Kalpana comes out ready, putting on her sunglasses, lifting her chin with confidence, placing her jacket on her arm, and looks to the right. Just then, their driver Ravi is seen approaching. He is in a bit of a hurry, walking quickly toward Kalpana. Kalpana sees this and senses he's in a rush. She says:
"Hey hey, wait! Why are you rushing so much? Okay, go ahead, speak up. Don't waste time."
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Yes yes, good morning. But first, tell me what I asked."
"There's an emergency at home, I need to go there," Ravi says, panting.
"Yes yes, relax. I understand. Go ahead—and don't forget to bring sweets back!"
"Yes, ma'am," Ravi smiles and nods.
"Go on now, don't waste time. And relax—you're about to become a father! Which hospital is she in?"
He begins to name the hospital. Kalpana says again:
"And yes Ravi, if you need anything, call me without hesitation."
The driver nods and leaves. Kalpana then says to herself:
"Alright Kalpana, you'll be driving yourself today." (Taking out her phone.) "And this Mr. Gaurav—no clue where he is. Still hasn't called. I should've taken his address."
She feels a little tense and worried for Gaurav. She walks toward her bullet bike, sits on it, straightens her back completely, lifts her chin high, and says:
"Today, let's ride against the wind and see how strong it is." (She wears her helmet, starts the bike, and rides away.)
Meanwhile, Geetika steps out of her house, munching on a sandwich, says goodbye to her parents, and finds Shashi waiting outside with her car.
"Geetika ji…"
"Yaar, how many times have I told you not to honk? Don't you get it?" (Geetika says while approaching.)
"What else should I do? You can complain while sitting in the car too." (Geetika gets in.)
"Yes yes, I can. Now start the car. Aren't you getting late?"
"What can I do? You never come until the horn knocks inside your ears."
"Yeah yeah, fine. But you know people get disturbed, right?"
"Yes yes, okay. But what do I do with you?"
"Yaar, I slept so late last night—at 4 a.m.! I was finalizing the article for printing."
Shashi understands which article she's talking about.
"Why are you taking it so seriously? You could've done it later too—it's not even that big, you're making it bigger than it is." (Shashi says softly.)
"How can you say it's not big? It is big! People live in their own worlds, and it's necessary to show them the truth—to tell them that everyone deserves respect."
"Okay boss, who can argue with you?" (Shashi gives up.)
"Ha! Who told you to argue? Just drive the car." (Geetika calls the office from her phone.)
"Yes, Editor Sir? What's the update? Where's the paper?" (She's talking to her colleague who helps her on every topic.)
He's her junior, who makes points, clears doubts, and goes for ground reports. He replies:
"Ma'am, your story is published. Along with cups of tea, the paper must've reached people's hands and tables."
"Great, I'll be at your desk in a few minutes," (Geetika says, laughing.)
"Yes, come quickly—people are asking for you."
"Again Singh Sir?"
"Yes."
"He can't survive a day without arguing with me."
"And he wants to change your points again." (The junior adds.)
"Same old. I'll come and help him digest it—after all, I have the tonic for that." (She cuts the call.)
Shashi asks:
"What happened? Did Singh Sir say something again?"
"Same thing—wants to change the script as per his view. He wants my story published his way—not going to happen."
The two head toward the office.
Kalpana reaches her air base on her bullet bike. From afar, her team members, who were talking among themselves, see her and wave. Kalpana nods in acknowledgment. She parks her bike and walks toward her team.
"Good morning, fighters!"
"Good morning!" (They all reply in unison.)
"So, how's it going on?" (Kalpana asks.)
Her team includes a navigator officer, flying officer, and squadron leader. Her best friend from the academy, Abhinav, who is also the navigator officer, hasn't arrived yet. His call sign is "Abhi."
Squadron Leader Nitin Bhatt, call sign "Bat."
Flying Officer Aman Zubair, call sign "Amaze."
Kalpana asks again:
"How's it going on?"
"Waiting for CO sir," (Amaze replies.)
"Abhi hasn't arrived either," (Kalpana says.)
"Yes, Abhi hasn't come yet," (Bat adds.)
"But CO Sir is here," (Amaze says.)
Seeing CO Sir, all three straighten up, puffing out their chests and lifting their heads high. CO Sir acknowledges their salutes with a nod.
Amaze says:
"Yaar, why does breathing get heavy the moment we see CO Sir?"
