Heartbreak and Happiness

Ruhi and Simmi were practically buzzing with excitement.

Their energy was infectious—laughing, pointing out of the window every few minutes, talking about the photos they'd click, the snow they'd touch, and the memories they were going to make.

And me?

I was excited too.

More than I let on.

There was something about the mountains that had always called to me. The quiet strength of their presence. The way snow blanketed everything in a hushed peace. The playful chill in the air. It reminded me of my childhood… of dreams painted in white, of stories whispered through mist, and of hopes carried by the winds.

And today, as the bus climbed higher along winding roads, I was finally going there—to that world I'd always imagined but never truly seen.

The closer we got, the more the air changed.

Cooler. Lighter. Filled with a different kind of silence—one that didn't suffocate, but embraced.

As I gazed out of the window, the view unfolded like a painting. Snow-dusted trees stretched endlessly across hills that touched the clouds. A river shimmered in the distance, its banks kissed by morning mist. The sky, a soft silver, held the promise of snowfall.

And in that moment, something stirred deep within me.

A thought.

A feeling.

A soft voice inside whispered:

"This snow… this weather… this riverbank… this playful wind—

What if they were all witnesses?

Witnesses to two hearts

That once met

And silently promised… never to part?"

I didn't know why those words floated to the surface.

Maybe it was the scenery.

Maybe it was the way Simmi leaned on Ruhi's shoulder, whispering something that made them both laugh. Or the way Nikhil—sitting a row behind me—kept stealing glances through the glass, like he, too, was searching for something he couldn't quite name.

But whatever it was…

It made my heart ache in the sweetest way.

Like longing.

Like belonging.

It was the kind of beauty that made you believe in things again—like connections that defy logic, or moments that rewrite your past just by existing.

As the bus curved around another turn, bringing us closer to our snowy destination, I leaned my forehead against the glass and closed my eyes for just a second.

Breathing in the cold.

Letting the mountains speak to something inside me that had been quiet for too long.

This trip wasn't just about fun.

It wasn't just about snow or laughter or scenic views.

It was about something deeper.

A chance to feel again.

To fall—into moments, into memories, maybe even… into love.

And as the bus climbed higher, so did my hope.

Something beautiful was waiting ahead.

I could feel it.

And this time… I was ready to meet it.

Every time I look at Nikhil…

Every single time his eyes meet mine, even for the briefest moment, it feels like something inside me finally quiets down.

Like the noise of the world fades into silence.

Like all the chaos, all the questions, all the fears I've ever held—suddenly don't matter anymore.

When he's in front of me, it feels like I've been given every happiness the world could ever offer.

The kind of happiness that doesn't shout or sparkle loudly, but instead, settles into your soul. Warm. Deep. Steady.

I don't know how or when it happened, but somewhere along the way… Nikhil became home.

Not just a person I loved, or admired, or trusted—but something more.

Something bigger.

When I look at him, it's not just love I feel—it's clarity.

Like I've spent years searching for something without even knowing what I was searching for. And now, here he is… in front of me. As if life decided to stop playing games and finally give me an answer.

I found myself… in him.

He didn't fix me. I was never broken.

But he reminded me of who I was meant to be.

He reflected back all the parts of me I had once doubted, once hidden. And instead of fear or rejection, he gave me acceptance. Peace. Light.

The things I had once only dared to wish for…

They were mine now.

Not in a dramatic, fairy-tale kind of way—but in real, everyday moments. In stolen glances. In shared silences. In the soft brush of his fingers against mine when no one was looking.

In the way he looked at me—not like I was perfect, but like I was real.

Like I was enough.

And that… that is a feeling I never want to lose.

Because when Nikhil is near… I don't just feel loved.

I feel found.

Nikhil's POV –

The first time I saw Rohan…

He was standing at the college's main gate—quiet, reserved, a softness in his eyes that immediately caught my attention.

He looked… harmless.

The kind of person who kept to himself. Calm. Innocent. Trusting.

And maybe that's exactly what drew me in.

Because truth be told… I've always found a strange thrill in playing with hearts like his.

The kind that still believe in goodness. In honesty. In love.

There's something fascinating about watching someone so pure fall into your world of grey.

And with Rohan, it wasn't just a game—it became an obsession.

I started observing him.

How he walked. How he smiled. The way his eyes searched the ground when he was nervous. I mirrored his style, wore clothes similar to his, studied his patterns. It wasn't enough to just follow him—I wanted him to notice me. To be curious. To let me in.

I got him to draw a sketch for me—just to see how he'd react when our fingers brushed, when our eyes met.

I even made my way to his home, playing the perfect visitor. Harmless. Polite. Friendly.

But the truth?

Every move I made… was calculated.

I wanted to break through his walls—but not to love him.

To own him.

To see how far someone like him could fall before he stopped believing in people.

And then came Shaleeni.

I used her—dangled her in front of him just enough to stir doubt in his heart. I wanted to see if he'd grow jealous. Insecure. And when he did… I saw what I needed.

Rohan wasn't as emotionless as he tried to act.

Then came the rose.

A simple gesture. A test.

But he didn't respond how I expected.

He started pulling away. Avoiding me.

That's when I knew—I had to play smarter.

So I sent Ruchika to Anant, fanning the flames of rivalry. I knew Anant wouldn't take it well. And when the fire grew too wild, I stepped in, saved Ruchika from the principal, played the hero, the misunderstood senior.

And now?

Now it's time for the final move.

The trip.

One last game.

One perfect setting—snow, silence, distance from reality.

I'll draw him in, make him feel safe, maybe even make him fall.

And then I'll end it.

Just like that.

No apologies. No guilt.

Because when it's all over, I'll go back to who I was.

Nikhil—the bad boy.

Untouched. Unmoved. Unloved.

Because that's what I do.

I play with feelings.

And Rohan?

He's just… another chapter.

At least… that's what I keep telling myself.

But why…

Why does this one feel so hard to close?

To be continue....