Samrat buttons up his shirt and shuts his locker. Click. Farhan comes up behind him after he finishes locking it.

You are not changing? Samrat answers Farhan's unasked question with a quick reply. "Hum ghar ja rahe na... vaise the herbal tea didn't leave a stain. Garmi itni hai shirt sukh gaya..."

He chuckles and drops his official badges into his pocket with care.

Farhan sighs for a moment, pretending he didn't see what happened. What's he supposed to say? He can only hope Tanvi's words got through to Samrat. But what are Samrat's thoughts on the matter?

He doesn't ask. The two men drive home in Samrat's jeep.

***

The hour is late, the room dark. Farhan is curled up under the sheets on his bed, the AC set to 21 degrees. (Outside it's over forty-five even though it's past midnight, dang). With the quiet blanketing the room, Farhan assumes Samrat is asleep, but a moment later hears the guy's voice.

"That girl is so silly, Farhan! So idiotic..."

"That girl?" Farhan replies, cursing himself for feelings sleepy. Sleeping when he's supposed to help his friends is unacceptable. "That girl, you mean, Tanvi, Sam?"

"Who else?" Samrat mutters irritably. "I don't want to speak more of this!"

"Huh? But tum ne hi toh shuru kia tha na?"

"Good night, Farhan!"

Samrat, who has been sitting on his bed, now lies on it and closes his eyes. Farhan abandons the topic with a sigh in lieu of getting some rest. Their personal problems can wait. To officers, only duties await!

***

That night after Tanvi reaches home she fully realises what she did! She kissed Sam. Her first kiss! It was bittersweet, chaste, one-sided like her love, but... Whoa...

Where did she get that courage? She totally acted on adrenaline and impulse. Perhaps it was the distress that she caused him injury or perhaps it's the courage of fauji, or perhaps it is the courage of a woman in love who has enough of her beau's nakhre. Isha and Sameera's faces pop in her mind.

"A kiss is a kiss! I kissed Sam! I wonder how the girls will react if they knew. Hells, how will I face Samrat from now on?"

She murmurs to herself as she prepares for bed.

The next day at sector 53, she assumes there would be some awkwardness from her side, that she would be embarrassed, her feelings easily read by others, especially Vivek. But she remains levelheaded, thus avoiding any teasing that might come her way.

For a moment, she thinks Samrat might harass her more, but none of that happens. But to her surprise he's no longer the worst ladka! He's just the regular boss, making everyone work their asses off — including the engineering girls. The girls jeer at him, cursing under their breath, "the old Samrat has returned."

Tanvi feels a burst of confidence as she readies the next batch of aircraft for the final round of flying trials. Most of the confidence she attributes to Samrat, who is awkward around her. Okay, he's not awkward per se. But he didn't meet her eyes once, even as he barked orders! What's that?

She chuckles to herself during her lunch break, thinking,

Indeed, Sam, your awkwardness boosts my confidence. Did you decide to stop being the worst ladka? This is good. Things are bound to get interesting from here...

Tanvi feels nothing but elation in the present moment, though she has no clue what will happen next.

In the middle of her next shift that night, she gets an intimation on her phone that her transfer proposal has been accepted. That means Samrat transfer has been rejected, right? Does this mean they will part on a friendly basis?

As she goes to bed in her residential apartment that night, the thought of parting in general, makes her feel lonely and depressed. But she shakes it off and stubbornly goes to sleep. She dreams often about her and Sam fighting, then dreams about their kiss and charging into the enemy lines in her Sukhoi. Dreams are weiedd. Typical dreamlife of an officer? Huh.

***

That night, Samrat enters the cafeteria. The flying squad and everyone's work ended quickly, which gave him an hour to collect his thoughts and visit the cafeteria today. He hasn't been able to do that in four days.

Four days since Tanvi kissed him! He heaves a heavy sigh. He checks the clock. It's 12 am. Did Farhan go home? Speak of the devil, he is alone for a moment, then joined by Farhan

"Hey, dude! What's up?"

