𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 ❤️

𝐼 𝒉𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝒉𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟. 𝐷𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝒉𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝒉𝑜𝑢𝑔𝒉𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday morning had begun in the quietest way possible. The kind of silence that feels soft, almost sacred like the world itself was still half asleep. You could almost hear the calm settling into the walls, stretching lazily across the room.

But how long do you think that peace lasted?

Fifteen minutes?

Maybe an hour?

No.

It barely survived five seconds.

Because..

"Koyi Rok Sake Toh Rok Le

Mai Nachti Chhan Chhan

Chhan Chhan Chhan

Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Re

Main Toh Apne Sajan... nahi sajan ke ghar nahi jana...kya bolu?? Haa...

Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Re

Main Toh Apni Mumbai wale bunglow ke dwar chali ree!!

Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Re

Main Toh Apni Mumbai wale bunglow ke dwar chali ree!!"

The sudden burst of music shattered the silence like glass.

In the middle of the room stood a girl somewhere in her early twenties completely lost in her own little world.

Her wardrobe stood wide open, clothes half-pulled out, half-falling, as if even they couldn't keep up with her energy.

She hummed along, her voice imperfect but full of life.

One moment, she was pulling out outfits from her almirah, swaying her hips to the rhythm...thumak thumak...completely unbothered by the mess she was creating.

The next, she had a bundle of clothes in her arms, spinning around the room like it was her personal stage.

Her anklets chimed softly with every step...chhan chhan...matching the beat of the song as if they were part of the music itself.

She paused for a second, holding up a dress in front of the mirror, tilting her head dramatically.

"Hmm... yeh wala?" she muttered to herself, before breaking into the song again without missing a beat.

"Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Re..."

And just like that, she twirled again completely carefree, completely chaotic, and absolutely impossible to ignore.

Just as she was mid-spin...hair flying, clothes in hand, and zero sense of responsibility.

A voice BOOMED from downstairs.

"Ashiiii... ki bacchi! Apna taanpura band kar, nahi to tujhe aur tere iss naspitee Bluetooth ko mere ghar ke bahar itni zor se phekungi na... tujhe bhi raasta nahi milega!!! Band kar apna yeh gaana!!!"

The voice echoed through the hall, climbed the stairs, banged against the walls, and practically knocked on her door.

Silence should've followed.

But did it?

Of course not.

Because madam Ashi was currently unavailable for all forms of reality.

Instead.

"Koyi Rok Sake Toh Rok Le....!!!"

She dramatically pointed at herself in the mirror like she was performing in front of a sold-out concert.

"Mai Nachti Chhan Chhan..."

She grabbed two random dupattas, wrapped them around like a royal queen, and did a full-on slow-motion twirl... which ended very NOT slow-motion when she tripped slightly on a pile of jeans.

"Woah..handle it, Ashi, handle it, warna pata chala mummy muje main door ka handle bana dengi" she muttered, catching herself like a pro... or at least pretending to.

Downstairs, the person who had just threatened Bluetooth murder was probably waiting for silence.

Upstairs?

"Palkee Mein Hoke Sawar Chali Reee..."

Ashi now had an entire bundle of clothes in her arms, swaying left and right like she was actually sitting in a palki.

She held up a bright kurti against herself and squinted at the mirror.

"Hmm... too sanskaari, mere jaisi Divaa ke liye waha phene ke liye nahi hai yeh!!" she judged, tossing it behind her without even looking where it landed.

Next outfit.

"Yeh wala? Too simple."

Next.

"Yeh? Too... something. I don't know what, but too something."

With irritated sighed she shout, "Mrs. Aggarwal...suniye naa...mere pass pehne ke liye kapde hi nahi hai...kya leke jaau mai Mumbai??? Mummy ek kaam krte hai aaj na hum dono shopping chalte hai!!"

Meanwhile, her room now looked like a clothing store had exploded and then given up on life.

Just when Ashi was about to break into yet another dramatic spin, a loud, impatient knock started attacking her door..thak thak thak!...as if the poor door had personally offended someone downstairs.

