The days after Rome felt different.

To everyone else, life carried on as usual, flights, schedules, briefings, and layovers.

But to Sidharth and Shehnaaz?

Something had changed.

Neither of them spoke about that night in the rain. Neither of them acknowledged the way their eyes lingered a second too long, or how their conversations held an unspoken warmth.

But it was there.

Like a soft melody playing in the background, like a secret they were both aware of but too scared to admit.

Shehnaaz felt it. Every single day.
Shehnaaz kept her distance.

She avoided unnecessary conversations. She walked away when she felt his gaze linger. She forced herself to be normal around him.

And Sidharth noticed.

Because he had never been one to ignore his heart.

And his heart had chosen her.

Sidharth, the man who always took life as it came, had fallen hard.

It wasn't like his usual crushes, fleeting and fun. No, this was different.

This was deep.

This was real.

And the worst part? She knew it too.

He could see it in the way her breath hitched whenever he came too close, in the way her hands fidgeted when he teased her, in the way she never met his eyes for too long.

She felt it.

She just was not ready to accept it. Their next layover was in Dubai.

A city full of lights, full of life, full of moments waiting to happen.

The crew had plans for the night dinner, sightseeing, maybe even a little partying. Everyone was excited.

Except Shehnaaz.

She had already made up her mind to stay back in her hotel room, to avoid him and the confusing emotions that came with him.

But Sidharth, being Sidharth, had other plans.

"Kitna bhaagogi mujhse, Miss G.G?"

Shehnaaz had just stepped out of her hotel room when she found him leaning against her doorframe, waiting.

His white t-shirt clung to his chest, his black jeans fit just right, and his hair was slightly messy as if he hadn't even tried, yet still managed to look annoyingly perfect.

Shehnaaz sighed. "Kya chahiye, Captain?"

Sidharth smirked. "Ek dinner date. Tumhare saath."

She raised an eyebrow. "Date?"

He grinned. "Matlab sirf dinner. Baki jo tum soch rahi ho, woh baad mein decide karenge."

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes, turning to walk away. "Main nahi aa rahi."

But before she could take another step, he gently grabbed her wrist.

Not forcefully. Not urgently.

Just enough to make her stop.

Shehnaaz breath caught in her throat.

His voice dropped lower, softer different.

"Kab tak bhaagogi, Shehnaaz?"

She swallowed hard, refusing to look at him. "Mujhe kuch nahi pata, Captain. Aap kya bol rahe hai."

His thumb lightly brushed against her wrist, making her shiver.

"Jhooth."

Her heart raced.Because he was right. She knew. She had always known.
But knowing and accepting were two different things. And she was not ready for the latter.

__________________________________

Sidharth somehow convinced her to come along.

The restaurant was a rooftop one, overlooking the shining city of Dubai. The view was breathtaking, the air was warm, and the lights reflected in her eyes as she stared at the skyline.

Sidharth, however, only stared at her.

She was wearing a simple black dress not too fancy, not too casual. Yet, she looked ethereal.

For a while, they talked like old friends.

But then…

"Tum kabhi thak nahi jaati?" he asked suddenly, his tone serious.

She frowned. "Matlab?"

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes searching hers. "Itni perfect banne ki koshish karte karte kabhi thakawat mehsoos nahi hoti?"

Shehnaaz's fingers tightened around her fork.

Because the truth wasyes.

Yes, she was tired.
Yes, she was exhausted from constantly proving herself.
Yes, she wanted to let go, just once.

But she wouldn't say it out loud. Because if she did, she would break.
And she could not afford that.

So, she forced a small smile. "Aapko aesa kiu lagta hai?"

Sidharth shook his head, his gaze never leaving her face. "Kiuki main dekhta hoon. Tum jitna chhupane ki koshish karti ho, utna hi clearly dikhta hai."

Her chest tightened. She hated how easily he could see through her.
She hated how much she wanted him to see through her. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, their food arrived.

The conversation shifted. The moment passed.

But the feelings?

They didn't

After dinner, instead of heading back, they walked along the beach. The soft sand was cool beneath their feet, and the ocean stretched endlessly under the starlit sky.

Shehnaaz walked beside him, her arms crossed, her heart heavy.

Sidharth, for once, was quiet.

Then, after a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Kya tum kabhi kisi ke saath apni zindagi share karna chahogi, Shehnaaz?"

She stopped walking.

Her breath hitched. Her hands clenched.

She looked up at him and there it was.
The truth in his eyes. The confession he wasn't saying out loud.

The feelings he wasn't hiding anymore.

Sidharth Shukla had fallen in love with her.

And deep down, she had fallen too.
But she couldn't say it. She wouldn't.
Because loving Sidharth meant risking herself. And she had spent too long building walls to let them crumble now.

So, she smiled a small, sad smile.

"Mujhe nahi pata."

His jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Theek hai. Jab pata chale, bata dena."

And just like that he let it go.

Or at least, he pretended to.

But they both knew… The storm had already begun. And soon, it would be impossible to ignore.

_________________________________

Shehnaaz Gill was not the jealous type.

At least, that's what she told herself. But the scene infront of her eyes making her blood boil.

She had spent years perfecting her self control, keeping her emotions in check, and making sure nothing absolutely nothing affected her professionally or personally.

But then Sidharth happened. And suddenly, she found herself feeling emotions she had no control over.

Especially when she saw him flirting with another air hostess.

And the worst part? He was ignoring her. Not a glance. Not a tease.
Not a single stupid joke.

For the first time since she met him, Sidharth Shukla was acting like she didn't exist.

And she hated it.

Only if she knew that it was all Aman's fault.

