Tanvi and Samrat, only the two of them spend their entire morning in Harjot's cabin. The lady boss dismisses the other officers to attend their regular duties for the day. The officers' off days are also cancelled, much to everyone's disappointment. But then Harjot's reasoning is solid — there's a lot to do before the concluding trials are held before the chief of western air command himself.

Tanvi opens the elaborate excel sheets she prepared on Harjot's desktop, also hands out the printouts and delivers a verbal explanation to Harjot. Samrat waits for his turn to summarise his squad's flying experience. A few hours pass like this. And then it's a little over lunch hour.

Tanvi is surprised as Harjot lets her off for lunch. Only her. Poor Samrat has to stay back longer. On her way out, Tanvi catches his eye, he smiles a little before facing Harjot. As she quickly closes the door behind her, Tanvi can't help but be thrilled. She never thought days like this would never return. She and Samrat... it's like everything is back to normal!

***

The cafeteria is surprisingly empty. 2 pm is a late hour for most staff. They may have had an early lunch, but it's possible they are held up like Samrat. Tanvi is delighted to see the barely existing crowd thinning out, lets out a girlish giggle upon spotting her band of forever friends — Farhan, Sameera, Abhimanyu, Isha. What a surprise indeed! Abhimanyu is also here. He raises his hand and smiles at her just like the others. Tanvi jogs towards the group.

The ex Hawks members have occupied the centre table. Two empty chairs are available. Tanvi plops into one. She quickly places her lunch order. Paneer sabzi and roti. Her focus may be too much on the lunch (not her fault, Harjot may beckon her back), Farhan taps her on the shoulder from next to her.

"Hi, Tanz! Kaisi ho? So glad to see you here, yaar!"

Tanvi smiles at Farhan. As she looks around, she finds everyone's eyes on her. Everyone is smiling. This is a rare occasion where she can have lunch with her friends all together. All of them. It's ultra special after her attempt to leave them behind in the guise of transfer.

"How are you, Tanvi?"

Abhimanyu's query jolts Tanvi out of her thoughts. She shakes her head with a chuckle.

"I'm fine, Abhi, Farhan, all you guys. What a pleasant surprise this is! As I caused you so much trouble, I will treat you..."

The gang brushes off Tanvi's words. Farhan pats her shoulder soothingly —

"Arey, nahi. Tum ruk gayi. Iss khushi mein we should party. We will throw you a grand party outside of the airbase."

"Tum log mujhe treat doge ulta?" Tanvi laughs. "That's so sweet! And hilarious! Farhan, you and your grand plans! But thank you, really... and sorry..."

"But he is right." Isha speaks up, "We all should party once our current work projects are wrapped up. You know, when we began in Hawks, mujhe laga we were a weird group of people. And that you all guys are the most boring ones I will ever know. Lekin ab... main apne aap ko iss group ke alawa koi aur group mein fit hote hue na soch sakti. Meri group mein main fit nahi ho rahi! I mean, we are professionals and work as a team, but on a personal level... There's nothing like the bonds we share! And remember how we worked as a unit..."

Isha says goes on, smiling a little. Her tone is laced with nostalgia, which reflects in everyone's eyes.

"I miss working together. But at least we are friends. Tanvi, you get it na, jo log mere sath kaam karte hain, woh sirf colleagues hai dost nahi."

Isha concludes her long speech. Tanvi hums her acknowledgement. Sameera nods her head.

"Exactly. Lekin dekho na, hamari khasiyat toh yahi hai. Fauj mein har kisi soldier ki khasiyat. Dost hai ya nahi apna kaam 100% kar sakte hain!"

Abhimanyu nods. "Well said, Sameera. This makes me nostalgic. You know, I was the most detached guy. But now I am attached to all of you. It is really wonderful to have close friends and find love with one of them..."

Sameera lapses into stunned silence. Memories swirl in her head. Memories of blissful yet turmoil filled days. The past. Abhimanyu just treats her to a sweet smile, which makes her grin. Regardless, it's evident they are thinking the same.

"Oh, humare love birds! How cute!" Isha excitedly leans forward on the table and smiles at Abhi, Sameera. "You guys should get married soon. We should start planning. And maybe we should not plan, and just go for it."

Farhan taps her on the shoulder. As she turns to him, he brushes his hair with the swag of a 90s Bollywood Loverboy. "Arey, love birds aur cute sirf woh nahi! Hum bhi toh hai! Shaadi kar lein?" He winks.

Isha punches his shoulder. "Idiot! Aise shaadi ke bare mein mazak mein baat mat karo!"

Farhan whispers under his breath, "par yeh toh mazak nahi hai." Isha doesn't hear him.

Tanvi smiles while listening to the conversation, but her mind is elsewhere. She's distracted by all the happenings so far between her and Samrat and her current situation. She's back to working again? And she's friends with Samrat! So unreal.

Just then Ramu Kaka brings everyone lunch. Everyone digs in. A thought strikes Tanvi and she hesitates touching her plate. When Isha looks at her questioningly, she clears her throat.

