"Ma'am, do you need some water?" the airhostess asked gently.
"No, thank you," Sona replied, fastening her seat belt.
The flight rumbled and lifted off the ground. She leaned toward the window, recording the view on her phone. A strange feeling tugged at her heart.
This is my first flight… but why does it feel familiar? I know where the emergency exits are, I know the drill. How? Is this because of Sunny?
It had been three years since she last contact with him. Her career had kept her busy—now she was independent, earning well, and content. She looked at the gold bangle on her wrist and whispered, "This isn't style or investment—it's my savings. One day, I'll gift Sunny a gold watch. But when will I meet him again?"
She was leaving City H for City B. Sunny still lived in City H.
Her gaze drifted back to the clouds outside. "Cyrus clouds…" she murmured, then paused. Wait—how do I even know that word?
It had to be Sunny. Only he, a pilot, could have told her. But when? Her memories of 2019–2020 were a blur. Did I really forget him that completely?
Her mind drifted further back—to 2017.
It was Karwa Chauth and Karthika Poornima, and she was plucking flowers for pooja in the society garden. She had felt someone's eyes on her. Turning, she saw him.
Her gold and purple lehenga swirled as her long brown curls caught the drizzle. Sunny grinned from a distance. "You look beautiful," he said, winking and blowing a playful kiss.
She blushed, lowering her eyes, but his mother's stern voice broke the moment. "What are you telling that girl?" she scolded, though she couldn't hide her smile. His family already seemed to know.
Later, during the temple pooja, he appeared in a white sherwani. She was still in her golden lehenga. Elders whispered how good they looked together.
He sat beside her as the rituals began. When they circled the sacred fire, he mischievously caught hold of her dupatta and walked behind her, refusing to let go. For a heartbeat, she wondered—Am I already married to him?
His sister leaned over and asked softly, "Do you like what's happening here?"
Sona smiled nervously. "Yes… I'm happy. Thank you."
But inside, doubts stirred. I'm a Telugu girl. He's Marwari. Will elders ever accept us?
As she served prashad after the pooja, some girls whispered cruelly, "He's a handsome pilot, and she's acting like an airhostess serving food." Tears stung her eyes. Yet in that moment, she realized—Sunny really was a pilot. She had married him in spirit before even knowing his profession.
Why had he liked her? She wasn't fashionable, unlike the women he must have met around the world. She simply rose early, made rangoli, cooked, studied, and cared for her family. What did he see in me?
That evening, as she walked home, he appeared beside her.
"What are you studying?" he asked.
"Bachelor's degree… and internship."
"Which internship?"
"Business analysis."
"Oh, great!" He smiled.
"Are you really a pilot?" she asked, almost shyly.
"Yes."
"And… you also run an investment business?"
"Yes, that too."
She thought silently, Maybe he could guide me with my MBA.
He caught her expression. "Hey, what are you thinking?"
"Nothing."
"Really? I thought you were thinking about tonight."
"Tonight? What do you mean?"
He chuckled. "We walked together, prayed together… never mind. Good night."
"Good night."
They climbed the steps to their neighboring homes, but neither stopped glancing back until they reached their doors.
That whole night, Sona thought of him.
The next morning, she sipped coffee in the garden. From his balcony, Sunny called out, "What are you drinking?"
"Coffee."
"What did you eat?"
"Nothing."
"Not even milk?"
"No. I don't need all that… not when you're around."
She bit her lip, realizing what she'd just said. He grinned.
Her granny interrupted, asking her to buy honey from a vendor. Sona went down, inspected the jar, and frowned. "This has white insects in it."
"They're not insects, madam, they're baby bees," the vendor explained.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Sunny, look—they're honeybee babies!"
Sunny laughed. "So, how many babies do you want?"
"I don't want any—I can't eat honey with babies inside!"
The vendor roared with laughter, Sunny joined in, and Sona stood red-faced, half-annoyed, half-amused.