Chapter 34

The crisp morning air carried the aroma of freshly brewed chai and sizzling parathas as Ayaan pulled his car into the girls' flat complex. He parked near the entrance, stepping out in his black jacket and sneakers, his sharp gaze scanning the small group gathered near the outdoor breakfast setup.

Arjun leaned against his car, lazily peeling an orange, while Rohan gestured animatedly at something Meera was saying. Ananya perched on the steps, scrolling through her phone, but Ayaan wasn't paying attention to any of them.

His eyes darted to the entrance of the building, waiting.

"She's not out yet," Meera said slyly, interrupting his thoughts. She grinned at him over her chai.

"Who?" Ayaan asked, feigning ignorance as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Meera gave him a knowing look. "Naina. Don't worry, she'll be out soon."

"I wasn't asking," Ayaan replied, his tone casual, though the small tug at his lips gave him away.

"Sure," Meera drawled, sipping her tea.

At that moment, the door opened, and Naina stepped out. Ayaan's breath hitched. She wore olive-green cargo pants paired with a simple black U-neck crop top with full sleeves. Her hair, cascading in loose waves over her shoulders, framed her face perfectly. She looked effortlessly beautiful, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and gave a small, shy smile to the group. "Morning, guys."

Ayaan cleared his throat. "Morning," he said, his voice a touch softer than he intended.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Meera teased, standing up to hand Naina a cup of chai.

The group settled around the table, tucking into warm parathas with curd. The banter was lighthearted, but Ayaan couldn't help stealing glances at Naina. She seemed calm, quietly listening to the chatter, occasionally offering a soft laugh or a smile that made Ayaan's heart race.

After breakfast, they moved towards the cars.

"Alright," Arjun began, stretching dramatically. "Who's riding with me?"

"I'm definitely not," Ananya shot back, smirking. "You drive like a maniac."

"Hey, my driving is impeccable," Arjun protested, pretending to look offended.

Meera and Rohan exchanged a quick glance, their minds clearly at work.

"You know what?" Rohan said casually. "Meera and I can go together. Ayaan, why don't you take Naina? You've got the most comfortable car anyway."

Naina frowned, clearly suspicious. "Why can't I go with Meera?"

"Because," Meera chimed in, "Rohan and I will have to keep stopping by to grab wood and stuff for the bonfire and barbecue. It'll be a boring drive for you. I know you are already not too fond of it."

Naina opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Ayaan shrugged. "Fine by me," he said, playing it cool, though inwardly he was thrilled.

"Settled, then!" Meera said cheerfully, nudging Rohan subtly.

Ananya sighed dramatically. "Guess that leaves me with Arjun."

"Hey, it won't be so bad," Arjun said, grinning. "I'll play good music. Maybe some Atif Aslam."

Ananya rolled her eyes but smiled. "We'll see."

In Ayaan's car, the atmosphere was quiet at first. Naina sat with her hands clasped in her lap, staring out of the window as the city slowly gave way to open highways. Ayaan stole glances at her, the memory of their time at Marine Drive still fresh in his mind.

"You're quiet," he said finally.

"So are you," she shot back, her tone light but guarded.

"I'm just not used to it," he admitted.

"Used to what?" she asked, turning to face him.

"You being this quiet around me," he said simply.

She looked away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her top. "Well, I don't always have much to say."

"You do," he countered, glancing at her. "You just don't realize it."

Before she could reply, the radio crackled to life, and the opening notes of "Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai" from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi filled the car. Naina's face lit up.

"This song!" she exclaimed, sitting up straighter.

"What about it?" Ayaan asked, amused by her sudden enthusiasm.

"It's beautiful," she said, her voice softening. "The lyrics, the melody—it's perfect. Not to mention—It is SRK. Who doesn't love him?"

"You're a sucker for romantic songs, huh?"

"And SRK," she said, smiling. "But come on, how can you not love this one? It's about seeing the divine in someone you love."

Ayaan looked at her, captivated by the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved. "You're full of surprises, Naina."

"Good surprises, I hope?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The best," he replied, his tone earnest.

They pulled over at a roadside chai stall halfway to Lonavala. Ayaan handed her a cup, their fingers brushing briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through him.

"You know," he said, leaning against the car as she sipped her tea, "I've never had a chai partner before."

She tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Chai partner? Is that a thing?"

"It is now," he said, grinning.

She laughed softly, and the sound sent warmth spreading through his chest.

After letting back in the car and driving for another 15km, Ayaan spotted a scenic hill and pulled over.

"What's happening?" Naina asked, confused.

"You'll see," he said, stepping out and motioning for her to follow.

She hesitated before following him, and when she saw the view, her breath caught. The rolling hills were bathed in golden sunlight, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Yeah," Ayaan agreed, though he wasn't looking at the view—he was looking at her.

She walked closer to the edge, her hair blowing in the breeze as she took it all in. Ayaan leaned against the car, his eyes fixed on her. In that moment, something shifted inside him. He didn't just like her—he was completely, irrevocably falling for her.

Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of her from behind. The frame captured her perfectly, her silhouette outlined against the stunning backdrop.

When she turned and caught him looking at her, her cheeks flushed. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice shy.

"Just... admiring the view," he said, his gaze locking onto hers.

She looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her top, and Ayaan took a step closer.

"You're beautiful, Naina," he said softly, his fingers brushing against her waist.

He walked over to her, his steps slow and deliberate. Standing close, he murmured, "You're gorgeous, you know that?"

She glanced up at him, her breath hitching.

Ayaan reached out, his fingers brushing her waist. "I've been wanting to do this all morning."

Her heart pounded, and she felt herself leaning in just as his lips hovered over hers—

And her phone rang.

Naina jumped back, fumbling to answer the call.

"Hi, Ananya," she said quickly, walking a few steps away.

Ayaan groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Of course," he muttered.

~•~

They arrived at the restaurant in Lonavala, the rest of the group already waiting for them.

"You two took your sweet time," Rohan teased, his grin sly.

"Traffic," Ayaan said smoothly, though his eyes flicked to Naina, who was looking anywhere but at him.

As they joined the group, Meera nudged Rohan. "Think they'll figure it out soon?" she whispered.

Rohan smirked. "They're getting there."

Ayaan caught the exchange and raised an eyebrow. "What are you two whispering about?"

"Nothing," they said in unison, their innocent smiles fooling no one.

The group laughed and settled in, the air filled with chatter and teasing banter. But Ayaan's attention was on Naina, and he knew one thing for sure—this trip was just the beginning.

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