It was hard to remember how long Kruthi asleep was. But one thing she remembered quite well that when her eyes opened, they had already reached France. The private jet was back to the land. She looked around. Vivaan was nowhere to be seen. She clutched on the duvet tighter.
Duvet?
DUVET!
Where did that come from? She looked around herself. She was still on the sofa, the TV was turned off, lights were dimmed ever so slightly.
Out of a sudden, she could hear faint footsteps approaching her. She snapped her head around. Ms. Jiya. A heavy breath of relief escaped from her.
"Would you like to have anything, Ma'am?"
She blankly stared at the impeccably dressed professional for a moment. Then shook her head in refusal.
"W-where is Mr. Malhotra?"
Ms. Jiya blinked twice at Kruthi's statement. Perhaps it was because Kruthi asked about Vivaan instead, or maybe the way she addressed her husband.
"Mr. Malhotra? Well, he is down already."
Kruthi raised her eyebrows with a confused reaction, a simple mean to convey that she didn't quite understand.
"Apologies Mrs. Malhotra." Jiya nodded, all set to simplify things for Kruthi. "The flight has descended to the land. Mr. Malhotra has stepped outside and is waiting for you. The car has arrived; all the belongings have been transported from here to the cars."
"Then why didn't he wake me up?"
"Don't know, Ma'am"
Kruthi nodded before standing up from that plush comfortable sofa, on which she must have been since hours. She fixed her hair with her hands, then her right hand moved towards her dupatta on the left shoulder to fix it.
"Can you please show me the way?"
Ms. Jiya nodded and led her on towards the exit of the private jet. Kruthi walked behind her. Her eyes darting around, observing everything of the private jet, as if she may never get another chance. Her ears perked slightly when she could hear the echo of Ms. Jiya's heels. The next moment, Kruthi's footsteps matched the pace of Ms. Jiya's.
The exit was nearby. Ms. Jiya stepped aside giving a way to Kruthi. She nodded and finally stepped out.
A shiver creeped in her entire spine. She thought they were going to France, not an entire organisation team who was ready to attack when needed. Only her right step was down on the stair, but her eyes were fixed on the surrounding. Two parallel lines of men dressed in black, almost ten in each line. A car parked at the end of the array. And Vivaan sitting on the backseat, with window down, eyes fixed on the phone.
She placed her other step down too.
The array of both lines of men suddenly turned to attention position, with a noise well to be heard. She flinched lightly, ready to take a step back.
Vivaan looked up from his phone. Then unlocked the car and came towards her, forwarding his hand to her.
"Come, we've reached."
Without any second thought Kruthi took his hand and finally came down to the land. He didn't leave her hand, just kept on walking towards the car, with her following his lead behind, her eyes lowered.
When they settled in the car she sat beside him at the backseat.
"Move." Vivaan spoke to the driver and soon the drive started.
"But Vivaan, my belongings?" She asked him suddenly in worry.
"In the car."
"I don't believe. My red suitcase is here?"
"Done."
"My black suitcase?"
"Done."
"My purse?"
"Done."
"My phone?"
"...."
"My phone, Vivaan Ji?" Kruthi asked him, her worry taking over her.
"I didn't know where it was."
Kruthi's eyes widened, her mouth left agape dumbfounded.
"ExCuse me? Turn the car around."
"I'll buy a new one for you."
"I DON'T WANT A NEW ONE."
"A better brand?"
"Vivaan, please turn the car around. I need my phone back. Contacts are there, memories are there, pictures are there, my sibling memo videos are there..." She spoke restlessly counting the number of things on her fingers unable to notice how his eyes softened.
Memories.
Which he had none.
And perhaps, she had in abundant which shouldn't be underestimated.
"Driver, turn the car around."
The car turned right at his command. He made a phone call to Jiya.
"Ms. Jiya. We've forgot my wife's phone in the jet. We are returning to retrieve that. I'll call that device, when it rings, keep it to you. I expect to have it handed immediately without any delays."
Usually, Kruthi who looked around and observed surroundings curiously, was fixed on the road now, as if counting the miles until they'd get back. Few minutes later, they reached the same spot again. Ms. Jiya was already standing there. Vivaan lowered his window enough to take his hand out. When he finally felt the cool surface pressed on his hand, he handed Kruthi's phone back to her and closed the window. Finally, the car started again.
Kruthi unlocked her phone first, then checked throughout. Convinced, she kept her phone at side and started looking at the large buildings, and surroundings of the new country with curious eyes.
Vivaan looked at her in disbelief, before focusing back on his phone.
"We have a happy news." He said suddenly.
Kruthi snapped her hand back towards him.
"What?"
"We are sharing a room."
She squinted her eyes before rolling them away.
"That's not a happy news."
"Disappointed to hear that." He said while suppressing the small smile threatening to occupy his face. "But that's not the news."
"So?" She turned her face to him suddenly, to find a nonchalant, cold Vivaan like usual.
"I have regained my Skyline Crest back. However, guards can't be let down. I need to have a thorough check on all my belongings well, starting from you..."
"THE..." Kruthi snapped suddenly in his mid-sentence. "I... what will you check in me? I am human only Vivaan."
" 'Ear more, mouth less.' Forgot the saying?" He said while still looking out of the window, his right lip twitching to a small smirk, while his side profile which faced her was too nonchalant to be perceived.
"Starting from the Young Skysoul properties."
She felt heat riding to her cheeks while she nodded and suddenly looked out of the window embarrassed.