Kaira's POV:

When I woke up the next morning, it didn't feel like we were camping out in the jungle. It felt like I was in the comfort of my bed, cuddling with my teddy.

Until, of course, Sam decided to make my morning worse than last night.

Wasn't last night enough for them to scold and scream at me to keep my new relationship hidden?

"Kiri, Kiri! Get up!" I hear Sam cry.

"Let me sleep!" I grumbled moving closer to my comforter.

How do I let myself out of sleep when I'm getting the best of sleep? No way in hell!

She giggles "The way you two are sleeping is really cute but I think you should get up now before others do."

Two?? Who two??

I immediately open my eyes to see myself trapped in big arms and a comfortable chest.

I was in Sidharth's arms!

God, he is so—

His arms kept me in his protective shield and his head rests on mine.

I sigh softly as I know I'll have to get up and leave this comfort. Plus, it wasn't right. Not now at least.

I shake him slowly trying to wake him up "Sidharth." I whisper in his ears and simply he hums pulling me closer.

Oh my.....!

'DISTANCE! DISTANCE! DISTANCE KAIRA!!!! PUT SOME DISTANCE!!!!!' Came voice of my very conscious mind but my body responded nothing to its cries.

"We gotta get up. Its morning." I whisper, this time my lips nearly brush against his earlobe. I feel him shiver slightly once before he tugged at me again, keeping my palms on his chest I maintain my balance.

Damn it! Why is he still pulling me close?

"No, its still night. We should sleep." he mumbles then kisses my skin which happens to be my cheek.

I grin mischievously as I shake him more violently, blowing air into his ear and with a shrill voice I call out his name. He jerks out of his sleep looking at me curiously.

"Oh hey. Good morning." he greets cutely.

"That is, morning, we must get up." I say and when he gives me a confused look I gesture him to look at our position. He analyzes and in a blink of an eye, startled, he lets go so quickly that I don't have time to calculate my balance.

"Oh shit!" I whisper under my breath as my knees don't work before time and I fall backwards to the stony ground.

But then, I didn't exactly feel the hard graveled ground, instead I landed pretty softly with a pair of arms behind my back.

I look up to see Sidharth rolled over me, his lazy eyes still in a daze and his messy locks falling over his forehead ever so unevenly.

He looks at me with concern filled orbs of his, warm breath fanning my face with our stomach touching sends a shivers down my spine and many different unexplored sensations.

It was then it stroke me, he had gotten scratches and cuts on his arm. The bloody wooden poll falling out of nowhere.

Damn it Kaira! You are hurting him! Get him off you!

"Your arm—is still hurt Sidharth." I whisper under his intense gaze.

"I don't care. God Kaira! You really need to start working on your balance!" He mutters.

"It's your fault that you let go so suddenly, you should warn me before!" I narrow my eyes at him.

Slowly my words set in and smirk forms on his lips as he leaned down to my ear, whispering huskily "Don't get used to it, I might not let you go at all next time."

Grasping on his broad shoulders I disguise my gasp as a teasing groan rolling my eyes visibly.

"You don't get any better." I hear Sam sigh with a smirk she continues "Get a room!" She says before leaving us alone.

On hearing her voice we immediately snap back to reality, he loosens his grip on my back and moves back, carefully pulling me up with him to a sitting position. When he is finally at a respectable distance, I adjust my top which shifted slightly up in our rolling over process, brushing a few locks of hair behind my ear.

"Where were you last night? You didn't come in." Karthik asks coming out of their tent just as we sit our butts down on the logs.

"I was very much comfortable out here." Sidharth answers, for a moment I feel his eyes drawn back to me before facing his friend "Plus, someone needed to guard our camp. Are you forgetting the rules?"

"Really, that's the only reason? It was cold last night, or did you have your own personal heater?" He mocks, his gaze penetrating me. Ignoring him I look into my phone to distract me.

"Pity you didn't have yours." Sidharth challenges.

