Invisible String

the string is brave

(Aabha)

The way down was probably more dangerous and riskier than the way up. One clumsy move and the next thing you know is your skull is cracked and you're probably dead.
"Hold my hand. Be careful." Maanav gave me his hand and helped me get down an extremely slippery area.
"Damn, I did not know it would be THIS difficult." He said.
"I know, right? I mean, I've been to many treks, but none of them were as hard as this one." I panted.
He did not let go of my hand as I came down and stood beside him. Why wasn't he letting it go?
He looked into my eyes for a few several seconds and eventually I looked away. I was bad at holding eye contacts.
What just happened?
He then let go off my hand before gasping, "What the fuck?"
I looked ahead and saw a narrow way. An EXTREMELY narrow way. It looked like...death.
"Okay, everyone listen up." Dhruv turned back and looked at us, "There is a very dangerous path ahead. So, I suggest everyone walk while keeping a distance from each other. One step at a time and please, stick to the slope. Take as much time as you want, but just try not to...die." He gulped and then started moving forward followed by Shreyas, Siddharth and Navin.
Soon, it was my turn.
As I was about to step forward, I heard someone play Pass The Dutchie on their phone.
I turned back to see both Megha and Maanav looking at Aahan, and him giving us a goofy grin.
"I thought it'd ease the tension." He said
"Can you not? We're one slip away from death." Maanav rolled his eyes.
"I mean, it might help." I smiled back at Aahan.
"SEE? Come on Aabha. You can do it." Aahan chuckled.
I shook my head and carefully started trudging through the path. I tried to stifle my laughter. If I did die, Pass The Dutchie would be the song I last listened to. Lmao.

A couple hours later we were back at the foot of the hills.
"Let's go somewhere to eat. I know a South Indian place nearby." Shreyas said.
"Okay, cool." Everyone said in unison.
AAA, I hated South Indian food.
"Wait, you don't eat South Indian food, right?" Maanav whispered to me.
"How do you know?" I asked him.
"You mentioned the last time we met." He shrugged.
"You remembered?"
"Off course I did. Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else to eat?" He asked.
"No, no, I can have Medu Vada, plus there will be filter coffee. I breathe coffee." I giggled.
He smiled and we kept walking.
Upon reaching the place, we got seated and everyone ordered their food.
I and Megha sat on a different table while the boys sat on the one next to us.
"Here's your food." Maanav brought two plates of Medu Vada and two glasses of coffee to our table.
"Oh you didn't have to do that. Thanks though." I said, "How much for these?"
"180" He said.
"Okay, we'll pay them later."
"Oh, no worries. I already paid." He said.
"Okay, thanks a lot. I'll pay you back later."
"Sure."
"You're not having anything?" I asked him.
"No, there's loads of food at home. Mom has made this huge lunch. I'll eat that."
"No, please don't go home hungry. Have something from my plate. Seriously."
"No really. Thanks a lot for offering."
"Maanav, please?" I asked him and signalled him to sit on the chair in front of me.
He sat down and said, "Just half a vada though."
"Off course." I chuckled.
He tore a piece from the vada and ate it.
We all talked for a while.
Around half an hour later, we all walked to the street and stood there to hire rickshaws.
"Did you like today?" He asked me.
"Yes, very much." I smiled at him.
"I'm glad. Text me when you reach home."
"Yep. Goodbye." I waved at him and got into the auto with Megha.

What a day.

I, searched for you for years,
2023 January.
Oh, sixteen years old,
you were caught off-guard. 

I, I was done living, 

drained, had nothing to give.
You rushed in like pleasant wind,
oh, swept me of my feet. 

I could've spent a decade with you,
walking peacefully. 
You kept me from falling,
picked me up when I did. 

Beloved, 
you had turned my blues,
into a bright pink haze.
As pink as the shirt you wore,