Author's Note / Blurb:A simple birthday conversation turns into an adventure waiting to unfold. From quiet dinners to group chats buzzing with plans, Ryu's birthday week is about to take her—and her friends—on a journey through mountains, temples, and memories that may change everything. Between the thrill of new experiences and the quiet stirrings of the heart, this trip promises laughter, secrets, and unexpected closeness.
Ryu's POV
The sky outside had turned a dreamy shade of violet as dusk deepened. The breeze carried the scent of night jasmine from the balcony, but Ryu hardly noticed. Her thoughts were far, far away.
Back to school.
Back to Rey.
He had been talking to someone in secret. Behind the old garden wall, where barely anyone goes. She had caught a glimpse of him from the corridor. His expression wasn't sharp, wasn't cold. He looked... tense. Concerned. And strangely human.
Not the usual Rey who made sarcastic comments in class.
Not the one who walked like the world owed him space.
He looked like someone carrying a secret. And for a second... it felt like he wasn't a stranger.
Her heart tugged uncomfortably.
Why does it matter so much? Why do I keep thinking about him like this?
She sighed and turned her face away from the window, just as her uncle called.
Uncle (from dining room): "Ryu, beta! Dinner is ready!"
She stood up, brushing her palms on her kurti and headed to eat.
Uncle: "How was the programme?"
Ryu (nodding lightly): "It was good."
But her voice held no excitement.
She was halfway through her food when her phone buzzed.
Maya Calling.
She quickly stepped out to the corridor and answered.
Maya (accusing tone): "You sneak! Your birthday is coming and you didn't tell us?"
Ryu (grinning): "I wasn't hiding it! I just... didn't want to make a big deal."
Maya: "A big deal? Girl, we're your friends! You're not getting away with a silent birthday."
Ryu: "Actually... I'm going to Pauri right after it. Family trip. Some temple visits."
Maya (mock drama): "Now you've broken my heart."
Ryu (laughing): "It's just a small plan. Quiet time. If I wasn't already going, I would've invited you."
Maya (excitedly): "Wait—let's turn it into something even better!"
Ryu: "What now?"
Maya: "Let's all go. You, me, Rey, Aakash—our whole gang. But with our families too. A proper Uttarakhand tour! Temple towns, valleys, stories, photos—everything!"
Ryu: "Are you serious?"
Maya: "Dead serious! I'll talk to my mom; she'll definitely say yes. She's been craving a trip like this."
Ryu: "But will my uncle and aunt allow... especially with boys?"
Maya (teasing): "Oho! The boys! Yes, I was waiting for you to bring them up."
Ryu (half-blushing): "I just meant... you know, families might not be comfortable."
Maya: "My family will agree. Yours might too, if we all go together."
Then, with a playful tone—
Maya: "Plus, don't lie, you wouldn't mind Rey being there. Or Aakash."
Ryu: "MAYA!"
Ryu's POV: Why did my chest tighten when she said Rey's name? And why couldn't I deny it instantly?
Just as Ryu was about to end the call, Arjun barged in, waving his phone.
Arjun: "Ryu, I need to show you something."
On the screen was a photo from earlier today—Ryu and Ravi smiling, caught mid-laughter by someone in the background.
Arjun (sternly): "Stay away from him."
Ryu (confused): "Ravi?"
Arjun: "And Rey too. Both of them."
Ryu: "What—why?!"
Arjun (serious tone): "Ravi is... confusing. He plays games. And Rey? I don't trust him. There's something in his eyes. Don't get close."
Ryu looked at her brother in disbelief.
Ryu's POV: Why do you say that, Arjun? You don't know how Rey looked today. You don't know the weight he carried in that one moment. And maybe even I don't know why it matters to me... but it does.
Her thoughts spun.
Rey is annoying. Rey is reckless. Rey is always teasing. But Rey also... makes my heart race.
And Ravi... he's kind, funny, sweet. But sometimes, his smile feels like it's hiding something too.
She turned away, clutching her phone.
