Suspended amidst the stars, Gauri let the cool night wind brush her cheeks as she leaned against Vihaan's chest. The clouds beneath them shimmered softly, glowing like silk under moonlight.
For a moment, everything felt dreamlike—until a sudden chill pricked the back of her neck.
Her smile faded.
"Vihaan…" she whispered, her brows furrowing.
He turned, his hand instinctively tightening around her waist. "What is it?"
"I… I don't know," Gauri murmured. "Something feels wrong. Like a storm inside me."
She pressed a hand to her heart, her voice trembling. "I only get this feeling when Charvi isn't safe."
Vihaan's expression shifted instantly—protective, alert. "Then we're not waiting here."
He snapped his fingers, and the starlit cloud began to dissolve, the world around them spinning as they descended. Within moments, they were back in their suite, the magic fading into silence.
"Let's check her room," Vihaan said quickly. Gauri nodded, already heading for the door, her pulse racing.
---
Scene: The Rescue at the Pool
Meanwhile, Yug strolled across the resort's garden, his phone pressed to his ear.
"Yeah, Zayn, everything's fine here," he said casually, smiling faintly. "Just the usual Kothari chaos. You should've come, man—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes darting toward the swimming pool ahead.
The phone slipped from his grip.
"Charvi?" he whispered in disbelief.
Her form was visible beneath the rippling surface, sinking deeper, bubbles streaming from her lips.
Without a second thought, Yug threw off his jacket and dove into the pool.
The cold water stung his skin as he swam with furious strokes, reaching Charvi just as her body went limp. He wrapped his arm around her and pushed upward, bursting through the surface with a desperate gasp.
"Charvi! Come on, stay with me!" Yug shouted, pulling her toward the edge. He lifted her out of the water, water streaming down her hair and face. Her eyes were half-open, trembling, her breathing faint.
Yug pressed his forehead against hers, panic tightening his chest.
"Please, Charvi… don't you dare give up on me."
As he called for help, somewhere in the distance, Gauri felt the air around her twist again, that same dreadful pull—
and she whispered under her breath,
"Charvi… hold on."
"Charvi! Hey—Charvi!" Yug's voice cracked as he laid her gently on the tiled floor beside the pool.
Her eyes were shut, her face pale, water dripping from her lashes. For a moment, the world went utterly still—the music from the resort party distant, muffled by the thunder of his heartbeat.
He cupped her face with trembling hands.
"No, no, you're not leaving like this," he whispered hoarsely, brushing a strand of wet hair from her cheek. "You can't die yet—our story hasn't even begun."
Then he lowered his head and began CPR, counting under his breath, his voice breaking between each breath he gave her.
"Come on, Charvi… breathe… please…"
Nothing.
He pressed again, desperate, his tears mixing with the pool water on her skin.
"Don't you dare do this to me! You fight with me every day—why can't you fight now?"
And then—
She gasped, violently coughing up water, her body jerking back to life.
Yug froze, staring in disbelief before gathering her in his arms.
She clung to him tightly, trembling, sobbing against his shoulder.
"Yug…" she cried, her voice weak and shaken. "I—I couldn't breathe… I thought…"
"Shh…" Yug whispered, his arms tightening around her as if letting go might take her away again. "You're fine now. I've got you. You're safe."
The moonlight shimmered over them, their soaked forms glistening, hearts still racing. For a brief, fragile moment, the world around them disappeared—leaving only the sound of their uneven breaths and the beating of two hearts finally in sync.
"Charvi!" Gauri's voice echoed across the corridor as she and Vihaan rushed out of the suite, panic flickering in her eyes. They had checked Charvi's room—empty.
"She's not there," Gauri said, clutching Vihaan's arm.
"Then we'll find her," Vihaan assured, scanning the resort grounds. "Let's check near the pool."
They hurried off, worry gnawing at their hearts.
---
Meanwhile, by the swimming pool, the soft glow of lanterns reflected off the water's surface. Charvi sat wrapped in Yug's jacket, shivering slightly as droplets slid down her hair.
Yug stood beside her, running a hand through his wet hair, his brows furrowed in frustration and concern.
"What were you even thinking?" he scolded softly, his tone sharp yet trembling. "You don't know how to swim, Charvi! You could've—" He stopped himself, his throat tightening.
Charvi blinked, startled by the intensity in his voice. "Why… why are you so worried?" she asked quietly, looking up at him.
For a second, Yug had no words. His jaw tightened as he looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "Because—" he began, but the words wouldn't come.
Silence fell between them—heavy, charged. The night breeze brushed past, carrying the scent of wet earth and jasmine.
Charvi rose slowly, her eyes searching his face. "Yug…" she whispered.
He finally looked at her. Their eyes met—a storm of unsaid feelings.
The world seemed to fade—the water rippling softly behind them, their heartbeats syncing in the hush of the night.
---
Just then, distant footsteps approached—Vihaan and Gauri, racing toward the poolside.