𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 ( 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐯𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥 )

11

Yashasvi shot her a quick glance, his expression unreadable. "Somewhere quiet."

"Specific," she muttered, rolling her eyes. She hated being kept in the dark, especially when it involved being stuck with him.

As they left the busier streets behind, the surroundings began to change. The lights of the city dimmed, replaced by the quieter charm of the outskirts. The roads became narrower, lined with trees that cast long shadows in the moonlight.

After what felt like an eternity, Yashasvi finally pulled into a small parking area near a hill. He parked the car and cut the engine, the silence of the night settling around them.

Jemimah looked around, confused. "This is your idea of a safe spot? A random hill in the middle of nowhere?"

Yashasvi sighed, unbuckling his seatbelt. "It's not random. This is one of my favorite places in Jaipur."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "A hill?"

"It's more than just a hill," he said, his voice edged with frustration as he got out of the car. "Come on."

Reluctantly, Jemimah followed, her curiosity piqued despite herself. They walked up a narrow path that wound through the trees, the air cooler and fresher the higher they climbed. The sounds of the city faded away, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of crickets.

As they reached the top, the view spread out before them—a sweeping panorama of Jaipur, the city lights twinkling like stars in the distance. The hilltop was peaceful, almost serene, with a small temple nestled among the trees, its white walls glowing softly in the moonlight.

Yashasvi walked over to a stone bench near the edge of the hill, sitting down with a sigh. He didn't say anything, just stared out at the view, his shoulders tense.

Jemimah hesitated, then joined him, the beauty of the place slowly seeping into her. Despite the chilly air between them, she couldn't help but feel a small sense of awe at the sight before her.

"So this is your favorite place," she said softly, her earlier irritation melting away. "I didn't expect this."

Yashasvi shrugged, his gaze still fixed on the city below. "It's quiet. Peaceful. I come here every year during the IPL after a match to clear my head."

Jemimah nodded, understanding more than she let on. She could see why he liked it—up here, away from the noise and the chaos of their lives, it was easy to forget about everything else.

She leaned back on the bench, letting out a long breath. "It's... nice."

"Glad you approve," Yashasvi said, his tone dry but lacking its usual bite.

They sat in silence for a while, neither of them willing to break the quiet that had settled between them. For once, the usual antagonism between them felt less important, overshadowed by the calm of the night and the beauty of the view.

But of course, it didn't last long.

I don’t know how should I say this but about what happened there--.”

Yashasvi turned his head slightly, giving Jemimah a brief, unreadable look. "It's okay," he said simply, his voice calm but carrying an undertone that made it clear he didn’t want to dwell on it.