The rain finally begins to subside, leaving the air fresh and crisp. Ranbir and Prachi stand in the quiet, with a soft mist rising from the ground, the sound of the last raindrops dripping from the leaves. Their moment, full of unsaid words, hangs in the air.

Ranbir's phone suddenly vibrates in his pocket, the ringtone breaking the peaceful silence. He pulls it out, and Prachi looks up at him curiously. The screen lights up, showing Naira's face.

Ranbir (picking up the call, a small smile appearing on his face):

"Arre, Naira! Sab theek hai? Kyun call kiya(Hey, Naira! Everything okay? Why are you calling?)"

Naira's face appears on the screen, her usual energetic self but with a slight urgency in her voice.

Naira (smiling but concerned):

"Haan, sab theek hai, par tum dono ko jaldi wapas aana hoga. Kairav ne poora din tum dono ki yaad mein badhiya badhiya tantrum diye hain(Yes, everything's fine, but you both need to come back soon. Kairav has been throwing tantrums all day missing both of you!)"

Esha: Aww! Itni jaldi(Aww! So soon)😢

As Naira speaks, Kairav suddenly pops into the frame behind her, his little face lighting up when he sees Prachi and Ranbir on the call. His smile is big, and he immediately begins waving his little hands excitedly.

Kairav (grinning widely, his voice full of sweetness):

"Chachi! Chachi! Main aapko miss kar raha hoon! Tumhare saath maine ice cream khaya tha par... phir bhi mujhe tumhari yaad aayi(Aunty! Uncle! I missed you! I had ice cream with everyone, but... I still missed you!)"

Prachi's heart melts at his words. She can't help but smile softly, her eyes welling up a little. The genuine love Kairav shows her always brings out the softest side of her. She leans forward, speaking softly as her smile grows wider.

Prachi (lovingly):

"Aww Kairav! Tum itne pyare ho! Tumhein ice cream ki yaad bhi mujhe aati hai... but main wada karta hoon, hum jald hi milenge, okay(Aww, Kairav! You're so sweet! You even remember me with the ice cream... but I promise, we'll meet soon, okay?)"

Kairav giggles, nodding enthusiastically, and Prachi's heart swells with affection. Ranbir watches the exchange, his expression soft and a hint of fondness in his eyes as he sees how close Prachi is with Kairav.

Ranbir (smiling at Kairav, his voice warm):

"Chhote baba! Tumhe ice cream ka bahut shauk hai na? Chachi ko batao, kis flavor ka tha(Little baba! You really like ice cream, don't you? Tell Aunty, what flavor was it?)"

Kairav (grinning widely):

"Chocolate! Mera favorite(Chocolate! My favorite!)"

Esha: Every child's favourite! 🍦

Prachi laughs softly, shaking her head as she listens to Kairav. She can feel her heart growing fonder of the little boy. Ranbir watches her with a smile, but there's something deeper in his eyes—he can see the bond she shares with Kairav, and it makes him want to protect her even more.

Prachi (with a playful tone, teasing Kairav):

"Chocolate ice cream, huh? Tumhe toh humare saath bahut kuch explore karna hai, Kairav (Chocolate ice cream, huh? You have so many things to explore with us, Kairav!)"

Naira chuckles as she watches the interaction, her voice a bit more cheerful now that Kairav has calmed down.

Naira (laughing softly):

"Haan, bilkul! Aur agar tum dono wapas nahi aae na, toh Kairav ka tantrum phir se shuru ho jayega(Yes, absolutely! And if you both don't come back soon, Kairav will start his tantrums all over again!)"

Prachi laughs, glancing at Ranbir with a playful look.

Prachi (teasing, with a wink):

"Kairav ki yaadon ke saath, humein apna time bhi thoda sa khatam karna padega. Tum dono ka jo style hai, wah(With Kairav's memories, we also need to wrap up our time here. You both really know how to make memories, huh!)"

Ranbir chuckles at her teasing, but it's clear how much he values this time with her, even as they get ready to return to the others.

Ranbir (playfully, to Prachi):

"Haan, toh ab hum waapas chalte hain. Tum dono ki yaadon ke beech, Kairav ki tantrums bhi hain aur thoda relax bhi(Yes, let's head back. In between your memories, there are Kairav's tantrums and some relaxing too!)"

As Prachi smiles, she realizes just how much she's come to cherish these little moments with Ranbir, even the playful banter, and the shared love for Kairav. She looks at him, her expression softening.

Prachi (softly, as if to herself):

"Mujhe yeh moments toh sab yaad rahenge, Ranbir. Aise simple, par perfect(These moments will stay with me, Ranbir. So simple, yet perfect...)"

Ranbir's smile falters slightly, but he doesn't let her see how much her words mean to him. Instead, he takes a step toward her, offering his hand.

Ranbir (with a teasing grin):

"Chalo phir, yeh trip bhi khatam karte hain, aur next time, hum kuch aur plan karenge(Let's finish this trip, and next time, we'll plan something even better!)"

