Check-in desk. A faded resort that smelled like coconuts, nostalgia, and mosquito coil. The sea roared nearby. Their rooms had creaky floors, sand in the corners, and a view of the pool that shimmered in the golden hour.
Lobby
“Room for four?” the receptionist asked politely.
Shubman smiled. “Two rooms. Boys and girls.”
Rihi elbowed Aashna. “Behave.”
Aashna, chewing gum: “I am vibing.”
Abhishek whispered behind them, “We’re doomed.”
Scene Shift: Girls' Room – 6:10 PM
Rihi flopped onto the bed like a dying Victorian poet. “I haven’t lied this much since I told Mom I didn’t read Twilight.”
Aashna was unpacking glitter tops like she was headlining Sunburn. “You think this bikini is too single or too send help, I have a crush on a cricketer?”
Rihi rolled her eyes. “Both. Wear the black one.”
Aashna smirked. “That’s your version of supportive?”
“Your version of subtle is patting his thigh in a moving car, so—”
“Sue me, I like him.”
“Yeah? And what happens when he leaves for Australia for six months?”
Aashna went quiet.
Rihi sighed, softer now. “Just… be careful, okay?”
Aashna shrugged. “Why does everyone think I’m breakable?”
“You’re not. You’re just... too full of heart. And that’s scary.”
Aashna blinked fast. “You suck.”
“I know.”
They hugged. Brief. Fierce. Girls.
---
Scene: Poolside – 7:03 PM
Lights shimmered over the water. The resort bar played retro Hindi music. Palm trees swayed. Shubman was sitting on a deck chair, sipping lime soda, scrolling through cricket memes.
Abhishek joined him.
“I talked to her,” he said.
Shubman didn’t look up. “Good.”
“She doesn’t get it. But I do now.”
“Also good.”
Aashna cannonballed into the pool in the background.
Rihi sat beside Shubman, towel wrapped around her like armor, notebook in hand, pretending she wasn’t stealing glances at him again.
“You don’t swim?” he asked.
“I float emotionally.”
He chuckled. “Want to dip your feet at least?”
She hesitated—then nodded. They sat at the edge, feet in the cool water.
Across the pool, Aashna splashed Abhishek. He laughed, finally splashing back, but more careful now. Less touchy. More gentle.
Shubman noticed. Nodded slightly.
“I don’t think I’ve seen her actually happy in a while,” Rihi said quietly.
“She’s been through too much for eighteen.”
“Same.”
He glanced at her. “You too?”
Rihi shrugged. “Different kind of too much. Quiet kind.”
They sat in silence, feet brushing in the water.
Then—
Shubman’s voice, low: “If I wasn’t six years older…”
Rihi froze.
He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.
She smiled sadly. “If I wasn’t so good at pretending I don’t feel things…”
He turned to her. “Do you?”
She looked at him.
And didn’t lie.
“…Yeah.”
The music drifted over them—“Pehla nasha, pehla khumaar…”
Somewhere, Aashna whooped from inside the pool.
Abhishek shouted back, “You’ll catch a cold!”
Aashna: “I’LL CATCH FEELINGS FIRST!”
Everyone laughed.
Except Rihi and Shubman, still too close to the edge—of the pool, of something dangerous, of something undeniable.
---
Group Chat Pops Up
> Aashna: Who’s coming to the beach at midnight? I’m summoning ghosts and telling them about my ex.
Abhishek: I’ll bring the speaker. For the ghosts.
Rihi: I’ll bring snacks. Ghosts love chips.
Shubman: I’ll bring the salt. For the drama.
___________________________________________
Here is another update
Hope you'll will like it
It looks like Shubman and rihi are parenting Abhishek and Aashna.
Take care cuties 💙