10. Everyone Lost

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~Saanvi's Pov~

A wave of nausea hit me so hard I could barely think.

My stomach churned violently, and I instinctively grabbed Aaditya's arm, the one steadying the steering wheel.

My grip was tight, desperate.

He glanced at me in confusion, his brows furrowing, but as his eyes locked onto mine.

I saw the realization dawn.

"Wait-Saanu?" he said, his voice sharp with concern.

I tried to shake my head, not wanting to cause trouble, but it was too late.

He quickly pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road, ignoring the questions from the others in the car.

Before I could fully process, he was by my side, open the door of the car, helpings me out. "Breathe, Saanu" he said calmly, his tone suddenly professional, like a seasoned doctor.

His hand supported my back as I stumbled forward, barely holding it together.

I finally gave in, leaning over to throw up by the roadside.

I expected disgust or awkwardness, but instead, he stayed there, steadying me, murmuring soft reassurances. "It's okay. Just let it out. You'll feel better."

He handed me a bottle of water he'd grabbed from somewhere, then gently pulled my hair back, making sure it didn't get in the way.

As I wiped my face, feeling utterly drained, he crouched to meet my gaze. "You should've told me earlier, actually in London I cant give money to pass the exam, so I have studied medical " His teasing words were light, but his expression was pure concern.

I couldn't speak, too embarrassed to say anything.

He simply stood up, guiding me carefully back toward the car.

"Take it easy" he said softly, his hand still resting protectively on my back.

For a moment, I forgot about my discomfort, noticing how gentle he was-like he'd done this a hundred times before.

The ride resumed, and I tried to focus on the passing scenery, hoping the worst was over.

But my head felt heavy, my stomach uneasy again.

My breathing grew shallow as my vision started to blur.

"Aaditya," I whispered, barely audible.

The words never fully left my lips.

My body swayed forward slightly as my head spun.

Everything around me dulled, the chatter, the car noises

all fading into a distant hum.

Then I heard Ruhi's voice from the back, filled with casual realization. "Actually, she feels like vomiting in car motion. She's always been like this."

Aaditya glanced at Ruhi, his expression torn between surprise and amusement.

Then, looking back at me, his lips curved into a small smirk, and he murmured softly, almost to himself, "Toh tumhare saath safar mein sirf chalna nahi, sambhalna bhi padega?"

(So traveling with you means not just walking alongside, but also holding you steady?)

His voice was low, teasing, but there was a warmth in his tone that made my cheeks heat up despite everything.

Was he...blushing too? Or was I imagining it?

"Don't worry," he added, his gaze fixed on me as if there was no one else around. "Next time, I'll make sure you're more comfortable. Tumse pehle hi seekh gaya hoon tumhe sambhalna kaise hai."

(I've already learned how to take care of you before you even ask.)

I could barely respond, my dizziness mingling with an unexpected flutter in my chest. Was it the motion sickness-or him?

------------------------

The road felt like it was spinning.

My head leaned back, but nothing felt right.

The voices around me started fading, like they were coming from far away.

I tried to focus, but my eyes were heavy. Everything was blurry.

My chest felt tight, and my hands felt too weak to hold on to anything.

Was someone calling my name? I couldn't tell.

The sound was faint, like it wasn't even real.

My vision blurred, and the edges of everything around me faded.

The last thing I saw was Aaditya's face, his eyes locked on mine, his expression shifting from confusion to worry.

He leaned closer, his gaze fixed on me.

"Saanu?" His voice broke through the haze, soft yet urgent.

I wanted to respond, to tell him I was fine, but my eyelids grew too heavy to keep open. Darkness crept in, and his voice echoed faintly in my ears.

"Saanu? Hey, stay with me-"

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.....My vision blurred, and I felt myself drifting.

My eyelids were barely open

Then, I realized-wait, I wasn't sitting anymore.

My feet weren't touching the ground.

I was... in the air?

I blinked slowly, trying to focus, and then I noticed his arms around me, holding me up.

I was in Aaditya's arms.

I blinked again, my surroundings still spinning, trying to make sense of where I was. That's when I noticed the farmhouse.

We had arrived.

