"I saw that you were perfect,

and so I loved you.

Then I saw that you were not perfect

and I loved you even more."

—Angelita Lim

________________________________

A smile

Misha's POV

Sometimes, when life appears to be steering us toward surrender, it can take an unexpected turn, granting us the very things we had almost given up on. My affection for Karan was an exquisite chapter of my life, yet it seemed like an unattainable love story at that point. The college consensus was that Karan and Mahira were the epitome of a perfect couple, and this widespread belief was enough to compel me to keep my love hidden, locked away like a treasured secret.

That particular night, as I returned to my room, sleep seemed elusive. Tanya was nowhere to be found, her whereabouts a mystery, leaving me feeling even more isolated. In that moment, I yearned for my mother's comforting presence. She had always imparted the wisdom of not concealing our true feelings and not dwelling excessively on matters that posed no genuine harm.

The fear of societal judgment often clouds our decisions. My encounter with Mahira in that dimly lit alley was not my primary concern, but my mind stubbornly refused to accept the possibility that Karan might have been there with her. If not, I reasoned, he deserved to know what his girlfriend was concealing from him.

A sudden recollection prompted me to speak with Sahil about my impending trekking adventure. Throughout the day, I had been without my phone, and during dinner, I had inadvertently left it in my room. Retrieving my phone from my bag, I noticed several missed calls from Sahil. I berated myself for the oversight and hastily dialed his number.

Even after several rings, Sahil did not answer the call. Frustrated, I decided to send him a text message, explaining my trekking plans and mentioning the possibility of limited network connectivity for the next few days.

The following morning, we embarked on our trek. Upon reaching the base camp, we were divided into two teams, led by Rishabh and Karan. I found myself on Rishabh's team, and we were informed that the team reaching the next mountain camp first would be declared the winner, while the losing team would prepare meals for everyone.

Third person's POV

Karan's enthusiasm for the competition was palpable, driven by a mysterious motivation that he kept to himself. He outpaced everyone, earning the opportunity to take a brief rest before continuing the journey. Spotting Mahira, a member of his team, approaching, he invited her to join him for a break.

As they became engrossed in each other, Mahira spotted Misha ahead and pointed her out to Karan. He abruptly pushed Mahira aside and sprinted towards Misha.

"Hey!" he called out, closing the distance between them.

Misha turned to see Karan charging toward her. Given the competitive atmosphere, both teams had been teasing and taunting each other throughout the trek, including Misha and Karan. Their encounter this time was no different; it was all in good fun, driven by the desire to win the competition.

"Hello, loverboy," Misha replied with a teasing grin.

"Please, let me win," Karan pouted, brushing aside her sarcasm and playful banter.

"Oh, is Mr. Popular afraid of losing to a girl? Look at you, you're already exhausted," she taunted.

"I'm not scared of you, but I really need to win this. You're already at the top of your class. Let me have this one," he pleaded.

"No can do. You'll have to beat me fair and square. You can't even stop flirting with your girlfriend. She's so not your type," Misha said dramatically.

"Okay, but at least sit with me for a while. You look out of breath too," he suggested, guiding her toward a nearby rock.

Although she initially resisted, Misha eventually relented and sat beside him.

"You know, you're right. She's not my type. But it's also true that I can't find a girlfriend like you," Karan confessed.

"What do you mean?" Misha asked, perplexed.

"You're meant to be loved and cherished. I'm just scared of all those things. Mahira is someone I don't have to worry about getting too attached to. But you..." Karan began, revealing more about his inner thoughts than he intended. Realizing he had said too much, he abruptly stood up and walked away.

As Misha tried to follow him, she stumbled due to the rope Karan had tied around her legs during their conversation. Fuming, she threatened to report him, but he silenced her by reminding her that this was a camp, not school, and there were no punishments for complaints there.

Eventually, everyone reached their destination, and it was Misha's team's turn to prepare the meal. Misha whipped up some delicious Indian dishes that were enjoyed by all. Afterward, they joined a local party, hosted by the villagers, to celebrate their successful trek.

The Next Morning

Misha's POV

Standing atop the mountain peak, enveloped in each other's arms, we gazed out at the breathtaking panorama before us. The mountains, cloaked in a pristine blanket of ice, stretched as far as the eye could see. The sky above us painted a stunning canvas of colors, imbuing the moment with an enchanting sense of romance.

As we held each other close, he turned his gaze towards me, his eyes filled with profound affection. With a deliberate slowness, he leaned in, his gaze fixated on my lips, which I couldn't help but nervously nibble. The anticipation hung in the air, thick with the promise of a kiss, a moment where our emotions would transcend words.