It had started over breakfast in the crew lounge. Aman had been munching on his toast, watching Sidharth stare at Shehnaaz like a lost puppy when he suddenly smirked.

"Tu aise ghurta rahega ya kuch karega bhi?"

Sidharth, lost in his own world, blinked. "Huh?"

Aman rolled his eyes. "Bhai, tu toh gaya. Tujhe pata bhi hai tu kitna obvious hai?"

Sidharth frowned. "Main toh bas normal...."

"Haan haan, normal," Aman mocked. "Ek kaam kar. Shehnaaz ko thoda jealousy feel karwa."

Sidharth's eyes widened. "Bhai, main uski taraf aankh bhar kar zyada der tak dekh bhi nahi sakta, aesa lagta hai guesse me kha jayegi aur tu keh raha hai usko gussa dilane ka plan banaun?"

Aman grinned. "Bas soch. Jab usko lagega tu kisi aur mein interested hai, tab uske asli emotions samne aayenge."

Sidharth gulped. "Aur agar usne mujhe jaan se maar diya toh?"

Aman patted his shoulder. "Risk lena padega, Shukla. Pyaar mein dukh bhi milega aur mukka bhi."

Sidharth sighed and make a horrified face. "Mujhe toh sirf mukka milne ka darr hai."

"Thappad se dar nahi lagta sahab pyaar se lagta hai." Aman said dramatically. "Suna nahi hai tune?."

"Hmm lekin sach me thappad jadh diya to?".

"To dekha jayega. Log pyaar me zeher kha lete hai tu ek thappad nahi kha sakta?" Aman shrugged off his shoulders.

Sidharth was confused but deep down, a part of him was curious. What if Shehnaaz did care? What if she did get jealous? What if this plan actually worked?

And so, against his better judgment, he agreed.

The next flight was long. Shehnaaz had been expecting the usual Sidharth's teasing, his jokes, his one liners.

But instead, she got silence. He didn't even look at her. And then came the final blow he started talking to Rhea, another air hostess.

And not just talking. Flirting.

"Rhea, tumne kabhi notice kiya? Tumhari smile na, ek dum heroine wali hai."

Riya giggled. "Acha? Kaunsi heroine?"

Sidharth smirked. "Jo bhi tum chaho." Okay he was bad in flirting now.

Shehnaaz, who had been placing a tray of drinks on the counter, froze.

Her grip on the tray tightened. Her jaw clenched. And for the first time, she felt something ugly curling inside her chest.

Was this… jealousy?

No. Impossible.

Shehnaaz Gill did not get jealous.

But then she heard Sidharth laugh at something Rhea said.

Okay okay she is jealous. Not just jealous very very jealous.

She decided to spent the rest of the flight avoiding him.

If he passed by, she turned away.
If he spoke, she ignored. If he laughed, she pretended she didn't hear.

Sidharth noticed immediately.

"Bhai, main toh mazak kar raha tha. Yeh toh sach mein nikaal degi meri jaan!" he whispered to Aman during the layover.

Aman just laughed. "Ab bhugto."

Sidharth sighed. "Mere pyaar ka kabar banane ka shukriya. Jo thodi bohot umeed jaagi thi wo bhi mar gai."

But despite his fear, there was also something thrilling about this.

Shehnaaz was affected. She cared.
And that meant everything.

That evening, the crew decided to explore the city before heading to their hotel.

Shehnaaz, however, had no intention of going anywhere. She just wanted to be alone, to sort through this mess in her head.

But of course, Sidharth had other plans.

Just as she was about to enter her hotel room, she felt a hand on her wrist.

"Ruko."

She turned around, eyes burning. "Kya hai, Sidharth?"

His heart skipped a beat. She had never said his name like that before full of anger, full of emotions, full of something more. He imagined her millions of time saying his name but not in angry one.

He took a deep breath. "Tum mujhse gussa ho?"

She crossed her arms. "Main gussa kiu houngi?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Sach batao, Shehnaaz."

She exhaled sharply. "Aapko jo karna hai karo, mujhe koi farq nahi padta."

His lips curled into a small smile. "Jhooth bol rahi ho."

Shehnaaz glared at him. "Aap kaun hote ho decide karne wale?"

He took a step closer. "Main woh hoon jise pata hai tum mujhe ignore kar rahi ho. Jise pata hai tum gusse mein ho, par wajah nahi bata rahi. Wajhe main jaanta hu lekin tumhare muh se sunna hai."

Shehnaaz clenched her jaw. "Kuch nahi hai, Sidharth."

His gaze softened. "Agar kuch nahi hota, toh tumhari aankhon mein yeh gussa nahi hota."

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then, suddenly, Sidharth chuckled.

"Aman ki galti hai."

Shehnaaz blinked. "Kya?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Woh keh raha tha tum jealous feel karogi."

Shehnaaz's mouth parted slightly. "Wait… yeh sab plan tha?"

Sidharth sighed. "Haan. Mujhe laga mazak hoga, par tum jo dekh rahi ho na, woh sirf tum dekh rahi ho."

Shehnaaz stared at him for a long moment.

Then, before he could react ....

She smacked his arm. Hard.

"Sidharth Shukla!" she fumed. "Aap mujhe pagal bana rahe the?!"

Sidharth winced. "Hawww, dard ho raha hai!"

She smacked him again. "Aur hoga!"

Aman, who was watching from a distance, whispered, "Bhai, ab toh pyaar pakka hai."

Sidharth grinned.

Shehnaaz might not have admitted it yet, but one thing was crystal clear.

She cared. Okay she was jealous also.

And he wasn't going to let her run away from it anymore.

___________________________________

That is it for today

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.