Completely unfazed, or rather too lost in her own musical universe, Ashi danced her way toward the door, still humming under her breath, and swung it open with full filmy energy.

And there she was.

Ira Aggarwal, Her mother.

Standing with crossed arms, but before she could say a single word, Ashi's face lit up like someone had just announced free shopping.

A wide, overdramatic smile spread across her lips, her eyes sparkling with a mischief that could only mean trouble.

Without missing a beat, Ashi stepped aside with an exaggerated flourish, throwing her arms open as if she were welcoming royalty into a palace.

"Ayee... padhariye... mere papa ki zindagi aaye padhariye... iss nachis ke kamre mein aapka suu suu swagatam hai!!!"

Her voice was dripping with fake respect, her posture bent slightly forward like an overenthusiastic host.

Ira shook her head in pure disbelief, but the moment her eyes actually landed on the condition of the room, she froze.

Her gaze slowly scanned from the mountain of clothes on the bed... to the tragic pile on the floor... to a dupatta hanging from the fan like it had given up on life.

Her eyes widened.

Like...full HD widened.

"Hey bhagwan!! Yeh kya haal bana rakh hai tune apne kamre ka?? Ruk abhi batati hu mai tujhe!!" The warning had barely left her mouth when she turned.

Grabbed the jhadu resting near the side wall like a warrior picking up her weapon, and marched toward Ashi.

And Ashi?

Ashi's soul almost left her body.

"Mrs. Aggarwal woh dekhiye... aapke piche Siddharth Malhotra khada hua hai!!!" She pointed dramatically toward the window behind her mom.

And Ira Aggarwal?

Well... being the ultimate fan she was...

She didn't even think twice.

Her grip on the jhadu loosened, and she whipped around at lightning speed, eyes searching, heart probably going "Sid? SID?? WHERE??"

But guess what?

No Sid.

No window miracle.

No Bollywood entry.

Only hawa.

And in that exact golden, once-in-a-lifetime distraction.

Ashi made her move.

Like a professional escape artist, she slipped past her mom, dashed out of the room, and bolted toward the stairs, her laughter echoing through the house as she ran like her life depended on it.

Behind her?

"Ashi ki bacchi ruk... main bol rhi hu ruk jaa... agar ruk jaegi to nahi marungi main... par agar tu mere haath lag gayi na to dekhiyo main kya karungi tere!!" Ira shouted this while literally sprinting behind her daughter, jhadu still in hand.

And Ashi?

She was gone.

Like..gone wala gone.

Flying down the stairs two steps at a time, laughing like a maniac who clearly had no plans of surviving the next five minutes.

Meanwhile, down in the hall, her father, Ashish Aggarwal, was peacefully enjoying his morning chai, completely unaware that a storm named Ira and Ashi was about to hit.

Before he could even process the thunder upstairs, Ashi came rushing down and immediately hid behind him like a professional shield user.

"Papa save me from your wife please!!" she whisper-shouted dramatically.

And right on cue, Ira came charging into the hall, slightly out of breath.

Just then, Ashi peeked her head out from behind her father, "Mummyyy... bachpan se aapka woh dialogue sunti hui aa rahi hu...'ruk jaa nahi marungi!' Aur aap uske baad hamesha maarti ho! Iss baar nahi aane wali main aapke iss jaal mein!"

She even stuck her tongue out.

Ashish slowly lowered his teacup, blinking once... twice... as he looked at his furious wife holding a jhadu and his overdramatic daughter hiding behind him.

He asked in confuse tone, "Hello ji!! Main bhi hu yahan... koi mujhe batayega chal kya raha hai yahan?? Aur Ira, tum yeh jhaadu leke kyun bhaag rahi ho... meri Ashu ke peeche??"

The moment he said "meri Ashu," Ira shot him a deadly glare...the kind that could silence entire arguments without a single word.

And this man?

Immediately switched sides.

Like...instantly.