Yawning Niki comes out and settles beside me, Sam following her lead sits beside her boyfriend.

"Kiri!" Sam calls out suddenly.

"What?"

"State championship is coming up next week at summer ground. Enroll before Tuesday." She informs.

"You want a national champion to play at state level again Sam? What good is it going to do her?" Nikki argues.

"Niki, the level doesn't matter, all that matters is the competition." I inform her, turning to Sam I say "Shakti sir didn't say anything to me about it."

"You know he informs only when he wants his players to practice, he can inform you even on the day of the match and you could win it easily." She waves a hand.

"Cut the exaggeration. When are the finals?" I roll my eyes at her statement.

"Probably 27th or so, not sure but it's in that week itself."

"Oh...well..."

Didn't Shreya say it was my engagement day? Damn!

"I'm busy, I better not enroll." I complete.

"And what exactly are you busy with?" Sam asked mockingly.

"I'm serious, lot of things. Most of all, Ritz's restaurant grand opening is on 28th, I'm helping him. And then there is..."

"Ritik? When did he come back? You said that last night too." Niki interrupted.

"A few weeks ago. He is taken, by the way."

She chuckled "So am I"

"Are you even thinking, kiri?" Sam took the lead once again "Its Ritik we are talking about, he would rather postpone his opening and sit on the bleachers cheering for you!"

Damn, wrong timing!

"Um... sure, that's what he may do. But Sam... I ain't interested this time. Plus, mum will kill me if I put badminton first."

Everyone stares, Sam and Nikki almost have their jaw dropping open, Sidharth narrowed his eyes and Karthik has his eyebrows raised.

"What!?" My friends choked on it.

"You need to stop with that shocked tone, my world is changing in snaps these days and I dont have control." I rolled my eyes at her.

"Is it his fault?" Niki asked angrily.

"What? No! Its nobody's fault. I can't blame anyone, alright. We can't always play the blame game, Niki, things change. I can't do it and I'm fine with it."

"No way you look fine! What has anything you do with aunty suddenly? She doesn't interfere your life as far as I know." She snaps.

I ball my fists unconsciously remembering all the times my mother has been lecturing me, spiking up my anger. Not wanting to let anyone know, I get up excusing myself, muttering something like "Times have changed. I don't wanna talk about it."

I immediately take a run in direction of jungle, stopping at the big tree, panting, with anger and frustration.

Why? Why the hell not? Why has this marriage alliance suddenly come between me and my goals?

My thoughts having best of me, I punch the tree trunk.

'There is nothing like yours Kaira, except for family.'

'Don't say things like my career, my studies, my this and that.'

'You need to stop going for that badminton of yours and focus on other important things for a married girl like cooking and cleaning.'

Mum's voice taunting me didn't help either. I hit another punch to the trunk, then another, then another.

A palm shot out of nowhere trapping my next punch, lifted my elbow for an angle and a voice whispered softly in my ears "Keep it this way, uses less force and hurts less."

I pull my hand out of his grip and step back as I glared at Sidharth "I want to be alone."

He nodded "Hm, to overthink and hurt yourself? I don't think so. What's going on in that mind of yours?" He whispered the last line in a concerned voice.

Not meeting his eyes I say "Nothing, just stuff."

He pulled my bruised fist in his hands opening it slowly "Doesn't look like just stuff to me. Where did you pick this form of releasing anger?"

I snapped it out of his hands once again as he caressed my knuckles and snorted "Why? Only you guys can have bruised fists? Stop being a sexist already."

"You know I'm not like that. Or you still think that after what I said last night?"

I know.

"What you said last night sounded more like a fantasy. Unlike you, I live in reality. Everyone close to me has always brought me back to reality from that fantasy with recent events." I told him.

When I see him opening his mouth to object, I continue "What did you say? I inform home when I go out? No mister, it's not called informing home, it's called taking permission from 10 people. Most of the time, only Arav bhai's permission is not enough, most of the time saying that I'm with milkshake doesn't save me from scoldings. Do you know why I'm still here in the morning? Not because my friends have planned something for the day, it's because I don't want to go home early to listen to all those lectures of how careless I am and how I should behave!"

