Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 33. First Day of Vacation

'Now that we have had lunch, you all go to your room and have some sleep. Tomorrow morning we will be up around 2 AM.', Pappa instructed them as they all relaxed in their chairs after their lunch in the Hotel's restaurant. But now with Pappa's words, all of them sat up straight.

'2 AM? Uncle? Why?', Arpit cried out.

Pappa smiled at them knowingly. 'I am taking you to see something gorgeous but to see it, you need to be up at 2 and be out of your rooms by 3.'

Shrishti gasped. Pappa chuckled. 'Yes, Shrishti. You guessed it right. As you are sharing the room with Megha, it would be your duty to wake up early and wake her up too.'

'But I myself will need someone to wake me up!', she moaned and rest of them chuckled.

'Raghav. You are older. So it is your job to get Arpit up and about and out of the room by 3.', Pappa told Raghav who nodded. Both boys were sharing rooms while Pappa had a room all to himself.

And with that, the quintet retired to their rooms. Shrishti had seen her room once when she came to deposit her luggage and freshen up. But only now she looked around properly. Her eyes went to the giant curtains near the bed and she opened it only to gasp. Behind her, Megha also gasped. The curtains hid a giant floor to ceiling window which gave a gorgeous view of the valley.

'This is beautiful, Pari Di.', Megha murmured.

'I know.'

'Lets keep the curtain open and lie in the bed and watch outside till we fall asleep.', Megha suggested.

'Lets do that.' Shrishti clapped her hands delightedly and both went to bed, their eyes on the view outside. But both of them barely lasted few minutes. The exhaustion of the trip got to them and soon they were asleep.

In the evening, both woke up refreshed and after a quick outfit change and grabbing their now almost empty backpacks, Shrishti led Megha to her brothers' room to see if they wanted to come down for tea and some snacks. She had already asked her Pappa through phone but he had declined, claiming he wanted to sleep longer. So now Shrishti was standing outside the boys' door with Megha knocking at the door. The door opened to Raghav hiding behind the door with only his head popping out and the door not fully opened.

'Why are you hiding behind the door?' Megha huffed. 'Let me in. Where is Arpit Bhaiyya?'

'We are changing clothes, Megha.', he said calmly, his eyes on Megha, resolutely ignoring Shrishti.

Shrishti's eyes widened and she turned away to give privacy despite having the door between them.

'We wanted to ask if you want to come down with us for tea and snacks. I want to try Darjeeling tea and Megha is hungry.', Shrishti replied, still looking away, speaking to the wall opposite Raghav's room.

'Pari Di is hungry too.', Megha piped in.

'We were coming to get you two ourselves.', Raghav said quietly, 'That is why we are getting ready. Why don't you two go down and find a table for us? Check the menu also.'

Shrishti nodded and without looking towards Raghav, she dragged Megha away. But just as she was about to turn the corner, she looked back. The door to his room was already closed. Why was she disappointed that she could not see Raghav anymore?

In the restaurant, Shrishti and Megha barely sat down when Megha saw something and tugged Shrishti's arm. They had chosen a table next to window overlooking the valley and Shrishti had yet to look away from the view. When Megha got her attention, she pointed out a big chalk slate hung on the wall nearby. The restaurant seemed to have Afternoon Tea with scones, cakes and sandwiches and it was announced on the chalk slate. Both of their eyes met and they both grinned. Something new to try!