Prashanth walked into the crew lounge, the familiar hum of conversation and laughter from other pilots and crew members filling the air. But his mind was far from the easy camaraderie that surrounded him. His thoughts were consumed by his conversation with Lathika earlier that evening—the way she had looked, the subtle shift in her demeanour that had taken him by surprise.

She had always been strong, confident, the type to stand her ground no matter the situation. He remembered the way she had once argued with him, putting her foot down in a way that made him respect her even more despite the irritation. But today, she had looked... fragile, almost delicate. He hadn't imagined seeing her like that. The woman who had once been full of fire and determination was now weighed down by uncertainty and fear, and it troubled him more than he cared to admit.

Prashanth felt a strange tug in his chest, something that pulled at him in a way he hadn't expected. Empathy, maybe? He shook his head, trying to brush off the emotion. It was nothing. But still, the image of Lathika, struggling to even ask for his help, stayed with him. He couldn't help but feel bad for her.

He pushed open the glass door to an inner lounge and found an empty seat in the corner, far from the noisy chatter of his colleagues. It was quiet here, which was exactly what he needed. He sank into the seat, leaning back with a sigh.

His mind wandered back to their conversation—how embarrassed she had been to ask about his offer, the one he'd made months ago when she asked what he was on his mind. The offer to marry him in exchange for a portion of his inheritance. He had told her that he'd booked a plot of land on the outskirts of Chennai, a place where he dreamed of building his flying academy. But the truth was, he had cancelled that booking long before they ever met.

He frowned, remembering the lie he had told her. He hadn't meant to deceive her, but he thought it would make her feel less vulnerable if their arrange would benefit both of them instead of one. After all, who would want to ask for help only to be faced with the reality of a situation that could feel humiliating? It was easier to pretend there was a grand plan, something more concrete, than to admit the truth—he didn't want her to feel small.

As Prashanth slouched further into the seat, the weight of his thoughts didn't seem to lighten, but the uncertainty didn't feel as paralyzing. He had made a choice, and now he had to live with it. All that mattered now was what came next—and how they would face the challenges together.

His next schedule was coming up, and he had no choice but to let this rest for now. But even as he prepared himself for the next flight, a part of him couldn't stop thinking about what would happen when they had to confront their families about this decision. That too months after they had cut off communication with their respective families.

✈✈✈✈

Lathika switched on the lights in her small apartment, the soft hum of the fan the only sound filling the otherwise quiet space. She dropped herself onto the couch with a sigh, feeling the weight of the day's events settle in her chest. The conversation with Prashanth had left her feeling a strange mixture of relief and unease. It was one thing to talk about a business arrangement, but it was something entirely different when emotions and personal stakes were involved.

Her hand dangled over the arm of the couch as she stared at the fan spinning lazily above her. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance, replaying snippets of the conversation with him. A small smile played at the corner of her lips, and for a moment, she let herself drift in the quiet comfort of the apartment.

But then, in an instant, her mind snapped back to reality, and she felt a wave of guilt rush over her. "You didn't secure a loan to be paid as per the term, Lathika," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with self-reproach. "You made a deal with Prashanth to marry him and get a part of the inheritance to help you grow. That's not something to be proud of."

She sat up a little straighter, her fingers gripping the fabric of the couch as she felt the weight of her decision settle deeper. She had been so focused on making her business work, so intent on finding a solution, that she had let herself be drawn into something she hadn't fully thought through. Was it really a good idea? Was this the right path?

"I know..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. She sat up straight as if an idea struck her. "But what if I use this opportunity to patch things up with Achi? Instead of asking Prashanth for his portion, what if I go to Achi and..."

Her voice trailed off as she tried to convince herself. The idea, though unconventional, suddenly seemed like a viable solution. It was a long shot, but if she could find a way to balance both her family's expectations and her business needs, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She could repair the fractured relationship with her grandmother, prove her worth, and still use this situation to move forward.

Lathika squealed softly, an excitement bubbling in her chest. "Okay, calm down. Let me get to Achi first," she said aloud, trying to slow the rush of her thoughts. "Let's take this one step at a time."

But even as she tried to steady herself, the excitement wouldn't quite let go. She squealed again, this time louder, as if she had stumbled upon the answer to everything. "Okay, Lathika. You've got this," she murmured, her voice filled with new-found determination.

Lathika stretched out on the couch, her mind now racing with possibilities, and she couldn't help but smile again. Despite the uncertainty and guilt, she knew she had to face her challenges head-on. "But the way to Achi is through Prashanth now," she mumbled.

