Of Treks and Twists

Sitting by her window, Aditi stared at the glowing lights of the campus in the distance, her mind swirling with thoughts. The outbound program was supposed to be an adventure—a chance to bond, learn, and make memories. But now, it felt tainted.

Why does it always have to be this way? she thought bitterly. Other classes are going together, laughing and planning their treks. But our class? Split into two batches, like we're some kind of afterthought.

Her hands balled into fists. She didn't want to admit it, but it hurt. A program meant to unify had instead become a reminder of the cracks forming in their class. People were taking sides, murmuring about favoritism, and the camaraderie they had built over the months was slowly unraveling.

I wanted this to be special... for all of us. Not this.

She sighed and leaned back, trying to focus on the bigger picture. The trek to 11,000 feet above sea level in Uttarkashi promised breathtaking views and challenges that would test their limits. But would those moments feel as fulfilling without the entire class sharing them?

Aditi's phone buzz. It was Riya texting in their group chat:

"Canteen in 10 minutes?"

With a resigned sigh, Aditi grabbed her jacket and headed out.

At the canteen, she found Riya and Ankita sitting at their usual table, a couple of steaming cups of coffee already waiting.

"Finally!" Riya said, waving her over. "We thought you'd ditch us."

"Ditch you? Never," Aditi said, forcing a smile as she sat down.

Ankita, ever observant, narrowed her eyes. "Okay, what's up? You've been quiet all day."

Aditi hesitated, swirling her coffee. "It's this outbound program," she admitted. "I can't believe they've split our class into two batches. It's so unfair. Every other class is going together."

Riya sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I heard about that. Apparently, it's because of logistics or some last-minute decision."

"Logistics, my foot," Aditi muttered. "This could've been handled better. Now half of us will be trekking together, while the rest are stuck in a different batch. It's like they didn't even consider how it might affect us."

"I get that," Ankita said, leaning forward. "But think of it this way—at least we're getting to go. Uttarkashi! Six days in the mountains! Doesn't that excite you even a little?"A

diti softened. "Of course, it does. The thought of trekking at 11,000 feet above sea level, seeing those views, pushing ourselves physically... it's amazing. But it's the experience we're losing. We've all worked so hard to bond as a class, and now, instead of strengthening that, we're being divided."

Riya reached out to squeeze her hand. "You're not wrong, Aditi. But maybe this could be a good thing? Smaller groups mean more personal connections. Who knows, we might even bond with people we haven't spent much time with yet."

"That's true," Ankita added. "And it's not like we're completely alone. Each batch will have a senior and a faculty member. Plus, you'll have me and Riya, so it's not all bad."

Aditi smiled despite herself. "You guys always know how to make me feel better. I guess I just need to stop overthinking and enjoy the moment."

"That's the spirit!" Riya said, raising her coffee cup. "To the Uttarkashi trek—split batches or not, we're going to make it epic!"

Aditi clinked her cup with theirs, a small spark of excitement starting to replace her earlier frustration.

Later that night, as she packed for the trip, Aditi felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this program would surprise her. Maybe, despite the split, they could still create moments that would bring them closer as a class.

After all, the mountains had a way of humbling people, of breaking them down and building them back up again. And Aditi couldn't wait to see what lessons the trek had in store.The sun was setting behind as Aditi, Riya, and Ankita walked back to their hostel, their chatter filled with excitement about the outbound program. They had just been informed that their class would get to choose their own groups for the trek, and after some back-and-forth discussions, the three of them had ended up together, much to their relief.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this!" Riya exclaimed, practically skipping. "Six days in the mountains! Trekking to 11,000 feet! Can you imagine the views?"

"Finally, a break from all the assignments and lectures," Ankita added. "Just us, nature, and no Wi-Fi. I'm so ready for this."

Aditi smiled, feeling their enthusiasm rub off on her. "I just hope we don't run out of energy halfway up the trek. I'm not exactly the fittest person here."

"Don't worry," Riya said with a wink. "We'll drag you up the mountain if we have to."

"Or bribe you with chocolate," Ankita teased.

They laughed as they reached their hostel, already buzzing with activity. Students were busy packing, some struggling to stuff everything into their backpacks while others argued over what to leave behind.The next morning, the three of them stood outside the hostel gate, their bags at their feet, waiting for the bus that would take them to Uttarkashi. The air was crisp with early morning dew, and the excitement was palpable.

"I heard the bus is picking up people from the other hostels first," Ankita said, checking her phone. "So, we might have to wait a bit."

"That's fine," Riya said, leaning against her suitcase. "Gives us more time to plan our playlist for the ride. I'm starting with Arijit Singh—perfect vibe for a road trip."

"Arijit's fine, but don't you dare put on anything too emotional," Aditi warned. "I don't want to start crying before we even reach the mountains."

They all laughed, and Ankita said, "I'm adding some retro Bollywood songs. Imagine singing 'Dil Chahta Hai' while winding through the hills!"

"Perfect," Riya agreed. "This trip is going to be epic."

The sound of an engine in the distance made everyone look up. The bus rolled into view, colorful decorations hanging from its windows. As it came to a stop in front of them, the door opened, and a senior stepped out.

It was Tanmay.Aditi froze.

No. Way.

Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him step down from the bus, effortlessly cool in a casual jacket, his hair slightly ruffled by the wind.

Of all the seniors who could've come with us... it had to be him?

Her mind raced. She thought back to their fleeting moments of interaction—the treasure hunt, the times she'd caught him glancing her way. And now, here he was, standing in front of her, leading their group to Uttarkashi.

Focus, Aditi. Stop acting like a teenager in a Bollywood movie.

But it was hard to ignore the sudden flutter in her chest. The trip she'd been excited for now carried a different kind of anticipation—one she wasn't entirely sure how to handle.Tanmay's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Hey, need a hand with that?"Aditi blinked, realizing he was looking directly at her. He gestured toward her overstuffed backpack, which she'd been struggling to lift.

"Oh, uh, thanks," she stammered, stepping aside as he picked it up with ease."

No problem," he said with a small smile. "Let's get these loaded."

As he helped them all load their luggage onto the bus, Aditi exchanged a wide-eyed look with Riya, who mouthed, OMG. Ankita was barely holding back a grin.

Once everyone was settled on the bus, the engine roared to life, and they were off. The atmosphere was electric, with people laughing, chatting, and passing around snacks. Someone cranked up the speakers, and the bus soon filled with music.

"Okay, Riya, your turn!" Ankita called, handing her the aux cable.

Riya immediately played the first song from their playlist—'Dil Chahta Hai.' The entire bus erupted into cheers, and soon everyone was singing along, their voices rising above the sound of the engine.

Aditi couldn't help but smile, her earlier nervousness melting away. She glanced out the window, watching the city fade into the distance, replaced by open roads and towering mountains.

"Hey, Aditi," Riya said, nudging her. "This is it. Our adventure is officially starting."

Aditi nodded, her excitement returning. "Yeah. Let's make it unforgettable."

And as the bus wound its way toward Uttarkashi, with music blasting and laughter echoing, Aditi couldn't shake the feeling that this trip would change more than just her perspective of the mountains.