The monsoon rains had ceased their relentless dance across the verdant landscape of Manali, leaving in their wake a crisp, dewy night that whispered sweet nothings to the soul.

Aanya, her heart a tumult of anticipation and trepidation, nestled deeper into the warm embrace of Viraj's arms, feeling the throb of his excitement as it resonated through the fabric of his crisp, white shirt. His cologne, a heady blend of sandalwood and musk, filled her nostrils, sending shivers down her spine as it melded with the scent of the damp earth beneath their makeshift bed of velvet blankets.