He stared at me as I let it out. He extended his hand to probably grab mine but I back off.

"No, it isn't over yet. I, do not drink, what so ever! I may have tried alcohol but didn't a bit like it, so nope, not going to do. I am a sober driver for my friends, if that is, once in ever I go to parties or clubs. I hate them, Ew. I do sneak in and out of my house at night, but that's only because I want to avoid drama at any cost or if my best friends are being assholes and need to pick up their drunk asses or if I wanna eat ice cream and my best friends finally take me! Other than that I am a good girl, I do everything like a good girl. Just when I listen to milkshake and be selfish for once to do something for myself, why the heck people have to taunt me over it!? Before you say anything like why do I even care about people, I don't ok? I don't care for people at all. Just that whatever they say is always in my mind no matter what and it stops me from going for it next time. I hate it, I hate it so much!"

Without a word, he pulled me in a hug. Resting my head on his shoulder (I'm not that short! I'm good 5.8" and he is few inches taller) I feel his heartbeat. Panting slowly I try to calm my senses, I clutch his shirt by the waist in my fists.

"You don't have to take permission for that championship, Kaira, don't worry about taunts from people. I'll talk to your parents, they'll listen without drama. I promise. Our engagement will be at my home, Okay? Or do you want it at some fancy hotel?" He says after some time of holding me.
  
I chuckled "You are saying that now? After all that I blabbed? Anything without drama can only be me listening to them, without fuss. And your home is beautiful, that'd be enough."

"Hey!" He tugged me closer "You don't know about my superpowers. I can convince anyone for anything that I want. See? I can calm you down with a single hug, isn't that demo enough?"

I smiled in agreement, but since he can't see me, I slap his waist slightly before getting out of his hug and muttering "A long one at that."

He grinned like a 5-year-old when he heard my muttering before smiling softly and taking my palms in his, circling on my skin with his thumb soothingly.

"So you will go for it?" He asked.

I sighed "I don't know, Sidharth... for all I know is they may not listen and it may end in another drama. Moreover, it's just a small championship, it won't matter."

"Kaira, you just told your friends that the level doesn't matter, the competition does. Stop worrying about your parents, I said I'll talk to them, didn't I? Don't you trust me?"

"I do." I nodded after a thought.

"Then you are going. No more discussion." He declared and I chuckled nodding.

Giving me another smile he tightened his hold on my hand and lead back to our camp.

When we finally get back, everyone was packing away, almost done though. We wait at the sidelines until they are done in a few mins.

"Ah! There you both are! Come here!" Kabir calls out and I immediately hide my bruised fist in my pocket before we go over to our group.

"So there is amber fort just a kilometer from here. We would take our cars halfway and park in the woods, then we'd walk because we can't take them further down the pave line." Kabir instructs "We would climb up the bordered wall of rocks, going further we will hike the amber fort."

We do as decided. Parking their vehicles they came back to us and we started walking along, Sidharth and I tagged behind them as they go on discussing some new brand of shoes.

"So Kaira? Your shoes are comfortable much?" Karthik addresses me suddenly and I jerk slightly. Looking over to Sidharth's side I see him talking to Kabir over something and decide not to disturb him.

"Yes, well enough. Do you wanna try? I could give you a taste." I joke.

"I see, why don't you show me by racing with me till that tree over there?" He points.

"Not interested. I don't have to prove anything to anyone, especially not you."

"Are you scared?" he mocks shock.

Scared?! Me? Of what? Him? Bullshit!

"Fine, we can't let you stay under that misunderstanding, can we now?"

"Stop here!" He announces and everyone puts a full stop to listen to him "Kaira and I are going to race till there, so Sid go and stand to that tree, Sami you call out start signal."

