4.The Carnival, The Ride, and The Realisation
They again made a plan to go out....
The fairground is glowing. Strings of bulbs light up every corner, kids run with candy floss, music plays loud in the background. Aarohi and Mansi are both dressed up — light, colourful, breezy — and the boys, of course, are in their “we didn’t plan outfits but still look good” mode.
Keshav and Mansi are walking ahead, holding hands. Aarohi and Reyansh trail behind.
Aarohi
(thinking):
(There’s something different about tonight.
He’s laughing more. Relaxed. Even smiling at stupid jokes.
Not just me enjoying his company.
He is, too.
And I can feel it.)
Mansi
Let’s do it! That giant spinning swing ride. Just once!
Keshav
(blinking):
Uhhh... I’m scared of heights.
Reyansh
(dead serious):
I’m scared of death.
Aarohi
(grinning):
Guys... be men.
Mansi
“Exactly. Come on, Aarohi, let’s drag these babies.”
Aarohi
(Aarohi walks up to Reyansh, holds his wrist gently and looks up with the cutest eyes she can fake)
Aarohi
(softly):
Please na… just one ride. With me
Reyansh
(Reyansh sighs dramatically, pulls out his phone, and records a short video)
Reyansh
(facing camera):
If I die today, the killer is this girl — points to Aarohi — cute face, dangerous vibes.
Aarohi
(laughing):
You’ll survive. I’m holding your hand
They sit. The ride begins. As it starts lifting, Reyansh instinctively grabs Aarohi’s hand. Tight. Really tight.
Aarohi
(thinking fast):
(He’s holding my hand.
HE IS HOLDING MY HAND.
Okay calm down. Breathe. You’ve touched humans before.)
Aarohi
(looking around):
“See that girl in the blue dress? She’s beautiful.”
Reyansh
(staring only at her):
Yeah. She is.
She turns slowly, confused. Realises… he meant her.
Aarohi
(Blush = activated)
Reyansh
(smirking):
Didn’t say anything.
He lets go slowly as the ride ends. But neither of them lets go emotionally.
Now on the giant fairy wheel, the two couples are in separate cars, facing each other diagonally.
Aarohi and Reyansh sit across from each other as the wheel goes higher. The sky is inky, the lights are magic. The wind is soft.
Reyansh
(looking at the moon):
You know what’s funny? Everyone looks at the moon like it’s flawless.
Reyansh
But I swear... even that has scars.
And tonight… you make it look dull.
Aarohi
(Aarohi turns red instantly. Looks away)
Aarohi
(Stop. You’re being dramatic)
Reyansh
I’m being honest.
You’re too busy calling yourself beautiful…
someone has to compete.
Aarohi
(Aarohi bites her lip, blushing but holding back a smile. The wheel turns. Her heart does too)
After the Carnival
Mansi and Keshav are long gone. Aarohi and Reyansh are walking out together through the quiet fairground exit. The lights feel softer now, as if meant only for them.
Aarohi
I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.
Reyansh
(teasing):
Because you were with me.
Aarohi
Overconfident much?
A small silence. Comfortable. Real.
Aarohi
(softly):
Why don’t I have your Instagram, by the way?
Reyansh
(pretending to think):
Maybe I was waiting for you to ask.
They exchange phones. Follow each other. No dramatic moment — just a small shift. The kind that stays.
As they reach her apartment gate, he stops.
Aarohi
You mean the ride that almost made you scream?
Reyansh
(smiles):
That. And everything else.
Aarohi
(quietly):
Goodnight, Reyansh.
He walks away. But tonight, something didn’t walk away — her smile.
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