Prashanth woke with a sense of lightness in his chest, a warmth that spread through him. The usual weight of his thoughts felt distant, like something he had let go of without realizing. There was no jealousy gnawing at him today, no insecurity about Aditya hovering in the background—though he knew, the next time Aditya was too close to Lathika, a flicker of irritation might rise. But today, that seemed far away.

He thought back to last night. He had been a tangled mess of doubt and worry, unsure of his place and the space he occupied in her life. But Lathika had patiently unwound his fears, gently pulling him away from his own dark thoughts. She had listened, really listened, and in return, he had spoken truths he hadn't even known he was ready to say. He had told her—without hesitation—that he loved her, truly, deeply. He hadn't realized it before, but now there was no doubt in his heart. There was no turning back.

And in the quiet moments that followed, they had shared something deeper than he had expected—a connection not born of urgency or lust, but of love. It was a tenderness that stretched through the silence and lingered between them, more real than anything he had felt before.

He shifted slightly, and his eyes landed on her. Lathika slept soundly beside him, her body curled into the warmth of the bed, a peaceful expression on her face. His heart swelled at the sight of her—his sunshine, the one who had brightened the corners of his life in ways he hadn't thought possible.

He pulled her closer, her sleepy groan filling the air, a small sound that tugged at his heart. Her presence was everything he needed.

Gratitude washed over him, quiet and deep. For all the wisdom she had shared, for the trust she had placed in him, for the way she had believed in him when he hadn't believed in himself. He was grateful she had chosen to take the leap of faith into the marriage when they both had a chance to turned their back on each other, more than a year ago. It was because of her that, for the first time, he saw the faintest sliver of light—a promise that he might not follow the same path as his mother.

❁ ❁ ❁

One month later, on a bright morning Lathika busied herself with preparing breakfast, glancing at the clock. Her heart raced with anticipation, knowing that the day she had planned so carefully was finally here. She had spent days thinking about how to surprise him, to show him how much she understood his passion, his love for flying.

Prashanth had been in and out of the kitchen, busy with calls, his voice drifting in from the other room. She could hear him laughing, talking to family, making jokes with friends. His voice was always a comforting sound to her, but today, she couldn't help but feel a little more impatient. She wanted the surprise to unfold, to see his face when he realized what she had planned.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Prashanth appeared in the doorway, his smile wide and his eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Morning, busy birthday boy," Lathika teased, smiling as she turned from the stove. "Finished attending the calls?"

"I think I am," he said with a grin, walking up to her and slipping his arms around her waist. "This has to be the first beautiful birthday morning I'm waking up to." He placed a soft kiss on her shoulder, the warmth of his lips making her heart flutter.

She couldn't help but smile, her heart filled with affection. "Many more to come. Anyway," she said, trying to keep her voice light despite the excitement bubbling inside her. Then, with a playful flourish, she added, "go get dressed and meet me downstairs in twenty minutes. Don't be late."

Prashanth raised an eyebrow, his expression exaggerated with mock suspicion. "You're not kidnapping me, are you? Because last time someone told me to meet them downstairs, I ended up in a yoga class."

Lathika laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, don't worry. I promise this will be much more exciting than that."

She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before turning back to the counter, trying to suppress the grin threatening to overtake her face. The anticipation was killing her. She could hear him chuckling as he made his way upstairs, no doubt wondering what was coming. It wasn't long before the sound of footsteps faded, and she knew he was getting ready.

❁ ❁ ❁

The sky stretched out above them, an endless expanse of blue that seemed to go on forever. The airfield was quiet, save for the faint hum of engines in the distance. The soft, warm breeze carried the faint scent of fuel and freshly cut grass, mixing with the earthy undertones of the surrounding field. Lathika stood by the small, white hangar, watching Prashanth as he spoke with the pilot, his face lighting up in a way her heart fluttered.

This was the moment she had been waiting for—the chance to share something meaningful with him, something that would give her a glimpse into his world, to feel the exhilaration of flight the way he did.

