Shehnaaz was doomed. She had spent so much time trying to keep her heart in check, maintaining her perfect balance of discipline and control, but then he happened.

Sidharth Shukla.

With his easy smiles, his stupid jokes, and the way he looked at her like she was something special.

She had tried really tried to ignore what she was feeling.

But after the jealousy fiasco, there was no denying it anymore.

She was falling for him.

Hard.

And the worst part?

He knew.

Their next flight was a long haul one Mumbai to London.

Shehnaaz took a deep breath as she adjusted her uniform, mentally preparing herself.

She had done countless flights before. She knew the routine like the back of her hand.

But this time, something was different.
This time, Sidharth knew her secret.
And that meant one thing she was in trouble.

As passengers boarded, Shehnaaz focused on her usual duties smiling, guiding people to their seats, ensuring everything was in order.

Sidharth, on the other hand, was already playing games.

He had been given a final briefing in the cockpit, but instead of heading straight there, he lingered around the cabin far longer than necessary.

"Ma'am, aapko help chahiye?" he asked, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Shehnaaz, without looking at him, said, "No, Captain. Aap cockpit mein ja sakte hain."

He grinned. "Badi jaldi mujhe bhagane ki?. Darr lag raha hai kahin phir jealous na ho jao?"

Shehnaaz stiffened. "Excuse me?"

Sidharth chuckled. "Arre ma'am, mazak tha. Par sach bataun?" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Tumhare expressions sab bata dete hain. Bas accept kar lo, tumhe farq padta hai."

Her breath hitched. But before she could answer, the announcement chime rang.

Saved by the bell.

Sidharth winked. "Chalo, jaa raha hoon. Par baat abhi khatam nahi hui, Miss G.G"

Shehnaaz exhaled sharply as he walked away.

Yeh aadmi…

Once the flight was in the air, Shehnaaz got busy with the meal service, making sure every passenger was comfortable.

But no matter how hard she tried to focus, she was painfully aware of the fact that Sidharth was watching her.

From the cockpit, whenever he passed by, during small breaks his gaze always found her.

And worse?

She started looking back.

Stop it, Shehnaaz. You're working! She thought and control her emotions.

She busied herself by helping an elderly lady with her blanket when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Ma'am, mere liye bhi ek blanket ho sakta hai?"

She turned to find Sidharth standing there, arms crossed, a teasing glint in his eyes.

She sighed. "Captain, aapke liye special service nahi hai."

He smirked. "Par mujhe thand lag rahi hai."

She arched an eyebrow. "Acha? Kuch zyda hi thand nahi lag rahi aapko?".

He chuckled. "Tum mazaak uda lo, par sach yeh hai ki tumse baat karne ka bas ek excuse chahiye tha."

Shehnaaz's heart stumbled.

She tried to hide her reaction, but Sidharth's gaze was too sharp.

He knew. He always knew.

A few hours into the flight, Shehnaaz was taking a short break near the crew station when a small folded paper slid across the counter toward her.

She frowned and picked it up.

It was a chit.

"Miss G.G, agar tum chupke chupke mujhe dekhna band nahi karti, toh main officially complaint file kar sakta hoon Kisi dil wale department me ~ Captain Shukla"

Her eyes widened.

She snapped her head up, looking around only to find Sidharth peeking from the cockpit door with a smug grin.
She crumpled the paper and threw it at him.

He dodged it effortlessly, laughing softly before disappearing back inside. Shehnaaz clenched her fists. This man was going to drive her insane.

Hours later, the cabin lights were dimmed, passengers were asleep, and the crew was on rotation for rest breaks.

Shehnaaz stepped into the galley, taking a deep breath. It was finally a quiet moment.

But then, he was there.

Sidharth, leaning casually against the wall, looking at her like she was the only thing worth seeing.

For once, he didn't joke. He didn't tease.

He just… looked.

And in that silence, something shifted.

Shehnaaz felt it the warmth, the pull, the way her heart no longer fought against it.

Sidharth took a step forward. "Thoda toh maan lo, Shehnaaz," he murmured. "Tum bhi wahi mehsoos karti ho jo main karta hu."

She swallowed. "Mujhe kaam pe dhyan dene dijiye Captain."

He smiled softly. "Aur mujhe tum pe."

For the first time, she did not have a comeback.

For the first time, she did not push him away.

Instead, she let herself feel. Even if she wasn't ready to say it.

And Sidharth?

He didn't need her to.

Because her eyes had already told him everything.

______________________________

The layover in Mumbai was longer this time, giving Shehnaaz a chance to visit home.

She should have felt happy about it.

But she didn't.

Because home was not really home, not when she constantly felt like she had to prove herself.

As she entered, her mother greeted her with warmth, but the moment she sat down for dinner, the conversation turned to the one topic she dreaded.

Her father.

"Tumhara flight schedule kaafi tight hota hoga?" he asked, not looking up from his plate.

Shehnaaz nodded. "Haan, kaafi hectic hota hai."

Her father hummed. "Aur tab bhi log tumse zyada successful hain."

Shehnaaz's fingers clenched around her spoon. "Matlab?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "Tumhare bhai ko dekho. London mein ek top tier firm mein kaam kar raha hai. Ek sahi career banaya usne."

"Aur mera career galat hai?" she asked, voice sharp.

Her father's gaze finally lifted. "Tum ek air hostess ho, Shehnaaz. Aakhir tak yeh karogi?"

There it was. That tone. That disappointment. That constant reminder that she was not enough. She had heard it for years. She had accepted it for years.

But not today. Today, she had had enough.

She put her spoon down, looked her father in the eye, and said "Main apni life kisi aur ki expectations pe nahi jeene wali."

Silence.

Her mother flinched. Her brother looked surprised.

Her father frowned. "Tum yeh kehna chahti ho ke jo humne tumhare liye socha, woh sab bekaar hai?"

Shehnaaz's throat felt tight, but she kept her voice steady. "Aapne mere liye jo socha, usmein sirf aapke expectations thi. Kabhi socha ki mujhe kya chahiye?"

Her father scoffed. "Toh batao, tumhe kya chahiye?"

She took a deep breath. And for the first time, she spoke her truth.

"Mujhe sirf apni life me apni marzi se jeena hai, Papa. Mujhe ek aesi zindagi nahi chahiye jo sirf doosron ko impress karne ke liye ho. Mujhe perfect nahi banna. Mujhe bas khush rehna hai."

Her father's face hardened. "Tumhe lagta hai ye sab sahi hai? Tumhe freedom chahiye, par responsibility ka kya?"

Shehnaaz's heart pounded, but she did not back down. "Main responsible hoon, Papa. Par main sirf aapki beti nahi hoon. Main Shehnaaz Gill hoon, jo apni marzi se jeena chahti hai."

A thick silence settled in the room.

Her father's jaw tightened. "Tum badal gayi ho."

Shehnaaz smiled.

"Haan. Aur is baar main khud ke liye badli hoon."

With that, she pushed her chair back, stood up, and walked away.

She didn't cry. She didn't feel guilty. For the first time, she felt free. And deep down, she knew exactly who had helped her find this courage.

Sidharth.

Because he was the one who had shown her what it felt like to be herself.

And maybe, just maybe. It was time to stop running from that feeling, too.

_________________________________

That is it for today.

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.