The sound of the waterfall continued, steady and endless.
The moment from before had passed.
Almost like it never happened.
Almost.
Kabir was already reviewing the photo on his phone.
“Wow,” he said proudly, “National Geographic should contact me.”
Dev leaned over.
“This looks like two people almost falling and one idiot enjoying it.”
Kabir nodded.
“Exactly. Raw emotions.”
Riya laughed.
Meera stood a little away from the group now, near the rocks.
Not thinking about the moment.
At least, that’s what she told herself.
Instead, her eyes returned to the carved symbol.
It was faint.
Half-covered with moss.
But now that she had seen it once… she couldn’t ignore it.
She stepped closer.
Carefully.
The rock surface was damp, but she balanced herself and leaned slightly forward.
The symbol was unusual.
A circle.
Inside it… a broken line, almost like a path splitting into two.
Before she could study it longer—
Kabir’s voice echoed again.
“Guys, very important question!”
Dev closed his eyes.
“Why do I feel scared?”
Kabir continued,
“If we fall here, will the waterfall carry us to another state or just back to the same place?”
Riya replied instantly,
“Probably back to your house. Even the waterfall doesn’t want extra responsibility.”
Meera smiled faintly again.
But her eyes didn’t leave the symbol for long.
Meanwhile, a few steps away—
Aarav stood still.
Watching.
Not Meera directly.
But the place she was standing.
Then slowly… his hand moved to his bag.
He opened it slightly.
Took out the folded notebook page.
For a brief moment, he looked at it.
There was something written below the line Meera had seen earlier.
A rough sketch.
Of the same symbol.
His expression didn’t change.
But his grip on the paper tightened slightly.
Before anyone could notice—
He folded it again and put it back.
Kabir suddenly appeared beside him.
“Bro,” he whispered loudly, “I saw that.”
Aarav didn’t look at him.
“Saw what?”
Kabir raised an eyebrow.
“That secret paper. Don’t worry… I support emotional backstories.”
Aarav sighed.
“It’s nothing.”
Kabir leaned closer.
“If it’s nothing, why do you look like a suspense movie trailer?”
Dev walked past them.
“Because he is walking with you.”
Kabir looked offended.
“Why am I always the problem?”
Riya replied from behind,
“You’re not the problem. You’re the entire situation.”
Meanwhile, near the waterfall—
Meera stepped back from the symbol.
This time… she turned.
And for a brief second…
Her eyes met Aarav’s again.
But something was different.
This wasn’t just noticing anymore.
It was questioning.
Not about him.
But about something else.
Something that didn’t make sense yet.
Before either of them reacted—
Raghav’s voice cut through the moment.
“Stay away from that side.”
Everyone turned.
His tone had changed.
It wasn’t casual anymore.
It was firm.
Even Kabir straightened up.
“Okay…” he said slowly, “that sounded serious.”
Raghav walked toward them.
His eyes briefly met Meera’s.
Then moved to Aarav.
“Some places are not meant to be disturbed,” he said calmly.
Dev crossed his arms.
“Because it’s dangerous?”
Raghav paused.
Then replied,
“Because not everything there is for us.”
Kabir blinked.
“Sir… that answer raised more questions than it solved.”
Riya nodded.
“Now I’m more curious.”
Raghav gave a small smile again.
The lighter version of him had returned.
“Curiosity is good,” he said.
“But only till it doesn’t lead you somewhere you can’t come back from.”
Kabir leaned toward Dev.
“I officially don’t feel safe anymore.”
Dev replied,
“You weren’t safe even in the café.”
The group slowly began to move away from the waterfall.
But the mood had changed.
Something unseen had entered the journey.
Something quiet.
Something waiting.
As they walked back along the trail, Kabir whispered to Riya,
“New plan.”
Riya looked at him carefully.
“I don’t like that tone.”
Kabir grinned.
“We need to find out what that symbol means.”
Dev immediately responded,
“No. You need to not do that.”
Kabir ignored him.
Riya smirked.
“I’m in.”
Dev sighed deeply.
“I need new friends.”
Ahead of them, Aarav walked silently.
Behind them, Meera walked quietly too.
Neither spoke.
Neither tried.
But both carried the same thought now.
That symbol.
And the strange feeling…
That this journey was no longer just about mountains.