Chapter 26

Kabir's POV 

The morning light stretched long golden rays across the valley as they began their descent, the crisp air thinning as the sun climbed higher. The summit had been breathtaking, but now the trail led them back down—an easy enough route, yet somehow, Kabir felt off-balance.

It had started earlier, when Aria laughed—loud, unguarded, carefree. He hadn't expected it, and worse, he hadn't expected the way it had stayed with him, playing in his head like a song stuck on repeat.

Now, she walked ahead, holding the tiny puppy like it already belonged to her, murmuring softly as she cradled it against her chest. Completely unaware of the way she was getting under his skin.

Sanya's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"This is steep," she exhaled, her tone lilting, calculated. Then, too casually, she reached for his arm. "Hope you don't mind if I—"

He moved away before she could touch him.

Sanya faltered, blinking. "Oh. Guess you're one of those 'don't like being touched' types now?"

Kabir didn't bother responding.

Paul and Aisha, who were walking just behind them, exchanged a knowing look.

Sanya, unfazed, tried again. "You must be exhausted, Kabir. Want me to walk with you? We used to do this trek all the time, remember?"

He remembered.

He just didn't care.

Instead of answering, he picked up his pace, walking past her.

Aisha bit back a smirk. Paul wasn't so subtle—he muttered, "Ouch. That had to sting."

Sanya's frustration spiked. Her gaze flickered toward Aria, still ahead of them, still cradling that damn puppy like it was a treasure.

"You know," Sanya drawled, loud enough for Aria to hear, "keeping a dog isn't practical. Especially for someone like you, Aria. Do you even have time for a pet?"

Aria didn't even flinch. "I make time for what matters."

A simple, effortless response.

But Kabir saw the way Sanya's lips pressed into a thin line, saw the way it stung.

Paul, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, threw out a ridiculous suggestion. "I think we should call him Supreme Leader. Or Mr. Oberoi."

Aria snorted. "Not happening."

Aisha tapped a finger against her chin. "Something that fits… You found him on a trek, maybe—"

"Trek," Kabir said before he could think about it.

Aria glanced up at him, brow raised.

He shrugged, keeping his voice even. "That's what this was for him, wasn't it? An adventure."

There was a pause.

Then—

"I like that," Aria said, not hesitating for even a second before looking back down at the tiny creature. "Trek it is."

And Kabir felt it.

That stupid, traitorous flip in his chest.

Something about the way she accepted his suggestion so easily, without argument, without overthinking it, had his pulse stuttering.

She trusted his word on instinct.

And for some reason, that did something to him.

Sanya, meanwhile, looked like she was about to explode.

The irritation in her voice was barely concealed when she muttered, "Kabir, you've changed."

He didn't react immediately.

Instead, he let the silence stretch just long enough for her to shift uncomfortably. Then, in a voice that was neither harsh nor soft, he said, "Or maybe you never knew me that well to begin with."

That shut her up.

Paul muttered, "Damn." Aisha just smirked.

And Kabir… Kabir kept walking.

By the time they reached the base of the trail, the hike was officially over, but something lingered in Kabir's chest.

Aria was still holding Trek, the puppy snuggled against her, utterly at peace.

Without realizing it, Kabir found himself watching her again.

He exhaled sharply and forced himself to look away.

But something had already shifted.

And he wasn't sure he could ignore it anymore.