He turned around to look at Ashi, his expression changing to fake seriousness, "Tu kyun meri chand ko pareshan kar rahi hai, Ashu? Hein??"

Ashi's face?

Pure betrayal.

Absolute dhokha.

She slowly stepped out from behind him, clapping sarcastically, her eyes wide in disbelief, "Hayee bole bole... apni chand ke Chanda! Hadh hai yaar, Papa... itni jaldi to girgit bhi nahi badalte honge jitni jaldi aap abhi palte!!!"

And Ashish?

He just stood there... smiling proudly.

"Ab batao bhi dono... subah subah yeh kaunsi new kasrat kar rahi ho??? Kya kiya tune iss baar, Ashu??" He asked.

Ashi immediately straightened up, trying to look as innocent as humanly possible, like she had been framed in a crime she definitely committed.

But before she could open her mouth and cook up some emotional speech, Ira cut in.

"Mujhse mat pucho..." she said, her eyes still locked on Ashi like a hawk tracking its prey, "apni beti se pucho..."

She paused.

Then suddenly changed her mind, "Nahi, ek kaam karo...pucho bhi mat! Mere saath chalo... main dikhati hoon tumhari beti ki karamat!!!"

Her tone had that dangerous calm now the one that somehow felt worse than shouting, "Pure kamre ko jung ka akhada bana ke rakha hua hai!!!"

Ashi's eyes widened instantly.

Jung ka akhada?

EXCUSE ME??

She quickly stepped forward, "Papa, exaggerate kar rahi hain yeh! Itna bhi kuch nahi hai... bas thoda sa creative look diya hai apne room ko..."

"CREATIVE??" Ira snapped, almost offended by the word.

Ashi immediately backed off.

"Thoda zyada creative...i guess." she corrected under her breath.

Ashish, meanwhile, was trying very hard not to laugh, but the corner of his lips betrayed him.

He looked at Ashi.

Then at Ira.

Then calmly took another sip of his chai like he was mentally preparing himself to witness whatever disaster awaited upstairs.

"Acha..." he said slowly, placing the cup aside, "chalo phir... dekhte hain iss 'creative project' ko."

And Ashi?

Ashi stood there, already regretting every life choice that had led to this moment.

Ashi internally panicked.

Like..not normal panic...Full system shutdown panic.

Because "creative mess" sounded cute... but "jung ka akhada"? That sounded like her career was about to end before it even began.

"Papa... honestly... I think aapko upar aane ki zarurat nahi hai," she said quickly, trying one last time to save herself. "Trust issues develop ho jaate hain phir parents aur children ke beech... it's not healthy for the family. Aap yahi baitho aram se....mai aur Mrs. Aggarwal kar lenge na hamarw apas ki chezien sourt out."

Her father gave her a look.

The "nice try, beta" look.

Ira, on the other hand, didn't even bother responding. She just turned and started marching toward the stairs.

"Chalo," she said.

And that was it.

No debate. No democracy. No escape.

Ashi sighed dramatically, dragging her feet behind them like a prisoner being taken to court.

"Main bata rahi hoon... muje aisa lag raha yeh meri Lanka lagwa ke rahengi aaj..." she mumbled, already preparing excuses.

They reached the room.

Ira pushed the door open.

Silence.

A long... heavy... judgmental silence.

Her father stepped in slowly... and stopped.

His eyes scanned the room.

Bed? Disappeared under clothes.

Floor? Also clothes.

Chair? Definitely clothes.

Fan? Why was there a dupatta hanging from it??

"Ashu yeh tera dupatta kya pankhe par tange tange khudh Khushi kar raha hai???" He thinks in his mind.

Then he turned to Ashi.

"...Yeh kapdon ka showroom khola hai tune ya flash sale chal rahi hai?" he asked, completely serious.

Ashi immediately pointed at the mess like a lawyer presenting evidence, "Papa, this is called options! Aaj kal ke zamaane mein variety hona zaruri hai!"

