The honking sound of the motor hit Sanskar's ears as he descended down the stairs with a duffle bag over his shoulder. Suraj who was sitting on the couch reading a daily and looked up at his son and stood up to wish him goodbye.

"Bye dad. And just because I will be gone for a week don't take advantage of it" Sanskar said only to receive a playful blow on his arm.

"Enjoy your trip. And take care" Suraj said hugging him.

"You too dad. Bye." Sanskar walked out to join the troop waiting for him outside.

************************************
A black jeep convertible stood outside his gates with his friends in it.
The four of them had hung out a few days back and had developed quite a good rapport that they were comfortable with each other's company. The trio had instantly welcomed Sanskar into their group.

He walked upto the motor. Ayan was driving and Shanaya sat next to him in the passenger seat. That left him to join Ragini at the backseat. He shoved his bag inside and hopped in sitting opposite to Ragini, who passed him a very warming smile.

"All ready. Here we go" shouted Ayan excited and all the others followed with same enthusiasm.

The jeep took off with a jerk and the sudden force had Ragini yank forward. Sanskar instantly had his hand held out, protecting her from hurting herself. The gesture had their faces so close as their eyes locked with each other. Sanskar felt himself zoning out lost in her brown orbs and Ragini looked equally as dazed as he was.

"Guys, how about we go trekking first" Shanaya said sounding excited, breaking the two out of their fairyland and both avoided looking at each other, embarrassed.

"Or maybe paragliding" Shanaya continued her ranting.

"Shay... We could decide all that once we reach Manali. Now, don't tire your brain fretting over it." Ragini said poking her head and both the boys tried hard suppressing their laugh seeing Shanaya's annoyed face.

"Ragu, you do know how she talks non stop when she is excited. So it's no use asking her to stop" Ayan said and held out his hand over his head towards Ragini sitting right behind him. Ragini hit her palm with Ayan's and all the three burst out laughing.

"Huh. No one loves me. I hate you all" Shanaya turned the other side huffing and pouting in anger.

"But we love you." All the three shouted in her ear. Though the corner of her lips twitched up, Shanaya tried her best on keeping a straight face.
Ayan who noticed this, leaned towards her and gave a quick peck on her cheek and resumed driving. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of scarlet as she smacked his shoulder.

"Geez guys, don't forget we are right here." Sanskar chided the two at their PDA.

"Exactly" Ragini added making the two blush harder.

************************************

The journey continued with laughters and teasings. The vehicles passing by theirs looked at them as if they were some alien species, thanks to the madness erupting from their jeep.

They stopped by a dhaba to have their dinner. All the four were sitting around the table waiting for the waiter to give their orders. Sanskar sat next to Ayan and opposite to Ragini, while Shanaya sat next to her.

As the waiter arrived, the men satisfied themselves with light food while the ladies ordered almost everything that they served.
Sanskar's mouth hung open hearing them order and Ayan had to close it keeping a finger under his chin and pushing it up.

"Don't worry bro. You'll get used to it" Ayan patted his shoulder.

Soon the food arrived and the ladies dug in as if they were starving from days. Ayan was having his food fully concentrating in it while Sanskar stared wide eyed.

"What? Don't eye our food." Ragini snapped, who noticed Sanskar staring them.

"Yea. Gewwt yowwur ohwwn, iwf yowwhu wawhnt." Shanaya added, her mouth full with food.

"What??" Sanskar asked bewildered.

"Get your own if you want." She said gulping down the food.

"Oh no! I don't want to look like a ball rolling around" Sanskar said shaking his head at the horrible thought.

"What do you mean? That we are fat?" The ladies spat in unison, ready to murder him.

"That's.... That's not w... what I... I meant."

"Guys, leave him. Just this once." Ayan intervened, not wanting to witness two of his best friends go to jail murdering his other best friend.

"Ask him to say sorry for calling us fat." Ragini huffed.

"But when did I..." Sanskar started confused.

"Just do it before they start a war." Ayan adviced elbowing him and Sanskar nodded.

"I'm sorry" Sanskar said making the most innocent face.

"It's okay." said the two and continued having their fare.

"Thanks a lot bro" Sanskar whispered to Ayan, heaving a sigh of relief.

"No problem. And lesson 1: Never stare at them or comment about them while they have their food" Ayan whispered back.

************************************

The men were sitting chatting with each other while the girls continued savouring their food. Sanskar noticed two guys by a nearby table ogling at the girls. He clenched his hand in a fist and was about to get up when Ragini stood up and left to clean her hands. He observed the two guys standing up as well and going right behind her.

Sanskar excused himself and proceeded in Ragini's direction when she was out of his sight. As he neared forward, he saw a few people standing agape gazing at something. His eyes trailed theirs and his eyeballs almost popped out witnessing what was ahead of him.

One of the two guys who followed Ragini was lying on the ground writhing in pain. He had a black eye and he seemed to have broken a few bones, while the other was being perfectly manhandled by Ragini as he was begging her to stop.

Not wanting to witness a homicide, Sanskar rushed forward and separated the guy from her clutches. The guy ran with whatever energy he had left, almost dragging the other one with him and the people dispersed from there making sure there wasn't anymore drama happening anytime soon.

"What on earth was that?" Sanskar asked Ragini who was standing flaring her nose and huffing in anger. She turned to him, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened them, her anger subsiding.

