(A/N: Backkkk with a BANG. Sick heads. I meant with an update but yeah, whatever. I sound stupid right now. I just wanted to thank you all so much for being there. I hope you really like this update. I've never written about this kind of Manik ever before and I really hope he touches some of your hearts. Thanks a ton. Please spread my story if you like it. Vote and comment. Thanks a ton. Loads of love, Sahana.)

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I woke up in the middle of the night due to the cold. I sat up and folded my blanket twice to help keep me warm. In the process, I saw the girl who'd stolen my attention since the time I laid my eyes on her, reading a book, with the light on. I rubbed my eyes and checked the time on my phone. 2:24. Whoa. I peeped at the book to see the title.

The Fault In Our Stars.

Oh well, all I knew about that book was it was a teenage romance and too cheesy for guys to read. Yet, if I could manage to impress her, I wouldn't have to worry for the rest of the time. First impression is always the best impression, right?

I peeked again, this time, for her to notice. "Hmm, The Fault In Our Stars, eh? It's a beautiful book." She met eyes with mine and my heart began to throb in my chest. She was so beautiful, so innocent and I was smitten by her, the moment I saw her.

"Umm... Yeah, I haven't really finished reading so I don't know." She murmured and began concentrating on her book. I got down from my berth, wore my sandals and stood right under hers. She looked at me suspiciously as I held the bars supporting her berth and swayed my body forward and backward. "What are you trying to do?" She asked in a ridiculous tone and I became conscious.

"Uhh... Nothing. I was going to say that there's a beautiful part in this story. I mean, the end right? It's amazing." I swayed again as I leaned closer to her. She looked surprised. My eyes fell on her feet, that were constantly trying to find warmth amidst the cold outside.

"Really? I think Augustus dies in the end." She frowned and I raised my eyes in confusion or rather I would say, realization.

"He does?" I asked her back in a curious tone and she smiled at the way I embarrassed myself. I hit my head to the bar in embarrassment and made eye-contact with her. She was cupping her chin with her hand that was resting on her elbow, and was looking at me with a soft giggle.

"Have you read this book?" She asked with a pressed smile and I flushed. Damn! Why don't I ever have my ways with women? I ran my fingers around my hair, embarrassed about being caught and then smiled awkwardly.

"Uhh... Well, I've read many others though. Romeo Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and so on." I flapped my hands in restlessness and to divert the attention I was getting. I made eye contact after I completed and she smiled.

"Pride and Prejudice is my favorite classic." She spoke as she shifted in her place and scooted closer to the railings.

"I love Romeo's lines. I have even memorized them enough to remember them. Just a minute. Ahem." I cleared my throat and then began to speak.

"With love's light wings did I over perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out..." And before I could continue, I heard another voice join me.

"And what love can do that dares love attempt.
Therefore your kinsmen are no let to me." We said together and a smile appeared on my face as she giggled. She was a cheerful girl and her happiness made me smile.

"You like Romeo?" I asked with a small smile as I admired her, being herself. She sat up straight again and spoke with a tinge of comfort in her voice.

"I like Darcy. Romeo sounds a little cheesy. Not original." She made weird faces to express his disapproval about Romeo and I smirked. Wasn't Romeo known for his cheesy lines?

"So does Darcy. Like Darcy is such a jerk. If Elizabeth had any sense in her, she'd have not fallen for him." I stated, expressing my extreme annoyance at their love story. How could someone fall in love with a person so mean and rude as Darcy?

"That was only because Darcy hated to admit he was attracted to her." She defended her favorite character and hence, we began arguing.

"Elizabeth was a confused character. What did she see in him to fall in love with him? He even insulted her. Why would he insult her if he was attracted to her? Doesn't that sound stupid?"

"No. I think she was one of the strongest characters ever written in Literature. Darcy wasn't really nice to her, but that has nothing to do with his love for her. He has apologized for everything he did." She smiled to prove her point and I began recollecting Darcy's words.

"I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes, which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written and read." We said together again and I raised my hand for a high-five. She just didn't mind and we shared a gesture of friendship. She began giggling again and I admired her.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. You don't look like a person interested in classics. Perhaps appearances can be deceptive." She leaned to look at me and I smiled.

"Well, do you mind if I come up there for a while?" I pointed at her berth and she shifted, to allow me to jump up. I sat on her berth, put my legs down, let them dangle and then looked at her.

"Appearances CAN be deceptive. They're not, always. You can sometimes understand the character of a person by just their looks." I said, looking straight into her eyes.

"Really?" She looked curious. Maybe another thing I was smitten by.

"Yes."

"So can you tell what kind of a person I am by just looking at me?" She shifted to turn towards me and I glanced at her face.

"You're soft-hearted yet strong, innocent yet brave, vulnerable yet safe, shy yet comfortable..." I said without breaking eye-contact and she tried pressing her smile but then ended up giggling. She flapped her arm playfully against me and hit me.

"You're cheesy..." She searched for my name and I reminded her.

"Manik."

"Manik. You're cheesy." She reiterated and I smirked. Heard that already. So many times.

"I've been told so." There was an awkward moment of silence.

"So you're not sleepy?" She tried to initiate a conversation.

"Nope. Are you?"

"A little? Literature actually bores me though I love it and that's because it's so slow progressing. That's why I read it before going to bed." She flashed her teeth and I chuckled.

