Author's POV:

The car hummed softly along the road, the golden hues of the evening sun spilling through the windshield and painting their faces in a warm glow. The silence between Shivanish and Vaani wasn’t awkward—it was thick with unspoken memories of the mountain air, the way their breaths had mingled, and the quiet intimacy that still lingered like a sweet fragrance around them. Every now and then, Shivanish’s eyes would flicker toward her, only to dart back to the road when he realized she had caught him looking. Vaani, on the other hand, pressed her lips together, fighting the smile that threatened to bloom every time their gazes collided. Her fingers absentmindedly traced circles on her lap, as if replaying the way his hand had once rested there hours ago.