As they head back, Ranbir keeps glancing at Prachi, his mind still swirling with the emotions he's been hiding. Prachi, too, can feel the shift in the air, the bond between them growing with every moment, even as she wrestles with her feelings.

Naira (as they end the call):

"Aww, kitni sweet baatein ho rahi hain! Jaldi aa jao tum dono, hum tumhara intezaar karenge!(Aww, so sweet! Hurry back, we'll be waiting for you both!)"

Ranbir (smiling):

"Jald aate hain, Naira(We'll be back soon, Naira.)"

As the call ends, Prachi and Ranbir start heading back to the jeep, the sounds of the festival still buzzing around them, but their thoughts are only on each other, unsure of what's next but knowing that they can't stay apart for long.

Ranbir drives the jeep through the narrow, winding roads of the mountains, the faint sounds of music from the festival still lingering in the air as they begin their journey back. The atmosphere in the jeep is peaceful, the occasional sound of their tires rolling over gravel punctuating the silence. Prachi sits beside Ranbir, her eyes gazing out at the majestic snow-covered mountains, feeling a mix of emotions. As they drive, she finally breaks the silence, her voice soft but filled with nostalgia.

Prachi (smiling softly, looking out the window):

"Mujhe lagta hai ki iss trip ne hum sabko ek saath itna kuch de diya hai...main to yeh soch rahi hoon, yeh jo Manali ka safar tha, wah... kitni yaadein hain(I feel like this trip has given us so much together... I'm thinking, this journey in Manali... so many memories!)"

Ranbir glances at her quickly before focusing back on the road, his fingers gripping the steering wheel just a little tighter. There's a soft smile on his lips as he watches her speak. Prachi's voice is almost wistful now, as she lets the memories flow.

Prachi (with a little sigh):

"Yeh trip toh ek adventure hi ban gayi... yaad hai, airport pe humne sabhi ke saath jo fun ki thi, kairav ki chhoti si tantrum, namrata ka funny 'plannnnn' moment... yeh sab... waise to kuch din ho gaye, par lagta hai jaise kal ki baat ho(This trip has turned into such an adventure... remember at the airport, the fun we had with everyone, Kairav's little tantrum, Namrata's funny 'plannnnn' moment... all of that... though it's been a few days, it feels like just yesterday!)"

Ranbir lets out a quiet chuckle, remembering how everyone was so excited but also nervous at the start of the trip. His eyes flicker with amusement, but he says nothing, letting her talk.

Prachi (with a playful grin, looking at him):

"Aur phir woh hotel ka pehla din, humne har jagah explore kiya, sabke saath... mein ab tak yaad karti hoon ki kaise kartik aur naira ne hum sabko group photo ke liye pose karne ki koshish ki thi. Us din ka maza hi alag tha(And then that first day at the hotel, we explored every place, all of us together... I still remember how Kartik and Naira tried to make everyone pose for the group photo. That day was so much fun!)"

Her eyes sparkle with the memory, her voice light and full of life as she recounts all the little moments that made the trip unforgettable. Ranbir smiles, not just at her words, but at the way she talks about everything so happily, so freely. His fingers tap lightly on the steering wheel as he listens, captivated by her excitement.

Prachi (her tone becoming softer, a little more reflective):

"Aur wo pehla full day... snowman building, snowball fights... waise snowball fight mein hum dono sabse zyada jeet gaye the, na(And that first full day... building snowmen, snowball fights... we were the best team in the snowball fight, right?)"

Ranbir laughs aloud, nodding without hesitation.

Ranbir (grinning, teasing):

"Bilkul! Tum dono ka snowball fight ka technique sabse alag tha(Of course! Your snowball fight technique was totally unique!)"

Prachi (playfully, raising an eyebrow):

"Haan, humne sabko pata diya ki humari team ka style hi alag hai(Yes, we showed everyone that our team's style is different!)"

Ranbir chuckles at her playful tone, but then Prachi's voice becomes more serious as she continues, her thoughts shifting to the next day, the most emotional day.

Prachi (softly, voice tinged with emotion):

"Aur fir... Christmas Eve... wow, it felt like we were all part of one big family. It was so magical... the songs, the gifts... sabki khushiyan... aur phir jab tumne 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon' gaaya tha... wo moment(And then... Christmas Eve... wow, it felt like we were all part of one big family. It was so magical... the songs, the gifts... everyone's happiness... and then when you sang 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon'... that moment...)"

Ranbir's heart skips a beat. He glances over at Prachi, her face now bathed in the soft glow of the jeep's interior light. Her eyes are slightly downcast, the memory of that night making her cheeks blush. The song had meant so much to her, and the way he'd sung it... with all his heart... it felt like something more, something deeper.

Ranbir (his voice low, almost a whisper):

"Woh moment mere liye bhi bohot special tha... lekin tumne jo kaha tha, wo... wo sabse zyada (That moment was really special for me too... but what you said... that meant the most.)"

Prachi (looking at him, her voice shy):

"Main... main bas apne dil ki baat keh rahi thi... tumhari voice waise bhi kuch aise hai ki dil ko chhoo jaati hai(I... I was just speaking from my heart... your voice, it's the kind that really touches the heart.)"