Ira let out a short, sarcastic laugh, "Variety nahi... barbaadi hai yeh! Halat dekho room ki aisa lag raha hai jaise maano world war 3 yahi ladi jaegi."

"Ab bataegi bhi kis Khushi mein yeh pahad bana ke rakha hai hai tune??" She asked after sometime.

And hearing her mother Ashi mummered in slow tone, "Uss din jo interview diya tha maine usme pass hogyi hu... mumbai jana hai!!"

Ashi scratched her head awkwardly.

"I was going to tell you... but phir gaana chal gaya..."

"Excuse me?" Ira immediately cut in, narrowing her eyes. "Mujhe toh tune already bata diya tha."

Ashi froze mid-expression.

And she thinks in her mind, "Oh. Haa...mai gajni kabse bann gyi??"

Her father slowly turned his head toward Ira, then back to Ashi, his eyebrows rising in realization.

"Achaaa... toh mummy ko pehle hi bata diya gaya tha?" he said, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Wah beta... papa ka kya? Main toh bas EMI bharne ke liye hoon iss ghar mein?"

Ashi winced, "Papa, aisa nahi hai..."

"Bilkul aisa hi hai," he interrupted, shaking his head in fake disappointment. "Itne saalon ka rishta... aur mujhe last mein breaking news mil rahi hai."

Ashi looked at him suspiciously, "Papa ek baat batana kal kounsi movie dekhe the aap??"

He showed his bright eyes and said, "Baagbaan!"

"Isi liye!!"

Ira rolled her eyes, "Drama band karo. Tumhe bhi pata tha."

He immediately dropped the act.

"Haan woh bhi hai," he admitted casually, like he hadn't just delivered an emotional monologue.

Ashi just stared at him, "Matlab... aapko bhi pata tha... aur yahan main akeli hi stress le rahi thi??"

"Bilkul," Ira replied calmly. "Aur upar se kamra alag se barbaad kar diya."

Ashi looked around at the disaster again and sighed, "Yaar aap logon ko samajh nahi aata... yeh stress cleaning ka opposite version hai."

Her father chuckled, "Beta, isse cleaning nahi... creative destruction kehte hain."

Ashi pointed at him, "Exactly! Thank you, Papa!"

"Main tere side pe nahi hoon," he added immediately.

"Betrayal runs in this family," she muttered.

Ira shook her head but a small smile escaped anyway.

"Chal ab sach bata..nervous hai na?" she asked, her tone finally softening a little.

Ashi's usual dramatic energy dipped for a second.

"Thoda sa..." she admitted. "Call hai aaj... final discussion... aur agar sab sahi gaya toh... Mumbai shift hona padega...par maine waha rehne ke liye meri ek friend hai usse baat kar li hai."

Her father nodded slowly this time, no jokes, no teasingly expressions, "Hame teri bohot yaad aaegi Ashu!!"

Ashi roll her eyes and said, "Papa yaad Shaadi karke nahi jaa rahi hu mai...job ke liye jaa rahi hu...woh bhi apni dream job ke liye!!"

"Par zaroorat kya hai food inspector banne ki?? Humara business join kar leti to atleast meri aakhon ke samne to rehti na tu!" Ashish said thoughtfully.

Ashi gives him long look and narrowed her eyes, "Papa ham baat kar chuke hai iss baarien mein...muje apke business mein koi interest nahi hai...I want to do something on my own...aur aap dono ne promise Kiya tha aap log mere sapno ke bich nahi aaoge!!"

"Aree yaar tu to senti hogyi!! I was just doing mazak don't worry kabhi kuch karne se roka hai tuje Jo ab rokenge hum dono tujhe??" Ashish said while smiling proudly at his daughter.

Ashi just smile after hearing him.

***********************************************

* ASHI'S ROOM*

Ashi was peacefully sitting in her room, surrounded by a chaotic mix of neatly stacked and not-so-neatly stacked documents..because in her head, everything was organized, even if it looked like a paper tornado had just passed through.

