Chapter One Hundred Three: Stories at 40,000 Feet
The private jet lifted off at dawn.
Shreya sat by the window, watching the clouds swallow the ground below. She didn't remember flying before. Didn't remember anything.
But something about being in the air felt... familiar.
Mithun sat beside her. Close but not crowding. His hand rested on the armrest between them, close enough to touch if she wanted.
She didn't. Not yet.
But she noticed.
---
The cabin was chaos, as usual.
Percy was already trying to raid the snack bar. Honey was chasing him. Akshi and Chethan were arguing about something silly. C.N. had his laptop out, reviewing the itinerary. Rakii was photographing everything.
Jay settled into her seat, Keifer beside her. Keiran was already asleep, Rex and Ganesha on guard duty.
She looked at Shreya.
Quiet. Watching. Taking it all in.
Jay's heart ached.
---
She moved to the seat across from Shreya.
"Hey."
Shreya looked up. "Hey."
"You okay?"
"I don't know. This is all... a lot."
"I know. But you're with family. You're safe."
Shreya nodded slowly. "Mithun told me we were together. Before."
"We were. You are. He loves you very much."
"I don't remember loving him."
"You will."
---
Jay leaned forward. "Can I tell you a story?"
Shreya nodded.
"The day you and Mithun finally admitted your feelings—it wasn't romantic. Not at first. It was a fight."
"A fight?"
"The worst kind. You'd been avoiding him for days. He was losing his mind. Finally, he cornered you in the hallway. Grabbed your wrist. Demanded to know why you were running."
Shreya's eyes widened. "That doesn't sound romantic."
"It wasn't. Not yet."
---
Jay continued. "You screamed at him. Told him you loved him. That you'd loved him for years. And then you ran. Locked yourself in your room."
Shreya stared.
"He followed you. Begged you to open the door. And when you finally did—he just held you. Didn't say anything. Just held you while you cried."
Tears filled Shreya's eyes.
"And then you collapsed. From the stress, the fear, all of it. He caught you. Held you until you woke up."
"What happened when I woke up?"
"You kissed him."
Shreya's hand went to her lips. "I kissed him?"
"Like you'd been waiting your whole life to do it."
---
Mithun had gone still beside her.
Listening.
Remembering.
Shreya looked at him.
"I kissed you?"
"You did." His voice was rough. "Scared me half to death first. But yes. You kissed me."
She stared at him.
Something flickered.
Just for a second.
Then it was gone.
---
Jay leaned back. "You two were a mess. But you were beautiful. The way he looked at you—the way you looked at him—everyone saw it. Even when you didn't."
Shreya wiped her eyes. "I wish I remembered."
"You will. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday."
---
Akshi appeared, dropping into the seat on Shreya's other side.
"Jay telling you stories?"
Shreya nodded.
"Good. I have better ones."
Shreya laughed softly. "You do?"
"SO many. Like the time Mithun cooked you soup when you were sick and burned three pots but kept trying because 'you were worth it.'"
Mithun's ears went pink.
Shreya looked at him. "You burned three pots?"
"They were small fires. Contained."
"He's being modest. The kitchen smelled for days."
---
Chethan joined. "Or the time he drove two hours to see a sunrise with you, fell asleep during it, and you took a photo of him sleeping and made it your wallpaper."
Shreya blinked. "I did that?"
"For months."
She looked at Mithun again.
Something warmer this time.
---
The stories continued.
Akshi told her about their first meeting. Chethan about their first fight. Jay about the day Mithun finally broke.
Hours passed.
Shreya listened. Laughed. Cried.
Didn't remember.
But felt something.
---
As the plane began its descent, she leaned against the window.
Mithun's hand was still on the armrest.
She reached over.
Touched it.
He went still.
"Shreya?"
"I don't remember," she whispered. "But I feel... I feel like I should."
He turned his hand. Interlaced their fingers.
"That's enough."
"For now?"
"For now."
---
They landed in Karnataka as the sun set.
Golden light. Warm air. Familiar smells.
Shreya stepped off the plane and paused.
Something.
Just a flicker.
Then it was gone.
But it was there.
---
Jay caught Keifer's eye.
He smiled.
This was going to work.
It had to.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Three