Déjà Vu

**Chapter 7: Gun Hill Adventure**

Later that afternoon, after a leisurely morning of exploring the quieter streets of Mussoorie, Aarushi and Rudra decided it was time to visit **Gun Hill**, the second-highest point in the town. The thrill of the adventure began the moment they boarded the ropeway, a cable car suspended high above the ground, offering them a breathtaking view of the landscape below.

As the cable car swayed gently on its way up the steep incline, Aarushi found herself gripping Rudra's arm tighter, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of the town shrinking beneath them. The valley stretched out in every direction, a patchwork of green hills, dense forests, and the distant shimmer of rivers cutting through the landscape. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the scene, making the entire vista look like something out of a dream.

“This is… wow,” Aarushi breathed, her eyes wide with awe as they ascended higher into the sky, leaving the noise and chaos of the town far below them.

Rudra, sensing her excitement, grinned. He loved seeing her react this way, her wonder and enthusiasm contagious. “Wait until we reach the top,” he said, squeezing her hand.

The cable car gently came to a halt at the summit, and as they stepped out, the view before them took Aarushi's breath away. **Gun Hill** offered a panorama that stretched for miles—beyond the hills and valleys of Mussoorie, they could see the vast **Doon Valley** spreading out like a lush green carpet below them, the silver threads of rivers winding their way through the distant plains. On the far horizon, the snow-capped peaks of the **Himalayas** stood tall, shimmering in the afternoon sunlight, their majestic beauty almost surreal against the clear blue sky.

For a few moments, Aarushi and Rudra simply stood there, side by side, taking in the view. The air at the top was crisp and cool, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of pine and earth. Every so often, a cloud drifted past, casting soft shadows over the valley below. The world felt quiet and peaceful up here, as if time had slowed down just for them.

Aarushi raised her camera and snapped a few pictures, trying to capture the essence of the place. But after a while, she lowered the camera, realizing that no photo could truly do justice to what she was seeing. Instead, she simply stood there, allowing the serenity of the moment to wash over her.

Rudra came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder as they stood together, gazing out over the vast landscape. They could hear the faint murmur of the wind whistling through the hills, the occasional bird call, and the distant chatter of other visitors milling around the viewpoint. But all of that felt secondary—right now, it was just the two of them, enveloped in the natural beauty that stretched out as far as the eye could see.

“It’s incredible how small everything seems from up here,” Aarushi said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah,” Rudra agreed, his tone thoughtful. “Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?”

Aarushi nodded, feeling a sense of tranquility settle over her. The troubles and worries of the world below seemed far away, insignificant in comparison to the vastness of nature. Up here, in this moment, with Rudra by her side, everything felt right. She leaned back into his embrace, her body relaxing into his as the two of them stood there, quietly watching as the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon.

As they continued to explore the summit, they wandered past small food stalls and souvenir shops, the colorful awnings flapping gently in the breeze. Vendors called out to them, offering piping hot plates of momos and steaming cups of chai, the aromas tempting after their long day of walking. They stopped for a snack, sharing a plate of freshly made momos, their hands brushing as they dipped the dumplings in spicy chutney. The warmth of the food was a comforting contrast to the cool mountain air, and they ate in companionable silence, the quiet hum of the hillside market around them.

Aarushi took a moment to glance back at the view—the sun now casting long, golden shadows across the valley. She felt a sense of contentment deep in her chest, a feeling of gratitude for being in this beautiful place, with the person she loved most in the world.

“This was a good idea,” she said, turning to Rudra with a smile.

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “What, coming to Gun Hill?”

“No,” she laughed softly, shaking her head. “Coming here. To Mussoorie. With you.”

Rudra smiled, his gaze softening as he reached out to cup her face in his hands. “I’m glad we did too,” he said, his voice low and full of warmth. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this.”

They stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, and shared a quiet, lingering kiss. It wasn’t rushed or urgent—it was a kiss that spoke of everything they felt for each other. It was a kiss filled with love, with gratitude, with the quiet joy of simply being together.

As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, Aarushi and Rudra made their way back to the cable car station. The descent was just as beautiful as the ascent had been, the fading light casting a magical glow over the town below. By the time they reached the base, the evening had settled in, the streets of Mussoorie bathed in the soft glow of streetlights.

That night, back at their cottage, they sat together on the porch, wrapped in blankets as they watched the stars begin to twinkle in the clear mountain sky. The quiet of the evening was only broken by the occasional chirp of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Aarushi rested her head on Rudra’s shoulder, their fingers intertwined.

“This feels like a dream,” she whispered.

Rudra kissed the top of her head, his voice soft in the stillness of the night. “It does. But it’s our reality. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

They stayed like that for a long time, the two of them wrapped in each other and the stillness of the mountains, as the world around them drifted off to sleep.