She was in the middle of sorting them when her phone suddenly rang, slicing through the calm like an alarm you didn't sign up for.

And just like that, her brain decided to go into Bollywood mode.

"Poocho na poocho mujhe kya..."

Ashi dramatically paused mid-file, staring into nothing like she was in a music video.

For a solid three seconds, she imagined herself walking in slow motion, wind blowing her hair (even though the fan was on speed 2 and barely working), while some imaginary hero waited for her in the distance.

Then...reality slapped her.

Her phone was still ringing.

She blinked, snapped out of her imaginary paradise, and picked up her phone. The moment she saw the caller ID, a wide grin spread across her face.

"Mehudi," she whispered, already knowing her peace was officially over.

She picked up the call.

Big mistake.

"Kamini! Jab call uthana nahi hota hai toh phone rakh ke kya karegi?! Phenk de usse! Decoration ke liye rakha hai kya?!"

Ashi immediately rolled her eyes so hard they almost filed for independence.

Without saying a word, she calmly placed the phone between her ear and shoulder, continuing to sort her documents like a multitasking queen... or a victim of verbal assault.

On the other side, Mahi had clearly taken a vow of non-stop speaking, "Pichle EK GHANTE se call kar rahi hoon main tujhe! Kahaan thi? Kisike sapno mein khoi hui thi? Haan? HELLO? Oye sun bhi rahi hai ya main hawa se baat kar rahi hoon? Helloooo! Phone utha ke so gayi kya? Abee GUNGI! Bol kuch!"

Ashi slowly pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at it with pure disbelief like it had personally betrayed her. She squinted at the screen.

"Is this a phone... or a loudspeaker possessed by a hyperactive soul? Bhai itna koun bolta hai???" she muttered.

Then, like a brave soldier returning to battle, she put the phone back between her ear and shoulder.

Finally, she spoke, "Nahi... pehle tu hi bol le. Itni der se call uthaya hai tabse chapar chapar chapar... bhai band hi nahi ho rahi tu toh! Main bolu bhi toh kaise? Background music ban jaun kya?"

"Maine kya tere gale mein cement daal diya hai?! Kisne roka hai tujhe? Bol na jo bolna hai!" Mahi shot back instantly.

Ashi opened her mouth to reply...but nope.

"PAR! Mere baad bolna. Abhi meri sun!" Mahi continued, not even pausing for oxygen. "Tune bola tha na Mumbai mein tere liye ghar dekhne ko? Toh maine mere landlord se baat kari. Unhone bola ki hamari building mein ek flat khaali hai. Bilkul fresh piece! Pichle hafte hi khali hua hai. Toh madam ji, ab aap bataiye kab aa rahi hain aap? Main uske hisaab se meeting set karwaun!"

Ashi blinked.

Once.

Twice.

She didn't say a word.

Instead... she simply cut the call.

Silence...Peace.

Calm...Heaven.

For exactly two seconds.

Her phone rang again.

Of course it did.

Ashi took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself like a warrior about to enter a battlefield. She picked up the call.

"Phone KYUN cut kiya?! Main baat kar rahi thi na! Haan toh main kya bol rahi thi"

"BEHENNNN!" Ashi finally exploded. "Gadha dhaari Bheem banna band kar! Ek minute ke liye ruk ja! Log jab call karte hain na... toh saamne wale ko bhi bolne dete hain! Khud hi pura podcast record nahi karte!"

There was a sudden pause.

A rare, historical pause.

Somewhere, the universe gasped.

Mahi bit her tongue (probably literally) and spoke in the softest voice she was capable of producing...which still sounded like medium volume.

"Sorry... sorry yaar. Main bhool gayi thi ki tujhe bhi bolna hota hai. Haan toh... bata, kaisi hai tu?"

Ashi slowly turned her head to stare at the phone like it had just insulted her ancestors.

