

The mountains stood witness to the unsaid words and lingering gazes, the soft hum of a song echoing in the cold, starlit air.