Looking over Aaditya's shoulder, I saw everyone busily picking up their luggage.

My eyes caught Aarna holding my small panda purse, swinging it carelessly.

my precious panda bag was in danger.

"Aarna!" my subconscious hissed. "That's not just a bag; that's an emotion."

I wanted to yell, but my voice betrayed me.

Instead, a weak grumble escaped my lips. If I had the energy, I'd have snatched it back and lectured her about panda rights.

But alas, I was stuck here in Aaditya's arms, helpless as my panda purse faced its doom.

Meanwhile, Aarna happily twirled it around like she'd just won a trophy.

Oh, the disrespect.

I can't even do anything

I felt a strange pull, and without realizing it, my head rested against Aaditya's chest.

It was warm, solid... and bare? Wait, bare?

My blurry vision trailed down to his kurta-his first button was undone, leaving a very distracting glimpse of his chest visible.

Oh no, my subconscious was waking up.

"It's warm here, isn't it?" My subconscious mind whispered.

Shut up, I thought.

This is not the time.

"You're tired. Just keep your hand there for balance."

What balance? I'm perfectly fine!

"Really? Then why do your fingers keep twitching, hmm? Just rest your hand. No one's watching."

I shook my head internally, fighting the shameless logic of my subconscious.

No way. Absolutely not.

That's too much.

"But look at it! Doesn't it feel like a pillow stuffed with security and charm? Come on, just one hand. For science."

Science? What kind of med-student logic is this?!

In my half-conscious state, I groaned softly, mentally yelling at myself.

My hand twitched involuntarily, inching upward before I clenched my fist.

No, I wouldn't do it.

I refused to let my subconscious win this round.

Aaditya adjusted his hold on me, and his chest flexed slightly against my head.

Oh no. My subconscious squealed, "See? Even he's inviting you."

Shut up!

My eyes shifted forward, and there she was-Varsha, fixing her luggage like she was posing for a magazine cover.

The moment she saw me, our eyes locked.

And my subconscious mind couldn't resist whispering,

"Look, I'm in my Aadi's arms, right now. Aadi's arms!"

I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at her, but a mischievous grin tugged at the corners of my lips.

Instead, I just stared at her.

She noticed.

Oh, she noticed alright.

Varsha looked at me, probably wondering what was happening, while I remained planted in Aaditya's arms, giving her my best 'I'm-having-the-best-time-of-my-life' stare.

It was like a silent duel between us-who could hold their ground longer.

Aaditya, clueless about the silent war, strolled past Varsha, heading toward the farmhouse.

As he walked ahead, I turned my face back toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. But my eyes didn't leave Varsha.

I couldn't help it; I was grinning like a fool.

Take that, Varsha, I thought.

Let's see who's winning this silent battle now.

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..."Heavy? Trust me, I can carry anything-especially if it's her." Aarna said, standing straight on the bed in our room, imitating Aaditya's voice with exaggerated confidence.

I could already hear her, even though my eyes were closed, her words making me groan inwardly.

It was like she was re-enacting everything that happened when I was... well, unconscious.

"Stop it, Aarna, he didn't say that," I mumbled, pulling the blanket tighter around me, hoping to escape their relentless teasing.

Aarna ignored me, continuing her dramatized version. "Well, when we reached the farmhouse, two hours behind schedule, you were still out cold. And then Aaditya said..." She dramatically lowered her voice, trying to mimic his tone, "'I can carry anything, especially if it's her." She said the same line for the 10th time in last 30 minutes.

"Stop it!" I groaned again, my face burning red as I squeezed my eyes shut. "That did not happen."

Aarna raised an eyebrow. "How do you know? You were unconscious, remember?" she teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"Exactly," Ruhi chimed in from the corner, clearly enjoying the show. "You were too busy fainting to notice how cute it was."

I buried my face deeper in the pillow. "I wasn't fainting."

"You should've seen him," Aarna said with a teasing grin. "He was all worried about you. 'Maybe she'll feel worse if I wake her,' he said. It was so obvious how concerned he was."

"Stop making it sound like some romantic movie!" I half-sputtered, still not looking at them.