Ryu: "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
But even as she said it, a part of her wondered—Do I?
Arjun's POV
He stood at the door, watching Ryu disappear into her room.
She's changing. Her silence today wasn't the same as usual. She's thinking about someone—maybe both of them.
Arjun clenched his jaw.
Ryu doesn't see what I see. Boys like Rey—they're complicated. And Ravi? He smiles too easily. I won't let her get hurt.
He turned off his phone and walked away.
Ryu: "Maya has this idea. A group trip after my birthday. With all our friends... and families. A tour of Uttarakhand."
Her aunt raised her eyebrows.
Aunt: "With... boys too?"
Ryu (honestly): "Yes. But it'll be supervised. Everyone's family will be there."
Uncle: "If it's with parents, and it's planned properly, I don't see a problem."
Aunt (smiling): "It might be fun."
Ryu's eyes widened.
Ryu: "So... that's a yes?"
They nodded.
Message to Maya:
Ryu: "They said yes."
Maya: "Yayy!! Adding you to the group chat—'Trip Squad: Uttarakhand Vibes ✨' Let's bring the boys in next!"
Ryu's POV
The night was quiet, but inside her, everything felt loud.
A voice whispered Rey's name again.
And somewhere, Ravi's smile echoed.
Why does my heart feel full and confused at once? What is this storm building inside me—fear, curiosity... or the start of something deeper?
Maya's POV
The excitement buzzed in her fingertips as she created the group chat—"Devbhoomi Diaries ✨"—a mix of temple trails, mountain air, and the possibility of making unforgettable memories. She added Ryu first, smiling at the thought of how their quick conversation turned into this wild but beautiful idea.
My family will agree for sure, Maya thought confidently, already hearing her mom's enthusiastic voice asking about what all temples they would visit.
Group members added: Ryu, Kabir, Ravi, Rey, Aakash, Avyan.
Maya: "Okayyy y'all! Big plan loading! 💃💥"
Maya: "Ryu's going to Pauri... and we're tagging along 😏"
Maya: "With our families of course 🙄 but it's gonna be EPIC"
Maya: "Temples, mountains, and a LONG trip .
"This trip isn't just a getaway," Maya said with a smile, looking at the list of places. "We're visiting temples... but it's also special—we'll be going to Aakash, Rey, and Ryu's hometowns too."
Ryu: "❤️❤️❤️ Finallyyyyy"
Rey: seen
Aakash: seen
Maya stared at the screen, lips pursed. Something felt unfinished.
She quickly texted both Rey and Aakash privately.
Maya (to Rey): "I didn't even ask you before putting your hometown... I hope you're okay with it?"
Maya (to Aakash): "Same with you. You fine with visiting Srinagar? I should have asked..."
Rey's POV:
His screen lit up with Maya's message. He stared at it for a moment, heart caught somewhere between surprise and something heavier.
"My hometown..."
Images of his childhood flickered through his mind—his mother's fading smile, the cold indifference of his father, and the silence of a house that once held warmth. Rey wasn't close to his family anymore. They didn't live together. But something about Maya's tone... it wasn't just a message—it felt like care.
He replied:
Rey: "It's okay. I haven't gone back in years... maybe it's time."
But in his heart, something stirred. A part of him—quiet and untouched—felt seen.
Aakash's POV:
Aakash was sitting on the porch of his home when Maya's message came.
"Visit home again... with them?"
He looked at the screen. His hometown held pieces of him he hadn't shared with anyone yet—not even Ryu, who knew more than most. But for once, the idea didn't feel suffocating. Maybe with this group... it could even feel like peace.
He smiled and typed:
Aakash: "Of course. I'd be happy to show you all."
Ryu's POV
She stared at the screen, feeling both excited and nervous. She had just asked her aunt and uncle—and surprisingly, they had agreed. They even seemed happy about it.
"It'll be a good experience for you," her uncle had said.
"And it's your birthday week anyway," her aunt smiled.
