The cold winds of Shimla were behind them as the group made their way back to Delhi. The bus ride was quieter than expected, with everyone lost in their own thoughts. The memories of the trip—the laughter, the confessions, and the close encounters—hung in the air like a bittersweet melody.

Milli sat by the window, her head leaning against the glass, watching the bustling city draw closer. Delhi’s familiar chaos came into view, and yet, something felt different. Beside her, Kush sat silently, occasionally glancing her way, his mind still replaying the moments they’d shared in Shimla.

As they reached the bus terminal, Mayank stretched dramatically. "Ah, back to reality! Exams, classes, and deadlines. How fun."

Naina rolled her eyes, though her smile betrayed her contentment. "You mean back to pretending you’re studying while copying Kush’s notes?"

Kush chuckled, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "You wish, Naina. I’m not letting Mayank copy this time."

Milli smiled but remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the busy street ahead. Kush noticed her unusual silence and nudged her gently. "Hey, you alright?"

She nodded, offering a small smile. "Just tired. And… I guess I’ll miss Shimla."

"We all will," Kush replied softly, his tone carrying an unspoken promise that some part of those moments would always stay with them.

---

Back at home, Gayatri welcomed Kush with open arms. "Finally! I was starting to think you’d taken a vow to stay in the mountains."

Kush laughed, hugging his mother tightly. "Missed me already, Ma?"

"Always," Gayatri said, brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulder. "Now, tell me everything. Did you have fun? And what’s this I hear about you buying me a shawl?"

Kush grinned, pulling out the deep maroon shawl from his bag. "It reminded me of you—elegant and strong."

Gayatri’s eyes softened, her hand lingering on the fabric. "It’s beautiful, Kush. Thank you."

Abhimanyu, who had been observing quietly, smirked. "So, no adventures to report? No secret romances, perhaps?"

Kush rolled his eyes. "Can’t a guy just enjoy a trip without drama?"

Gayatri raised an eyebrow. "Knowing you, probably not."

---

At Milli’s house, Mrinalini greeted her with a warm hug. "My little dancer is home! And what’s this glow? Did something special happen?"

Milli shook her head, laughing. "It’s just the mountain air, Ma."

Vinayak appeared from his study, adjusting his glasses. "Mountain air or something else?" he teased, his stern exterior giving way to a rare smile.

Milli blushed, changing the subject quickly. "I got you both something." She handed her mother the blue scarf and her father the wristwatch. "Hope you like them."

Mrinalini admired the scarf, her eyes lighting up. "It’s perfect. Thank you, my love."

Vinayak inspected the watch, nodding in approval. "Very thoughtful, Milli."

As the evening settled in, Milli sat by her window, her thoughts drifting back to Shimla and the memories she’d created with Kush, Mayank, and Naina. A soft smile played on her lips as she hummed a familiar tune.

"Yeh sham mastani, madhosh kiye jaaye,
Mujhe dor koi khinche, teri ore liye jaaye…"

Meanwhile, across the city, Kush lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered to Milli’s laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved, and how much he had missed that in just a few hours.

Delhi’s chaos might have pulled them back, but both Kush and Milli knew that something had changed on that trip—a bond that no city noise could drown out.