"How can we not?" Ruhi said with a mischievous grin. "It's like you and Mr. NRI are starring in one already."

I sat up a little, trying to sound more composed. "You're exaggerating everything. Just because he carried me doesn't mean anything."

Aarna leaned in, a wicked glint in her eyes. "We didn't say it, but we all know he's your hero now."

"I'm going to get dressed for dinner," I said quickly, hoping to change the subject, and swung my legs off the bed. "And you two, stop getting any ideas."

Aarna and Ruhi exchanged one last glance, clearly not done with their teasing.

"Sure, Saanu..." Ruhi said with a wink. "Whatever you say."

Again mimic him.

~Ruhi's Pov~

It was almost midnight.

Everyone had finished dinner, and while Aarna and Saanvi had happily dozed off like overfed cats, I was still working on my presentation.

My laptop's blue light was the only thing keeping me company.

Knock knock.

I froze.

Who in their right mind knocks on a door at this time?

A ghost?

A prank?

A midnight delivery?

Slowly, I tiptoed toward the door, half-expecting to see a murder mystery unfold.

When I opened it, I blinked. Standing there in perfect posture, as if this was a respectable tea-party hour, was Varsha.

"Uh...hi?" I said, staring at her like she had grown a second head. "You...you okay?"

"Yes," she said softly, smiling. "Can I come in?"

Oh, why not? Let's make it a midnight girls' club.

I stepped aside and let her in.

"Give me a second," I whispered, and then turned toward the beds. Both Saanvi and Aarna were snoring lightly. Time to fix that.

I tiptoed to Aarna first, grabbed her by the shoulder, and gave her a gentle shake. She groaned and flipped over, mumbling, "No, I won't marry Alex Volkov unless he asks me nicely." I rolled my eyes and shook her harder until she woke up.

"Saanvi, wake up!" I whispered loudly next, poking her arm. She opened her eyes halfway and mumbled, "Ruhi, if it's about dinner leftovers, just eat them. Don't bother me."

"It's not about food!" I hissed. "Varsha is here, and she has something to say!"

At that, both girls sat up, rubbing their eyes and glaring at me like I had just ruined their life's most precious sleep.

"What's so urgent?" Aarna grumbled.

"Why is she here?" Saanvi asked, her voice groggy.

Varsha, standing by the door, cleared her throat. "I came to tell you about a plan Ishaan made."

That got their attention.

Both of them looked at her, wide-eyed, like puppies waiting for treats.

"What plan?" Aarna asked, her tone now fully awake and interested.

"Well," Varsha said, her voice dipping into a conspiratorial whisper, "Ishaan planned something for us four girls, plus him, Aaditya, and Ridith. We're going to a nearby restaurant with an amazing view. Just a little outing without telling anyone. We'll be back by 2 or 3 AM."

"Wait, what?" I said, blinking. "How are we sneaking out? Aren't there guards and stuff?"

Varsha grinned. "Ishaan said not to worry. He'll handle everything. He's already sorted out the cars and the route."

Aarna rubbed her hands together like a villain in a movie. "Oh, this sounds fun! Midnight adventures."

I looked skeptical. "Are we really sneaking out? What if we get caught?"

“This is a bad idea,” I said, hugging my blanket tighter. “I’m not going.”

Aarna rolled her eyes. “Ruhi, stop being such a grandma. It’s just a restaurant, not a haunted house.”

“But sneaking out is wrong!” I protested. “What if someone sees us? What if my dad finds out?”

“Relax,” Saanvi said, pulling me out of bed. “Ishaan planned everything. No one will know.”

Varsha, who was sitting calmly by the door, added, “You’ll regret not coming. The view is amazing.”

“I’ll regret getting caught more!” I said, trying to sit back down.

“Oh, come on, Ruhi,” Aarna groaned. “You’re coming whether you like it or not.” She yanked me toward the closet while Saanvi grabbed my arm.

I gave them my best glare. “I hate all of you for this.”

“You’ll love us later,” Aarna said with a wink.

And just like that, I was dragged into their crazy plan.

“This is a terrible idea,” I muttered for the hundredth time, hugging my arms.

Varsha smirked from the door. “Fine, I’m going to get ready too. You’re coming, Ruhi, whether you like it or not.”