"Yes yes, now you can pull in your stomach," (Kalpana teases.)
The three of them laugh and head toward the briefing room.
While walking, Bat asks:
"Is there a mission? Where's Abhi?"
Kalpana replies:
"Again, must be because of his fiancée. Why doesn't Abhi understand? And Bat, our job is just missions, right?"
"Roger, Panda," (Bat agrees.)
Kalpana lifts her face again, puts on her sunglasses, and walks ahead.
Like Kalpana's determined steps, Geetika walks into her office with equal urgency. She's speaking with Singh Sir:
"You know very well, sir—I want to do this."
"We can't present the news like this," (Singh says.)
"Then don't, sir. Don't publish, don't present. I won't change my work. If that's what you want, assign someone else. You want me to put someone else's words under my name? That's not possible. And if you want your lines in my coverage, then do it yourself or get someone else to."
Singh Sir gets angry and says:
"And you know very well, no one else can do this coverage in such a short time."
"And you know well enough too that talent doesn't have limits. Capable people don't need limitations."
Just then, the branch head walks in and says:
"Stop it, both of you! Do you two fight over every news story like children? Singh—you just won't agree, and Geetika—you are very immature."
"Sir, I've said it before—I will not change my project, my lines, or my work. If that's not acceptable, then I'm out of this."
"No, you don't need to do that, and no changes are needed. The news will be published as is—just as you've written it."
Hearing this, Singh Sir protests:
"But sir—"
"Take it easy, Singh. Go get to your work. All of you—get back to work."
Everyone returns to their desks and cabins. Geetika reaches her cabin, with Shashi following. Shashi says:
"Relax, Geet."
"This Singh! Every single time, he does the same thing."
"Yeah, he's just jealous of you, nothing else."
"Yeah, that's why all his hair fell off—burning with jealousy."
Shashi laughs and says:
"Yes, you're right. I'm going to my desk."
"Yes yes, go."
Everyone resumes work.
Just as Kalpana and her team enter the briefing room, Abhi also arrives, panting and running. He quietly positions himself right behind Kalpana. All the officers present there are standing straight with their hands neatly tied. Kalpana asks:
"And where were you, Navigator?"
"I'll tell you later."
Everyone takes their seats. Kalpana sits in her favorite posture, back straight, removing her sunglasses and placing them on the board of her chair. Chin up, poised.
CO Sir enters.
"As I mentioned—" (Everyone stands in respect.) CO Sir signals with a nod for them to sit.
Kalpana is the only girl in the batch—and she is a jet pilot.
The meeting in the briefing room is about a practice mission, dramatized in form, which Kalpana will lead. After briefing them, CO Sir orders everyone to get ready and exits.
Everyone heads to the changing room to put on their uniforms. Looking at Abhi's face, Kalpana says:
"What happened? Why that long face? What did your fiancée do now?"
"How do you know it's her?"
"Sure, you navigate weapons for me, but I can navigate your emotions." Kalpana turns around and sits directly in front of the gloomy Abhinav.
"Want to talk?"
He folds his arms, looks up at Kalpana and says:
"Same topic again, right?"
"Yeah. Sometimes, I... I love her so much but she doesn't understand."
"Come on Abhi, chill man. One day, she'll understand."
"But when?" (He looks down, getting a bit emotional.)
"Listen, she'll understand soon. Come on, I said chill. Don't waste time. You're a man—hasn't society taught you since childhood that men don't feel pain?"
Hearing this, Abhinav smiles. Kalpana stands up, pats his back and says:
"If she loves you, she'll definitely understand. Now get up or I'll have you dismissed!"
Smiling, they both grab their flight suits proudly.
Just then, Amaze approaches them hurriedly with a newspaper in hand. Kalpana remarks:
"Breathe, Amaze. What's the matter? Did CO Sir change orders?"
"Nope, someone else has issued an order—and it's through you, Panda." He hands the paper to Kalpana.
She takes it with a questioning look. As she reads, her face changes seeing her own picture in the article.
"It's not a big deal. This happens often," she says—until her eyes catch the bold headline: "Success or Arrogance?"
Abhi stands beside her, also reading. Kalpana continues silently:
"Those immersed in feminism start seeing themselves in strange ways. Drenched in ego, they forget what humanity means. Sure, they succeed—but use that success to flaunt power. Such people aren't just on the ground—they fly too. Meet Squadron Leader Kalpana Pandey, who imposes her superiority on an ordinary employee. In her pride, she's forgotten humanity—another arrogant feminist woman misguiding today's youth. But no matter how high you fly, you must remain grounded. Someone needs to remind her what decency means."
