The morning mist clung to the pine trees as Rhea sat by the window of her hotel room, staring blankly at the hills beyond. The charm of Shimla had wrapped itself around her like a warm shawl, but today, the mountains seemed quieter, almost contemplative. Maybe it was the conversation she had with Aarav the night before, or the way his voice lingered in her mind like an unfinished song.
The soft knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. She opened it to find Aarav, bundled in a navy jacket, a flask of chai in one hand and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Care for a walk?" he asked, raising the flask in offering.
Rhea smiled and nodded. "Let me grab my scarf."
They walked through a trail flanked by tall deodars, their boots crunching against the soft snow. Aarav handed her the flask and she took a sip, the warmth spreading through her chest. The silence between them was comfortable now, no longer awkward.
As they neared a small wooden bench overlooking the valley, Rhea sat down, watching a hawk glide effortlessly across the sky.
"I used to think we'd always be in each other's lives," she said quietly. "You and me… we were inseparable."
Aarav nodded, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets. "Until we weren't."
There it was. The line they had both tiptoed around for days.
Rhea turned to look at him. "Do you remember what actually caused the fallout? I've tried, over the years. But the details are fuzzy."
He chuckled bitterly. "I remember too well. You got the scholarship to Delhi. I didn't. And I was too proud to admit I was jealous."
She blinked. "You stopped talking to me."
"I know," he said, finally meeting her gaze. "I thought you were leaving me behind… and instead of being happy for you, I shut you out."
Rhea felt a sharp ache in her chest. "I thought you were angry because I didn't tell you earlier about the scholarship. I thought I had broken your trust."
"I guess we both made our own stories and believed them."
They sat in silence again, the cold wind brushing past them like an echo of the years they'd lost. Rhea's fingers absentmindedly traced the steam curling from the flask.
"I missed you," she said, her voice cracking. "Every time something good happened… I wished you were there. I hated that we left things the way we did."
"I missed you too, Rhea. More than you'll ever know," Aarav replied, his voice rough. "But I didn't know how to fix it. And over time, it felt like maybe you were better off without me."
She shook her head. "You were my best friend, Aarav. I wasn't better without you. I just got used to the empty space."
He reached out, gently brushing her gloved hand. "We can't change what happened. But maybe… maybe we can stop letting it define us."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't look away. "Do you think people really get second chances?"
"I don't know," he said softly. "But I'd like to find out. With you."
The sun broke through the clouds then, casting golden light over the valley. For the first time in years, Rhea felt something inside her loosen - like a knot finally beginning to unravel.
She didn't know where this path would lead, but for now, she wanted to walk it beside him.