Before I could argue, she left, and Aarna and Saanvi immediately started planning outfits, practically ignoring my protests.

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The cool breeze in the garden did nothing to calm my nerves. Everyone was gathered, and I, being the only one with common sense, still had my arms crossed in protest.

“This is a terrible idea. Let’s just go back to our rooms before someone catches us,” I tried one last time.

No one even looked at me.

“We’ll jump off the boundary,” Ishaan announced confidently, leaning casually against a pillar. “Then sneak to the back of the farmhouse. I’ve already parked the car there.”

Aaditya and Ridith were standing a little further off, grinning like they were part of some secret mission.

Ridith raised an eyebrow, “Are we really doing this?”

The girls froze, their eyes widening. “Jump? From where?” Saanvi asked, pointing at the boundary like it was Mount Everest.

“Yes, jump,” Ishaan said, smirking. “What, scared?”

Aarna and Saanvi exchanged glances. “We’re not scared,” Saanvi said, though her voice wavered.

“Fine, I’ll go first,” Ishaan said, leading us to the boundary.

He climbed up then give hand to his brother, Mr NRI and Rid and help them climb up

Varsha clapped. “Easy peasy!” she said, climbing over next.

“Are we really doing this?” I whispered, hoping for some sanity.

“Of course, we are,” Aarna replied

Saanvi followed, muttering, “What am I even doing?” before disappearing into the night.

Now it was my turn.

“Go on,” Ishaan called from below, grinning up at me. “Don’t worry, I’ll catch you.”

“No way. I’m going back,” I said, turning toward the stairs.

But before I could take a step, Ishaan shouted, “Darling! Don’t make me come up there.”

“If I die, I’m haunting you all!” I said

“Deal,” Ishaan replied, arms outstretched.

"No I will not" I said and leave

"Who will handle this girl, now" I heard Aarna saying from the other side

"No one can handle her" I heard Saanvi voice from other side

Yes, no one can handle me.

I flip my hair and walk away but

Then I feel someone...

Before I could protest, Ishaan swiftly came toward me, his arms wrapping around me as he lifted me up effortlessly. “You’re coming with me,” he said, ignoring my protests.

I couldn’t even react before he was already jumping up to the wall, carrying me like I was weightless.

“Hey, don’t drop me!” I shouted, but Ishaan just chuckled.

before I could even process what was happening, we were on the other side. “See? Easy,” he said with a wink.

The girls who were waiting below, and when they saw Ishaan carrying me like some helpless princess, they burst into laughter.

I glared at him. “You’re unbelievable!”

“Thank you,” he said, flashing a cocky grin.

Behind us, I could hear Aaditya laughing, “Man, you're enjoying this a little too much.”

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The restaurant was buzzing with energy, everyone laughing and dancing.

Aarna and Saanvi were already on the dance floor, having the time of their lives.

Aaditya and Ridith were sipping drinks, chatting away.

I, on the other hand, was content just sitting by the table, watching everyone.

I looked out at the view for a bit—stars above, moon glowing, the fields in the distance. It was peaceful, but something about being here felt different. Still, I wasn’t quite in the mood to join the party.

Then, I felt it—someone’s gaze on me.

I turned slightly, and there he was, Ishaan, sitting directly across from me. He hadn’t said anything, but his eyes were locked on me.

I tried to look away, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Go to them," I said, trying to act casual, "You’ve taken the risk, now go enjoy your life."

Ishaan leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a teasing smile. "How can I enjoy my life," he replied, "if my life is sitting here?"

Why this boy is doing this for me.

I quickly turned away, pretending I didn’t care, but inside, my heart was racing. I could feel my face warming up, and it was hard to ignore the fluttering in my chest.

I did my best to act indifferent, but deep down, I was fighting a smile.

Why, I am smiling at his cringey line.

Let him stare.

I don't care actually.

I again start to admine the scenery

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Everything felt calm, peaceful.

But then, suddenly, my phone alarm blared, breaking the quiet.

2 AM.

I had set it because I didn’t trust they’d make it back on time.

But now, hearing that sound, panic shot through me.