At the bottom, the article is credited to none other than—Geetika Chauhan.
After reading it all, Kalpana smiles slightly. She folds the paper respectfully and says:
"We will meet, Ms. Journalist Geetika Chauhan. Now it's time you learned what arrogance really is."
She hands the paper to Amaze and says:
"Give me your phone."
Amaze gives her his phone. Kalpana signals to Abhi:
"What should I do now?"
Abhi gestures with a shrug and raised eyebrows as if saying, "Whoever wrote this article is doomed."
Kalpana dials a number:
"Durbhash ji, good morning. Time to use that telescope of yours. Pick up today's paper."
"What's up, Rocket?" (Durbhash replies.)
"First open the Hindi edition, page 3, top right corner. See my picture."
Durbhash—her secret ally in Air Force—goes silent, then says:
"Success or Arrogance."
"Good line, isn't it? Now read it calmly. See the author's name."
Both say together: "Geetika Chauhan."
Kalpana says:
"I want her full biodata. Complete information. Put that telescope to work and dig up her file. You have two hours. Call me in exactly two hours. Any doubts, Durbhash ji?"
"No, Rocket." (He calls her Rocket.)
"You've already wasted three minutes of that time. Now hurry up!"
"Roger, Panda." (He ends the call.)
Kalpana returns Amaze's phone and says:
"Both of you, meet me at the jet in 10 minutes."
"Roger."
They all head out for the practice mission.
The mission ends successfully. After receiving praise from CO Sir, they return to the changing room, joking and pulling each other's legs.
Kalpana is just about to take off her flight suit when her phone rings. She pauses, picks it up.
"Your work is done. I've emailed you. And yes—I did it in 45 minutes and 31 seconds." (It's Durbhash.)
"Excellent, Durbhash ji. That's why I trust you. You always deliver before time. I like such people. I'll speak to you later." (Kalpana hangs up, removes her suit and respectfully hangs it.)
She pulls out her phone, opens the email before getting on her bike. As promised, it contains Geetika's complete biodata—name, parents' names, office and home addresses, qualifications, education, everything. It even says where Geetika will be at that moment.
Kalpana puts the phone in her pocket, wears her sunglasses and helmet, starts her bullet, and heads straight to Geetika's office.
She walks in directly—no permission, no wait.
She glances at three or four name plates but doesn't find Geetika's. At the reception, she spots a man and walks over.
"Excuse me."
The man just stares at her face, then her white T-shirt with a jet printed near the collar. He stares, not saying a word. Kalpana taps the table:
"Wake up, mister."
"Y-yes."
"Where can I find Geetika Chauhan? Speak quickly, don't waste time."
Still gawking, he says:
"Take a right."
Kalpana nods:
"Speak faster next time. Not everyone has as much free time as you." (She walks away.)
The guy stares at her until she vanishes and murmurs:
"Man... hot."
His colleague taps his shoulder and says:
"Son, she's a Squadron Leader."
"W-what? Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Kalpana finds Geetika's nameplate. Without wasting time, she knocks. The door opens halfway on its own. Kalpana enters and says:
"Is anyone here?"
No one is there yet. She glances right and spots Geetika's workspace. Her feet naturally move toward that corner. She walks over to the awards—every one of them has the same name: Geetika.
"Hmm... awards," she mutters. Turning to 12 o'clock direction, she sees a project board—full of pinned notes, pictures, and threads connecting points.
"Does she cover news or plan missions? Not bad. Anyway, someone writing about me should be this capable." (She sits in Geetika's chair in her favorite posture.)
She crosses her right leg over the left, sits with a straight spine and chin up. She places her bullet key and glasses on the table.
There's a photo corner in the room with pictures of Geetika with many famous personalities. Kalpana turns toward it—but just then, a laugh echoes and two girls enter.
Kalpana immediately puts on her sunglasses.
With Geetika is Anu. As soon as Anu sees Kalpana, she freezes.
Geetika is shocked and says:
"What are you doing here?" (She sits directly opposite Kalpana, showing no fear.)
Kalpana smiles and says:
"With that line, you just proved—you are indeed Geetika Chauhan, the journalist." (They both lock eyes. A brief silence fills the room.)
"Namaskar. 🙏"