WebNovels

Chapter 6 - Chapter 5

The next day, I packed my bag carefully. Water bottle, check. Snacks, double-check. No matter where I go, food is survival. Life without it? Impossible.

The door creaked open. "Come on, Sudesh is waiting for you in the car," Anita said.

I quickly zipped my bag, swung it over my shoulder, and followed her out. The elders were still busy chatting in the hall. I waved at my parents; they smiled warmly and waved back.

"Tomorrow morning, you should be at home," Nikhil's dad reminded us.

"No worries, Dad," Nikhil said with a grin. "We'll be back early."

We bid our goodbyes and I slid into the car—only to realize with a small shock that it was Vaishank's car. He was already behind the wheel, adjusting the mirror.

"Is everyone ready?" His eyes scanned through the rearview mirror, and for one brief second they landed directly on me.

Of course. Out of all places, I had to sit right where he could see me. My unpredictable fate. Rolling my eyes, I leaned back in my seat. Sudesh and Anita sat beside me, while Nikhil sat in the front. The car pulled forward.

The ride began with Anita busy on her phone, Sudesh humming random songs, and Nikhil dozing off. Vaishank drove quietly, focused. I yawned, considering a nap.

"Don't sleep now," his voice cut through suddenly. "Then I'll lose my excitement to drive."

I froze. Was he… talking to me? Anita glanced at him. Sudesh raised an eyebrow. My heart jumped, and I quickly looked away, pretending to ignore it, but my breath was already uneven.

What is wrong with this man?

Soon the car stopped at a quiet jungle side. "Finally!" Sudesh cheered.

We all got out, stretching. I eyed the place nervously. "Are you sure we're spending time here?"

"Not here, inside," Nikhil answered. He grabbed a bag, while Vaishank busied himself with his phone.

"Four minutes' walk to reach there," Vaishank added calmly.

"Okay, let's go!" Anita said, excitement in her voice.

We began our trek. The path was uneven, slightly sloping up and down. "Careful, guys," Sudesh warned.

I tilted my head back, staring at the tall trees blocking even a hint of the sky. No signal, no sign of life. My stomach tightened. Lost in thought, I didn't notice a rock under my foot until it slipped.

"Ah—!"

Before I could fall, a firm hand caught my waist. Another steadied my arm. My heart leapt as I looked up.

Vaishank. His eyes met mine, serious but gentle. "You okay?"

My throat went dry. "Ye-yes."

He let go slowly, and we continued walking.

Finally, we reached a spacious clearing. Sudesh unfolded a map, handing smaller copies to me and Nikhil. "Nikhil and Anita, you go right. Amrita and Vaishank, left."

My eyes widened. "No, I'll go with—"

"Okay," Vaishank agreed smoothly before I could even finish.

"Then I'll go this way." Sudesh pointed elsewhere like a soldier on a mission. "Let's go!"

I tried to protest, but Anita and Nikhil had already left. I was trapped. My stomach knotted as Vaishank extended the map to me.

I stepped back stubbornly. "No, I'll tell you the way. Just follow me."

This whole treasure hunt was planned by Nikhil's parents. Whoever found five precious stones—like rubies or diamonds—would be the "winners," symbolizing blessings for Anita and Nikhil's marriage.

"We should go left," I said confidently.

"You're sure?" His doubt pricked my nerves.

"Excuse me?" I snapped, spinning on him. "Better follow me, or I'll just walk away alone."

He didn't argue, only walked beside me silently.

---

We reached a river. Just as I tried to check the map, it slipped from my hands and landed with a thud in the water. Both of us lunged for it, but it floated away, waving like a cruel goodbye.

"Oh, shit. What now?" he muttered.

Panic bubbled in me, but I forced calm. "It's okay. I remember the way. We go left, then right."

He frowned. "Isn't it—"

"Don't confuse me," I cut him off.

After almost an hour of walking, exhaustion hit. My legs ached. His expression told me he was equally drained. And then I realized… we had come to the wrong place.

A lonely beach stretched before us. Quiet, creepy, yet strangely healing with the waves rolling in.

"So we're lost," he said, arms crossed.

I hesitated, then nodded. He sighed and sat down on the sand. "Fine. If we're destined to get killed by sharks, what can we do?"

"Don't say things like that," I scolded, sitting opposite him. "Our friends will notice and come."

The sky slowly painted itself in shades of gold and orange. Sunset. I reached into my bag, smiling at the sight of snacks.

"Want one?" I asked, holding it out.

He extended his hand, but when I saw it was my favorite snack, I hesitated. Before I could swap it, his hand caught it—As he pulled the snack from my grip, the sudden tug made me lose balance, and before I knew it, I stumbled forward, falling against his chest. My palms pressed against him as his warmth spread through me. His eyes locked on mine, deep and unreadable, and for a second, the world outside disappeared — no waves, no sunset, just the two of us.

His breath brushed against my cheek, slow and uneven, as if he too was fighting something inside. My heart hammered so loudly I wondered if he could hear it. His hand rose, almost hesitant at first, then cupped my cheek with a gentleness that disarmed me. His thumb traced my skin, feather-light, leaving behind a trail of heat that made me shiver.

"Why are you so beautiful?" he whispered, his voice rough, almost breaking. "Every time I see you, I try to hold back… but right now, I can't."

Before I could even form words, he leaned in, closing the fragile space between us. His lips brushed mine, tentative at first, as though asking permission. My breath caught, and without realizing, I tilted closer. That was all he needed.

The kiss deepened, slow and unhurried. His lips moved against mine, savoring, tasting, almost as if memorizing me. A soft gasp escaped me when he nibbled lightly at my lower lip, and he responded with a low groan that sent a strange thrill through my body. His other hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer until I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest.

The world blurred — the salty breeze, the sound of waves, the golden light of sunset — everything melted away. All I could feel was the way his lips claimed mine, gentle yet insistent, the way his fingers tangled lightly in my hair, the way every second made my resistance crumble.

For a fleeting moment, I let myself sink into it, into him.

But then, reality rushed back like a wave crashing on shore. My thoughts screamed stop, even as my heart begged for more. Gathering all the strength left in me, I pressed my palms against his chest and broke away, breathless, my lips tingling, my face burning.

He sat too, sighing deeply. His eyes, however, never left me.

"I love you," he said quietly. "Not because of the kiss. These are true words from my heart. Words I've wanted to say for a long time."

My chest tightened. My heart was still racing too wildly to think straight. "I… I need time to think."

He smiled softly. "Sure."

I looked away, exhaling shakily, not daring to meet his eyes again.

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