I quickly sat up, my heart racing.

Where was everyone? My eyes darted around the room, trying to spot someone familiar.

But there was no one in sight.

Only a few people left here, some random boys at the bar, looking drunk and rowdy.

I felt a chill crawl down my spine.

My stomach churned with unease.

I looked towards the table where Ishaan had been sitting just a moment ago. He was still there, but... he was asleep.

My anxiety spiked.

I glanced around again—no one from our group.

No Aarna, no Saanvi, no Ridith or Aaditya.

It was just me, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

The panic grew stronger.

My hands trembled as I reached out and shook Ishaan’s shoulder.

"Ishaan," I whispered, shaking him harder, "Ishaan!"

He stirred, his eyes blinking open, looking confused at first.

When he realized it was me, he gave me a lazy smile, clearly not bothered.

He stretched out, yawning. "Hmm, what’s up, darling?"

I shook him again, my voice trembling with panic. "Where is everyone?"

He rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, still half-dazed. "I don’t know, darling. But it’s okay, it’s just you and me here."

I felt my irritation bubble up. "Stop it, Ishaan!" I almost shouted. "No one’s here! Not Saanvi, not Aarna, not your Varsha, not Mr. NRI, not Ridith—no one! Where have they gone? It’s already 2 AM! We were supposed to be home by now!"

I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

My anxiety was spiraling out of control, and he wasn’t taking it seriously.

Seeing how panicked I was, Ishaan finally sat up straighter, his teasing smile fading.

“Hey, hey. Don’t worry,” he said, his voice softer now. "We’ll figure this out."

We called everyone repeatedly, but no one picked up.

My heart was pounding in my chest, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

I felt my heart racing, the panic setting in deeper.

My breath was shallow, and I couldn’t stop moving, pacing around the table. The laughter and noise from the remaining people blurred into the background.

Where were they?

Why weren’t they picking up?

I looked at Ishaan, his face now serious as he noticed my anxiety.

He walked over to me, his voice calm but firm. “Darling, hey, breathe. It’s okay.”

But I couldn’t calm down. “What if something happened to them? It’s already 2 AM, where are they?”

Ishaan placed his hands gently on my shoulders. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll find them. Just... breathe, okay?”

I nodded, trying to steady myself, but the fear was still there, bubbling up.

I stepped back, feeling the tension rise. My frustration boiled over. “This is all your fault!” I snapped, pointing at him. “You were the one who had this stupid idea to sneak out! Now look where we are! I have no idea where anyone is, and it’s all because of you!”

Ishaan looked taken aback for a moment, his eyes widening. “Darling, calm down—”

“No!” I interrupted, shaking my head. “You made us all come here. You made us take all these risks, and now we're stuck, alone, with no one around. I can’t even reach anyone!”

I felt bad for shouting at him, but the fear was making me irrational.

I didn’t want to be here alone.

I wanted my friends back.

I felt the tears welling up, my chest tight with panic.

My emotions spilled over, and before I knew it, I was shaking.

The fear I tried to keep hidden broke free.

Ishaan, seeing the change in me, immediately pulled me into a tight hug.

His arms around me felt like the only thing that could stop me from completely falling apart.

“Hey, hey,” he whispered softly, “It’s okay. We’ll find them.”

I buried my face in his chest, trying to hold back the sobs that were threatening to break free.

“I... I don’t know where they are, Ishaan,” I said, my voice shaky. “What if something’s wrong? What if—”

“Shh,” he murmured, rubbing my back in slow, soothing circles.

“We’ll find them. Don’t worry. They must be here somewhere, okay? They wouldn’t leave without telling us.”

I nodded into his chest, trying to calm my breathing.

His words were the only thing that made sense in that moment. “Alright,” I whispered, pulling away slightly to look up at him. “Let’s find them.”

~To Be Continued

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~Spoiler alert~

Ruhi pov~

I said ""I don't need help, just some support."

He give me support by literally carrying me in hi arm.

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~Chapter Aesthetic~

Aaditya and Saanvi

Panda purse

Ruhi's Outfit

Saanvi's Outfit

Aarna's Outfit

Varsha's Outfit

Restaurant