RING....RING

The jarring sound of my alarm clock tore me away from the dream, leaving me in a state of disarray. It had been such a brief dream about him, yet it had a profound effect on me. I couldn't deny the physical response it had triggered – a reminder that my feelings were becoming increasingly intense with each passing day. I chastised myself, resolving to regain control over my emotions.

After a brisk shower, I stepped out of my tent, greeted by the sight of a breathtaking sunrise. The world around me was still cloaked in the tranquility of early morning, with only a handful of people awake. Even Tanya remained sound asleep in our tent.

I decided to go for a stroll while waiting for everyone to prepare for the next leg of our journey. Behind the tents, a group of students tasked with today's breakfast preparations were diligently chopping vegetables. Some others, boys and girls alike, were engrossed in various games like football and badminton. Amid the playful commotion, a boy playing alone with a ball suddenly slipped on the icy ground, landing unceremoniously on his backside with a loud thud. Laughter erupted from onlookers as they found amusement in his clumsiness. I recognized him as Krish, one of the teacher's favorite students, known for his shyness and willingness to help others.

I couldn't help but smile at the endearing scene unfolding before me, a slice of innocence and humor on this early morning. However, my smile quickly faded when I noticed a shadow lurking behind the nearby bushes. Curiosity got the better of me, prompting me to move closer and discreetly observe what was transpiring. What I witnessed both caught me off guard and confirmed my suspicions, leaving me with a sense of unease.

___________

After savoring a delightful Italian sandwich breakfast, we were all geared up for the next leg of our journey. We had two more camps to reach today, and then tomorrow morning, we would make our way back to the base camp. Tanya, who had been particularly exhausted the previous day, was vehemently opposed to the idea of covering such a long distance within a single day.

"Sir, honestly, a whole day to reach just one camp seems more reasonable. We were so worn out yesterday, and that exhaustion still lingers. Can't we take a bit more rest before continuing?" Tanya argued with our instructor when he announced that it was time to gather our belongings.

The instructor, aware of Tanya's aversion to being alone, played along. "Of course, Tanya. You go and rest in your tent while the rest of us proceed."

She let out a sigh and reluctantly agreed, knowing she couldn't bear to be isolated from the group.

We all shared a laugh at Tanya's expense as she retreated to her tent.

With our gear in tow, the rest of us embarked on the next phase of our journey. The absence of network coverage meant that we could only rely on capturing memories through photographs and engaging in various games during the trip. Despite the lack of connectivity, it was an enjoyable experience. I not only bonded with Tanya and Rishabh but also with many others in the group. We shared playful banter and exchanged humorous comments, often aimed at 'The Bitches', except for Mahira.

(A/N - 'The Bitches' here means the crazy boys and girls who just create problems now and then.)

In the morning, a shocking discovery left me and everyone else in our group dumbfounded. I stumbled upon Mahira and Karan's best friend, Shawn, engaged in an intimate encounter. The awkwardness hung thick in the air, and it wasn't just me; everyone present had noticed the indiscretion. Word of this quickly spread, eventually reaching Karan's ears. However, before any dramatic confrontation could unfold, our instructors hurriedly ushered us along to our next camping destination. The urgency of the situation prevented any immediate confrontation, but the tension between them was palpable, with Mahira's constant stares directed toward me.

Inside my mind, I couldn't help but think, 'Eww! I certainly didn't ask her to cheat.'

Tanya, on the other hand, reacted strongly to the situation, throwing tantrums that seemed to irk Aaron, her crush from Karan's group. At one point, when she complained about her aching legs, Aaron hoisted her onto his shoulders while climbing, much to everyone's amusement. The teasing that followed only added to Kimberly's irritation, Mahira's best friend.

Clara, my newfound friend, confided in me about her secret crush on Rishabh. She had been at our school for some time and shared stories of their past. Clara mentioned that she, Rishabh, and Karan were once the best of friends until Mahira entered their lives. It was a shock to hear how close Karan and Rishabh used to be and the mystery of what caused their rift. I tried to pry further, but Clara refused to elaborate, stating that it wasn't her place to reveal the details.

As evening descended upon us, we finally reached the last campsite and were able to take a much-needed break. While we had brief pauses for meals during the day, this was our first opportunity to rest at length. Our instructors regaled us with captivating stories about the mountains, adding an extra layer of wonder to our journey.

To our pleasant surprise, the instructors had prepared something special for our evening. Ms. Lana had arranged a special dinner, while the instructors organized a bonfire and a few engaging activities for us to enjoy.

(A/N - Hey everyone, I forgot to introduce you to our awesome instructors, Mr. Arman Malik and Mr. Vishal Khurana. They were both young, charismatic, and quite popular among the group. At just 21 years old, they brought a unique energy to the trek. Interestingly, it seemed like 'The Bitches' had a bit of a challenging time with them throughout the journey, which made it quite entertaining for the rest of us! 😄....)