"Oh nothing. They had a few doubts, I was just clearing it to them." she stated dusting her hands.

He gawked at her for an instant "You know how to fight?" It came out more of like a question than a statement.

"Yeah. I have been practicing Judo from the age of six. Dad was quite adamant with me learning self defence."

"Does that mean, I should be careful around you?" Sanskar asked taking a step away from her even as a slight smile twitched at the corner of his lips.

"Without a doubt" Ragini replied positioning herself ready to fight. Soon the both burst out laughing and moved in the direction of their friends.

************************************

"Sanky, you drive" Ayan said tossing the key towards Sanskar as they were exiting the dhaba and he caught it in the next moment.

They resumed their journey with the men sitting in the front seats and the ladies at the back.

************************************

It took them almost a day and a half to reach Manali, with all the four taking turns to drive to their destination.

Ragini halted the jeep in front of their hotel, where their rooms had already been booked. All got out carrying their backpacks and other luggages while the hotel staff took their vehicle to parking.

"Finally, we are in Manali. Now all I want to do is get fresh and crash out." Shanaya announced stretching her hands and stifling a yawn.

"But I thought the first thing you wanted to do was go trekking or was it paragliding?" Ayan queried keeping a finger on his chin as a smirk formed on his lips.

Shanaya glared at him for a moment and then stamped on his foot before sprinting off, sticking her tongue out.

"You are gone" Ayan shouted as he chased behind her.

"They are cute" Sanskar said looking at the two running around.

"And notorious as well" Ragini added shaking her head, both tittering at it. Just then the other two came panting for breath.

"Okay. I'm sorry" Ayan said heaving and Shanaya looked at him for an instant before uttering a quick forgiveness.

"Lesson 2: You should always say sorry regardless of whose fault it actually is" Ayan wispered leaning towards Sanskar.

"I heard that. Now, come on. Get my luggage to my room" Shanaya said walking inside flipping her hair as Ayan stood gawking and Sanskar couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"If you are finished with your laughing, get mine too." Ragini ordered as she walked away as well and Sanskar had a very similar expression to that of Ayan's.

"Women" both muttered as they moved behind them with all the luggage tagging behind.

************************************

Sanskar stood gazing at the scenic beauty ahead of him. The temperature was a bit low owing to the time of the day. The moment he had entered his room, he had showered and changed into something more comfortable. It felt like the shower drained with it all his tiredness and here he was, standing in the hotel garden.

A couple of minutes later, he felt a presence near him. He couldn't fathom why, but he could easily guess who it was, even without looking. Maybe it was her strawberry fragrance that stood out from the earthly smell that filled him till then.

"So, aren't you tired?" she asked and he turned his head to look at her. Her hazel orbs shined in the sun and Sanskar couldn't help but stare into them a bit longer before answering.

"I was. But not now. And you?"

"Nope. Shay is sleeping. So, I thought of taking a stroll around here." Ragini said with a smile. "And.... Look who I found. Mr. Sanskar Singhania" she added chuckling and Sanskar joined her.

"Even Ayu is in deep slumber. He didn't even react when I pulled my shirt from beneath him."

"Oh, let me tell you, they both will never know even if there was an earthquake while they are sleeping." Ragini said as the both giggled over it.

"They are just perfect for each other." Sanskar said once they had finished with their laughing fits.

"Yeah. I know."

The both began walking at a low pace.

"Ayu was planning to take Shay out for dinner tonight." Sanskar said excited and the glint in his eyes auggested that there was something more to the statement.

"And" Ragini probbed.

"I think..... He is going to propose her" he said grinning.

"Really!!" Ragini asked halting on her steps and widening her eyes as excitement etched on her face.

"Well, I'm not sure. But from the look of it, it really felt like that."

"I'm so happy. I just hope he does." Ragini said jumping like a 9 year old.

"Hmm. Me too" said Sanskar, continuing their stroll.

They reached one of the benches perfectly placed in the garden and sat enjoying the cool wind.

"So, what do we do?" asked Sanskar.

"Why do we need to do anything? It's Ayu's thing to propose her." Ragini spoke confused and Sanskar hit his head with the face of his palm.

"That's not what I meant. What do we do since the two are going on a date? How do you plan to spend the evening?" Sanskar asked, making it clear.

"Oh... I don't know. You decide." she replied sheepishly.

"I heard there is some party held here, in the hotel, for I don't know what. So, if you don't have any other plans we could go there." he said not quite knowing what her answer would be. He desperately wanted her to say yes.

"Okay. I don't mind." she said tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

The temperature went down a bit more as time crept by and Sanskar noticed Ragini rubbing her palms up and down her arm.

"I think we should go inside. It's getting cold" Sanskar stated getting up and held out his palm for her to hold.

Ragini looked at his forwarded hand and then at him before keeping her palm in his, passing him a warm smile.
Both walked hand in hand, talking about random stuffs until they reached infront of Ragini's room.
Sanskar gently let go of her hand and took a step away from her.

"See you at eight." he said and she nodded at him in return as she kept her hand on the door knob.

Sanskar walked towards his room, right next to hers. He opened his door and turned to his side to see Ragini still at her door. She smiled at him which he returned before the two entered their respective rooms.

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Heya guys,

Here goes the next part. Don't forget to tell me your views.

Hit the 🌟 if you liked it.

I promise to try and make the next part more interesting.

Till next time,
Take care and stay blessed 😘