Author's Note
Birthdays and trips often bring excitement, laughter, and memories to treasure. But sometimes, even in the brightest moments, shadows linger — memories, worries, or secrets that refuse to let go.
In this chapter, Ryu's first trip is filled with energy, friendship, and playful chaos. Yet her mind still carries the weight of a haunting dream, and not everyone's intentions are as simple as they appear.
— With love,[AD RATURI]
Blurb
The adventure begins! Ishita "Ryu" Joshi sets off on her first journey across Pauri, Srinagar, and Pithoragarh. Laughter, games, and sightseeing fill the day — from cupcakes to group selfies, the energy is infectious.
But Ryu's thoughts are elsewhere, haunted by shadows she can't fully understand. And Rey, ever watchful, senses that danger may be closer than anyone suspects.
Can joy and vigilance coexist, or will the shadows creep into the light of friendship and fun?
Ryu sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the packed bag beside her. The forest dream still clung to her mind, each shadowed figure and glowing eye replaying relentlessly. Her chest felt tight, and her hands trembled slightly.
"Maya…" Ryu's voice was soft, almost lost in the quiet room.
Maya leaned against the doorway, bright as ever. "Hey, you okay? You've been staring into space for a while."
Ryu swallowed, trying to force a smile. "It's… nothing. Just a dream."
Maya stepped closer, concern knitting her brows. "The one you had the other night? The forest?"
Ryu nodded, unable to meet her friend's gaze. "It… it felt so real. I can't stop thinking about it."
Maya tilted her head. "Did you try drawing the face? Sometimes that helps."
Ryu shook her head. "I… I can't. I don't even know what it looks like."
Maya sighed softly, crouching beside her. "Okay… but we'll figure it out. Don't let it ruin today. We have a trip to plan!"
Ryu gave a small, grateful smile, though her thoughts remained tangled in shadows.
Maya's POV
She watched Ryu quietly, knowing something lingered behind those wide eyes. But the energy outside the room was irresistible — Kabir and Avyan had just arrived, practically vibrating with excitement. Maya nudged Ryu gently. "Come on, you'll feel better once you see them."
Kabir clapped his hands, his grin impossibly wide. "Alright, team! Are we ready for the adventure of a lifetime?"
Avyan held a folder stuffed with notes and lists. "Snacks, hotels, route — everything's in order. We're officially ready."
Maya laughed. "We're starting from pittoragarh then pauri and then srinagar — every stop has to be Instagram-worthy."
Ryu's voice wavered slightly. "This… this is my first time going there."
Kabir and Avyan froze mid-step, exchanging shocked glances.
"You've never been on a trip like this?" Maya asked, astonished.
Ryu shook her head quietly.
Kabir's pov:
She's never been on a trip like this? No way… His mind raced with ideas. We have to make it unforgettable. Every joke, every selfie, every stop — she should remember this forever. I'll make sure she has fun like never before. He felt a surge of responsibility mixed with excitement.
Avyan's pov:
Her first big trip… she might feel nervous or left out. We need to watch out for her, include her in everything, and yes, pack extra snacks for emergencies. He imagined the mountain roads, the temples, and the laughter they'd share, smiling at the thought of making this trip perfect.
Maya's pov:
She's never been on a trip like this? I need to make her feel safe, excited, and like she belongs here. She's been through so much, and this should be fun, not stressful. Maya's heart softened seeing her friend's faint smile, and she silently vowed to make it a trip Ryu would never forget.
Ryu's pov:They all seem so excited… She felt a twinge of guilt for her lingering sadness. I don't want to ruin their excitement. I want to enjoy this too… but that dream, those shadows, they're still with me. Can I really be happy right now? Her stomach fluttered nervously, a mixture of anticipation, fear, and hope twisting inside her.
"Well, we'll make it unforgettable," Kabir said, ruffling her hair.
Ryu's eyes narrowed playfully. "Careful, or I'll return the favor!" Without warning, she reached out and tousled Kabir's hair just as he had done to her.
Kabir froze for a moment, then laughed loudly. "Okay, okay! You got me back!"
Avyan chuckled, shaking his head. "Looks like Ryu's ready to fight back. I'm scared now 😂"
Kabir glanced at his watch. "Alright, we're heading home to grab our things. We'll meet everyone here in the evening — can't wait for the trip!"
Avyan nodded, grinning. "Yeah, see you all soon! Don't start without us!"
Ryu rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched them leave, already imagining the fun that awaited later.
Rey moved quietly in his room, efficiently packing his bag for the trip while the tension of the boy who had seen his face still lingered at the back of his mind. His goons had searched the nearby streets, but the boy had vanished without a trace.
Downstairs, the excited chatter of Aarav and Anika drifted up to him. They were practically vibrating with energy, talking nonstop about which temples to visit first and what snacks to try along the way. Rey shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
He carried a small bag filled with cupcakes made by Ryu and Maya and offered it to them. "Here," he said calmly. "Forget your excitement for a second — eat."
The siblings squealed in delight, grabbing the cupcakes and devouring them in seconds, their faces lighting up with pure joy. Rey watched quietly, a strange warmth creeping in as he saw their happiness.
Rey's POV
Rey watched Aarav and Anika's excitement bubble over, their laughter and chatter about temples and snacks filling the air. A faint smile tugged at his lips. They're so full of energy… I need to make sure they stay happy, no matter what.
The thought of the trip — Pauri, Srinagar, Pithoragarh — ran through his mind. Winding roads, temples, laughter, the small moments of chaos. This trip has to be smooth. Fun. Safe.