She knew this surprise was going to be the perfect one for him, but seeing him alive in the space he loved made everything feel even more right than she could have imagined. His excitement was palpable, radiating from him as the pilot gestured to the small aircraft.

Lathika's heart swelled with emotion. "You did this for me?" Prashanth's voice cracked slightly, the disbelief and gratitude clear in his tone.

Lathika nodded, her lips curling into a smile. "I wanted to be part of something that means so much to you," she said softly, stepping closer to him. "To see the sky through your eyes. To feel what you feel when you're up there."

Prashanth's gaze softened, his eyes finding hers with a tenderness that made her breath hitch. "You're incredible, you know that?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You've been patient with me, always understanding... and now, this. This is beyond anything I could've asked for."

Lathika smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. "I want to understand you more. Everything about you. Even the parts of you that you've never shared with anyone."

Just then, the engine of the plane roared to life, cutting through the moment, and they both turned towards the cockpit. The hum of the engine vibrated through their bodies, and Prashanth's excitement was undeniable as he moved toward the plane.

As they climbed into the small cockpit, the reality of what they were about to do sank in. Lathika adjusted her seatbelt as Prashanth did the same, his hands steady as he checked the instruments. She noticed the slight tremor in his fingers, a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Her heart raced as the pilot gave them the green light, and Prashanth slid the headset on, his eyes glinting as he turned to her.

"This is more than I ever expected," he said, his voice hushed but filled with emotion. "But it should have been me, arranging this."

Lathika's eyes met his, her voice light but sincere. "And I beat you on that?" She teased gently, adjusting her own headset. "Well, here I am. Ready to fly with you. Though I'll admit... I'm a little nervous."

Prashanth chuckled softly, his hand resting briefly on her arm before he focused on the controls. "It's okay to be nervous. I'll be here, every step of the way."

He flicked the radio switch, his voice coming through the headset as he called into the tower. "This is November 23, requesting clearance for take-off. Winds are calm. Ready for the skies." His voice was steady, the confidence he had in the air palpable even through the radio.

The response crackled through the headset, a voice on the other end. "Clearance granted, November 23. Winds at 8 knots, visibility good. You're cleared for takeoff. Have a safe flight."

Prashanth glanced at Lathika, a smile tugging at his lips. "Ready?" he asked, his voice calm but full of excitement.

Lathika nodded, her fingers gripping the armrest, the thrill of the moment settling over her. "Ready."

He pushed the throttle forward slowly, the engine humming louder as the plane began to roll down the runway. The ground vibrated beneath them, and Lathika could feel her heart racing.

"November 23, lifting off. We are airborne," Prashanth radioed in again as the plane ascended, the horizon stretching out before them.

"Copy that, November 23. Enjoy the flight," came the voice from the tower, a bit more distant now as the plane climbed higher into the sky.

Prashanth smiled at the radio exchanges, the rhythm of the communication as familiar to him as the hum of the engine. His grip on the controls was firm yet relaxed. He turned to Lathika, his eyes meeting hers, and she saw the spark of joy that lit up his face.

"See? This is where I feel alive," he said, his voice soft but full of wonder.

Lathika smiled back, her heart swelling at how effortlessly he shared this part of himself with her. "I can see why. It's breathtaking." She took in the marvel of the earth for the height, her eyes wide with awe. "This is incredible," she breathed, her voice nearly drowned out by the roar of the engine. "I can see why you love it up here."

Prashanth's smile was soft, his voice calm yet filled with a deep emotion. "The sky... it's freedom. Peace. There's nothing like it, Lathika. Up here, it's just the wind, the sky, and me." He glanced at her, his eyes softening even more. "But now, I have you here with me. And that makes it perfect."

Lathika's heart fluttered at his words. The vast expanse of the sky surrounding them, and the distance that had plagued their relationship seemed to vanish. In this moment, up here, they were closer than ever before.

