After checking Geetika's cabin, Kalpana sits on the chair. Geetika enters and directly sits on the chair opposite Kalpana.
"What are you doing here?" she asks.
"So it's confirmed—Geetika Chauhan, it's you," Kalpana says with a smile.
"You didn't answer me. What are you doing here?"
"I came to appreciate what you wrote about me. You really write well. Or is it just my charm?" Kalpana replies confidently.
Geetika smiles faintly. "Your presence is already the answer. No need for words."
Anu watches Kalpana and quietly sits on the sofa nearby. Hearing Geetika's reply, Kalpana uncrosses her legs and adjusts her posture. She leans slightly forward and says, "Most people live in illusions. Don't worry. I didn't come to break yours."
"Oh, so you're here to show your anger after your ego got hurt?"
"You haven't reached the level to affect my ego. As for my anger—pray you never see it," Kalpana says, observing Geetika through her glasses.
Geetika stares back, her eyes burning with rage. "You're so full of pride. You think too highly of yourself."
Kalpana calmly replies, "Whatever I am, let it be. The world believes I'm important. Today, even you do. That article confirms it. I only came to tell you—stay away from me. Far away."
She picks up her keys, ready to leave, when Geetika interrupts, "You're under a delusion that I find you important. Anyone who does must be a fool. You are arrogant, egoistic, and full of vanity. Who could think of you as important?"
Kalpana tilts her head and smirks. "Then you must be fool number one, right?"
"What did you write... oh yes, 'basic things!' You're a journalist, right? You couldn't find any better basic topics in the valley? Are you so skilled that I shouldn't have to list issues for you? Or do you ignore them intentionally? Or should I say—you're a coward, afraid to reveal the truth?"
Geetika stiffens as if boiling water has been poured into her ears. Kalpana continues, "I didn't come to show off. I came to say this clearly—stay away from me. Or I'll use your own words to explain why."
She heads to the door, but Geetika turns and says, "Those who rise high in the sky forget—they're still visible from the ground."
Anu gestures to Geetika to let it go, but Geetika doesn't hear. All she sees is Kalpana.
Kalpana stops in her tracks, smiles, turns around, and walks toward Geetika, standing right in front of her. Geetika raises her face slightly, locking eyes with Kalpana through her sunglasses.
"Nice to know you remember poetic lines. Good ones, actually. I hope you remember mine too—stay away from me. I don't repeat myself," Kalpana says.
She leans forward so the image of the jet on her t-shirt is right in front of Geetika's eyes. Her scent reaches Geetika's senses, but Geetika ignores everything and keeps glaring at her.
Kalpana whispers, "It would be better for..." and straightens up.
With determined steps, she exits the cabin.
Geetika clenches her fists and exhales sharply. "I won't spare her! That arrogant woman! Telling me about issues—she..."
Before Geetika crosses a line, Anu intervenes, "Relax, Geetu. Relax."
"You be quiet! Seeing her, your mouth turned into curd."
"Not just my mouth—I froze completely," Anu replies.
Geetika glares, and Anu says, "Okay! Okay! Don't look at me like that. But yaar, she's really hot. Not my fault. She came so close to you and you felt nothing? I wish she'd come that close to me."
"Before I break your face, shut up and hide somewhere," Geetika snaps.
"Okay okay, I'm leaving. I love my face too much. By the way, she wears a great perfume, doesn't she?" Anu teases and exits.
Kalpana is riding her bike toward the base. She isn't unaffected by all this—but not too affected either. Suddenly, she realizes her phone in her pocket is ringing. She ignores it at first, then stops her bike, removes her helmet, and quickly takes out her phone.
"Mr. Gaurav!" she says, seeing an unknown number.
She quickly dials back. The call is answered before it rings fully.
"Hello!" she says.
A man replies, "Yes, hello."
"I got a call from this number. Where are you calling from?"
The man gives the name of a place in the southern part of the valley. "A boy came to me and gave me your number. So I called."
Kalpana feels a flicker of joy. "Yes, yes! Where is the boy? Please let me speak to him!"
"He left."
"What do you mean—left?"
"We don't know where he went, madam."
"What do you mean? You just said he gave you my number! Now you're saying he left?"
"Yes, but now he's gone, and I don't know where."
Kalpana gets angry. Before she can lash out, the man adds, "Also, the child didn't look well."
"What do you mean?" Kalpana asks.
"His clothes were very dirty."
Before the man can say more, Kalpana cuts in, "And you let him go? Just forget it. Hang up."
She ends the call and takes off her glasses, looking up at the sky with frustration.
"Because of you, journalist! Because of you all this happened. Where could Gaurav be now? How is he?" she worries.
"It's better if I never see you again, Geetika Chauhan," she mutters and starts her bike, heading toward the base.
She reaches the canteen and sits with tea, thinking about Gaurav. She regrets not taking his address earlier. She also regrets missing the call because of the meeting with Geetika. Picking up her phone, she dials a number.
"Connecting Durabhaash."
"Connected, Panda. What's wrong? Your voice sounds different."
"I need the telescope again."
"Roger."
Kalpana explains everything about Gaurav, the call, and the conversation.
"I'll work on it."
"Thank you, Durabhaash. Please make it fast."
"You don't need to say please, Panda. It'll be done. Why wouldn't it?"
"Only you can do this. That's why I shared it with you."
"Roger, Panda. Don't worry. I'll update you soon."
"Hmm."
Their call ends. Suddenly, an emergency siren blares on the air base. Kalpana immediately heads to the instruction room. All officers quickly gather.
They are informed: "An incident has occurred in the valley. The Dragon Team must proceed for rescue." Kalpana's team, without wasting time, assumes their positions.
Kalpana, with brave steps, heads toward her jet. Abhinav, her navigator, joins her and takes the backseat.
Kalpana signs for flight and takes off, setting the compass for the mission location.
At the news office, there's chaos over who will cover the incident. Mr. Singh tries to send his own candidate, but the branch head overrules him, announcing: "Geetika will go to this location with her team."
"Namaskar 🙏"
* Durabhaash - telephone operator