Amid the excitement of the surprise and festivities, I couldn't help but notice the conspicuous absence of Karan and Mahira, accompanied by Shawn. It was a puzzling situation, but I decided to brush it off and not dwell on it too much to avoid building false expectations. In the midst of all this, Tanya and Aaron seemed to be engrossed in their flirtatious banter, which added an adorable touch to the atmosphere, while Clara and Rishabh were clearly enjoying quality time together, indulging in conversations laced with subtle flirtation.

As the evening unfolded, our instructors introduced us to the concept of 'Bhutan Hill,' the next destination on our adventure. The name alone carried an aura of mystery and haunted tales, piquing my curiosity and sparking a desire to explore it further. However, the prospect of venturing into the hill alone held me back, and I decided to shelve my plans for now.

That night, as everyone retreated to their tents, sleep eluded me. I found myself wide awake, contemplating the twists and turns of my life. I had once harbored dreams of moving to New York and living an independent life, but my father's decisions had thwarted those plans. Surprisingly, I held no regrets because this unexpected turn of events had rekindled my relationship with Sahil and, more importantly, had spared me from my father's taunts and abuse. However, my feelings towards my father remained uncertain.

Lost in my thoughts, a sudden noise outside my tent jolted me awake, and I nervously peeked outside. To my surprise, I found Karan standing there, his arms folded, wearing an impatient expression. I raised an eyebrow, silently questioning his unexpected presence at this hour.

Without providing an explanation, he urged me to come out, his tone filled with urgency. Confused but intrigued, I complied, noticing the bag he carried with him.

"Where are we going?" I inquired, my curiosity getting the best of me. It was unusual for him to show up late at night with a bag and expect me to follow without divulging any information. Trusting him was one thing, but this level of spontaneity was unfamiliar territory.

"I thought you'd be curious about 'Bhutan Hill.' So, let's go before you accidentally wake someone up and ruin the plan," he replied, his cryptic response leaving me both puzzled and intrigued.

I whispered to myself, pondering how he could possibly know about my curiosity. He overheard and turned toward me but offered no explanation, merely gesturing for me to follow him. He took my hand, and together, we embarked on the silent ascent.

The journey was marked by an uncomfortable silence, neither of us uttering a word or making eye contact. The tension in the air weighed on me, and I stole occasional glances at Karan, sensing his troubled mood. After what felt like half an hour, he seated himself on a fallen branch, heaving a sigh. I joined him after a few minutes, but he remained unresponsive.

Unable to endure the silence any longer, I ventured, "Are you okay?"

His response was tinged with bitterness, "Yeah! After being betrayed by my own best friend and girlfriend, am I okay? Surprisingly, I am. It felt like I needed this break. I needed to step away from my so-called best friend and a girlfriend who was more concerned with her appearance and reputation than anything else. Seeing you with my ex-best friends today made me realize something profound."

He turned to face me, his gaze unwavering as he continued, "I've lost everything chasing some meaningless popularity. I did foolish things, picked fights with the people I cherished most, misunderstood them, and placed blame where it didn't belong. In the end, I lost them, all without realizing my own mistakes."

From his bag, he produced a diary and handed it to me, adding, "Now that I reflect on it, I regret it all. Keep this diary with you; it belongs to you. Read it when you return home in two days. There are many things about your family that you deserve to know."

His words left me bewildered, as the topic had abruptly shifted towards me. Sensing my confusion, he assured me that the diary held all the answers. With that, we continued our journey, and as morning approached, we reached the summit of Bhutan Hill. To our surprise, the mountain revealed no signs of danger, dispelling the ominous aura that had surrounded it.

Upon our return to the camp, everyone was ready to depart, though the instructors scolded us for our nighttime adventure without delving further into the matter. We made our way back to Manali, took some much-needed rest, and commenced our journey home.

News of Karan and Mahira's breakup spread like wildfire, leaving those who had considered them the perfect couple disappointed. Karan remained close to me after our shared journey, raising the curiosity of our friends. Tanya seemed particularly pleased, knowing of my crush on Karan, while Rishabh and Clara appeared somewhat awkward. Mahira shot me withering glances whenever our paths crossed, but aside from that, things seemed to be going well for me. I found happiness in spending time with Karan, though the diary he had given me was a constant reminder that something significant lay beneath the surface.

_________***__________

#lajawabattitude

Just to clarify, Karan's girlfriend never loved him and he knew about it from the day he first met Misha.

This chapter is dedicated to the movie 'Yeh Jawani hai Diwani', one of my favorites. Scenes may be similar because I loved those parts, but it is not copying. Please do not comment on it as it is copied. I have written it according to the story. Hope you like it.

Thanks for reading

Lots of love

Xxx