"I never thought I'd be up here in a plane, flying like this," she said softly, her voice filled with a quiet wonder. "But I'm so glad I'm here with you. I want to be in your world, Prashanth. In every part of it."

He squeezed her hand gently. "And you're with me, Lathika. Every part of me. I didn't think I could ask for more."

The plane soared higher, and the world below seemed to fade into insignificance. It was just the two of them now, sharing a space that held so much meaning for Prashanth—and now, for Lathika too.

❁ ❁ ❁

The evening air was crisp as they strolled down the quiet street, the soft crunch of their footsteps on the sidewalk mixing with the distant hum of the city. The world seemed peaceful, wrapped in the stillness of the night. The lights from nearby houses glowed gently, their warmth a contrast to the chill in the air.

A perfect weather for a walk after a day of sky trip and a hearty dinner. Prashanth had his arm casually draped around Lathika's shoulders, his hand resting there, grounding her in the moment.

She leaned into his side, her mind still buzzing with the demands of her business. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of events, back-to-back projects, and countless sleepless nights. As much as she loved what she did, Lathika couldn't deny the exhaustion creeping into her bones. But she had always prided herself on being able to push through, to keep going for the sake of her dreams. She kept it all in, putting on a smile for Prashanth, hoping he wouldn't notice the strain.

But Prashanth, ever perceptive, noticed the way her shoulders had started to slouch, the way her smile no longer reached her eyes as fully as it used to. He knew she had been overexerting herself again, working herself into the ground. They hadn't talked about it yet, but it was weighing on him. He could feel the tension in her, how it lingered even when they were together. The way she stayed up late, the way she always seemed just a little too tired to fully engage in their conversations.

"Is it always this busy for you?" Prashanth asked, his voice light but carrying an underlying concern, hinting at her previous day chaos that took place in her office. "I don't think I've seen you relax properly in days. The last time you were relaxed was about a month ago..." his voice trailed, hinting at something with a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "that was a memorable night."

Lathika slapped on his chest lightly and looked up at him, she was equally surprised by the question. She hadn't realized how much it was showing, how obvious her exhaustion was. She gave him a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just a few big projects... I'll be fine," she said, brushing it off as she always did.

Prashanth's arm tightened around her shoulders, a gentle but firm gesture, as though he was pulling her a little closer to the reality of what she was hiding. "Lathika," he said softly, his voice steady, "I get that your work is important. But I don't want you wearing yourself out like this. You're not invincible, you know."

She glanced up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone. "I'm okay, really. Just a lot on my plate right now," she answered, but her voice was tired, and she couldn't hide it.

"Yeah, but... I can tell," he replied, his voice a little quieter now, as though he was treading carefully. "It's not just the work, is it? I can see you pushing yourself harder than ever. You're doing it for the right reasons, I know, but don't forget to take care of yourself, too. I'm here, Lathika. You don't have to do everything alone."

Lathika stopped walking for a moment, turning to face him. Her hand gently rested on his arm as she studied his face, his expression sincere. She swallowed the lump in her throat, realizing how much he cared, and how much she had been neglecting her own well-being for the sake of her ambitions. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just get caught up in it, you know? I don't want to disappoint you, or anyone. I just—"

"Hey," Prashanth interrupted, lifting her chin so that she was looking up at him. "You don't have to be everything for everyone. I just want you to be happy, Lathika. And you need to be kind to yourself, too."

She smiled softly, feeling her chest tighten with a mixture of gratitude and regret. "I'll try," she said quietly. "I promise."

They continued walking, but now the air between them felt lighter. Prashanth had a way of making her feel like she wasn't alone in the weight of it all, even when the world seemed to demand more from her than she could give.

Later that night, after a peaceful walk, the two of them settled into their bedroom. Lathika changed into her nightclothes, her mind still drifting between thoughts of work and her conversation with Prashanth. She had been meaning to ask him something that had been nagging at her for days, and now seemed like the right time.

