Sara stood in the corridor outside her classroom, clutching her notes tightly, eyes darting over the pages for some last-minute revision. The soft hum of students chatting around her felt distant as her focus was completely on cramming for her final exam. This was her last hurdle before the long-awaited two-month holiday, and she was determined to make sure it went smoothly.

"Come on, just one more time," she mumbled to herself, pacing back and forth as she skimmed through formulas and theories. Her mind raced, but a small part of her was already drifting towards the thought of the holiday—two months of relaxation, no exams, and maybe... just maybe, some time spent with Shubman.

A few of her classmates passed by, smiling and nodding at her. Sara smiled back absently, but her thoughts remained on the exam and the excitement of what lay ahead.

Just then, Aditi rushed over. "Sara! You ready?" she asked, slightly breathless.

Sara smiled nervously. "As ready as I'll ever be. I've crammed everything I can, but you know how it is..."

Aditi grinned and nudged her playfully. "You'll be fine, Sara. This is your last exam, and then we're free! Think about the beach trips, lazy days, and... whatever you might be doing with a certain cricketer." She winked mischievously.

Sara blushed slightly, but tried to brush it off. "Aditi, stop! I haven't even thought that far yet."

"Sure you haven't," Aditi teased. "Well, you better ace this exam, and then we'll figure out how to make this holiday unforgettable."

Sara laughed softly, feeling a bit lighter. She glanced at her watch and realized it was time. "Alright, I better get in there. Wish me luck!"

Aditi gave her a thumbs-up. "You don't need luck. You've got this!"

With a deep breath, Sara put her notes away and walked towards the classroom, ready to take on the exam and whatever came next.

After the exam, Sara stepped out of the classroom, feeling the weight of relief settle on her shoulders. She had done her best, and now it was time to embrace the two-month break. She spotted Aditi waiting for her by the corridor, her usual excited grin in place.

"How was it?" Aditi asked, falling into step beside Sara.

"It went alright. I think I nailed most of it," Sara replied, her nerves finally easing. "Now, I'm officially free for two months."

Aditi clapped her hands. "Yes! Freedom! Time to make some plans!"

As they strolled down the hallway, Sara's phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out and saw a text from Shubman: Hey, exams over? What's the plan for your holidays?

Sara smiled, quickly typing back: Just finished! No plans yet, but something relaxing sounds perfect.

Within seconds, her phone buzzed again: How about Bali? Abhishek and I were planning a trip. Want to join us? You and Aditi can come along.

Sara blinked in surprise, holding up her phone to Aditi. "Look at this."

Aditi's eyes widened as she read the message. "Wait... a trip to Bali with Shubman and Abhishek? Oh my God, that's amazing! We have to go!"

Sara hesitated for a moment, but Aditi's enthusiasm was contagious. "Well, it does sound pretty tempting."

Aditi gave her a little push. "Tempting? Girl, it's Bali! Sun, sand, fun, and—" she leaned in closer, whispering, "—Shubman. You'd be crazy to say no."

Sara couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, fine. I'll say yes."

She quickly texted back: Sounds great! We're in.

The moment Sara hit send, her phone buzzed again: Perfect. Let's plan this out. I'll call you later tonight.

Aditi squealed, practically jumping in excitement. "Bali, here we come! This is going to be epic!"

Sara smiled, her thoughts racing. It was true—this trip could be the start of something unforgettable. A well-deserved break from studies, an exotic destination, and a chance to spend time with Shubman... What more could she ask for?

As they walked out of the campus, the excitement for the upcoming adventure grew, and Sara couldn't wait to see what the trip had in store.

Later that evening, Sara and Aditi were hanging out at Sara's house, sipping on iced tea and lounging on the couch. Aditi was flipping through her phone, excited about the upcoming trip, while Sara was mentally preparing for the conversation with Shubman and Abhishek about Bali.

The doorbell rang, and Sara got up to answer it. As expected, Shubman and Abhishek stood at the door. Shubman grinned, his usual relaxed demeanor in place, while Abhishek seemed intrigued by the house.

"Welcome, guys!" Sara said, stepping aside to let them in.

Shubman gave her a quick smile. "Thanks. Ready to talk about Bali?"

"Absolutely," Sara said, ushering them into the living room.

As soon as they entered, Aditi's eyes met Abhishek's, and the air shifted a little. "Oh, so you're Abhishek, huh?" Aditi said with a raised eyebrow, clearly ready to dive into a conversation.

Abhishek gave a sly smirk. "And you must be Aditi, the one who's always got a lot to say."

Aditi leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "You think you know me already?"

Abhishek, unfazed, shrugged. "I've heard enough."

That was all it took to ignite a back-and-forth exchange between them. "Heard what, exactly? You've known me for five seconds!" Aditi retorted, her eyes narrowing.

Abhishek chuckled. "Long enough to know you're... high maintenance."

Aditi's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? High maintenance? You're the one who looks like you'd complain if your coffee wasn't brewed to perfection!"

Sara and Shubman exchanged amused glances, trying hard to contain their laughter. The banter was sharp and quick, neither Aditi nor Abhishek willing to back down.

"Oh please, I bet you throw a tantrum if your lipstick isn't the exact shade you want," Abhishek shot back, clearly enjoying riling her up.

"Typical guy response," Aditi huffed, rolling her eyes. "Always assuming girls are all about makeup. At least I don't spend two hours fixing my hair before leaving the house!"

