Our trip was finally over. I wanted to meet my family again, but I also didn't want to leave this beautiful place. In the cities, we can hardly find a peaceful moment, but here in the hill, it was available 24×7. After surveying the area, I thought of buying some land to build my dream home here.

I glanced out of the window, tall mountains peaking over the huge green blanket. The sun rose slowly, basking everything in a soft yellow glow. I took a long breath and waved at the scene for the last time. I locked the door after grabbing my luggage and joined my batchmates; everyone was discussing about our last five days.

I met Nikhil on the way, and he asked me about our basketball practice schedule.

Oh no! I completely forgot to tell him about the revised timings and sessions. By the looks of it, if I tell him now, he might throw me in the jungle. Let's blow the bomb directly in the college.

Instead of talking about basketball, I asked Nikhil about Karthik and if he was still angry with his best friend. Nikhil shot me a mischievous smile and showed me Karthik's smartphone.

"I have this. If he vanishes from my sight even for a second, I will break it," Nikhil said.

"Nice. Where is he though?"

"Washroom. You go ahead; I will come with my hostage."

I gave him a thumbs up and went ahead. As I had come on my bike, I bid goodbye to my peers and made my way towards the parking lot. I was about to cross the exit when I heard Tanya calling me.

"Ved, wait a minute!" Tanya yelled.

"Hey, Tanya."

"Hi. I have been waiting to ask you this since last two days, but you seemed a lot busy. You didn't even come to play with us when I called you," she complained.

"Sorry. I was hanging out with the boys, so I couldn't come," I lied. "What did you want to ask me?"

She took out her phone and showed me the pics of a beach resort. "We girls are planning a trip to visit Kanyakumari. If you are interested, you can also come. I am going to ask Nikhil and Shree too."

Beach resort? Sounds like a good idea.

She started giving me the details, and I heard her attentively but something caught my eye. Behind Tanya, about ten feet distance away, Sandhya was chatting with Surbhi as they moved towards their bus.

Fortunately, Sandhya was decked up with warm clothes unlike last time. The grey beanie on her head looked nice on her, complimenting her tan. She had tied her hair in a lose braid, a few strands falling on the either sides of her face.

She laughed and hit Surbhi, who hit her back; both of them continued guffowing. As Sandhya stood behind, Surbhi went inside the bus and yelled that they had a few empty window seats available. When she returned back, Sandhya-

"Ved, are you listening?" Tanya waved her hand in front of me.

What was she saying again?

I moved my gaze at her and nodded. "Yes."

She asked me if I would like to come to the pub tomorrow, and I nodded again.

"Thank you for inviting me." I smiled.

"You are always welcome, Ved," she said. "Don't forget about the beach trip."

She left after wishing me a safe journey, and I looked back at where Sandy Pandy was. Surbhi had already gone inside, and Sandhya was getting on the stairs of the bus.

I shot a quick glance at my motorbike, the memories of what happened five days ago resurfacing. Sandhya had messaged me that she would repay me as soon as possible, but I didn't want any money from her. I knew she would try to pay me again when we would return to college.

Is there any way to avoid it? How can I make her forget about the money without hurting her pride? Think, Ved, think.

Idea!

I zoomed towards my target, and just as Sandhya was on the last step, I wrapped my arms around her waist and picked her up. Within a second, she was back on the ground and glanced over her shoulder with an accusatory look.

"Ved, leave me," she said.

"Nope."

"What?"

I stared at her light brown orbs that looked like honey in the sunlight. "You forgot about the payment."

"You are the one who tore off my money when I gave it to you!"

She looks so cute even when she is angry.

I raised my right hand to poke her nose but stopped myself from doing so. My mission was to annoy and distract her into agreeing with me. She huffed when I told her that she would have to pay me the same way she had received the services from me.

"I am not coming with you. My friends are waiting for me," she argued.

I laughed when Surbhi motioned for her to go, and Sandhya glared at her best friend. Finally, she agreed with what I had proposed and waved Surbhi goodbye.

"Let's go," I said and removed my arms from her waist.

I grabbed her wrist and took her to my bike. I kept her luggage in the side dickeys and gave her the helmet. She widened her eyes when I told her that she was going to drive. She refused instantly and looked horrified at the idea.

"What if I get us in an accident?" she pointed out.

"I know you won't, and I will be right here. I will handle it if anything happens," I assured.

She still looked conflicted. I tried to boost her confidence; I was aware that she also wanted to drive the bike. The grey beast was a birthday present from my father, and I didn't allow anyone to drive it.

