The wedding was beautiful.
Soft lights, loud music, laughter everywhere.
Aakrati wore the peach saree.
And she was right.
People stared.
Colleagues complimented her endlessly.
"You look stunning!"
"Is this really you? So traditional!"
She laughed, clicked pictures, danced a little, ate too many sweets, and for a moment, she felt grown up… graceful.
Arsh couldn't come because of work, but he texted once:
Send a picture.
She sent one.
His reply came instantly:
Cancel the wedding. I'm coming to take you back.
She rolled her eyes but smiled like an idiot.
By the time she reached home, it was late evening.
Shrisha was already asleep.
Aakrati quietly changed into her pajamas and lay down on the bed.
Her phone rang.
Arsh.
"Reached?" he asked.
"Yes."
"How was it?"
"Good. Everyone loved my saree."
"Of course they did," he said calmly. "You were wearing my favorite color."
She smiled softly.
Then suddenly she sat up.
"Oh wait. We have to pack!"
"For the trip?" he asked.
"Yes. It's tomorrow!"
Travel, stay, and return — sponsored.
Everything else — on them.
She put the phone on speaker and opened her cupboard.
"Have you packed?" she asked.
"Half," he replied lazily. "I pack light."
"You pack lazy."
"Same thing."
She started pulling out outfits.
"I read the rules again," she said seriously. "Travel, coming, staying — all sponsored. But whatever activities we do there, we have to pay and plan ourselves."
"Hmm."
"So I've planned."
"Oh?" His tone changed.
"Yes. Skating. Bungee jumping. Flyboarding."
He chuckled. "You? Bungee jumping?"
"Yes, me. I want adrenaline."
"You scream during horror movies."
"That's different."
He laughed softly.
"And restaurants," she continued. "We'll try one nice place. But mostly street food. Local cafés. Exploring."
"Hmm. And what about the remaining two days?" he asked.
She paused dramatically. "That's why I'm asking you."
There was a small silence.
Then his voice lowered slightly.
"I have a few ideas."
"Normal ideas, I hope."
"No promises."
She rolled her eyes. "Behave."
"I am behaving."
She zipped one bag and opened another.
"So tell me, Mr. Planner."
"Well," he said thoughtfully, "one day full adventure. One day food exploration. One day just roaming randomly."
"And?"
"And one day no alarm. No schedule. Just us."
She paused.
"Doing what?"
"Whatever we feel like."
"That's not an answer."
He smirked through his voice. "Exactly."
She felt her cheeks warm even though he couldn't see her.
"You're impossible."
"You like impossible."
She ignored that.
"I'm packing three dresses. One casual. One for adventure. And one… just in case."
"Just in case what?"
"Just in case we go somewhere nice."
"Oh we will," he said instantly.
"Where?"
"You'll see."
She narrowed her eyes at the phone. "You're hiding something."
"I prefer the word planning."
She sat on the bed, folding clothes neatly.
"What are you packing?" she asked.
"Basics."
"That's it?"
"And confidence."
She laughed. "Confidence won't help you if you forget essentials."
"Are you calling me irresponsible?"
"I'm calling you overconfident."
"Same thing."
She shook her head.
"Okay serious question," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"What all does our trip include?"
He answered without hesitation.
"New place. No office. No Shrisha teasing us. No rush."
She smiled.
"And?"
"And uninterrupted time."
Her heart skipped again.
She tried to distract herself by stuffing a charger into her bag.
"Don't make it dramatic."
"I'm not. I'm just excited."
She softened at that.
"Me too."
He paused.
"Five days is a lot of time."
"For what?"
"For memories."
She went quiet for a second.
Then she changed the tone. "Okay tell me honestly. Are you doing bungee jumping with me?"
"Yes."
"No backing out."
"I won't."
"And flyboarding?"
"I'll try."
"And skating?"
"I'll laugh when you fall."
She gasped. "Rude!"
"I'll help you up after laughing."
"That's worse."
He chuckled.
There was comfort in their banter.
Comfort in knowing he was on the other side of the call.
She finally closed her suitcase.
"Done."
"That fast?"
"I'm efficient."
"Show me."
"It's a call, Arsh."
"Video call then."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired."
"Or shy?"
"Goodnight."
He laughed softly.
"Okay okay. Sleep."
"Did you finish packing?"
"I will."
"You better."
"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not missing this trip."
"Good."
There was a pause.
Neither wanted to hang up first.
"Goodnight," she said softly.
"Goodnight," he replied.
Then, after a second—
"Five days," he added quietly.
She smiled to herself.
"Five days."
They disconnected.
And for the first time since planning the trip, she felt it—
Excitement.
Adventure.
Possibility.
Neither of them knew yet…
That five days could change everything.