56

The group finally boarded the train, settling into their seats as the engine hummed beneath them. The early morning air still clung to their clothes, and most of them were barely awake, but the excitement of the trip kept their spirits high.

Tara, however, looked exhausted. She yawned as she dropped into the window seat, hugging her tote bag, eyes drooping already. Aryan smirked as he took the seat next to her, stretching his legs out lazily.

"Someone's not a morning person," he murmured, watching as she shifted, trying to find a comfortable position.

Aisha chuckled from across the aisle. "She's gonna sleep the whole way, just watch."

"Too early..." Tara mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned towards the window, resting her head against it. Within minutes, her breathing evened out, and she was fast asleep.

Aryan watched her for a moment before shaking his head with a small chuckle. He reached into his bag and pulled out his earphones, but before he could put them in, Aakash and Rohan were already connecting the Bluetooth speaker.

"Alright, guys," Karan grinned. "What's the mood?"

"Bollywood classics, obviously," Aria said, scrolling through a playlist.

The soft strumming of Ilahi from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani filled the train compartment, blending into the morning quiet. A few heads turned their way, but no one seemed to mind.

They played song after song, humming along, occasionally bursting into full performances, though they kept their voices low. Aryan, however, stayed mostly quiet, glancing at Tara every now and then. Her face was relaxed, her lips slightly parted as she slept, and she shifted a little when the train swayed, almost leaning onto his shoulder. He held still, letting her rest.

After a while, Aisha nudged him. "Bro."

He looked up. "Hmm?"

"That was so awkward, back there with your parents and Tara."

Aakash nodded. "Yeah, dude. I thought your mom was gonna ignore her or something, but she was—"

"Normal," Aria finished. "Like, actually nice."

Aryan sighed, rubbing his thumb over the edge of his phone. "Mom's trying. She knows what she did, and she regrets it. But Tara... she's scared. I don't blame her for that." He glanced at Tara's sleeping figure again. "She just needs time. She either has to interact with Mom, or she has to trust me when I say it's okay now."

"She trusts you," Aisha said softly. "She's just scared to let herself trust this situation."

Aryan exhaled. "Yeah, I know."

There was a small silence before Rohan smirked. "So... what's the plan? You and Tara. How's this trip gonna help?"

Aryan smirked slightly. "There's something I wanted to do."

The group leaned in, curious.

Aryan glanced at Tara one more time before saying, "She once told me she had this silly little dream... to be given flowers on the London Eye, just as Big Ben comes into view."

Aisha's lips parted in surprise before she grinned. "Oh my god. Y'all are such cuties."

Aryan just smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at Tara. "She deserves cute things."

Aakash leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Okay, so apart from the whole London Eye and flowers thing, what else is the game plan?"

Aryan raised an eyebrow. "Game plan?"

Aisha rolled her eyes. "Obviously, bro. You need a strategy. Tara is stubborn. She's not just going to fall into your arms because you're being all sweet and charming. You need to push her—subtly."

Rohan smirked. "Exactly. So, let's brainstorm."

Aria nodded eagerly. "Alright, so we already have the flowers on the London Eye moment. That's solid. But what about smaller things? Like... making sure she's always around you? Keep finding ways to get her alone."

Aryan thought for a moment. "That could work, but she'll catch on. Tara's too smart for that."

Karan grinned. "What if you just keep flirting until she breaks?"

Aryan chuckled. "I've been doing that. She either ignores it or gets awkward and runs away."

Aakash laughed. "Then we make her jealous."

Aryan gave him a look. "No."

"What? Why not?" Aakash raised an eyebrow. "It's effective."

Aryan shook his head firmly. "I'm not playing games like that. She's been hurt enough. I want her to come to me because she wants to, not because she feels like she has to."

Aisha smiled. "Okay, fair. Then what about making her feel safe? She's clearly still hesitant. Maybe show her—like, really show her—that you're in this, that you're not going anywhere this time."

Aryan exhaled slowly, rubbing his jaw. "Yeah... that's the key, isn't it?" His gaze flickered to Tara, still sleeping peacefully against the window. "She needs to trust this again."

Rohan tapped his chin. "So, do things that remind her of the good times. Take her back to places that meant something to you both. Subtly remind her why she fell for you in the first place."

Aryan's lips twitched. "That... might actually work."

Aisha grinned. "Of course, it will. We're geniuses."

Aria smirked. "And you're lucky we care about your tragic love story."

Aryan just chuckled, glancing at Tara one more time before leaning back into his seat, his mind already turning over the ideas.

~•~

As the train slowed to a stop, the group began gathering their belongings, stretching after the early morning ride. Aryan turned his head, glancing at Tara, who was still fast asleep against the window, her face peaceful, lips slightly parted, her breathing slow and steady.

He smirked. She sleeps like a baby. He called her name softly. "Tara..." No response. He tried again, a little louder this time. "Tara, wake up, we're here."

Still nothing.

Aryan shook his head in amusement. The others were distracted, stuffing their jackets into their bags, checking their phones, and chatting amongst themselves. Taking advantage of the moment, he leaned in and, before he could second-guess himself, pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.

His lips lingered for just a second, enough to feel the warmth of her skin, before he pulled away, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. Then, he tried waking her again. "Star, wake up."

This time, she stirred, her brows furrowing before her eyes slowly blinked open. She let out a sleepy sigh, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, looking at him in confusion.

Aryan chuckled. "We're here."

Tara nodded sleepily, her mind still groggy from the nap. She instinctively reached up to redo her ponytail, but before she could, Aryan's hand caught hers.

"Wait," he said, moving behind her.

She stilled as he gently pulled the hair tie from her wrist, letting her hair cascade down her back. His fingers combed through the strands, smoothing out the mess sleep had made, and then, instead of tying it back, he adjusted it softly around her shoulders.

"Leave it like this," he murmured, his voice low. "It looks good."

Tara turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, she just stared at him, unsure of what to say. Then, as if snapping out of it, she quickly moved away, stepping past him to grab her bag.

Aryan smirked as he watched her go. His fingers brushed over the hair tie still in his hand, and without thinking, he looped it around his wrist. Guess I'll keep this now.

As they stepped off the train, the cool London morning greeted them with a crisp breeze, carrying the scent of fresh coffee from nearby cafés. The sky was a soft shade of blue, the early morning sun casting a golden glow over the city. The familiar hustle and bustle of London surrounded them—tourists dragging their suitcases, businessmen in sharp suits walking with purpose, and groups of friends chatting animatedly, all blending into the vibrant rhythm of the city.

The streets were alive but not overwhelming. Double-decker buses whizzed by, their red frames a stark contrast against the classic architecture of the buildings. Street performers were already setting up their spots, tuning guitars or arranging props for their acts. The aroma of freshly baked pastries and brewing coffee wafted from the nearby bakeries, tempting early commuters.

Tara took a deep breath, letting the atmosphere settle over her. She had been here before, but it never failed to mesmerize her. There was something about London in the morning—a fresh start, a new story waiting to unfold.

Aisha stretched, adjusting her bag. "God, I missed this city. It's been too long."

Karan grinned. "Right? We should've done this trip ages ago."

Aryan, who was standing a little behind them, glanced at Tara, catching the small, almost imperceptible smile on her lips as she looked around. He felt a surge of satisfaction seeing that expression—this trip was already worth it.

"Alright," Rohan clapped his hands together, "where to first?"

Tara, still gazing at the city, spoke without thinking. "Harry Potter World."

Aryan smirked. "Then Harry Potter World it is."

And with that, their adventure began.

💜