Ryu felt a flutter in her chest. Her family never really celebrated her birthday like others did. But this... this felt like something new, like the mountains were calling her with open arms.
Ryu replied in the group:
"Yes, my uncle and aunt said yes too 🥺🌿"
"And boys also na?"
She hesitated slightly before typing. Were the boys' families going to allow them?
Maya's Reply:
"Hmm... my family will agree for sure! But wait—will your family even allow you to come? 😜"
Ryu's Response:
"They already said yes 😌"
"And yeah... boys too! Ask!"
In the main group chat, Maya replied:
Maya: "They said yes! Rey and Aakash are okay with it 😄 This is going to be unforgettable."
Ryu sent a string of sparkles and mountain emojis.
Kabir: "Rey's hometown too? Damn, we're getting the full story!"
Rey: "Relax, it's not a museum tour of my life 😂"
Ryu: "I might still take notes 😛
Ravi's POV
Ravi read the messages and couldn't stop smiling. "A temple trip, huh?" he murmured to himself. He had been needing a break, something to breathe freely. He ran to his elder sister, Siya di, who had always been more like a second mom to him.
"Di, wanna come on a mountain trip with my school friends?"
She looked surprised, then laughed, "Only if I don't have to share a blanket with you like last time!"
Kabir's POV
"Twins, we're going!" he shouted across the house.
"What now?" yelled back his sister Kiara from the kitchen.
Kabir laughed. "Pauri-Pithoragarh temple trip. You in?"
Kiara, the more outgoing of the two, peeked into the room. "With your school friends? Count me in! Maybe I'll find a Garhwali prince," she teased.
Avyan's POV
Avyan was already pitching the idea to his parents. His younger brother and sister stood beside him, hopeful. Their family was more conservative, but temple visits had always been something sacred.
When his father nodded slowly, saying, "If it's with families and proper arrangements, you may go," Avyan felt a victory bloom inside.
Arjun's POV
While everyone was talking about trips and temple visits, Arjun was watching silently. He wasn't against the idea—but he had noticed Rey's strange behavior lately. And he didn't like it.
He messaged Ryu privately:
"Just be careful of Rey and Ravi. Especially Rey. Stay away from them."
He then tossed his phone aside and looked out the window. His instincts weren't wrong... something about Rey was off.
Rey's POV
Rey didn't say much in the group, but he quietly added two names to it: Aarav and Anika—his younger brother and sister.
He watched the screen for a second longer.
He didn't live with his father anymore. After his mother died, the house stopped feeling like a home. He had taken full responsibility of his siblings. They were his family now.
Maybe this trip will be good for them... even if I'm not sure it'll be good for me.
Group Chat Explodes:
Kabir: "Kiara's coming 😂 get ready to hear her talk nonstop."
Ravi: "Siya di's joining too. Be warned, she's the mom of the group."
Avyan: "Bringing both my siblings, so we'll need extra snacks 😤"
Rey: "Adding Aarav and Anika."
Maya: "Group pic in front of every temple is MANDATORY 🛕📸"
Ryu: "Yes please!! Let's start from Pauri and go all the way to Pithoragarh 😍⛰️"."
Kabir: "Any haunted temples on the list? 👀 asking for... research."
Ravi: "You mean for nightmares 💀"
Avyan: "Guys, we need to make a checklist."
Ryu's POV
As the group buzzed with energy and excitement, Ryu sat silently for a moment, smiling.
From a quiet dinner to a big plan... from a lonely birthday to a journey through the mountains with friends and siblings...
Something had shifted. Not just in the plan, but inside her.
She looked up at the sky from her window and whispered,
"This birthday... might actually mean something."
"Whose hometown are you most excited to explore—Rey's, Ryu's, or Aakash's? Drop your thoughts below!"
"Do you think this trip will bring them closer—or stir up old emotions? Let me know in the comments!"
"If you liked this chapter, don't forget to comment and vote! 💖
And if there's something you didn't like or want changed—please let me know in the comments too! Your thoughts really help me grow 🌸✨"