Thank you friends for all your supporting words in the last update. It really means a lot.

Okay.....here I am with the new update.

Target for next update- No target...just let me know how many of you actually like my story.

Now....enjoy the chappy guys....

_________________________________________

Dumbstruck!

Awestruck!

Oh My God!

I can't even say anything. This is just so awesome!

As soon as we reached the place, Manik came to my side, opening the door for me and guiding me out with my hand. Well...he had blindfolded me so...

We walked some distance. The air smelt so fresh, just like morning dew. I was constantly asking him about our destination but he was as silent as a tree.

Finally...like finally he stood still and opened that black cloth from my eyes, only for me to stare in shock.

There stood our friends and family. All ready in casual trekking outfits, at the entry of ' The Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail'..... one of the most popular and exciting hikes in NYC.

I stared at the smiling faces of Navya,Abhi and the Fab4, who grinned back at me with Arya, Maddy, George and Lexi standing beside them. I turned to my side to see my man, leaning by a pole with his hands in his pockets and a lazy smile on his face. Controlling my sudden urge to attack him and kiss the hell out of him, I mouthed a ' Thank you ', to which he replied with a sweet smile and a flying kiss making me grin.

I was suddenly engulfed in a sudden hug by Navya who jumped on me followed by Abhi. Both had slight tears in there eyes, just like me. And suddenly I realised....." Oh how much I missed these two Amigos. My two lifelines." Hugging them to my dear life, tears rolled down my eyes, finally feeling at home again. Yes. My family.

Fab 3 too came forward to engulf me in a group hug while Bir just dropped a soft kiss on my forehead wishpering a series of ' Miss you's in my ears. I too clung to him a bit longer feeling the protective brotherly feeling I got in his arms. Everyone around was passing looks seeing our family reunion, some admired us while some made faces. But I cared about none. I was finally with my family after what felt like a decade and I was in no mood to tone down my excitement.

" Oh My God! Tu kitni dubli ho gayi hai Nanni!( How thin have you become Nanni!)", and here comes over dramatic Mumma Bose, making me and Abhi facepalm ourselves and others chuckle. I just hugged her and placed a tight kiss on her cheek while she made a face, playfully hitting my arm.

After what felt like an eternity, finally George walked forward to pull us all out of our family land and reminded that it was getting late for the trail.

" Han han chalo chalo. We need to reach the summit too. Its so amazing there!", I yelled making everyone chuckle while my Hanstens gang just facepalmed themselves. Well, I have visited this place for like more than 10 times but still I get excited whenever I come here. I love treks you know.

Manik came forward and wrapped his hands around my waist. " Lets go then baby.", he said and walked with a blushing me, completely ignoring the teasing stares and hoots from the others.

End of pov

The trail continued with the gang reliving their memories while Fab 5 laughing listening to their tales.

" You remember when we decided to plan an all-boys trek and you girls were like breathing fire for being left out? It was so amazing to see you all sulking in the canteen, whinning about anything and everything. Especially Nandu.", Arya said teasingly and the Hansten boys laughed out loud remembering the incident while the girls whined making the Fab 5 amused. These people were so much like them. They can see their own reflections in their friendship.

" Yeah....and you obviously would remember how we crushed all your plans under your own nose.", said Nandini and the girls smirked while now it was time for the boys to sulk.

" Ohkay...now I definitely need to know about it.", asked the ever curious soul Alya and the girls laughed.

" Well, the mastermind was Nandu offcourse. She asked Lexi to manipulate George into spilling all their plans and schedules and we made our own plan according to it without the boys' notice. When they took the first stop to feel the waterfall, Nandu immeditely slipped several red ants she collected from our garden, into their shoes. And then what? You should have been there to see how they were jumping here and there to get rid of the great biters. Until finally they threw off their shoes and dipped their feet in the water. Half an hour wasted already. Even after that she didn't leave them. We followed them to where they camped and caused all kinds of nuisance like wetting their woods for fire, stealing their stakes for the tents, Putting excessive salt in their foods. And the best part was that none of them could actually point out who was behind all that. ", said Navya and literally everyone except the Hansten boys were rolling on floor laughing...if that was even possible.

" I didn't know you were that mischievous.", wishpered Manik in her ears while she just grinned cutely at him, taking away his heart once more. He grinned back at her while secretly pecking her lips making her blush.

" What the..! You literally did that? Oh my God! Thats so hilarious! I so wish I was there to see Abhi dancing on one foot.", Mukti laughed holding her stomach while Abhi narrowed his eyes at her.

" Badi hasi aa rhi hai Ms. Vardhan. Do you want me shut you up.....in my way?", Abhi wishpered in her ears. And thats it. Mukti pressed her lips together, her whole face turning red as a tomato, while Abhi leaned back with his smirk intact, seeing his ladybheem blushing like noone else. Everyone was too busy laughing to notice this secret exchange except one whose eyes narrowed at the new formed couple trying to figure out what was cooking.

They continued to walk when they finally came across the most amazing part of the trek.

Fab 5 who had never been here were amazed by the view. It was as if they had been magically transported to some kind of heaven. The light trail of sunlight that fell on the rocks, the streaming waterfall and the rushing currents....it all created waves of positiveness and peace inside their bodies, soothing them and relaxing their minds as they continued to admire the surroundings. 

" This is so beautiful! Just amazing! I could live a lifetime just watching this view guys.", chirped Aliya, and the rest nodded still looking around.