"Mahi... WHAT?" she said, utterly baffled. "Abhi tu building aur flat ki baat kar rahi thi na?! Obviously main usi ke baare mein bolungi! Ya main weather report dene lagun?!"

"Ohhhh haan! Sorry!" Mahi said again, clearly proud of her consistency in forgetting things.

Ashi chuckled, shaking her head, "Achha sun. Main aaj raat ki flight se Mumbai aa rahi hoon. Tu mujhe airport se pick kar lena... aur PLEASE...bhoolna mat."

"Haan haan, bilkul.." Mahi nodded confidently while casually applying nail paint.

Then suddenly she froze.

"This is... not a video call."

She panicked slightly and quickly added, "HAAN! HAAN! Pick kar lungi!"

Ashi chuckled, shaking her head, "Achha sun. Main aaj raat ki flight se Mumbai aa rahi hoon. Tu mujhe airport se pick kar lena... aur PLEASE...bhoolna mat."

"Haan haan, bilkul.." Mahi nodded confidently while casually applying nail paint.

Then suddenly she froze.

"This is... not a video call."

She panicked slightly and quickly added, "HAAN! HAAN! Pick kar lungi!"

Ashi couldn't help but laugh. She ended the call and stared at her phone, still smiling.

"Yaar..." she sighed dramatically, "yeh Mahi ki bak-bak karne ki aadat bhi na... Bhagwan hi bachaye iske future husband ko. Agar ek baar shuru ho gayi na... toh bas....full non-stop FM radio."

She shook her head, chuckling to herself.

Somewhere out there, Mahi was probably still talking.

To herself.

About something completely unrelated.

And honestly?

The world wasn't ready for that level of chaos.

***********************************************

By the time Ashi reached the airport gate, she was one breath away from collapsing and one step away from becoming the most hated passenger on that flight.

The announcement had already called her name so many times it felt personal now. "Final call for passenger Ashi Aggarwal..."

"I'M HERE!" she shouted, practically sliding to the counter like a scene straight out of a low-budget action movie.

She handed over her boarding pass while trying to breathe like a normal human being. "See? On time..."

The staff gave her a very controlled smile. "Yes ma'am... just barely. Flight take off hone hi wali thi."

Ashi ignored that and rushed inside the aircraft, immediately feeling the weight of at least fifty judgmental stares.

Someone sighed loudly, someone shook their head, and one aunty looked at her like she had personally delayed her daughter's wedding.

"Sorry... excuse me... sorry..." Ashi muttered continuously as she made her way down the aisle, mentally promising herself she would never be late again. (A promise she was definitely going to break.)

Finally, she reached her seat.

And froze.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the scene in front of her.

Her seat...her seat...was occupied.

A man sat there, completely relaxed, cap pulled down over his face like he owned the airline and possibly the country. He looked like he was sleeping peacefully, unbothered by the chaos Ashi had just survived.

Ashi checked her ticket. "18A..." she muttered.

Then looked at the seat.

Then at him.

Her irritation rose instantly.

She clenched her jaw, crossed her arms, and said in a tight, annoyed tone, "Aree uncle, jaake apne pote-poti ke saath baitho na... ya apne bete-bahu ke saath. Mere seat pe kyun baithe hue ho aap?"

A nearby passenger immediately leaned slightly to listen better.

The man didn't move.

Not even a twitch.

Ashi frowned deeper. "Hello? Uncle ji? Sunai nahi deta kya? Yeh meri seat hai."

Still nothing.

Now she was fully done, "Aapko samajh nahi aata kya? Ticket dekh ke.."

Before she could complete her sentence, the man slowly lifted the cap from his face.

And looked straight at her.

Ashi's words died instantly.

Because the man she had just confidently called uncle...

Was absolutely, undeniably not an uncle.

Late twenties. Sharp features. Clean jawline. Formal clothes that screamed class. And eyes...calm, sharp, and currently staring at her like he had just found unexpected entertainment.

Ashi blinked, "Oh..."

The man studied her for a second, then his gaze casually moved from her face... to her height... and back to her face.

