ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏꜱ

.The Trip༊˚

AUTHOR'S POV:

The next morning, Avni woke up early, feeling excited for the trip. She quickly went through her morning routine, took a quick bath, and got ready. She chose a comfortable pair of jeans and a casual top for the day. Before heading downstairs for breakfast, she double-checked that she had packed everything she needed for the trip, including a few outfits, toiletries, her sketchbook, and her iPad, all neatly tucked into her suitcase. Satisfied that she was ready, she grabbed her suitcase and went downstairs.

Her parents were already up, her dad was absorbed in something on his phone while her mother was busy serving breakfast.

Her mother placed some parathas on her plate and said, "I've packed some sandwiches for you. Have them if you feel hungry."

Avni smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mom."

After finishing her breakfast, Avni loaded her suitcase into the car, and soon they were on their way to school. The drive was quiet, but Avni didn't mind. She was preoccupied with thoughts of how to thank Ishan for his help. The cool breeze from the window brushed against her face, heightening her excitement. When they arrived at school, her dad dropped her off at the gate, waved goodbye, and drove off.

Avni noticed a group of students gathered around a large bus. She spotted their class teacher, Mr. Gupta, standing nearby, facing away as he spoke on the phone. Avni approached him and waited patiently for him to finish his call.

When Mr. Gupta noticed her, he ended the call and turned to her with a smile. "We were waiting for you, Avni. Get on the bus quickly, or you'll miss out on a window seat."

Avni chuckled. "That's okay. Thank you so much, sir, for helping me."

Mr. Gupta shook his head with a smile. "It's nothing, Avni. Everyone deserves a break, and so do you."

Avni thanked him again and hesitated before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, how did you convince my parents? I know them well, and they would never agree to a two-day trip."

Mr. Gupta chuckled. "It wasn't too hard. I told them it was an educational trip with visits to museums and historical sites."

Avni looked at him in surprise. "So you... lied to them for me?"

Mr. Gupta smiled kindly. "It's not really a lie. We will visit museums, after all. A small fib that brings someone happiness isn't a bad thing. If anything happens when we return, just let me know, and I'll handle it."

Avni felt a wave of gratitude and said, "Thank you so much, sir."

Mr. Gupta nodded towards the bus. "Instead of thanking me, go grab your seat."

Avni nodded and climbed onto the bus. As she made her way down the aisle, she noticed Nidhi waving at her. She walked over and saw that Nidhi and Aaron were sitting together.

Nidhi gave her an apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry, I couldn't sit with you."

Avni smiled back. "It's alright. You two sit together. I'll find another place."

Nidhi pointed to the seats behind them. "You can sit behind us. Ishan is sitting there too."

Avni looked over and saw Ishan peek around the seat, smiling at her. "I guess I have no choice," she said, noticing that there weren't any other empty seats.

Ishan stood up and gestured for Avni to take the window seat. He lifted her luggage and placed it in the overhead compartment before sitting down next to her.

As the bus filled up, the teachers got on board and settled in. The bus driver started the engine, and soon, the bus was filled with the sound of music and students singing along. While everyone else was having fun, Avni was lost in her own world, staring out the window and listening to music through her earphones. Ishan, sitting next to her, occasionally glanced at her, noticing how peaceful she seemed.

Nidhi turned around in her seat and called out, "Come on, guys, why are you two so quiet?"

Ishan looked at Avni, who responded, "I'm good. You guys continue."

The rest of the ride was filled with laughter and chatter as everyone enjoyed the journey. Their first stop was a museum. The museum was quite large and impressive from the outside, with grand columns and intricate carvings. As they arrived, everyone got off the bus and lined up to enter the museum.

Inside, the museum was even more breathtaking. The high ceilings were adorned with chandeliers, and the walls were lined with artifacts from various eras of history. The group spent a few hours exploring the exhibits, taking in the rich history and culture on display.

After the museum visit, they headed to a nearby restaurant for lunch. The teachers ordered food for everyone, and soon the students were enjoying a well-deserved meal.

As the day grew darker, they made their way to the campsite. After a 2-3 hour ride from the restaurant, they finally reached their destination. Everyone got off the bus, stretching after the long journey. A few students helped the teachers unload the tent materials and other supplies from the bus.

Mr. Gupta called out, "Everyone, gather around!"

Once the group was assembled, he continued, "We have 30 tents, two people per tent. Pair up with a friend, come and collect your tent and supplies, then submit your names."

The students, excited for the night ahead, quickly paired up and collected their tents. With the help of the teachers, they worked together to set them up. Soon, the campsite was dotted with 27 student tents and 3 teacher tents, all pitched and ready for the night.

After everyone had settled into their tents, the teachers called the students together again. Mr. Gupta began assigning tasks to ensure the camp was fully prepared for the evening. "We need everyone to pitch in," he said. "Some of you will be responsible for building the campfire, others will help decorate and arrange the seating area for tonight's activities, and the rest will assist the teachers in preparing for the BBQ."