Then why are you allowing Sandhya to do it?

Why are you asking when you already know it?

I took off the beanie from Sandhya's head; she wasn't going to need it anyways. By her expressions, it was clear that the beanie looked good on me, but she wasn't going to say it. She wore the helmet, and after I took the bike off its stands, she grabbed the handles.

"Aren't you going to wear something else?" she asked.

Oh, was Sandy Pandy worried about me?

"Won't gonna need it," I replied and sat down behind her.

I was naturally warm, so I didn't need much protection from the cold weather. A single hoodie was enough to keep me safe.

I showed my driver how to use the various buttons on the dashboard. She nodded, and as expected, she switched on the seat heaters as soon as she started the bike. I smacked her on the helmet, and she cursed at me.

"Drive properly, okay? Don't get scared," I advised.

"Okay."

She waited for a few minutes before she accelerated and moved the bike on the road. In the starting, she drove slowly as she listened to my instructions; I stopped guiding her once she got a hang of it.

"Doing well, Sandy Pandy," I praised.

After hearing my compliment, Sandhya shot me a boastful smile from the side view mirror and bobbled her head in joy.

"Just gotta do something about your overconfidence," I teased.

Her expressions changed in a flash, and the bike moved off track a bit when Sandhya moved her hand off the accelerator to hit me.

This idiot.

"Focus on the driving," I scolded. "I am not interested in dying so soon."

Sandhya narrowed her eyes. "Is that so? Then how would you like to die?"

"With you."

Huh? With you? Am I the one who said that just now? Did I really say it?

To confirm my doubt, I looked at Sandy Pandy, and she was staring at me with a foreign expression.

Fuck! I really said it. What to do now? Shit, why would I do that?

Wait, is that a truck coming towards us?

I grabbed the handle and moved the bike away from the upcoming vehicle before it rammed into us.

"Drive properly, Buffoon." I punched Sandhya on the back.

"It happened because of you!" she yelled.

Even if I wasn't the one driving, she wasn't wrong though. She wouldn't have lost her focus if I hadn't blurred out that out of the blue.

What should I do? She is staring at me and wouldn't shut up unless I give an explanation. What if she stops the bike and interrogates me? I might end up revealing everything. I can't even trust myself.

Time to use our old trick.

I clenched my fists and pulled a poker face. When she asked me the same question again, I gulped down my guilt and stared at her blankly.

"I meant I will die with you if you won't drive as I told you to."

Sorry, Sandy Pandy, I had to say it. I don't want you to turn into a wildebeest, you know.

Sandhya blinked her eyes rapidly and turned her attention back to the road after glancing at me a few times.

"Okay then," she said.

After that, none of us said anything, keeping our talks related to only driving. On our way, we stopped at a local restaurant, and I told Sandhya to eat less. She was going to drive through the rest of the journey too, and if she would have fallen asleep, we would have surely died.

Soon, we were back on our journey, and Sandhya had started singing to keep herself awake. As I had eaten till my stomach was full, I felt my eyes getting heavier than bricks. I shook my head and tried to concentrate on Sandhya's voice from falling asleep, but all was in vain.

No, Ved, don't sleep. What if Sandhya faces any issue while driving? Oye, idiot, are you even listening?! Ved, don't-

My body stared becoming weightless as I moved closer to Sandhya. The fact I talked about me being not needing any protection from cold weather seemed to be proving false. The winds had turned chiller, making me miss my thick sweatshirts.

No matter how I tried, I couldn't resist the sleep. I laid down my head on Sandhya's back and wrapped my arms around her waist.

Wow. She was so warm.

"Ved?" Sandhya asked.

"Hm?"

"Feeling sleepy?"

Yes, Sandy Pandy, I am feeling sleepy. And sorry, I won't be able to help you in driving any more. Our lives are in your hands, so drive safely. Don't worry about the bike. I can manage one or two dents, but just don't drop the bike into a ditch.

"Sweet dreams, Sandy Pandy."

Why isn't she replying? Hmm, maybe she is too focused on driving? Is she okay with me holding her for support? She would scold me if she wasn't. Even if she doesn't deny me now, I will apologize to her once I wake up.

I know she wouldn't mind it that much, but I would explain the situation later. Hope she doesn't misunderstand. Stupid stomach, why did you eat so much? Now I can't even guide my monkey.

Don't worry, Ved. Your monkey is very good at driving. So sleep tight and trust the person you love.

Love? When did it advance to that stage?