He gestures me to our starting line and moves to his launch position, rolling my eyes I follow, looking up I see Sidharth's amused expression greeting me luck.

"Ready... steady... go!" Sam cries and we were off.

Oh my god! Run Kaira!!!

He is running ahead of you!

Come on!! Faster!!

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

My inner cheers were helping and I took up my speed, overtook him and launched myself right at the time to cross Sidharth's extended arms.

Leaning against the tree, I take in much-needed air into my puffing lungs until our group joins us back.

"So? Who caught it first?" Nikki was excited to know.

"Who else do you think? He is putting on weight sitting in his cabin all day." I roll my eyes and Karthik snorts.

Joking we started back on our way, soon we reach the border of rocks and start climbing. Kabir and Karthik help my friends up following after.

Getting a place for myself I start climbing with Sidharth by my side.

"Kaira! If you slip or need our help then call out, we will obviously help you." Karthik smirks from above.

"Karti stop troubling her." Sam scolds but I cut her off.

"Come on Sam. It's his first camp with me, he doesn't know what my interests are, let him be." I pause and turn to Karthik "Sure I'll let you know." I offer challenging as we carry on.

Suddenly my foot slips and I'm about to call out but then stop as it is firm on something. I try to glance at it but before I could see, Sidharth whispers "Climb on" I nod and continue.

I climbed up second last with Sidharth behind me, when I looked down at him my eyes narrowed one the rock he'd keep his foot on next.

"Careful, that one is slippery." I called out, just as he heard me he paused. There was a small height left but with his left foot dangling he may not succeed so I forwarded my hand "Here, give me a hand."

He raised his eyebrow from below, wondering if I could stand his weight probably. I rolled my eyes and shook my hand encouragingly. Nonetheless, he caught hold of it, with little more force I pulled him up.

Our friends were already walking towards the grassland before the start of trekking. Grassland was covered with flowers, shrubs, bushes, small trees and a lot of grass.

"Come let's go there!" Niki says dragging Sam along with her to the flowers. She knows my hatred for flowers so lets me be.

Once they are off to the flower bed, the boys picked a tree to sit under, I followed.

"So did you call Bharadhwaj again?" Karthik asks suddenly, I look up once to see who it was directed to. Kabir, almost by reflex, kicked Karthik's feet.

Is he talking to Kabir? Nah, probably Sidharth. So Bharadwaj means... that...? 

Raising his eyebrow Sidharth doesn't look up from his phone "No why would I?"

Karthik shrugged "Thought you were interested. I thought you'd like to see her again. You did, didn't you?"

"Not really, I was busy. Plus she was boring anyway." I snorted into my Instagram feed at his answer.

"Ah, yes you went for some other chick then I remember." he stops abruptly, a second later I felt his eyes on me, along with Kabir's. Knowing Sidharth I knew he was into his emails.

"Yes my ears are open, please go on." I urge keeping my phone aside and crossing my legs.

Both look at me with blank expressions. Sharing one among them, they cast me another.

"So you don't mind him speaking about your fiancé ex's when you are present?" Kabir asks bewildered.

"Why would I? It was his life." I shrug, my eyes landing on Karthik I say "If this is your way to make me run away, it's not going to work, my best friends tried."

"So you mean, it— doesn't affect you?" Karthik places it slowly. I give another shrug.

"Nah, I hear it every day, enough for me to not get affected. I don't care."

"Every day really? How do they know anyway?" Sidharth asks mocking with amusement.

"I don't ask them where they get their information from." I answer "But seriously, Natasha Bharadwaj? Eww, you could do better than that. How could you even stand her for more than 5 mins?!"

Sidharth turned towards Karthik raising his eyebrows "Her name was Natasha? I thought it something with V."

I snapped my fingers gaining their attention "I knew it! I thought it to be like this. You don't keep names in mind, do you? Of course not! Who am I asking? It's okay, really. Milkshake is also an asshole like that, it anyway doesn't stop him. Considering, you fucked