Chapter Four: Noisy Skies, Annoying Ties

As Virat and Nehmat prepared to leave for their two-month tour, Anushka and Vamika gathered at the doorway to say their goodbyes.

"Daddy, Nini, I will miss you," Vamika expressed, embracing their legs warmly.

Virat crouched down to Vamika's level, returning her hug with a gentle squeeze. "We'll miss you too, sweetheart," he said, his voice filled with affection. Nehmat ruffled Vamika's hair, adding, "But we'll be back before you know it. You take care of Bhabhi, alright?"

Anushka, standing beside them, nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, we'll have a great time together. Just enjoy your trip, and we'll be here waiting for your return."

"Come here, Nini," Vamika gestured with her fingers, indicating that she wanted a hug.

Nehmat knelt and embraced Vamika tightly as she buried her face in her neck, whispering softly, "Come back soon, Nini. I'll wait for you to have ice creams together."

"Of course, Vamii," Nehmat replied, pulling Vamika closer and gently stroking her hair.

"What are you two whispering about?" Virat asked, noticing the secretive exchange.

"Oh, nothing much, just saying goodbye, right Vamii?" Nehmat answered with a big smile, signalling to Vamika not to reveal their adventures from the previous day.

Vamika played along, her innocent smile masking the playful secrets shared between her and Nehmat. "Yes, daddy, just saying goodbye with hugs."

"These two are mischievous, Virat. I bet they were up to something yesterday. Their story about having niece and aunt time didn't add up, especially considering they came home late from school. I don't buy it," Anushka remarked, shooting a disapproving look at the Nehmat and Vamika.

Virat raised an eyebrow, glancing between Nehmat and Vamika. "What were you two really up to yesterday?"

Nehmat chuckled, exchanging a knowing look with Vamika. "Oh, you know, just some quality time and innocent adventures. Nothing to worry about."

Anushka wasn't convinced. "Quality time and adventures? Nehmat, I know you spoiled her with something. What did you give her?"

Nehmat feigned innocence. "Spoiled? Me? No way!

Anushka sighed, shaking her head. "Don't lie!"

Virat grinned, catching on to the playful banter. "Alright, spill the beans, you two. What's the secret treat?"

Vaimka giggled, unable to contain herself. "Okay, fine! Nini got me my favourite chocolate ice cream. But it's our secret, Daddy!"

Nehmat instinctively placed her palm on her forehead, realizing once again that Vamika's little tummy couldn't quite digest a secret. She exchanged a glance with Virat, who held back a smile, and Anushka, ready to unleash a barrage of scoldings. However, Nehmat swiftly gave Anushka a quick kiss on her cheek before making a hasty exit.

She could hear Virat's laughter booming through the house as Anushka scolded him for finding amusement in the situation. After a few minutes, Nehmat spotted Virat still laughing as he made his way to the car. "Paaji bas karo dange karvoge," she nervously exclaimed, trying to contain her own smile.

Virat, still chuckling, looked at Nehmat with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Come on, Nehmat, you know I can't resist a good laugh. Anushka will get over it."

Laughter filled the air as the car rolled towards the airport. Upon meeting the rest of the team in the VIP lounge, Nehmat quickly immersed herself in the task of distributing the tickets. With just one ticket remaining in her hand, Nehmat looked around to find its owner but couldn't spot him anywhere. Just as a frown began to form on her face, the lounge doors swung open. Her expression transformed from mild concern to a wide, joyous smile as she hurriedly made her way toward the person entering.

"Here is your ticket," she said, extending it towards him with a cheerful smile.

"Thank you," he nodded appreciatively and then moved towards the other teammates, leaving Nehmat biting her lips in frustration. What a man, she thought, he didn't even crack a smile. However, being Nehmat Kohli, she wouldn't back off easily.

She was about to approach him again, but the announcement from the flight made her stop and pout. However, she couldn't help but smile inwardly, mentally cheering at the thought that for the next 20 hours of the flight, he wouldn't be going anywhere.

As they walked towards the gate, Kuldeep held Nehmat's shoulders gently. "Hopefully, we have seats next to each other," he said with a hopeful expression.

Nehmat looked up at her best mate from the team and returned his smile, but inwardly, she shouted in frustration. How would she make him understand that they had different seats?

"Sure, Kuldeep. I hope so too," she replied with a friendly smile, but inwardly, Nehmat was already strategizing how to convey the seat mix-up without causing any disappointment.

As they approached the gate, she took a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable revelation. "Actually, Kuldeep," she began, choosing her words carefully, "I just checked our seats, and it seems like we're not sitting together. But hey, we can still catch up during layovers and breaks, right?"

Kuldeep's face shifted from hopeful anticipation to mild disappointment as he absorbed Nehmat's words. "Oh, really?" he responded, a hint of whining seeping into his tone. "I was looking forward to annoying you throughout the flight, you know."

Nehmat feigned an exaggerated reaction, placing a hand on her heart with mock surprise. "Oh, Kuldeep, what a loss for both of us!" she exclaimed with a playful smirk. "Who will endure your delightful attempts at annoyance now?"

However, Kuldeep's expression shifted, and he responded with a more serious tone, "Nehmat, I'm not joking. I was really looking forward to sitting next to you."

"Kuldeep, I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely, her eyes meeting his. "I didn't realize you were serious about wanting to sit together. I was just trying to lighten the mood."