Even amidst his usual tension, he felt a rare flicker of satisfaction. Seeing his siblings' joy reminded him that sometimes, moments like these were worth letting the shadows wait.
Ravi's Home
Ravi carefully folded his clothes and packed snacks into his bag, glancing occasionally at his sister Siya's excited chatter. She's going to talk nonstop the entire trip… I better be ready, he thought with a small grin. Every item had its place, every little detail considered — he wanted the trip to be smooth, fun, and stress-free for everyone.
Kabir's Home
Kabir tossed his clothes into his bag with his usual chaotic energy. His sister Kiara sat nearby, chatting a mile a minute about what to wear and which souvenirs to buy. She's going to keep talking the whole way… and I'll love every second, Kabir thought, laughing at her antics. He made a mental checklist of the fun stops he wanted to include — snacks, photos, maybe even a few "research" stops for haunted temples.
Avyan's Home
Avyan and his parents were methodical in packing, checking lists twice. His brother and sister chattered happily about snacks, music, and which temples they wanted to visit first. This is going to be fun… but we have to make sure no one gets bored or left behind, Avyan thought, carefully organizing the bags and making sure everyone had what they needed.
Maya's Home
Maya zipped up the last of her bags and glanced around the room. Her parents helped pack snacks and emergency supplies, while she double-checked the itinerary for the trip. Ryu will love this, I hope… everything has to be perfect, Maya thought, smiling to herself. She made sure every little thing — from routes to snacks — was organized and ready for the adventure.
By evening, the house buzzed with energy. Everyone had gathered — Maya's parents, Kabir with Kiara, Avyan with his brother and sister, Ravi with Siya di, and Rey quietly observing from the corner. Bags were stacked by the door, and the bus waited outside.
Aarav and Anika approached Ryu, their eyes lighting up. "Hi, Didi! It's been so long!" Aarav said, grinning.
Anika added, bouncing slightly on her heels, "Yeah! We missed you!"
Ryu smiled warmly. "It's good to see you both again. How have you been?"
"We're great!" they chorused. Aarav pointed to the cupcakes. "Thanks so much for these — and Maya too! They're amazing."
Ryu blushed slightly. "I'm glad you like them."
Anika tilted her head. "By the way… happy belated birthday, Didi!"
Ryu's eyes softened. "Thank you. But… why didn't you come to my birthday party?" she asked gently, curious.
Aarav exchanged a glance with Anika. "Bhaiya didn't take us," Aarav said simply, shrugging.
Ryu's smile faltered for a moment, a pang of disappointment mixing with understanding. "I see… I hope you weren't upset."
"No!" Anika said quickly. "We wanted to be there, but Bhaiya had other plans. We're here now, and we're so excited for the trip!"
Ryu nodded, feeling a quiet warmth in her chest. At least we get to spend this time together now. She handed them another chocolate each, watching their faces light up with delight.
Ryu's POVRyu moved quietly, a chocolate bar in her hand, feeling a bit lost in thought. When Aarav and Anika approached, her lips curved into a small, polite smile. They're so full of excitement… I hope they enjoy it. She handed them chocolates. "Here… thank you for helping Maya with the cupcakes," she said softly.
The trip… Pauri, Srinagar, Pithoragarh… Her mind drifted to winding roads, temples, and laughter, but the memory of her recent dream lingered. I need to stay focused… enjoy this moment.
Rey's POVFrom the corner, Rey's eyes stayed on Ryu. She seemed distracted, lost in thought despite the excitement around her. She's quiet… more than usual. His chest tightened slightly as he observed her, noting the faint melancholy tugging at her shoulders. I need to make sure she's alright… she shouldn't be carrying any weight alone, not on this trip.
Maya's POVMaya smiled brightly at the scene, noticing Ryu handing chocolates to Aarav and Anika. She's interacting, even if quietly. That's good… she seems okay for now. She felt a spark of excitement herself, imagining the laughter and chaos of the trip ahead.
Just then, her aunt approached, smiling warmly. "Ryu, have you packed everything? Excited for the trip?"
Ryu nodded. "Yes, aunty. Everything's ready." She hesitated, then added softly, "I'm… a little nervous, but excited too."
Her aunt patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, beta. Enjoy yourself. Maya and the others will take care of you. Just have fun and stay safe."
Ryu felt a wave of reassurance. Maybe I can enjoy this… maybe this trip will be different.
Kabir & Avyan Kabir bounced on the balls of his feet. "Alright, team! Are we ready for the adventure of a lifetime?"
Avyan checked his list. "Snacks, hotels, route — everything's in order. Let's go!"
Kabir grinned at his sister. "Kiara, behave yourself… or not 😂"
Avyan added, smiling at his siblings. "And don't forget, we have one brother and one sister joining us — extra snacks for everyone."
Ravi nudged Ryu gently. "Siya di's joining too. Brace yourself for her constant advice," he teased.
Maya waved at Ryu. "Group pic in front of every temple is MANDATORY 🛕📸"
Ryu managed a small, distracted smile. "Yes… let's start from Pitthoragarh and go all the way to pauri😍⛰️"
Kabir's mischievous grin returned. "Any haunted temples on the list? 👀 Asking for research."
Ravi rolled his eyes. "You mean for nightmares 💀"
Avyan laughed. "Guys, we still need a checklist. Otherwise we'll forget something."
With everyone gathered and bags loaded, the elders exchanged final instructions while the kids continued their chatter. Ryu stayed quiet, lost in her thoughts, while Rey's watchful eyes remained fixed on her. The bus doors closed, and the journey began — mountains and adventures ahead, but the shadows from her dreams still whispered in the corners of her mind.