"Isha, zara mujhe tum yeh batao. Uss din jab Main bus-stop per wait kar rahi thi. Jo call tumhe aaya, woh Farhan's se tha na?"

Isha nods. "Haan. Farhan ne mujhe call karke bataya. Ki woh aur Samrat tumhen rokne ki ek aakhri koshish karenge. Toh maine socha... Main aur Sameera toh tumhe convince nahi kar paye. Shayad tum aur Samrat private mein baat karo toh kuchh baat bane. And I'm glad all is well now, and you're here. We all wanted you to stay, just know that. Dobara kabhi aisa hai transfer appeal mat karna kabhi!"

"Aur humse chupana nahi!" Sameera adds.

"Honestly..." Tanvi smiles wryly at her girl pals. "I'm sorry, girls. I'm sorry everyone. Really, thank you so much for caring!"

Hearing Tanvi's heartfelt words, everyone breaks into smiles. Tanvi feels a weight lift off of her chest. Same mundane lunch tastes delicious. The happiness is making her extra hungry. And she is craving something sweet. If only a choco-lava cake is ever-present here in the cafeteria...

"Arey, yaar!" Farhan says suddenly. "Thank you aur sorry chodo, Tanvi. Aur hume batao ki tere aur Sam ke bich kya hua. Kal se hum log yahi soch rahe ki hume kab mauka milega sach janne ke liye! Aur lo, kaynat ne hamari sunn li..."

"Farhan..." Tanvi gapes at Farhan, feeling embarrassed at the sudden change of topic. What's she supposed to say? The others soon join Farhan and express their willingness and curiosity to know what went between her and Samrat.

"Guys!" Tanvi pouts her lips. "You guys are so matlabi. Tum logon ne mujhe apne sath bithaya, yeh sawal karne? Why are you cornering me? Tum log Samrat se kyun nahi puchte?"

Farhan speaks on the behalf of others. "Huh? Why do you feel like we are cornering you? Doston ke bich kya chhupana, Tanz? Aur waise bhi tumne kaafi chizein kaafi der chhupayi hain. Toh ab no chupana. Tumhari aadat na Samrat ko bhi lag gayi. Chhupane laga woh bhi. Apni transfer ke bare mein nahi bataya kisi ko aur najane uske dil mei aur kya kya raaz hai. Rahi baat ussey kuch puchne ki. Tumhe lagta hai uske munh se kuchh ugalvana aasan hai? Usse puchne se achcha ki main tumse puchoon!"

"Samrat ne bhi transfer ke liye appeal kiya?" Isha and Sameera are the only shocked ones. Abhi sighs.

Tanvi heaves a soft sigh. Her friends have put her on the spot.

"It is true," Abhimanyu says. "It is true Samrat ne transfer keliye appeal kiya. Lekin aaj subah woh usko wapas lene ki baat ki, toh, all is well..."

Abhimanyu smiles reassuringly. Farhan heaves a sigh of relief. Everyone smiles brightly again. They dig into their lunch on Ramu Kaka's shout, "khana thanda ho raha!"

Then after they finish, they resume talking. For a while, they discuss their hectic work schedules. To Tanvi's dismay, the topic arrives back on what transpired between her and Samrat. The million dollar question! How did Samrat convince her to stay?

Tanvi puts aside her embarrassment and explains what happened in a soft voice.

"So that is what happened..."

She looks at her friend's reactions. Farhan seems mildly disappointed. Was he expecting more? Isha, Sameera sigh. Abhimanyu smiles exasperatedly.

"Well, that's progress," he says encouragingly. "You're friends again."

As soon as the words leave his lips, his phone beeps. He reads the message he received and looks at everyone. "Sorry. Ab mujhe jana hoga guys."

Abhimanyu leaves. Sameera, Farhan too, as duty calls them. Alone with Isha, Tanvi spends a quiet moment and speaks her doubts. If anyone can understand girl-troubles and give good advice, it's Isha!

"Honestly, Isha... Samrat ne jo kaha... What does he mean?"

Tanvi trails off, recalling Samrat's words. Isha folds her arms and exhales softly.

"I mean... He needs me in his life! What does he mean, Isha... Really, mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha. He must want me as a friend, na..."

"Oh, come on, Tanvi! Maine sab kuchh kho diya hai... tumhe nahin khona chahta... I need you in my life... mujhe chhod kar mat jao... main tumhare bina kaise... Iska matlab hai, he loves you!"

"Isha! Come on, yaar! Kuch bhi! Aur tum yeh Samrat ki awaaz ko imitate karne ki kya koshish kar rahi? Tumhe kaise pata ki usne yeh sab mujhe aisi dhimi awaaz mein, ekadam emotional hokar kaha..."

Tanvi crinkles her nose. She can't deny the thought crossed her mind when Samrat was desperately trying to stop her from leaving — what he might feel for her is more than friendship, but even so... Is there a chance? Even if he fell for her, he might not allow himself to accept it. Okay, enough daydreaming, Tanvi.