Kuldeep looked at Nehmat's apologetic expression before bursting out laughing. The sound echoed in the cabin, drawing the attention of nearby passengers.

"Nehmat, you really thought I was upset?" he chuckled, shaking his head. "I was just teasing you back! I'm not that serious about it. Let's just enjoy the journey, wherever our seats may be."

Nehmat looked up at Kuldeep and frustratedly hit his head. "Seriously, I am not talking to you," she declared with a scowl before moving to the seat next to Shubman. Kuldeep, now laughing even harder, shouted an apology after her.

She looked up, her face initially frustrated, but it instantly softened when her gaze met his. He observed her mumbling words to herself as she settled into her seat. When he caught her looking, he averted his gaze, prompting Nehmat, being her candid self, to break the silence.

"Hi, I'm Nehmat Kohli," she introduced herself, expecting a warm response. However, Shubman looked at her without any expression, offering only a nod and a mumbled "Shubman Gill."

"Kitna akdu hai," she thought to herself, wondering how she would survive the whole flight with him acting this way. Observing him happily engaging with other team members, Nehmat couldn't help but wonder why he acted like a recluse around her. Determined to break the ice, she told herself, "Nehmat, calm down. Try to break his barriers with small talk."

Despite Shubman's reserved demeanour, Nehmat couldn't resist her innate urge to engage in conversation. Taking a deep breath, she decided to make another attempt to bridge the gap.

"So, Shubman, any exciting plans for our destination?" Nehmat asked, flashing a friendly smile.

Shubman, still maintaining his stoic expression, replied with a nonchalant shrug, "Not really. Just going with the flow."

Undeterred, Nehmat persisted, "Come on, it's a two-month tour! There must be something you're looking forward to or a place you've always wanted to visit."

Shubman, though not showing much interest, continued to keep his responses brief. "I'm not much of a planner," he remarked, his gaze drifting towards the window.

Observing Shubman's unyielding attitude, Nehmat decided to withhold her questions for a while as the flight took off. Despite her outgoing nature, she harboured a secret fear of takeoffs, a vulnerability known to few. In the past, the presence of familiar faces had helped distract her, but with Shubman, who seemed tougher than stone, her nerves reached new heights.

As the plane ascended, Nehmat, trying to conceal her anxiety, clutched the handle next to her tightly, closed her eyes, and bit her lips. Unbeknownst to her, Shubman noticed her discomfort. In a surprising gesture, he placed his large hands on her small ones, gently caressing her hand. Without meeting her gaze, he said, "My sister gets scared during takeoffs too. This helps calm her down."

Nehmat, caught off guard by the unexpected reassurance, looked at him, her cheeks flushing.

As the flight stabilized in the air, Shubman withdrew his hand from Nehmat's, and for a moment, she felt a pang of disappointment. However, determined to maintain the connection she sensed might be forming, Nehmat decided to break the silence.

"Thank you, Shubman. I appreciate it," she said, offering a genuine smile.

Shubman nodded, still avoiding direct eye contact, but the subtle warmth in his gesture did not go unnoticed. Emboldened by the small breakthrough, Nehmat decided to resume their conversation, hoping to chip away at the walls he seemed to have built around him.

"So, Shubman, tell me more about your sister. Is she the adventurous type too, or is she more like you – calm and collected?" Nehmat asked, her curiosity shining through.

Nehmat listened intently as Shubman responded, though his answers lacked the enthusiasm she had hoped for. "She's adventurous," Shubman replied simply.

Nehmat decided to shift the focus of the conversation towards him. "And what about you, Shubman? Where are you from?" she inquired, hoping to learn more about the man beside her.

Still maintaining his reserved demeanour, Shubman replied, "I'm from Punjab, Fazilka."

Nehmat, though she had done her fair share of research, felt a sense of accomplishment hearing it directly from him. "Punjab! That's wonderful. What was it like growing up there?" she asked, her genuine curiosity shining through.

Shubman's responses remained concise, offering only a brief glimpse into his past. "It's a small town, close-knit community. Life is simple," he replied, his eyes closed as he tried to relax. However, the persistent girl next to him wasn't about to let him retreat into solitude.

She inquired about his favourite spots in Fazilka, the local cuisine he loved, and even his childhood friends. Shubman, though still offered one-word replies.

The persistent questioning continued until dinner time, with Nehmat undeterred by the lack of elaborate responses. She was content that Shubman, even with his reserved nature, was at least engaging in conversation rather than merely nodding or offering brief nods of acknowledgement.

After dinner, while engaged in conversation, Nehmat eventually succumbed to sleep, emitting soft snores. Shubman, opening his eyes, let out a sigh of relief, silently thanking whatever deity might be listening that she was finally asleep. The incessant chatter had nearly given him a headache; even his minimal one-word answers hadn't deterred her.

As he observed her peacefully sleeping, Shubman couldn't help but feel a mix of irritation and frustration. He saw through Nehmat's attempts at befriending him, suspecting an ulterior motive. Having experienced manipulation in the past, he was determined not to let it happen again.

In his opinion, the girls who had used him before were at least soft-spoken and subtle, unlike Nehmat's constant and, in his view, annoying chatter. He was only maintaining his composure because she was Virat Kohli's sister; otherwise, he believed he would have put her in her place without hesitation.

As the flight continued, Shubman remained vigilant, determined not to let Nehmat's persistent attempts disrupt his peace. Little did he know that Nehmat was not going to let him have peace anytime soon.