Cabir, as always had taken out his precious dslr and was busy capturing each and every moment while Arya stood by him admiring every pic, himself being a pro at the job. Mukti walked up to a stone, feeling the texture while Abhi accompanied her, explaining her the significance of the place. The love birds DhruLya and GeoXi were busy in their own loveland leaving Navya and Maddy who were chatting over something funny as their laughter gave away.

Finding everyone busy, Manik pulled Nandini by her arm and swiftly dragged her behind the waterfall, startling the poor girl who was till now busy making videos on her phone. Before she could utter a word, he jerked her to himself and fused their lips together as her eyes widened.

Chucking away all the surprise or shock clouding her, she immediately put her hands around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Their tongues danced together as they fought for dominance, none ready to give up.

After what seemed like eternity, they finally pulled away, resting their foreheads, Manik rubbing his hand over Nandini's back as she gasped hard to breathe. " What was that?", she squeaked in between her pants and Manik chuckled planting a small kiss on her forehead. " One more tick in your bucket list.", he said, kissing her cheek, while she looked astonished. Did this man just memories her whole bucket list or what?

Her cheeks turned pink as she remembered how she had added ' Kiss behind the waterfall into her list when she had first come here with her mother. That time, she was just 14 years old silly high-school girl who fantasized a fairytale love story for herself, not knowing that her life would soon turn into hell where she would even doubt the word in her dreams.

But then...God rewarded her for her survival...... a Perfect Prince Charming.....a prince who actually came in a beautiful white horse and took her away from all her pain......her Manik.

Her trance broke when she found Manik caressing her cheeks with a frown on his forehead. Eyes laced with concern, he gently rubbed something off her face. And thats when she realised that tears had escaped her tanks...ah those traitors. " What happened Baby?"

She stared at him for a few seconds before shaking her head, a sweet satisfied smile forming back on her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and placed a soft kiss on his cheeks. " I love you so much." , she uttered softly yet affectionately, while he stared at her with an amused look, but didn't comment.

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

" God! I'm so fed up of you Arya! Ek kaam dhang se nahin hota terese? ( Can't you do one job perfectly?)", yelled Navya, as he saw him pegging at all the wrong places. They had decided to camp out there instead of going back and have a bonfire night. The boys were given responsibility of putting up the tents as the girls went out to collect wood for the fire. They came back just in time to see Arya pegging a tent in a weird twisted manner which made it look like a schoolboy's model of a tornado.

" Fine. I give up. You know tents are not my thing. Have never been.", he said as he passed the stakes to Dhruv who had volunteered to do the job himself. " Yeah. We know. Every time we came here, we used to do all the work while you just sat there stuffing your fat belly.",  Abhi spat as he came in with another stake to set up the tents. All burst into laughs while Arya huffed and picked up the chips packet to satisfy his stomach, being later joined by Cabir...... Bhukkads.

Soon they were done with the tents and it was time for sunset. So they all  assembled near the cliff with the other trekkers to watch the magnificent view. The couples entwined their hands together as the peaceful and romantic ambience set on the entire place. Aliya hugged Dhruv leaning her head on his chest as she looked at the sun meeting the horizon while Cabir snaked his hands around Navya's waist making her shiver. George and Lexie were in each other's arms talking about how beautiful the sight was. Even Abhi found an escape from everyone else and entwined his hands tightly with Mukti as he secretly placed a feathery kiss on her cheeks making the red creep up her from behind her ears.

About our dear Manan, then Nandini was leaning her head on Manik's shoulder as they sat on the edge, Manik's hand wrapped around her shoulder, placing kisses on the side of her head, making her smile grow with time. " Lets make a wish Manik.", she uttered softly making Manik frown. "Wish from the setting sun? Isn't it always asked to make it with the rising one?", he asked making her smile.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. " A resolution is made with a new beginning Manik. But a wish? A wish is always made for one.", she said while Manik looked all confused. She chuckled at his face and proceeded, " A rising sun marks a new day. A new beginning. But a setting sun? Its a promise of a new beginning. It always assures one that a new light is not far away. You just have to pass the beautiful darkness-filled night before you see the rays again. A rising sun surely comes up with rays of hope. But a setting sun always gives an opportunity to reset. And we can only wish for the new beginning to be beautiful. We cannot change what has already begun. So.."

" So we should always make a wish when the sun's going down, asking it to come up again with a beautiful morning in our lives.", he completed making her smile widen as she held up his hand to her lips, placing a soft tender kiss over the back of it followed by him engulfing her in his arms, trying to feel her presence as he wished for a beautiful life ahead with his love. A life filled with hapiness, where he and his whole big family is knit together in threads of love and peace. Life can never be a bed of roses. But he wished for strength to overcome all the obstacles and protect this precious smile that he saw in everyone's eyes.

Breaking the hug they looked in each others eyes in a silent pact of eternal love and a promise of forever as the sun faded into the horizon and Manik leaned in to press a gentle yet long kiss on her forehead, sealing their bond for Humesha.

_______________________________________________________________

Hola peeps......

So here goes another chapter. Liked it?

Manan?

The Gang?

Any specific wishes for the next chapter.

Will try to post sooner but can't promise as I've got my finals in a months time. So please please please bear with it.

Do shower this chapter with lots and lots of votes and comments.

Till the next chapter then.

Stay safe
Stay healthy

Yours Writer.