The mountain breeze carried a gentle chill as the wedding festivities wound down for the evening. Guests who had spent the day dancing, laughing, and celebrating had retreated to their rooms or gathered around small fire pits scattered around the venue. The main courtyard, once filled with music and vibrant colors, was now dimly lit, with only the soft glow of lanterns hanging from trees and the occasional flicker of a dying flame.
Rhea wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she stepped away from the crowd. The party had been fun, but she felt an inexplicable need to get away from the noise. The day had been long, and though her face had hurt from all the smiling, her heart felt heavier than it should. For the first time since she arrived, she hadn't felt the overwhelming urge to pull out her phone and capture every moment for her followers. Instead, she wanted something else—a break from the online world, a moment of calm.
She wandered over to a quieter corner, where a few people had gathered around a smaller bonfire. The group was intimate, with no more than ten or so guests lingering in the glow. They were engaged in soft conversation, laughter flowing easily but without the exuberance of the day's earlier events. It was an atmosphere that seemed perfect for unwinding.
Rhea hesitated at the edge of the gathering, wondering if she should join them or return to her room. But before she could make up her mind, she spotted Karan sitting off to one side, a mug of tea in his hands. He looked completely at ease, his posture relaxed as he stared into the flickering flames. He wasn't part of the conversation but seemed comfortable in his solitude, enjoying the simplicity of the moment.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Rhea found herself drawn to him again. There was something calming about his presence, a stark contrast to the rest of the wedding guests who, like her, had seemed to exist for the day's theatrics. Karan, on the other hand, was different. His disinterest in technology, his groundedness—it all felt like a mirror to the quiet longing she'd tried to suppress for years.
Before she knew it, she was walking toward him. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice soft as not to disturb the others.
Karan glanced up, surprised to see her but not displeased. He nodded toward the empty seat next to him. "Go ahead."
Rhea sat down, the warmth of the fire wrapping around her like a blanket. For a moment, neither of them spoke, both content to sit in the comfortable silence. The quiet crackle of the fire and the murmur of the distant conversation provided a gentle backdrop to the otherwise still night.
"I thought you'd be in bed by now," Karan said after a while, his voice low.
Rhea shrugged. "I needed some fresh air. It's so peaceful out here." She paused, glancing over at him. "What about you? You don't seem like the kind of guy who sticks around for wedding festivities."
Karan gave a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm not, but it's a beautiful night, and I like the mountains at night. Besides, I was invited, so I figured I'd at least make an appearance."
Rhea looked around at the dark silhouettes of the mountains surrounding them. The night sky was clear, and countless stars blinked down at them, far more than she could ever see in the city. "I can see why you love it here," she said softly. "It's… different. Peaceful. It feels like the rest of the world doesn't exist."
Karan's gaze followed hers, his expression thoughtful. "That's why I live here. It keeps you grounded. There's no noise, no distractions. Just the land and the people who respect it."
Rhea sighed, leaning back slightly in her chair. "That must be nice. No expectations, no pressure to be anything other than yourself."
Karan glanced at her, his eyes sharp and assessing. "You don't have that luxury?"
She let out a hollow laugh. "Not even close. My whole life is about managing expectations—other people's, my own. Everything I do is scrutinized, judged. If I make one wrong move, one mistake, it's all out there for the world to see. And it's exhausting."
Karan nodded slowly, not in sympathy but in understanding. "Sounds like a tough way to live."
"It is," Rhea admitted, surprising herself with her honesty. She rarely ever admitted how draining her life as an influencer could be. It wasn't that she didn't love parts of it—the creative side of her work, the connections she made with people—but there were times when the constant pressure to perform, to present a polished version of herself, became overwhelming.
"Then why do you do it?" Karan asked, his tone curious but without judgment.
Rhea hesitated. No one had ever asked her that question so bluntly before. People usually assumed that her life was perfect, that she loved every second of it. And for the most part, she had convinced herself that she did. "Because I thought it was what I wanted. I love creating content, I love fashion, and I love inspiring people. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of why I started. It became less about me and more about what other people expected from me. And now, I don't know how to get out of it."
Karan was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the fire. "Sounds like you're stuck in a cage you built yourself."
Rhea looked at him, his words striking a chord deep within her. A cage she built herself. He wasn't wrong. She had chosen this life, built her brand, and created this image. But in doing so, she had also trapped herself in a version of herself that felt increasingly disconnected from who she really was.
"I guess I am," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound the crackling fire and the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for Rhea, and it felt strangely freeing to admit it aloud, especially to someone like Karan, who had no stake in her world, no expectations of her.
"I think you can break free if you want to," Karan said eventually, his tone matter-of-fact. "But it won't be easy. You'd have to be willing to let go of a lot—maybe even everything you've built."
Rhea's heart clenched at the thought. The idea of walking away from her career, her carefully constructed persona, was terrifying. But at the same time, a part of her wondered what it would be like to live without the constant pressure, without the need to perform.
"It's hard to imagine," she admitted. "But lately, I've been thinking about it more and more. About what it would be like to just… be. To not care about what anyone else thinks."
Karan smiled faintly. "That's the beauty of these mountains. They don't care who you are or what you've done. They just are. And when you're here long enough, you realize that's all you need to be, too."
Rhea turned to look at him, her curiosity piqued. "Is that why you chose to live here? To get away from it all?"
Karan nodded, his expression serious. "Partly. I grew up in the city, surrounded by noise and ambition. But the more I learned about the environment, about the way we're destroying it in our pursuit of more, the more I realized I didn't want to be a part of that. So, I left. I came here to help protect what's left of the natural world, to live in a way that aligns with what I believe."
Rhea listened intently, captivated by the quiet conviction in his voice. "That's… incredible. I don't know many people who would be brave enough to do that."
Karan shrugged. "It's not about bravery. It's about choosing the life you want to live. I chose this because it makes sense to me. But that doesn't mean it's easy. There are sacrifices, just like with anything else."
Rhea looked down at her hands, her mind swirling with thoughts. Could she really walk away from everything she had built? From the life she had spent years creating? The idea was terrifying, but at the same time, the thought of living a life free from the pressures of social media was undeniably appealing.
"You know," Karan said after a long pause, "you don't have to make any big decisions right now. Sometimes, just acknowledging that you want something different is the first step."
Rhea smiled, grateful for his words. "I think you're right. It's just… a lot to think about."
Karan nodded in understanding. "Take your time. The mountains aren't going anywhere."
They sat in silence for a while longer, the fire crackling between them. For the first time in a long time, Rhea felt a sense of peace, a quiet contentment that had eluded her for so long. There was something about this place, about Karan, that made her feel like she could breathe again.
As the fire began to die down, Karan stood up, stretching slightly. "I should get going. Early morning tomorrow."
Rhea looked up at him, feeling a pang of disappointment at the thought of him leaving. "What's on the agenda for tomorrow?"
"More work on the water systems," Karan said with a small smile. "It never really ends."
Rhea nodded, standing up as well. "Well, good luck with that."
"Thanks," Karan replied. He hesitated for a moment before adding, "If you ever want to see what we're working on, you're welcome to join."
Rhea's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected invitation. "I'd like that," she said, surprising herself with how much she meant it.
Karan gave her a brief nod before turning to leave. As she watched him walk away, Rhea felt something stir inside her—something new, something real. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't thinking about likes, followers, or content. She was just thinking about the moment, and the connection she had made with someone who saw her for more than her online persona.
As the night deepened and the fire flickered out, Rhea realized that perhaps this mountain town, far from her usual world, was exactly where she needed to be.