🎵 Song: Tum Se Hi – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes...

getting lost...

leads you exactly where your heart secretly wants to be."

The day before the family trip...

Both the Sharma and Malhotra houses were filled with excitement.

Suitcases lay open.

Clothes were scattered across beds.

Parents discussed packing lists.

The younger siblings...

Had completely different priorities.

Sharma House

Anaya rushed downstairs, holding her phone.

"Mumma!"

"I'm going to Kabir's house!"

Nandini looked up from folding clothes.

"For what?"

"We need to discuss something important."

Rajeev smiled.

"What important work can two children possibly have?"

Anaya grinned proudly.

"Secret."

Aarohi laughed from behind.

"She's been saying 'secret' since morning."

Nandini smiled.

"Fine."

"But don't trouble them."

"I won't."

Then Anaya looked at her sister.

"Didi."

"Hmm?"

"Come with me."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Aarohi sighed.

"That isn't a reason."

"It is for me."

Before Aarohi could argue further...

Anaya had already grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside.

Malhotra Mansion

The door opened before they could ring the bell twice.

It was Meera.

"Come in, girls!"

"Good afternoon, Aunty."

"Good afternoon, beta."

Meera smiled warmly.

"Everyone is upstairs."

Before anyone could say another word...

Anaya disappeared.

"KABIR!"

Her voice echoed through the mansion.

Kabir opened his bedroom door.

"You're finally here!"

The two immediately rushed inside his room.

The door closed.

Aarohi looked around helplessly.

"They didn't even wait..."

Meera laughed.

"Those two have become inseparable."

"They're planning something every day."

Aarohi smiled.

"I've noticed."

Meera pointed toward the first floor.

"Reyansh is upstairs too."

"You can go if you want."

Aarohi nodded politely.

"Okay, Aunty."

She slowly climbed the staircase.

The Malhotra mansion was huge.

Even after visiting several times...

She still got confused.

She looked around.

"Kabir's room was... left?"

"Or right?"

She frowned.

"I always forget..."

Without realizing it...

She opened the wrong door.

Reyansh's Room

The room was neat.

A football rested near the study table.

Several trophies decorated a shelf.

A guitar leaned against the wall.

A faint perfume mixed with the scent of books lingered in the air.

Aarohi blinked.

"...This doesn't look like Kabir's room."

Just as she turned around—

The bathroom door opened.

Reyansh stepped out, drying his hair with a towel.

The moment he saw Aarohi standing in his room...

He froze.

Then...

A slow smirk spread across his face.

"Well..."

"My Ocean."

Aarohi's eyes widened.

"R-Reyansh!"

"I..."

"I entered the wrong room!"

She immediately turned toward the door.

"I'll leave."

She reached for the handle.

Before she could open it...

A hand landed on the door.

Thak.

She looked up.

Reyansh had reached the door before her.

He placed one hand beside her head against the wooden door.

Not touching her.

Just enough to stop her from leaving.

She was now standing between the closed door...

And him.

Aarohi's heartbeat instantly became uneven.

"R-Reyansh..."

"I really entered by mistake."

"I know."

"Then let me go."

"Hmm..."

He pretended to think.

"I don't know."

She looked at him.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

He smiled.

"You entered my room."

"I didn't invite you."

"So..."

"I think there should be a penalty."

Her eyes widened.

"Again?"

He laughed softly.

"You still remember the football punishment?"

"How could I forget?"

She folded her arms, trying to look confident.

"Fine."

"What's the punishment this time?"

He leaned just a little closer.

"So eager?"

"I just want to leave."

"Liar."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

For a few seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

The room felt strangely quiet.

Only the sound of the ceiling fan could be heard.

Then...

Reyansh looked into her blue eyes.

The same eyes that had earned her the nickname.

His Ocean.

He smiled.

"You know..."

"What?"

"From tomorrow..."

He paused deliberately.

"My mornings are going to become really beautiful."

Aarohi frowned slightly.

"Why?"

He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"Because..."

"For the entire trip..."

"I'll get to see my Ocean..."

"...from this close every single morning."

Aarohi completely froze.

For a moment...

She forgot how to breathe.

He wasn't teasing loudly.

He wasn't joking with everyone around.

He had said it quietly.

Softly.

Only for her.

Her cheeks slowly turned pink.

Then darker.

Then completely red.

Reyansh smiled victoriously.

"There it is."

"What?"

"My favorite color."

She blinked.

"Huh?"

"The blush."

"You make it look very pretty."

Aarohi immediately looked down.

"You..."

"You always say things like this."

"Hmm."

"Because they're true."

She tried to step sideways.

"I should go."

He moved the same way.

Blocking her again.

"Reyansh..."

"Hmm?"

"Someone will see."

"So?"

"They'll misunderstand."

He chuckled.

"I haven't even done anything."

"You've trapped me!"

"I prefer the word..."

He smiled mischievously.

"...protected."

She looked at him in disbelief.

"That's not protection."

"It sounds better."

Aarohi couldn't help laughing.

"You really are impossible."

"And yet..."

He looked at her with that familiar teasing smile.

"...you still walked into my room."

"I got lost!"

"Sure."

"My room specifically."

"I didn't know it was yours."

"Lucky me."

Before she could reply...

A voice echoed from the hallway.

"Aarohi Didi?"

It was Kabir.

"Where are you?"

Reyansh finally moved aside.

"Saved by my little brother."

Aarohi quickly opened the door.

Before stepping out...

She looked back.

"You talk too much."

Reyansh grinned.

"And you blush too much."

She covered her warm cheeks.

"I don't."

"You do."

"I'm leaving."

"I know."

As she hurried away...

Reyansh called softly behind her.

"Sweet dreams tonight, Ocean."

"Because tomorrow..."

"We're making lots of memories together."

Aarohi didn't turn back.

She simply smiled to herself as she walked toward Kabir's room.

Her heart was still racing.

From the doorway...

Reyansh watched her disappear into the corridor.

The smile on his face refused to fade.

Tomorrow...

The trip would begin.

And for the first time...

He wouldn't have to wait for balcony moments or school corridors.

His Ocean...

Would be just a few steps away.

End of Chapter 42 🌊❤️