"Is this a private jet?"
She stepped in with him. When her eyes met the view inside the jet, her hand forgot it was holding his. She tightened her hand on his ever so lightly, while her eyes were still fixed on the polished floors, the customised top designed with an accurate pattern in blue and white.
The table was fixed in front of a television. A small television, where perhaps he entertained himself during long travel hours. A brown sofa was placed behind the table, beside it was two single sofas.
Her steps matched with his without any halt, but her thoughts? they were too different from what was going in his mind.
She noticed the driver taking their suitcases inside a separate wall. She untangled her hand from his to step forward. The sudden emptiness felt like a dread.
Instead of stepping away she turned to him with those wide curious eyes.
"Vivaan, what is there? Are they keeping our bags with pilot?"
Vivaan shook his head lightly, typing something on his phone.
"It's the bedroom. Pilot is on other side."
Her mouth formed in an "O" shape, her eyes turning back to explore around.
"Kruthi, sit beside me first."
Her eyes snapped at him ever so shocked.
"Don't misunderstand. It's your first flight; we'll be taking off. Sit first and then explore."
Her eyes regained their shape in realisation. Of course this wasn't any home, it was a flight. Her first time at a flight, none other than his private jet.
She moved and sat beside him on the sofa.
The engine started.
Her hand tightened around his once more.
"If you keep doing this, my hand will be swollen by tomorrow." He sighed. But his words had effect, she was overwhelmed, perhaps a little scared too.
A tired exhale left his nose.
Why was he that much affected?
But by then his mind had already constructed an answer.
Because this contract doesn't include her life. First flight-scared- overwhelmed. Danger.
He nodded almost to himself in finalisation before securing her head on his chest and wrapping an arm around her as if to make a small sanctuary.
"Just few minutes more."
She nodded on his chest.
Comfortable enough.
Good. No misunderstanding of pathetic feelings.
The plane finally took off. She could feel herself getting away from the gravity. Her head instinctively snuggled more in his chest, and for a slight moment, he could feel her tremble. Then something wet on his shirt.
His eyes squinted slightly.
"Kruthi, are you crying?"
She shook her head with a teary sniff on his chest.
"So, are you spitting on my shirt?"
She slapped his chest in slight furiousness with fear.
"That's weird that you spit when you are afraid."
She suddenly took her head back from his chest before wiping her tears.
"I am NOT spitting on your shirt, Mr. Vivaan Malhotra"
He stared at her for a moment before forwarding her handkerchief to her.
"I knew."
She forwarded her hand and accepted the handkerchief to wipe her tears.
"Are you feeling nauseous?"
She shook her head lightly.
He nodded before taking out his phone and typing something again.
"Are you feeling like spitting?"
"Vivaan!!!" She snapped at him before throwing her handkerchief in his lap.
"Apologies..."
She sighed and nodded.
"... shouldn't be asked for honesty."
Her eyes glared at him before she stood up to move away.
He pursed his lips in a thin line to avoid giving any hint of the smile which fought so bad to be let out.
She sat on the single sofa placed beside and took up a magazine to read.
Business.
Boring for her.
She kept it away and looked around the plane once again.
Nothing to do.
Her ears caught the sound of his typing on the phone.
Not boring anymore now.
She cleared her throat and asked him.
"What are you typing, Vivaan ji?"
"Text." He responded coldly, professionally. His eyes were still fixed on the phone.
"Are you cheating on me, Vivaan ji?"
His eyes looked up at her finally, wondering how she was getting this thought? or was he a new mechanism for her to cope with the bland atmosphere?
"With Mirhaan? No."
"Why are you texting Mirhaan?"
"Because he is texting me."
"Using phone in plane is bad manners."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Fair enough."
He kept his phone aside with a completed click of the text.
But instead on looking at anywhere, he simply took a pillow from his side and kept it beneath his head. He folded his arms on his chest and left a tired exhale. Slowly his eyes closed.
"Are you thinking about Mirhaan?"
He shook his head.
"I am thinking, why are you making this up?"
"I want to tease you."
"I know." He nodded. "But there are better ways instead of accusing me of betrayal. It's not funny Kruthi, it's disappointing to me."
Kruthi couldn't speak the next word.
He was right.
Just because she was bored doesn't mean she would tease him by accusing him of disloyalty.
"Apologies."
He nodded.
"Don't do it again. I can give you better ideas to tease me."
She looked at him excitedly.
"Like?"
"Like massaging my head, playing with my hair, asking me for stupid instructions, asking me to turn on the television..."
"Turn on the television." She said suddenly.
"I gave you three options more."
She nodded and handed him the television remote.
"You can have access to my hair."
"I don't want that. Television please" She forwarded the remote to him.
He took it finally and turned on the television. There were all the documents and uploaded files in there.
"No movie?"
He shook his head, then stood up and inserted a pen drive in the television.
"Now, movies, songs of every genre you prefer. I am going inside the room, to sleep. If any issues, ask Ms. Jiya to assist you."
She nodded.
Nonchalant, selecting the movies and songs.
"Know what? I'll stay here. Can't trust your little curiosity."
Soon Ms. Jiya entered their cabin with a tray of food. A simple salad for Vivaan, and paneer butter masala and rice for Kruthi.
"You ordered that? That's heavy for night especially when you are still recovering."
She nodded while starting a comedy movie and accepting the tray.
"It's not a big deal."
He sighed.
"Ofcourse it's not a big deal. It's been a week since you had your appetite."
She started having her meal, focused on the movie playing.
He called the flight attendant Ms. Jiya, asking for the same meal as Kruthi for himself.
He looked at Kruthi. Pouted mouth, chewing her dinner, eyes widened and focused on the scene playing, and a smile to supress her laughter mid meal.
Finally, when he realised that she was too engrossed in herself, a small smile formed on his lips.
He lost his control on that stupid feeling to smile.