Isha's words break her trance—

"Mujhe kaise pata? Arey, tumne abhi-abhi toh kaha hai, Tanvi! Tujhe kya lagta hai? He was so desperate to stop you. It only means he loves you. And everybody knows how he is so overprotective of you. That is love, I tell you. Over a long time!"

"Aisa nahi ho sakta, Isha. Aur usne aisa toh nahi kaha na ki..."

Tanvi trails off in a soft voice. Isha shakes her head.

"Haan, lafzon se nahi kaha."

"I don't want to assume things, Isha. Maybe Samrat and I will go back to being friends! Hamesha ki tarah! Maybe we'll pretend or maybe we'll just forget... that my stupid confession, that our stupid fights happened! Oh God, let's not discuss this! I may go mad!"

Tanvi says with a sigh. Isha drops the topic with a soft exhale. Just then, Samrat enters the cafeteria, calling for Tanvi.

"Tanvi. Let's go. Harjot ma'am is calling for you. We have a long day ahead of us with her. She wants me as the leader, and you as someone who summarised the trials. Afternoon briefing mein bilkul bhi time nahi hai. She only gave me 10 minutes."

Tanvi stares at Samrat, trying to get her mind to focus on the present moment and not about what she was discussing with Isha and others. Aise achanak mere break time mein mat ghuso, Sam! Especially jab Main tumhare bare mein soch rahi hoon....

Oblivious to her thoughts, Samrat stands before her, hands stuffed in his trouser pockets, while she stares at him dumbly.

"Arey, tum baithi hui hi rahogi? Come on, hurry, Tanz! Tumhara lunch ho gaya na!" Samrat says and then notices Isha, "Hi, Isha! Sorry, there is no time for your girl-talk. Was I interrupting?"

"Oh, not an issue. Humari baat ho gayi." Isha smiles. Tanvi heaves a soft sigh.

"Tanvi!" Samrat raises his brow at the unmoving girl pal. "Kya hua? Chalo utho!"

"You said you have ten minutes! Tum lunch kyun nahi karte?"

"Main ten minutes mei lunch nahi kar sakta hoon, Tanvi. I chewed my energy bar on the way here, and we have coffee in Harjot ma'am's cabin. That's enough until evening. So utho! Aur daudo!"

"Daudo?" Tanvi rises from her chair, gulps down a glass of water she's supposed to drink after lunch, and faces Samrat.

"Hello! Ab tum mere colleague ho, Sam! Boss nahi. Jo tum mujhse unchi awaaz mein baat kar rahe ho!"

Tanvi can't help but take out her frustration in a roundabout way. Still, seeing him brings her happiness. A friendly, almost teasing smile wafts to her face. He chuckles exasperatedly.

"Arey, main normally bol raha hoon, yaar."

"Really? Dobara try karo!"

"Arey, Tanvi, itna time nahi hai yaar!"

"Huh, maine kya suna?"

"Hahaha... Okay... Oh god, Tanvi...Tanz, meri dost... Please, tum chalogi? Humare paas waqt nahi hai."

"Ahh... haha!" Tanvi chuckles heartily. Teasing Samrat back isn't something she can do every day. But it's fun when she does it. Her heart melts at the sweet smile he just showed her. As her heartbeat speeds up and face flushes, she regrets having teased him.

She composes herself and meets his eyes. "Well, that's more like it! Let's go, Sam."

Cheerful as ever, she loops her arm in his. They laugh together and bid a temporary goodbye to Isha.

Before leaving, Tanvi mouths to Isha, "see nothing!" regarding her and Samrat, which Samrat also notices, unbeknownst to her. A soft, enigmatic smile plays on his lips, which only Isha notices.

Left alone, Isha smiles to herself. She thinks it is nice to see Samrat and Tanvi together, smiling. If only Farhan sees them this way, he'd say —

This is a long awaited one! Future mein aur exciting chizein hone wali hai, for sure!

Still smiling, Isha downs her lemonade. She would have loved to share this with Farhan. Farhan would say, "lemonade on a sunny afternoon. Perfect. But seasons will change and soon thandat will be upon us. No matter what happens, we all will always be together."

Oh, Farhan. Cheesy, but that's so like you to say. You are so goofy. Lekin kash tumhari baat sach ho. Aur hum sab sath rahe hamesha ke liye. Tumne shaadi ki baat ki pahli bar aaj... I made fun of it, but actually it made me happy that you said it. Maybe aage jakar, Abhi, Sameera ki shaadi ke baad humari hi shaadi ho... aur bad mein Sam aur Tanvi ki bhi!

Isha thinks to herself before leaving the cafeteria and attending her duties. But in the back of her head there is the doubt, there will surely be more hurdles in her and Farhan's path to happiness. For one, the major differences between them lies in their religion. Though the two of them are secular, their families may not have similar feelings, especially about the rishta. What will happen in the future? May only good happen to all of them.

***

❤️TBC❤️

❤️🌈Up next: Tanvi injures herself. Later at a party at Abhimanyu's house, Samrat gears up to confess his feelings. Will she accept? What happens?

🌈❤️V & C. Hope to finish this story soon! The end is close after which we have some fun epilogues. Stay tuned~❤️🌈