There's a beat of silence as the words hang in the air. Then Prachi continues, her tone more somber, more reflective.

Prachi (thinking aloud, softly):

"Aur wo scare... us din jo tumne itna ghabra ke mujhe dekha tha, jab maine apni life risk ki thi... tumhe jo dar laga tha... I didn't know... I didn't know it would hurt you that much(And that scare... the day when you were so scared seeing me risk my life... the fear you had... I didn't know... I didn't know it would hurt you that much...)"

Ranbir's jaw tightens slightly as he grips the wheel, but his voice softens when he responds. The vulnerability in Prachi's words stirs something deep inside him.

Ranbir (quietly, without looking at her):

"Tumhe kuch ho sakta tha, Prachi. Tumhari life meri life se bhi zyada precious hai... har pal, har moment main tumhare saath rehna chahta hoon(You could've been hurt, Prachi. Your life is even more precious than mine... I want to be with you every moment, every second.)"

Prachi feels her heart flutter at his words, but she looks away, unsure of what to say next. The car slows down as they approach the outskirts of the town.

As the road curves, Ranbir glances at Prachi, who is staring out the window, her fingers playing nervously with the edge of her shawl. He watches her for a moment before he finally speaks, his voice soft but with an underlying sincerity.

Ranbir (gently, breaking the silence):

"Prachi... ab jab yeh safar khatam ho raha hai, ek sawal hai(Prachi... now that this journey is coming to an end, there's one question...)"

Prachi turns to face him, her heart skips a beat. She's not sure what to expect. Is this just another playful comment, or is it something more? Ranbir's eyes meet hers, and she sees the depth of emotion in them.

Ranbir (his voice soft, yet earnest):

"Kya tum mere saath apni zindagi ka agla chapter likhna chahogi? Kya tum mere saath meri wife ban ke apni zindagi ki naye safar ki shuruat karna chahogi(Would you like to write the next chapter of your life with me? Would you want to start the next journey of your life as my wife?)"

Prachi's heart races at his words. She had expected many things on this trip, but not this direct question. For a moment, her mind goes blank as she tries to process what he just asked. Her heart wants to leap, to say yes, to finally tell him that all of these moments have brought her closer to him, that she's ready to take that step with him. But then, a dark shadow looms over her thoughts.

Her mind flashes back to Kunal. To everything that happened before this trip... the manipulations, the control, the fear. She clenches her fist tightly, trying to push away the memories of him, of the man who still holds a grip on her heart in ways she can't explain.

Her face falters for a second, and Ranbir notices the change in her expression instantly. The warmth in her eyes dims as she pulls back slightly, as if the question itself was a little too much too soon.

Prachi (with a forced smile, her voice wavering slightly):

"Ranbir... mujhe... mujhe thoda waqt chahiye. Yeh sab... thoda complicated hai(Ranbir... I need... I need a little time. This... this is a bit complicated.)"

Ranbir's smile falters. He tries to mask the disappointment, but his heart sinks a little. He thought that after everything they had shared, after the intimacy, the love, the adventures, she would be ready to take that leap with him. But something is holding her back.

Ranbir (gently, trying to hide his own hurt):

"Complicated? Tumhare liye toh main hamesha simple tha na, Prachi(Complicated? I was always simple for you, wasn't I, Prachi?)"

Prachi's heart aches at the way his voice trembles slightly. She knows he's hurt, and it kills her to see him like this, but she can't give him what he wants just yet. She can't explain to him the weight of Kunal's shadow that hangs over her. The fear that still ties her, the uncertainty about what she feels, or whether she even deserves to feel something as beautiful as love for Ranbir.

Prachi (her voice soft, apologetic):

"Tum samajh nahi paoge... bas... mujhe waqt chahiye(You won't understand... I just... I need time.)"

Ranbir looks at her, his gaze unwavering, trying to read her. He knows there's more beneath her words, but he doesn't push her further. The hurt in his eyes is evident, but he hides it behind a quiet understanding.

Ranbir (after a long pause, softly):

"I get it... I'll wait, Prachi. Tumhein jo lagta hai, tumhara jo dil keh raha hai, wo tumhein sunna hoga... par, main yahaan hoon. Jab tum ready ho, tum jise chaahogi, main tumhara saath dunga(I get it... I'll wait, Prachi. Whatever you feel, whatever your heart says, you need to listen to it... but, I'm here. When you're ready, I'll be there with you.)"

His words are so genuine, so full of love and patience. It's exactly what she needed to hear. And yet, as she sits there beside him, she feels conflicted. She doesn't deserve him. She doesn't feel worthy of his love when her past still holds her back. Her emotions swirl, but she forces herself to stay quiet.

Prachi (softly, looking out the window):

"I'm sorry..."

Her voice cracks slightly, betraying the turmoil inside her. Ranbir doesn't respond immediately. He just nods, his eyes focused on the road ahead. The silence between them feels heavy, but it's a silence filled with unspoken understanding and pain.

Esha: Now How Will Things Move Forward? 😞