Prashanth was busy unbuttoning his shirt, getting ready for bed. Lathika leaned against the doorway, watching him for a moment, her thoughts wandering. Then, as if finally deciding to speak up, she asked, "I've been meaning to ask you, Prashanth."

He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, what is it?"

Lathika hesitated for a moment, the question forming in her mind before it slipped out. "Remember you told me about the flying academy you wanted to start? What happened to that plan?"

Prashanth froze for a second, then smiled, a bit of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. He straightened, adjusting his shirt, and sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for her to sit next to him. "I dropped the idea. It's still an unfulfilled dream," he said, his voice thoughtful. "But sometimes, it feels like there's just no time for it, you know? With everything going on, I'm not sure when I'll ever be able to make it happen."

Lathika sat down beside him, her gaze steady. "I think you should try," she said gently. "I want to see you do this, Prashanth. I know you've been putting it off, but it's important to you, isn't it?"

Prashanth looked at her, a warm smile spreading across his face. "It is," he admitted, "but it's just hard to find the right balance. But hearing you say that... it means more than you think."

Lathika took his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly. "We'll figure it out, together," she whispered. "You're not alone in this, Prashanth. You never were."

And in that moment, with her hand in his and the promise of tomorrow in their hearts, they both knew that no matter the challenges that lay ahead, they were ready to face them—together.

❁ ❁ ❁

Prashanth's birthday was winding down, the clock ticking toward the end of the day, as Lathika found herself standing in the doorway, searching for him. It had been an evening of heartfelt conversations and quiet moments, but she noticed his absence after their talk about his forgotten dream. She stepped into the cool night air, squinting against the light from the balcony.

"Looks like you need some time alone after all," Lathika teased, her voice floating across the stillness, her hands resting on her hips. A playful smile tugged at her lips.

Prashanth looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and without a word, he reached out for her. With a gentle pull, he drew her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her, a grin spreading across his face. "I did need some time alone... but now that you're here, I could use some company," he murmured, his lips finding the soft curve of her cheek, trailing kisses along her neck, making her squirm.

"Hey, stop it," she protested, though her words were weak. His kisses continued, soft and playful, until she finally gave in with a soft laugh. "Okay, okay, you win."

He stopped, but his arms stayed wrapped around her, holding her close. Lathika let her head rest against his shoulder, settling into the quiet rhythm of their evening. The world outside was calm, and in his arms, she felt the weight of everything else disappear.

Her thoughts drifted. She couldn't help but reflect on the changes that had brought them here. The laughter they shared, the unspoken moments, the challenges they had faced together, and the love they had built. Over the past year, they had learned to untangle the knots, the ones that once kept them distant. She realized now how much they had grown together, how their bond had deepened.

Prashanth's voice broke the silence, soft and filled with something unspoken. "I never thought I'd be here," he said, his words gentle but heavy. "With you. All these years, I've been living in my world—the skies, the freedom—but I never realized how much I needed someone to ground me. Someone to anchor me."

Lathika's heart stirred at his confession. She lifted her gaze to meet his, fingers gently wrapping around his hand. "And you're not alone anymore," she said, her voice steady but warm. "We've both untangled those knots, the ones that kept us at a distant. Now we can move forward, together. No more holding back."

The night seemed to wrap around them, a soft hush falling over the world. Lathika rested her head back on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath her. Their fingers intertwined, the promise of something deeper passing between them in the stillness.

Above, the stars shone bright, the moon casting a soft glow. In this moment, Lathika knew with certainty that no matter what came next, they would find their way back to each other. 

Together, they had weathered the storm, and now, the light was theirs to share. The future stretched out before them, a path lit with love, understanding, and unwavering connection.

Under the vast sky, the azure of hope laced with the knot of eternity, bound them tighter for life.

❁ ❁ ❁  F I N  ❁ ❁ ❁

Dear Azure Knot readers,

Here we come to an end of the story where it does not look like an end but a continuous journey for our characters; Prashanth & Lathika. 

Stay a little longer to read their epilogue, a glimpse of their future.

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