A faint smirk appeared.

And then he said, in a calm, slightly amused tone, "Seat tumhari hai... lekin attitude kaafi bada hai... bacchi pata nahi aaj kal maa baap apne chote bacchon ko akele kaise travel karne dete hai."

Silence.

Ashi froze.

Her brain took a second to process what he just said.

Then her eyes widened in pure disbelief.

"OYEE!" she snapped instantly, stepping forward, completely forgetting her embarrassment, "Bacchi kisko bola?? Bacchi dikhti hu main tujhe??"

A couple of passengers turned fully now. This was better than in-flight entertainment.

The man slowly reached up, removed his goggles with deliberate bordam, and looked straight at her..properly this time.

There was something annoyingly confident in the way he observed her, like he had all the time in the world and she was just... interesting.

"Agar tum puch rahi ho..." he said smoothly, one eyebrow lifting slightly, "...toh haan."

Ashi's jaw dropped.

He didn't stop.

"Aur agar bata rahi ho..." he added, his gaze still fixed on her, "...toh bhi haan."

Ashi stared at him, completely offended, "Excuse me?!"

"You're Excused!!" He instantly replied.

She shot a glare at him.

He leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying this. "I mean... look at you. Itni si height, itna sa patience... aur itna sa control," he gestured lightly as if presenting evidence in court, "bacchi hi toh ho kya galt bola maine??"

Ashi scoffed loudly. "Hello?! Height se maturity measure hoti hai kya? Aur waise bhi...main late ho gayi hoon, irritated hoon, aur aap meri seat pe baithe ho! Toh obviously control kam hoga na!"

He nodded thoughtfully, like he was actually considering her argument. "Valid point..."

Then after a pause, "...bacchi."

Ashi inhaled sharply. "Tum na izzat ke layak hi nahi ho..utho meri seat se abhi ke abhi. Tum na...!"

"Main na?" he prompted.

She pointed a finger at him. "Tum hadd se zyada irritating ho!"

"And you," he replied instantly, "hadd se zyada loud."

Ashi gasped. "Main loud nahi hoon!"

"Puri flight sun chuki hai tumhe, ATLEAST jooth to aeisa bolo jo hazam ho sake." he said calmly.

A man two rows behind nodded subconsciously.

Ashi turned, saw that, and immediately turned back, mortified. "Aap log sun kya rahe ho?! Apna kaam karo!"

The man chuckled under his breath.

That annoyed her even more.

"Ab has kya rahe ho aap?!"

"Bas yahi soch raha hoon," he said, picking up his cap, "flight delay hui... aur reason nikli ek chhoti si toofan."

Ashi crossed her arms. "Toofan hoon toh door raho na! Seat chhodo meri!"

Finally, he stood up.

Ashi instinctively stepped back.

He was tall.

Annoyingly tall.

He looked down at her, that same smirk still playing on his lips. "Relax, drama queen. Tumhari hi seat hai ek kaam karo yeh seat na apne saath hi utha ke le jao."

Ashi rolled her eyes dramatically and quickly sat down, muttering, "Unbelievable..."

She adjusted herself, still fuming.

Then she noticed something.

He sat down.

Right next to her.

Ashi slowly turned her head.

He was calmly buckling his seatbelt like nothing had happened.

Her eye twitched.

Of course.

Of course he had to be her seat partner.

She muttered under her breath, "Mujhe hi milna tha yeh..."

"Kuch kaha tumne?" he asked casually.

Ashi forced a tight smile. "Nahi."

He glanced at her, then added softly, "Good. Bacchi ko itna stress nahi lena chahiye. Warna tumhre mummy papa ko tension ho jaegi na??? Sach sach batao ghar se bhaag kar aai ho na tum??"

Ashi clenched her fists.

This was no longer just a flight.

This was war.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 🌚

𝐼 𝒉𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝒉𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 ❤️

𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

👉👈

𝐿𝑜𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 💕

~𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠𝒉𝑎𝑋𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