The plane took off smoothly after an hour delay and they were cruising at 36,000 feet high in the sky. The fluffy clouds blushed in orange hue as the sun rise, a tiny indication that the time is nearing for him. A tingling feeling spread through him as he remembered, the girl who has a craze for everything orange. He sighed at the view and turn to look ahead at nothing in particular. 

Despite having his heart in lock and key, Jagdish knew the avoided feeling had sneaked in through the keyhole to his heart. 'This is not at all a good sign', he mumbled within though a part of him did enjoyed. He knew the pain that would follow, he had witnessed it and it still hurts to even think about what the pain had done to his dear friend many years ago. Squeezing his eyes tight, he shook his head chasing the thought away.

Raj's bulky muscular leg knocked Jagdish's as the former tried to shift in his seat for a comfortable position. Jagdish was forcefully pushed to the middle seat of three, sandwiched between Aarifa, next to the window and Raj, on the aisle seat. While Salim and Raghav were seated right behind them, chatting non-stop. God knows what werr they chatting about.

He exhaled, the lack of sleep and sitting idle on a five-hour flight from Vizag to Jodhpur, Jagdish's eye lids grew heavy with every passing minute, eventually giving up his fight with sleep. Even then, in his sleep the only face that kept flashing was the lady's, for who he was flying to Jodhpur. Totally the opposite to what he used to do.

----

A soft knock on the door woke him up from his nap. He still had light fever that followed after drenching in rain three days ago. The remedy Yashodha had shared indeed helped with his flu. Feeling much active than he did when he was sick, Jagdish had joined immediately the next day for duty. It's quite expensive to not attend his classes even for a day. 

Though officer Yashodha had insist him to take another day off to rest, he had denied. He wasn't in a position to take many days off, Jagdish was in his prime stage, attending classes for regimental history, customs, traditions and regimental language of the troops he commands, and by and large prepare himself to take on larger responsibilities. In short, attending classes to become a Captain. 

Another couple of knocks landed on the door softly. He mildly guessed who it could be, "coming, in a minute" he yelled. 

"Hi!" the pretty lady with the most beautiful brown eyes, beamed. "Made this super hot & spicy pepper soup. Thought to share. It will make you feel better. Here," she said and extended a small carrier filled with soup. 

"Thank you very much. Such a sweetheart," he took the carrier, opening it on his way inside inhaling the strong aroma. "Smells delicious!"

Yashodha only smiled to his compliment. 

"You shouldn't have to take trouble to come all the way up to give this, you know"

"Yeah. But who cares. You are the only person I consider as a friend here and this is little I can do, you know.

Alright, getting late for duty. Catch you up later" she waved at him and disappeared down the stairway next to his room. Leaving him wonder, out of so many people out there, she considered him as a friend. 

And it felt great in a way. 

--

Jagdish had been frequently seen around the medical domain during his off time visiting one of the seamen who had an accident three weeks ago while line handling. However, talks going on were linked to something else. 

As expected but he wasn't really bothered about it. 

"Jagdish Sir, you don't have to take the hassle to visit me every three days once. You should take rest during your off day. I'll be fine. The doctors are taking good care here" shunned Abraham, the seaman.

"Shut up, Abraham. It's my duty to check on you. I can't neglect and forget my team member just because the doctors are taking good care of you. Okay!" retorted Jagdish as he sat on the chair next to the bed.

"Thank you, sir. You are a great leader, I would say if I had to compare you with the other higher officers I worked before"

Jagdish only smiled as Abraham praised him. He always believes that to be loved, one has to love everyone regardless of their status, religion or even ranks. His respects for his team and cares for everyone makes people around him to love him more.

"Of course, a great leader who loves and loved by all" came a sweet voice from behind the curtain. Yashodha poked her head out from the curtains with the brightest smile, checking out if she was welcomed.

He was surprised to see her at the ward area as she minced her way to the other side of the bed.

"Hi, Abraham! How you doing today?" she asked.

"Getting better, officer"

"Hello! Officer Jagdish!" She greeted acknowledging his presence.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the consultation area?" He asked, arms across his chest.

"Just finished my duty, Mr. Cool. Saw you coming in here so, I followed you" she replied with a smirk. "And I'm impressed that you do follow up on your fellow colleague's health status"

"Thank you" he bowed his head down a little.

Spending a little more time with Abraham, Both Jagdish and Yashodha left the ward with the former requested if she would like to join him for coffee at the nearby cafe. 

Sometime later, they were at the Cafe Marina, seated at the end of the cafe that displayed the vast sea view. The light bustling of the interior with the faded jazz music gave a soothing feel as the smell of coffee enveloped them. 

Yashodha had her eyes glued to the view as she watched a few small ships cruised in and out of the gateway.

While Jagdish had his eyes on her, wondering what's so fascinating about her that he kept looking for this lady in the crowd of her profession last four days? Probably they had not met after Yashodha visited him the other day and he happened to miss her presence. Hence meeting her today was a surprise.

The loud voice of the barista pulled her gaze away from the sea and shortly their orders were served. A cup of latte for the man and a cup of cappuccino with a slice of orange cake for the lady.

"Have you been on all the warships?" She asked breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"Not all the warships but a few. Often we were sent for rescue missions or task force. So, each officer has an assigned ship for a particular period of time..." Jagdish went on telling her about his experiences. 

While Yashodha listened without any interruption, she then had a thought to visit any one of the warship if it was possible, she put her request forward. 

"Why not? INS Viraat is here. I can show you around once I get the permission from the Captain. I'm sure he would agree since you work here at the moment,. I would be more than happy, you know" he said excitedly. Not many whom he encountered ever showed interest in his profession nor his love for the sea and when Yashodha was interested into details of ships and sea. It elated him. 

"Great! Thank you, cool guy" she grinned taking a bite of the orange cake. 

"It's my pleasure, sweetheart. And for the record, I'm going to call you just that" he winked and watched her smile wider from the rim of his cup. 

--

About two hours later, he felt a light tap on his arm that picked up its pace when he did not wake up.

He snapped his eyes open, "What?" he asked, Aarifa who had been hitting his arm non-stop.

"I had been thinking for long about you and your doctor lady," the man who was looking straight only hearing her now turned his entire attention to Aarifa at the mention of Yashodha.

"Why don't you tell us more about her? Because all we know about her is, she is different and you have feelings for her. That's all. We want to know more. So, we could help you... help her... know what you feel for her" Aarifa dragged while she tried to read the man's face.

"Yes, we will not even wait for a second" a voice from his other side chirped lowly.

"Count us in too" another two voices chorused from the row behind them.

Jagdish was taken aback they were not supposed to know about her. Actually, no one supposed to know about her. He cursed himself for blabbering about Yashodha to these two in the first place.

He looked to his left, right and then behind. The two at the back seat grinned like an idiot as he glared them. "You guys are too sweet however, don't try to do anything, okay. Me and Yashodha are better off like this. Don't waste your time. 

All you need to do at the wedding is enjoy. Okay?" he said at his glaring friends who wasn't ready to listen to him.

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Thank you, You sweethearts for your thoughtful messages for me, on the previous update. You know, I love you all❤️

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