✈✈✈✈

Prashanth lay on the sterile hospital bed, surrounded by the smell of antiseptic and the soft hum of medical equipment. The white walls closed in around him, a stark contrast to the freedom of the skies he loved so much. He longed for the vast openness, the endless horizon—anything but this small, confined space. His leg, wrapped in bandages, was elevated on a pillow, but his mind was anything but still. The constant murmurs of nurses and the distant beeping of monitors only seemed to heighten the silence within him.

How had he ended up here? One moment, he was going through his pre-flight inspection, deep in thought about the new arrangement with Lathika, their families, and the upcoming conversation they had yet to have. The next, he was slipping on the wet tarmac, his body jerking in an awkward angle, and then the sharp, unmistakable pain in his leg. He hadn't even realized the fracture until he was on the ground, unable to move.

Varadhan, his friend and fellow pilot, sat in the chair next to him, looking somewhat out of place in the sterile hospital room. He broke the silence, glancing up from his phone. "Hey, do you want me to call your family?"

Prashanth's response came quickly, too quickly, as if the very idea of bringing them here made the situation worse. "No."

Varadhan raised an eyebrow, not quite buying the quick dismissal. "Why not? They should know, right?"

Prashanth turned his head to the side, staring out the small window as if the answer were hidden in the darkening sky. He shook his head. "It's not the right time."

Varadhan was quiet for a moment, processing his friend's words. Then he nodded, understanding without further questioning.

Prashanth exhaled sharply, closing his eyes as if trying to shut out the weight of the situation. He wasn't ready to face his family—not yet. He wasn't sure of what Lathika has in mind. They hadn't even agreed on the details of their arrangement, let alone figured out how to break the news to their families. The pressure was suffocating, and the last thing he wanted was his family showing up in this hospital room, seeing him like this—vulnerable, injured, and overwhelmed.

The next morning, the doctor came in for a visit. After checking the X-rays and assessing the injury, he gave Prashanth a prognosis that felt like a punch to the gut.

"It's a simple fracture," the doctor said. "You'll need to rest it for the next few weeks. Once it's healed, we'll start physiotherapy, but you should be up and moving within six to eight weeks."

Six to eight weeks. Prashanth's mind immediately started spinning with the implications. He had plans, things to do, flights to catch. He wasn't someone who could sit idly, especially not for weeks on end. But what choice did he have? The injury was unavoidable, and he'd have to work with it.

The doctor patted his shoulder. "Just take it easy for now, and we'll get you back on your feet soon enough."

Prashanth nodded absently, his mind already elsewhere. Six to eight weeks. That's how long they had to figure things out—his recovery time and, in a way, the time they had before everything would come to a head. He couldn't afford to waste it.

✈✈✈✈

It had been two days since Lathika had last seen Prashanth at the airport, and in that time, she had become a bundle of nerves roaming aimlessly around her house. Every little sound, every ping of her phone, had her jumping in surprise.

Lathika sat at her desk, spooning little bites of ice cream into her mouth as she glanced over the papers scattered in front of her. On the desk were potential business ideas, areas she could venture into with minimal expenses, and detailed lists of how she could start over. She didn't know where to begin—every idea felt like a new mountain to climb. The weight of everything—her business, her family, her future—was almost too much to carry alone.

As she pondered over the mess of ideas, her phone suddenly rang, making her jump in her seat. Her heart skipped a beat as Prashanth's name flashed on the screen.

"Hello?" Her voice was a little more jittery than she intended.

"Hi, busy?" Prashanth's voice was calm, but she could hear the edge of something in it that made her pulse quicken.

"Not really. Just doing some research. What's up?" she replied, trying to sound as casual as possible.

There was a brief silence on the line, and then Prashanth spoke again. "Could we meet today? Whenever you're free. We need to talk about this weekend."

Lathika's heart sank for a moment as the realization hit her. Oh, shit! We have to tell them about it, she thought. Her grandmother would never let this slide. Not after everything that had been said and done.

"Right," she said, taking a deep breath to calm the rising anxiety. "Text me the address. I'll be there in an hour."

"Great," Prashanth said, the faintest smile in his voice. "See you soon."

As the call ended, Lathika set the phone down and stared at it for a moment. It was happening. There was no turning back now. She stood up from her desk and walked over to the window, gazing out at the city, her mind racing through all the possible outcomes of this meeting. Would their grandmothers accept what they had decided? Would they be angry? Would their families even understand?

She closed her eyes, trying to steady her thoughts. For a moment, she let herself to breathe, knowing that whatever came next, she wasn't facing it alone. Prashanth had become an unexpected ally, and that was a strange but comforting thought.

❁ ❁ ❁

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