Farhan's loud cheerful greeting puts a smile on his face. Samrat lifts his hand in a small wave, smiling a little.

"Hi Farhan!"

"Tanz ghar chali gayi?"

Farhan asks, taking a seat opposite Samrat. Samrat resists the urge to sigh. "Yeah, she did, like the other officers." He replies, with the smile on.

She went home with Vivek! The thought enters his mind. He's suddenly not sure whether he should thank Vivek for having Tanvi's back or should whack him on the head for being overly friendly with her again.

That kiss... After what she did, he cannot longer implement his plan. He can no longer be the worst ladka! So he has turned the regular boss but...

If he cannot make her hate him, then what? What solves the situation? How does he get her to move on from him? Why is she fixated on him anyway?

He is ready to pull the hairs out of his head when Farhan clamps a hand on his shoulder.

"Samrat, yaar, itna mat soch, mere dost!"

Once again, Samrat is tempted to speak his mind. When it is Farhan, he can do so without hesitation. The last few days have been very busy for him. With the aircraft trials and Farhan with his own work, they didn't get to talk much though they went to sleep under the same roof. Besides, as an officer, they cannot prioritise discussing personal issues always!

"Kuch baat hain toh bol dena, Sam."

Farhan says with a soft smile. He has been busy with his duties but is keeping a lookout for the developments between his friends. He was glad to know that Samrat stopped harassing Tanvi. He heard the news from Tanvi herself. There wasn't bashfulness but pride in her eyes. It was a delight. Samrat now seems in retrospective mode. Maybe something good will come out of this?

After a few minutes, Samrat nearly screams the words in frustration —

"How can she act normal? She is totally normal at work, Farhan. After all that, one would think things would be awkward no! Why am I only one feeling awkward?"

Farhan listens with compassion. Samrat has a lot to vent out—

"Kya yaar this is too much! She is not supposed to kiss me! How could she? Ugh isn't she embarrassed?!"

Samrat trails off. Farhan tilts his head to the side, asking Ramu Kaka who is nearby to get two coffees.

"Ismein embarrass hone wali baat kya hain, Sam? If you think ladkiyon ko embarrass hona chahiye toh... Zamana badal gaya hain!"

Samrat throws Farhan a funny look. Their coffee arrives which they sip slowly. Samrat puts his Cup down with a soft exhale.

"Farhan, we are talking of Tanvi yaar! She is so... innocent... She is...I mean, tumhen kabhi laga ki vah bold type ki hai?"

"Yaar mujhe nahin pata woh kaun si type ki hai." Farhan shakes his head. A dream smile wafts to his lips. "Lekin there is always more to a person. I think she made her point very clear. Kash Isha bhi mere sath aise karti..."

"Oh shut up, Farhan!"

Samrat's annoyance reaches its peak; he glares at his best friend. Then he softens.

"You're a good listener and my best buddy, Farhan. Iss problem ka koi solution bata, yaar!"

Farhan breaks into a pleased grin. His problem-solver best buddy, the clever double agent, the talented pilot, ladies man, Samrat Singh Shekhawat is asking for love advice. Whether Samrat agrees or not this is love advice, isn't it ? Now what advice can Farhan Zaidi give him? Samrat is stubborn. No matter what advice he receives, it won't matter unless he accepts it with his heart—

"Solution chahiye, Sam? Iss problem ka solution tere dil mein hai..."

Samrat rolls his eyes at the cheesy answer but still smiles bitterly. Yes, Farhan is right. If only finding an answer and accepting it is that easy. He sighs, signalling with his hand the discussion is done. Farhan complies with a nod. The two friends finish their coffees.

***

🌟TBC❤️💫

❤️WC: 1.3k💫

🌟👏Up next: Tanvi gets bossy? Samrat, vexed with her ways, does something that surprises her? Yeh takkar kab khatam hogi? Kab pyar ka mausam chayega?

🌟💫Dear readers, soon enough, soon enough the confession will happen!🤭☺️ Samrat will change. But how? Just one-two short chapters to know. Stay tuned! Vote and Comment.❤️❣️