?????????? ??? ????????

.Disconnect??

Ishan shook his head. "Nothing. Her phone's still off."

Aaron asked, "Should we ask Mr. Gupta? He might know something."

Ishan replied, "I don't want to make it a big deal."

Nidhi suggested, "How about we go to her house?"

Ishan considered it for a moment before nodding.

"Let's go together then," Nidhi insisted.

The three of them made their way to Avni's house. When they arrived, Ishan approached the door and found it locked. He glanced up and noticed that all the windows were closed.

Aaron said, "No one seems to be home."

Nidhi added, "Maybe they went out somewhere."

Ishan frowned, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. "I think that's likely, but why wouldn't they say anything?"

Nidhi looked around, searching for any sign of Avni or her family. "Should we wait a bit? Maybe they'll be back soon."

Ishan hesitated, glancing at the closed door. "I don't know...."

Aaron suggested, "Why don't we knock? Maybe someone will answer."

With a nod, Ishan approached the door and knocked firmly. They all waited in silence, but there was no response.

Nidhi turned to Ishan. "What do we do now?"

Ishan rubbed the back of his neck, deep in thought. "Let's try calling her again and see if anyone picks up." He pulled out his phone again and dialed Avni's number. As it rang, he felt a growing sense of urgency. But once again, the call went to voicemail.

"Nothing," he said, frustration evident in his voice. "This is really strange."

Nidhi glanced around the neighborhood. "What if we check with a neighbor? They might know where her family is."

"Good idea," Ishan replied, feeling a bit more hopeful. They made their way to the house next door and rang the doorbell.

A kind-looking elderly woman answered. "Hello, dear. Can I help you?"

Ishan took a breath. "Hi, ma'am. We're friends of Avni. Have you seen her or Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal?"

The woman frowned, her brow furrowing with concern. "I saw them leaving with their luggage in their car not long ago."

"Thank you," Ishan replied. He turned to Nidhi and Aaron. "Maybe they just went on a short trip or something."

Nidhi nodded, but Ishan could see the worry in her eyes. "I just hope she's okay," she said softly.

Aaron reassured them, "She will be. Don't overthink it. Let's just hope for the best. For now, let's focus on our upcoming match, Ishan."

Ishan nodded, though his thoughts remained clouded.

Meanwhile, Avni and her parents had reached their destination. As Avni got out of the car, she took in the scenery around her. It was all greenery and tranquility. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly searched for her phone to capture the moment and share it with her friends later.

As she rummaged through her bag, she realized she couldn't find her phone. Panic set in as she remembered that she had left it behind and hadn't informed anyone about the trip. She wondered what everyone might be thinking or if they were searching for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother's voice. "Avy, come here. Help me!"

Avni hurried towards her mother, her mind still racing with concern for her friends.

Avni hurried over to her mother, who was struggling to carry a heavy bag. "What do you need help with, Ma?" she asked, eager to assist.

Her mother smiled, relieved. "Just hold this for a second while I adjust the straps. We need to get everything set up before it gets dark."

As Avni held the bag, she took a moment to absorb her surroundings. The mountains loomed majestically in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees. The air felt fresh, free from the stress of school and her daily routine.

Her father approached with a wide grin. "Isn't this place beautiful? Just what we needed!"

Avni nodded, her excitement growing. "Yeah, it's amazing! I wish I had my phone to capture this."

Her father chuckled, "Don't worry, we'll have plenty of memories to share once we get back."

After setting up their temporary home in a cozy cabin, they settled in for the evening. Avni helped her mother prepare dinner, and the smell of spices filled the air. It felt nice to be together, enjoying simple moments as a family.

Later that night, Avni sat outside the cabin, gazing at the stars twinkling above. The peace of the mountains enveloped her like a warm blanket. She felt a pang of regret for not informing her friends, but she was also relieved to escape the pressures of school, even if just for a little while. Her mind shifted to the memories she shared with Ishan during the camp.

Her mother joined her, sitting down beside her. "What's on your mind, Avy?"

Avni sighed, "I just wish I could let my friends know I'm okay. They must be worried."

Her mother placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "They'll understand. Sometimes, it's nice to disconnect and just enjoy the moment. You'll be back soon enough."

Avni nodded, trying to take her mother's words to heart. As they sat together in comfortable silence, her father joined them with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

"Here, this will warm you up," he said, handing a mug to Avni.

She took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. "Thanks, Dad. This is perfect."

They spent the rest of the night laughing and sharing stories, with Avni feeling grateful for this time away from the chaos of everyday life. Little did she know that back at school, Ishan was contemplating how to reach her and express his feelings, hoping that their bond would grow even stronger upon her return.