Rhea's Pov
After the Redemption — Amusement Park Day
The amusement park was loud.
Too loud.
Music blared from every corner, kids screamed on rides, and Samar was already arguing with Neel about which ride was "logically safer."
"I'm just saying," Samar said, pointing at the roller coaster, "statistically—"
"Statistically you talk too much," Neel cut in. "Move."
Kabir walked ahead, hands in his pockets, watching them like this—this—was what he'd been missing all along.
Neil was quieter than usual.
Not awkward.
Just… careful.
Like someone who'd finally been given a second chance and didn't want to mess it up.
Rhea noticed.
She slowed down until she was walking beside him. "You okay?"
Neil nodded. "Yeah. Just… feels weird."
"Weird good or weird bad?"
He thought for a second. "Weird good."
She smiled. "That's allowed."
They started with the easier rides. Bumper cars turned into chaos the moment Samar figured out how to aim properly.
Kabir rammed straight into Neel.
Neel retaliated.
Rhea laughed so hard she almost forgot to steer.
"STOP GANGING UP ON ME," Samar yelled, spinning helplessly.
"No," everyone said together.
By the time they got off, Neel was laughing properly—no hesitation, no guilt. Just pure, stupid happiness.
Kabir noticed that too.
Later, while waiting in line for the Ferris wheel, Samar nudged Kabir. "You've been staring."
Kabir frowned. "At what?"
"At Neil. Like you're checking if he's real."
Kabir scoffed. "Shut up."
But when the wheel lifted them slowly into the air, and the city lights stretched below, Kabir finally spoke.
"I was angry," he said quietly. "Not just because he left. But because things were better before he messed up."
Neil didn't joke this time. He met Kabir's eyes. "I know."
A beat.
"I won't disappear again."
Kabir nodded once. That was enough.
Rhea leaned over the railing, wind brushing her face. "Okay but can we talk about how Samar screamed on the kiddie ride?"
"I DID NOT SCREAM."
"You squealed," Neel corrected.
The night ended with sticky fingers, cheap prizes, and them sitting on the pavement sharing fries like old times.
No big speeches.
No dramatic forgiveness.
Just presence.
As they headed home, Kabir walked a little behind the group.
For the first time since everything went wrong, he thought—
Maybe we're okay again.
Not perfect.
Not healed completely.
But moving forward.
Together.☺️