From Crush to Commitment

Day 6: Explore Kasol and Nearby Villages

The sun had barely started to peep over the horizon, casting a soft golden hue on the rugged mountains surrounding Kasol. The morning air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of pine and dew-covered leaves. Riddhi sat at the edge of her bed in the camp , her thoughts a whirlpool of emotions after last night’s events. She could still hear Rohan’s words echoing in her mind, “ I like you. I think… I think I’m in love with you. I want us to be more than friends. I like you, Riddhi. I’ve always liked you.”

Her heart ached with guilt. She’d said no, and it hadn’t been easy, especially when Rohan had looked at her with such hope, his eyes wide with vulnerability. But she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t ready for anything. Not yet, not with him. She didn’t know if she was ready for anything at all.

Beside her, Adira was stirring in her bed, her messy hair splayed out like a wild halo. “Riddhi,” she muttered, still half asleep, “You up yet? The trek starts in an hour.”

Riddhi nodded but didn’t respond. She hadn’t spoken much since the previous night, lost in her thoughts. Riddhi had always been the type to internalize things, processing quietly before sharing, if ever.

Adira stretched and turned to face her. “You alright, yaar?” She spoke in a softer, more understanding tone, sensing her friend’s turmoil. Adira was outspoken to her, always ready to take charge of a situation, but she also knew when to give Riddhi the space she needed.

“I’m fine,” Riddhi replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Adira raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t convinced, but she let it go for now. “Okay, fine. But just so you know, I’m here if you need to talk.”

The trek back to Kasol wasn’t as long as the one they had taken the day before, but it was still challenging, especially with the weight of yesterday’s emotional rollercoaster hanging over Rohan.

Rohan had barely spoken to anyone during breakfast. He was a good kid, always polite, always trying to make everyone feel at ease, but today he was distant. Ruhi noticed it first, her sharp eyes catching the way Rohan fiddled with his plate, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

Ruhi had known Rohan for as long as she could remember. They’d grown up in the same neighborhood, shared childhood memories of playing in the local park, and spent countless hours in each other’s homes , even in the school they're always together. She knew him better than anyone. But what had happened last night — Riddhi’s rejection — had clearly hit him hard.

Ruhi’s heart ached for him. He had always been the type to fall head over heels for someone, but he rarely showed it, keeping it locked away behind that goofy grin of his. She’d tried to comfort him last night, but Rohan had brushed it off, saying he was fine.

Ruhi couldn’t help but wonder if she had any chance of getting closer to him.

Her heart had once fluttered around Rohan, but after all these years, she had put those feelings behind her. She had to. It wasn’t easy, of course, but Rohan had always been the oblivious type, always focused on something else, someone else. But after last night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things had shifted, not in the way she had hoped, but perhaps in the way she needed.

As the group made their way up the hill, Riddhi couldn’t help but steal a glance at Rohan. He was walking ahead of the group, his shoulders hunched, his usual energy nowhere to be found. She felt an ache in her chest, a mix of sympathy and guilt, but she quickly looked away.

Riddhi’s attention was drawn back to the trek as the group reached the top of the hill. The view of the surrounding mountains was breathtaking, the vast expanse of green valleys stretching out before them. A sharp contrast to the confusion swirling in her own heart. The fresh mountain air and the rhythm of their footsteps seemed to offer a small respite, a chance to breathe deeply, to be in the moment.