"Haha. Alright. I have kept you awake for long. I am sorry." I apologized as I jumped down.

"Hehe... Bye. Good night." She waved and I smiled.

"Good night, Nandini." I said and climbed up to my berth. I pulled the sheets over as I looked at her, to see her lying to her side, closing her eyes in prayer and then pulling her sheets over.

***

"Guys, get up. Get up everyone." The guide instructed as he went to our allotted berths and attempted to wake us up. I sat up still tired and saw Cabir sipping tea. I glowered at him and he just tried to ignore. Automatically I glanced to the berth on the side and saw that angel in deep sleep. Her friends let her be too and I smiled involuntarily.

I got out of bed and jumped down. I called for a cup of coffee and sat on the lower berth again.

"So hey everyone. I am Aryamann Khurrana and I am going to be your guide for this expedition. You can call me Aryamann, yeah? I hope all of you are already here so without further ado, let me hand over today's itinerary." He handed out sheets to all of us and we all had a look.

"Since the weather is a little gloomy today, we won't be going to the lakes yet. We're planning to get to the hotel, freshen up, have breakfast and then head to the Subramaniyah Temple. It's a short drive from our hotel. Then we will trek into the Pine forest and lastly, to end the day, we see the sunset from Lake View point and if you guys need, we have arranged a bar trip too. So for those alcohol addicts, hope you'll have fun. That's it for today."

"Not bad bro. Maybe the first day wouldn't be that terrible for us." Cabir made a sympathetic face and I felt like whacking it across the bogie. He sometimes had to overthink and act stupid.

"It won't, Cabir. Stop acting dumb." The girls looked at us and giggled and I hit Cabir playfully. Oh! How I craved for her attention.

"Any questions?" Aryamann asked.

"Yeah, actually regarding the food..." Cabir half-stood and I hit my head with my palm. Cabirrr...

"Food will be provided in the hotel. We'll be back for every meal so that we can take some rest too." Aryamann said with a warm smile and I pulled Cabir to sit down.

"And about the menu there..." He started again and the people sitting with us began to laugh.

"It'll be a buffet." Cabir smiled, still not convinced and I hit him.

"Cabir, shut up. Jerk."

"Guys, signal aa raha hai." Aisha screamed and the girls began dialing someone. I just watched my girl sleep in peace. She had curled herself into a ball, pouting in her sleep and I smiled, as she ignored the fact that I was head over heels for her in very less time.

***

"Feels so good to be in here." I spoke dreamily as I walked into our four-star hotel. The scent in it was welcoming and nothing meant more to me than sleep. I fell to the bed and Cabir began munching something I couldn't care much to see.

Outside the corridor, I heard loud shouts of the girls and I was pretty sure it was them, St. Xavier's students. I hurried to open the door and I saw the girls walking, Nandini and Navya falling on each other and laughing, and Aisha and Rehan flushed. I looked at their luggage and immediately offered to help.

"Guys, need help?" I offered and they smiled.

"Umm... If you could?" I helped them take their luggage inside and noted their rooms. 202. One room away from mine. A smile appeared on my lips as I thought about it. I put the luggage in their room and Aisha and Rehan went to the next room. They thanked me and I just smiled.

The guide had told us we had an hour to get ready. So Cabir went in first, got dressed and just walked to have breakfast. I heard him talking to a girl in the corridor but that didn't seem like my girl's voice. I just carried on with my business and changed into an orange t-shirt, dark jeans, a cardigan and hiking shoes. I was ready 20 minutes ahead of time. I locked my room and found Nandini locking too.

"Hey. Slept well last night?" I tried to initiate a conversation without seeming to sound too desperate.

"Yeah. You have good knowledge about literature." She complimented and I smiled.

"Hehe... Thank you. So excited for today's schedule?" I asked and she frowned and cringed her facial muscles in disappointment.

"Ahh... Not really. But yeah, anything done with friends is fun..." She looked at me and I smiled "...and with new friends too." I felt my heart flutter and I didn't know what to say. I just kept quiet until we reached the breakfast room.

We walked to the dining room and served ourselves food. We headed to the vehicles and we boarded a jeep. We found two other people our age in our van and an elderly couple. Just then Aryamann came towards our jeep.

"Umm... Mind if they join you guys? The other van is full. Please?" Aryamann pleaded and I smiled wide. I get to be with this angel again.

"Sure. Come in Nandini." Cabir and I held our hands out to help her and she gave both of us each of her hands to climb inside. Her friend Navya joined too and something about that made Cabir happy. Ugh. Dare steal my girl, bro.

"And please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, just ring me. My number is on the itinerary sheet. Guys, please make them comfortable." Aryamann smiled and I looked at Nandini. She smiled in assurance and I felt happy.

"Sure thanks." Aryamann closed the door for us and I looked at her.

"So we meet again, eh?" She flushed.

"Fate wants us to keep meeting, I guess?" She spoke and I felt my heart beat faster. Oh God! Why am I feeling like this?

"Perhaps for a good reason."

"Maybe." She spoke and we began our journey.

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(Three chapters to go and the journey has barely started? Don't worry. The other chapters won't be in so much detail. You'll get only the scenes you like. 🙈 Please vote and comment. Loads of love to you all.)