Around the afternoon break, during their little chat, Vivek gets to know that Tanvi has eaten nothing since morning. He recalls Samrat mentioning Tanvi falling sick the other day. With a smile, he approaches the girl and proposes that they have lunch together.

"Tanvi, kyun na hum apna break thoda extend kar lein? Aur lunch kar lete hain. In our case, it is breakfast, no? Let's have breakfast. I have some wrapped chhole parathe in my jeep."

Tanvi reluctantly but gratefully follows Vivek to his jeep. His jeep is parked just to the right of the hangar entrance, away from the aircraft. In what feels like forever, Tanvi is with another guy other than Farhan or Samrat or her close friends, sharing a meal and good laughter.

"Thank you for the brunch, Vivek."

She thanks him after they both finish the meal, feeling energised than ever just to have some food and Vivek's smile close by. Vivek is a lively, kind guy, unlike someone who suddenly wants to show his worst side.

"Haha. No thanks between teammates, Tanvi. I will be with you for this month long... let's work together to make this project successful!"

Tanvi nods at Vivek's proposal. They shake hands. It strikes Tanvi that they didn't shake hands before when he offered help. She chuckles as Vivek curiously looks at her with a smile.

"I just remembered we didn't do this earlier. Doesn't matter if we are doing it now, na. Thanks, Vivek. Warna yeh sara kaam mujhe akele karna padta."

Vivek brushes off her thanks again. They return to work, with her thinking she's glad to have his support. Her workload will ease a bit and her loneliness might also dissipate just a teensy bit.

It's strange. Vivek is not her close friend. He's not even a friend. Not an acquaintance either, though they have met on several occasions. It's strange that his company is soothing now. Maybe this is what they say. A friend in need is a friend indeed. How heart-wrenching that Vivek is a friend while Samrat is not...

Tanvi lets these thoughts sit somewhere in the corner of her brain and returns her focus to work. Undoubtedly, with her determination and Vivek's help, the current nightmare won't nightmare anymore. Even without it, she has the guts to tackle the "Worst kism ka Ladka" that's her boss Samrat Singh Shekhawat. Only that it's going to hurt. It will hurt a lot. Does this not hurt him?

***

Seated at his small makeshift desk made of upturned cargo boxes in the hangar, Samrat watches Vivek Tanvi having lunch and sharing a few words. His own lunch tastes bland, but he forces it down his throat. There's an unexplainable pang in his chest. He quickly finishes his lunch, sips some much needed mineral water and turns to scrutinising the other officers who are also on their lunch break. It's time for them all to return to work.

The aircraft check took longer than expected even with two engineers working together. Another couple more hours until 3pm. Samrat thinks neither Tanvi nor Vivek are to blame. It's fantastic that seven aircraft are ready to fly. He wordlessly deploys half of his flying squad, and thus begins the first half of the Shakti aircraft trials.

As he flies over the desert horizon, Samrat's heart feels lighter. Another plan formulates in his head. It's better to fly the aircraft in batches rather than thirteen of them taking to the sky. Yeah, this isn't a bad strategy.

Shakti is fluid as ever. Despite the desert heat, flying an aircraft is always a sublime experience. The whole of the sky is his at the moment and all his worries feel far away. It helps that his sense of duty always takes the forefront, doesn't it?

...

That night, everyone is returning home. Everyone has gone ahead. Samrat observes Tanvi went with one of his flying squad members to his relief. And in a stroke of luck, Vivek is the last one about to pull his jeep out of the hangar.

Samrat catches hold of the engineer's arm as he is about to get into the jeep. He can't help it. Just seeing the guy in the flesh, his body acts on its own.

Around them it is pitch darkness, the security already turning off half the lights, to save power.

"Vivek!"

One look at Vivek's face in the dim lighting, Samrat recalls the scene from the afternoon. Tanvi sharing a hearty meal with Vivek. His anger flares back to life. Forgetting all etiquette, he grabs hold of the guy's collar.

"Kaminey!"

Vivek's eyes widen at the term. Samrat, undeterred, only tightens his hold.

"Tujhe sirf uski madad karne ke liye kaha tha! Lunch khilane ke liye kisne bola?"

"Sam, Tum ek officer ki tarah baat nahin kar rahe ho."

Vivek keeps his calm, friendly tone, which only incenses Samrat further.

"Arey bhad mein jaaye sari etiquette... Tujhe jitna bola gaya tu wahi kyun nahin karta? Tujhe Tanvi ka partner banaya uski madad karne ke liye! Agar tune zara si bhi ulti sidhi harkat ki..."

"Uh..." Vivek frees himself with ease. Samrat too relents, cautious of Vivek's overalls/uniform. Ugh, this reminds me of when I reprimanded Saumit. Are we both the same? In a way, maybe.

He clutches his temples, the surge of his anger leaving him at once, leaving him feeling helpless and stupid. Why did I lash out at Vivek? I kept it under control until now, so why? Lunch break is a sacred time. The officers didn't get another break and Tanvi having lunch with Vivek was not worth throwing a fuss over. So why? Ugh, stupid Samrat!

"Samrat, I think you are being too hyper! I mean, I know you care about Tanvi. But itna zyada? I'm surprised. Pleased too. This is interesting. Kya lagti tumhari woh?"

Something about Vivek's tone, Samrat's anger returns.

"Shut up, Vivek! Kuch bhi! Yeh na bhulo ki hum dono mein se boss kaun hain."

"Boss tum hi ho, yaar!"

Samrat clutches his head again, this time murmuring a soft apology through gritted teeth.

"Huh, huh? What? Is that a sorry that I heard, Samrat? I understand. Hojata hai ladki ke chakkar mei, haha!"

Vivek chuckles. Samrat whacks him on the head with his fist.

"Ugh, I know tum mere kehne par yaha Tanvi ki madad karne aaye, but seriously... tujhe jitna bola kya sirf utna karna. Abhi jo bola maine, usko apne bheje mein utaar dena aur usko hatana mat. Samjha?"

"Haan, haan..." Vivek throws his hands up, as if shaken up by Samrat's mock threatening throne. He's not offended by whatever happened. After all, they are friends at the end of the day; and Samrat seems to be only being overprotective of his girl pal.

"You don't have to be insecure. Tumne kaha tha Tanvi ki madad karo. Maine bas wahi kiya. Aur it's in my nature to help. Usne subah se kuchh khaya nahi toh, I shared my lunch with her. Wasn't she sick, Samrat? Lekin humari chhod, apni soch... Sab kuchh jante hue bhi idiot mat ban, yaar!"

Vivek drives away with those words. Samrat stands alone in the darkness for a long moment before getting in his jeep. He grips his steering in exasperation. "Tanvi ne subah se kuchh nahin khaya tha... Damn, I'm sorry again, Tanvi. And sorry, Vivek. I have to remain an idiot for Tanvi's sake."

***

✨🩵🌈TBC🌈🩵✨

✨🌈WC: 1200✨

✨🌈🤍✨💗Up next: girls talk to Tanvi. Then the guys talk with Samrat. Then Tanvi does something to counteract Samrat's worst side... Battle it with her love? What happens then?💭🤔✨

✍️✨🌈AN: Dang that got elongated lols. V & C! Happy end coming soon. Samrat will soon change his ways, stay tuned.✨❣️