Shubman snorted, barely able to hold back his laughter. Sara bit her lip, trying to keep a straight face, but it was no use. Shubman caught her eye, and they both burst into laughter at the same time.

Aditi and Abhishek stopped mid-argument, looking at them in confusion. "What's so funny?" Aditi asked, annoyed.

Sara wiped away a tear from laughing so hard. "You two! You're arguing like you've known each other for years."

Shubman nodded, still grinning. "It's like watching an old married couple."

Both Aditi and Abhishek blushed slightly but quickly composed themselves. Aditi waved it off. "As if! I just can't stand his attitude."

"Likewise," Abhishek added, but there was a playful glint in his eyes that suggested he wasn't really that offended.

Sara shook her head, still giggling. "Alright, enough. Let's actually talk about Bali, yeah?"

They all sat down, but the light-hearted atmosphere remained. Shubman leaned forward, laying out the rough plan for the trip, while Abhishek—now quieter, but still shooting the occasional glance at Aditi—nodded along.

As they went over the dates and accommodations, Sara couldn't help but glance at Shubman, who seemed particularly relaxed, enjoying the playful energy between the four of them. The trip to Bali was shaping up to be something far more exciting than any of them had anticipated.

As they finalized the details of the Bali trip, the conversation flowed smoothly. Sara and Aditi were both excited, though every now and then, Aditi and Abhishek would throw a snarky comment at each other, which kept the mood light.

Shubman leaned back in his chair, watching as Sara laughed with Aditi, discussing what clothes to pack. He found himself smiling, enjoying the casual banter and the idea of spending time together in Bali.

"Okay, so we'll leave in two weeks," Shubman said, glancing at the group. "Everything's set, right?"

Sara nodded. "Yup, flights and hotel are sorted. Now, we just need to figure out what we'll do once we're there. There's so much to explore."

Aditi chimed in, "We should definitely hit the beaches. I've heard Bali sunsets are unreal."

Abhishek smirked. "You mean Instagram-worthy, right?"

Aditi shot him a look. "Of course! What's the point of a vacation if you don't post about it?"

Shubman and Sara laughed, while Abhishek just shook his head. "Typical."

As the conversation wound down, Aditi checked her watch. "I should get going, though. It's getting late, and I have to pack for my weekend trip." She stood up and stretched.

Abhishek raised an eyebrow. "Another trip? You never sit still, do you?"

Aditi gave him a sarcastic smile. "Some of us like to have a life, Abhishek."

He grinned. "Guess you'll have plenty of time to annoy me in Bali then."

Aditi rolled her eyes but didn't seem as bothered as before. "We'll see who gets annoyed first."

After Aditi left, it was just Sara, Shubman, and Abhishek remaining. Shubman turned to Sara, smiling. "Thanks for hosting us today. This trip's going to be amazing."

Sara smiled back, her eyes sparkling. "It will be. I'm really looking forward to it."

Abhishek glanced between the two of them, noticing the subtle exchange. He chuckled to himself before standing up. "Alright, I'm heading out too. Need to get some stuff done."

Shubman gave him a nod, and as Abhishek left, he turned back to Sara. For a moment, they just stood there in comfortable silence. Then, Shubman spoke, his voice softer. "It's going to be fun, you know... spending time with you in Bali."

Sara smiled shyly, feeling a little flutter in her chest. "Yeah, I think so too."

Shubman paused for a moment before saying, "Do you want to grab dinner later this week? You know, just the two of us?"

Sara blinked, a little surprised, but quickly nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Shubman smiled, his dimples showing. "Great. I'll text you."

With that, he said his goodbyes and left the house, leaving Sara with a wide grin on her face. As she closed the door behind him, she leaned against it, her heart racing a little. This trip was going to be unforgettable—she could already feel it.

Sara was sitting in her room, still smiling after Shubman left. Her phone buzzed with a message from Arjun, her younger brother, and she decided to reply.

Arjun: Hey, di! How's everything going?

Sara: Good! Wrapping up exams. Got something interesting to tell you.

Arjun: Oh? Spill it.

Sara typed quickly, feeling curious about something else before diving into the Bali trip details.

Sara: Hey, random question. Do you know Shubman Gill?

There was a short pause before Arjun replied.

Arjun: Yeah, of course! Shubman and I are good friends. Why? You know him?

Sara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She had no idea Arjun was close to Shubman. Small world indeed.

Sara: WHAT? He's your friend? That's... interesting. We've been hanging out lately. He invited me and Aditi to Bali with him and his friend, Abhishek.

There was another pause, and Sara could imagine Arjun processing the information.

Arjun: Wait, wait, wait... Bali? You're going on a trip with Shubman? And you didn't tell me first?

Sara chuckled, feeling a little mischievous.

Sara: Well, I just found out that he's your friend! So, technically, I didn't hide anything. 😏

Arjun: Oh, come on! But, seriously... Shubman's a cool guy. You'll have a blast. Just make sure he doesn't act too much like a cricket nerd the whole time. 😂

Sara laughed at Arjun's teasing. It felt good to have her brother's approval, even though she didn't need it.

Sara: Noted. I'll remind him that it's a vacation, not a training camp.

Arjun: Good. I expect photos of this whole adventure, by the way.

Sara: Of course, you'll get them. Don't worry. Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how it goes

Arjun: Cool. Have fun, and say hi to Shubman for me.

Sara smiled at the exchange. Knowing that her brother was friends with Shubman somehow made the upcoming trip even more exciting. She placed her phone down and leaned back, imagining what the Bali trip would hold. The excitement in her chest grew with every passing minute.