Chapter 49 : Warmth

As night fell, the temperature dropped, and the sky transformed into a canvas of twinkling stars, far from the bright city lights. The campfire crackled gently, casting a warm glow over the small clearing where Advay and Ananya sat, their tents pitched just a few feet away.

A small portable grill sat between them, sizzling as they cooked their barbecue. The smoky aroma of grilled chicken and paneer skewers filled the air, blending with the crisp mountain breeze.

Ananya, poking at the grill with a skewer, frowned. "You're sure this is cooked? Because if I get food poisoning, I'm blaming you."

Advay, lying back against a folded blanket, smirked. "Trust me, it's fine. I'm a man of many talents."

She gave him a look. "Yeah, yeah. Just because you can hit 150 kmph deliveries out of the stadium doesn't mean you can cook."

"I don't see you helping," he shot back.

"I'm the supervisor," she said, smugly.

Advay shook his head, flipping the skewers before reaching for his phone, where a movie was already playing. They had set it up on a stand, letting it play while they ate.

The movie? Ananya's choice, of course.

She had insisted on something light, something that had nothing to do with cricket, competition, or pressure.

And so, here they were—watching a classic Bollywood rom-com, the kind where everything was overdramatic, the leads danced in the rain, and somehow, the hero always won in the end.

Advay raised an eyebrow at the screen. "How is he not dead? He's been hit, what, five times? And he's still running to stop the wedding?"

Ananya, taking a bite of her food, shrugged. "It's Bollywood. Logic is optional."

He shook his head, watching as the hero dodged about a hundred security guards with ridiculous ease. "I've played against the best fielders in the world, and even they can't move this fast."

Ananya laughed, nudging him with her foot. "Shut up and enjoy the movie."

They sat there for the next hour, just talking, eating, and occasionally making fun of the film. No deep conversations, no lingering thoughts about the final—just two people, watching a movie under the stars.

And for once, Advay wasn't thinking about what had happened, or what was coming next.

He was just here.

After finishing their food and the movie, Advay and Ananya cleaned up their campsite, putting out the grill and making sure the fire was safely contained. The cool mountain air had settled in completely, and the distant sounds of crickets filled the quiet night.

Ananya stretched, letting out a small yawn. "Alright, superstar. Time to sleep."

Advay smirked, shaking his head as he grabbed his jacket and stepped into the tent. "You make it sound like I won't survive without rest."

She raised an eyebrow. "You won't. Your brain runs at a hundred miles per hour. Sleep is necessary."

They settled into the tent, each wrapped in their own sleeping bag, facing opposite directions. The soft glow of the moon seeped in through the thin fabric, casting gentle shadows inside.

For a while, they just lay there in silence, staring at the roof of the tent, lost in their own thoughts.

Then, after a few minutes, Ananya shifted.

At first, it was just a small movement, like she was adjusting her sleeping position. But then, slowly, she inched closer.

Advay felt the slight rustling beside him, but he didn't say anything.

And then, without a word, she moved even closer and hugged him.

Her arms wrapped around him gently, her forehead resting lightly against his shoulder. She didn't speak, didn't explain—she just held onto him, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Advay, lying still for a second, let out a quiet breath, his lips curving into the faintest smile.

Then, he hugged her back.

His arms wrapped around her securely, pulling her in just a little closer. The warmth of her presence, the steady rhythm of her breathing—it all felt oddly calming, familiar, right.

Neither of them said anything. They didn't need to.

And just like that, wrapped in each other's arms, they fell asleep under the quiet mountain sky.