ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏꜱ

.Camp night༊˚

AUTHOR'S POV:

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."

Avni was assigned to help with the BBQ preparations. She joined a group of students and teachers near the cooking area, where they began setting up grills and preparing the ingredients. As she carefully chopped vegetables and marinated paneer, a sense of satisfaction washed over her, knowing she was contributing to the meal everyone would enjoy later. The fragrant aroma of spices and freshly cut vegetables filled the air, making her realize how much she enjoyed cooking, something she rarely had time for at home. This simple task brought her unexpected joy, and she found herself fully immersed in the process, savoring each moment.

Ishan and Aaron were assigned to build the campfire along with few others students. They quickly gathered dry wood and kindling, arranging it carefully in the fire pit. As they worked, they shared jokes, making the job fun. In no time, the fire pit was ready, and they felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing they had helped set the stage for the night's festivities.

While Nidhi, along with Neha and her friends, was assigned to decorating the seating area. They hung lanterns on nearby trees, arranged blankets and cushions around the campfire, and set up a cozy, inviting space for everyone to gather. Despite the occasional tension with Neha, Nidhi focused on the task, determined to make the area look perfect for the evening. The soft glow of the lanterns and the neatly arranged seating made the campsite feel warm and welcoming.

After Ishan finished his work, he noticed Avni still busy with the BBQ preparations. While most of the others were resting, Ishan walked over to where Avni was cooking peacefully.

"Didn't know you were good at cooking too," Ishan remarked after watching her for a while.

Avni, realizing his presence, responded without looking up, "Well, not that good."

"What are you doing right now?" Ishan asked curiously.

"Cutting onions for the salad," Avni replied.

A female teacher who was helping with the cooking said, "Avni, we're taking the food over. You can join us after you're done with those."

Avni nodded. Ishan then asked, "Want me to help you?"

Avni looked at him skeptically. "You?"

"Yes, I'm so good at cooking that I could be a chef," Ishan replied with a grin, taking the knife from Avni and starting to cut the onions.

In no time, tears welled up in Ishan's eyes from the onions.

Avni laughed and teased, "What happened, Mr. Chef?"

Wiping his tears, Ishan tried to save face. "I'm cutting them so perfectly that I'm even making myself emotional."

But as he continued wiping his eyes with one hand, he accidentally nicked his finger with the knife. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, dropping the knife.

Avni panicked, immediately grabbing his hand. "What happened? See, this is what happens when you try to act cool and end up hurting yourself. You're so stupid."

Before Ishan could protest, Avni instinctively took his finger into her mouth to stop the bleeding. Afterward, she washed his finger and told him to wait. She quickly fetched a medical kit from her bag, applied ointment, and carefully bandaged the cut.

"Thank you," Ishan said, a bit sheepishly.

"You're welcome," Avni replied. "But don't ever try to lie to me again."

She finished chopping the onions and then headed toward the campfire where everyone was waiting. Ishan followed her closely, still processing what had just happened.

Nidhi said, "You took forever, Avni."

Avni replied with a smirk, "Sorry, Nidhi. But the salad was being prepared by a world-renowned chef, so it took some extra time." She glanced at Ishan, teasing him.

Everyone chuckled as they sat down around the campfire, warm and comforting. The aroma of the BBQ filled the air as they began to eat, enjoying the delicious meal that had been prepared.

As they finished eating, the camp's performances were about to begin. The students busied themselves adjusting the mics and setting up the area. Nidhi, who was the anchor for the night, stood up to take her place.

Noticing the bandage on Ishan's finger, Aaron asked, "What happened to your finger?"

Ishan shrugged, "Oh, nothing serious. Just a small cut."

Before Aaron could probe further, Nidhi's voice rang out through the mic, "Ladies and gentlemen, I, Nidhi, welcome you all to tonight's campfire performance!"

She continued with enthusiasm, "Tonight's going to be a blast! So let's kick things off with our first performance. Please welcome Neha and her team to the stage!"

Neha and her two friends performed a lively song, complete with singing and dancing, which had everyone clapping along. Several other students also took the stage, showcasing their talents. Nidhi herself participated, delivering a beautiful song with a captivating voice. The night was full of energy and excitement, but Nidhi had one more surprise in store.

With a grin, Nidhi announced, "Tonight, our teachers will also perform!"

The teachers, caught off guard but unable to refuse, took the stage to the delight of the students. The impromptu performances were a hit, adding to the fun of the night. Avni, although she didn't participate, enjoyed watching and soaking in the lively atmosphere. It was her first time experiencing such a carefree and fun-filled night.

As the last performance ended, Nidhi grabbed the mic again and said, "Well, I have one more surprise for you all."

The crowd buzzed with curiosity. "What is it?" they shouted.

Nidhi continued with excitement, "My best friend, Avni, will sing a song for us!"

Avni's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Me?"

Nidhi encouraged her from the mic, "Come on, Avni. I know you can do it. Everyone cheer for her!"

While the crowd cheered, Avni hesitated. She wasn't comfortable with the spotlight and didn't want the attention, but the teacher's encouraging nod made it hard to refuse. With a deep breath, she stepped to the center where Nidhi had been standing. Nidhi handed her the mic and took her seat.

Avni looked around at the faces watching her, her heart pounding. Taking another deep breath, she began to sing.