Maybe in next life

chapter 31

Ruhi

The past ten days felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. Switzerland had stolen my heart. The snow, the serenity, the endless stretches of white beauty—it felt like I was living in a storybook. For the first time in so long, I wasn’t weighed down by worries or fears. It was as if this place, with its magical landscapes, had healed a part of me I didn’t even know was broken.

I loved it here. The way the snowflakes gently kissed my face, the way the cold air felt refreshing rather than harsh—it was like I had found a part of myself in this foreign land.

But as much as I loved Switzerland, today was special. We were going camping, climbing a beautiful mountain to spend the night in tents under the stars. Just the thought of it made me giddy with excitement. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so carefree, so alive.

I had already packed my things: warm clothes, a cozy blanket, and my favorite little notebook where I scribbled my thoughts. Sherlin and Mayra were equally excited, though their excitement was mostly about how many pictures they could take for social media. Kiara was already talking about making s’mores, her enthusiasm contagious.

“Mihir will probably pretend he’s not cold, just to show off,” Mayra teased as we packed.

Sherlin laughed, chiming in, “He’s too busy making sure you don’t slip on the ice, Ruhi.”

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks burned. “Can we please talk about something else?”

They only laughed harder, their teasing never-ending. But deep down, I didn’t mind. Mihir had been...different here. He was still his usual cold, sarcastic self, but there was a gentleness in the way he looked at me, in the way he was always there when I needed him.

I shook off the thought, focusing on the day ahead. Camping on a mountain, under the stars—it felt like something out of my bucket list. And in a way, it was.

As we gathered outside the hotel, everyone seemed just as excited. Vihaan was trying to convince Rohan to carry his bag, and Sherlin was already snapping pictures. Mihir stood a little apart, checking the gear and looking effortlessly calm, as always.

When he caught me staring, he raised an eyebrow. “Ready for the climb, or are you planning to let someone carry you up?”

I scoffed. “I’m more ready than you think.”

“Good,” he said, smirking. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”

I laughed, shaking my head. This was going to be a day to remember. Switzerland had already given me so much, but I had a feeling this camping trip was about to become my favorite memory of all.

We had barely started the climb, and the excitement was quickly turning into exhaustion for me. The mountain was breathtaking, the snowy peaks glowing under the afternoon sun, but my legs felt like jelly. Each step felt heavier than the last.

Ahead of me, Vihaan was carrying Sherlin on his shoulders, both of them laughing like kids, while Mayra was practically dragging Rohan up the trail, her grumbles mixing with his protests. Kiara, on the other hand, was full of energy, skipping ahead like she’d done this a hundred times before.

I stopped to catch my breath, leaning against a rock. My body felt like it was giving up, and before I could even call out to Sherlin or Mayra for help, I felt two strong arms lift me off the ground.

“What the—Mihir!” I gasped, looking up at him as he effortlessly scooped me into his arms.

“Don’t argue,” he said coolly, his tone leaving no room for debate.