The First Class cabin felt like another world, with wide seats, soft lights, and calm murmurs instead of chaos.
She gripped her small suitcase and pulled it along the aisle, taking in every detail. She smiled, nodding politely at anyone whose eyes met hers.
So, this is what it feels like, she thought, her chest swelling.
Seat 3A.
Her smile froze.
Harry sat in 3B… right beside it.
He was already settled in, book in hand, posture relaxed like someone who was born in places like this. The moment he sensed movement, he looked up.
Their eyes met.
His gaze lingered softly but was unreadable.
Airam's heart jumped, but she forced her face still. She looked away immediately, pretending she hadn't seen him at all. She placed her suitcase overhead, sat down, and snapped her gaze forward as if the window were the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.
Harry watched quietly.
Then he motioned toward her seat belt, silent, subtle, an unspoken fix-it gesture.
Airam didn't even blink in his direction.
Instead, she picked up her phone and dialed home. When her family answered, her entire face lit up.
"Mama! Jane! Everyone! Look!" She angled the camera, letting them see the cabin. "First Class o! Me! Can you imagine?"
Loud laughter, claps, and shocked gasps filled the line.
"Ah! Airam!It's so beautiful!" Hermother exclaimed.
"Is that wine they put by your seat?" Jane asked, peeking.
"Two glasses!" Airam bragged proudly. "They even gave me a hot towel. Hot o! And I haven't even sat properly. I was told they will serve food and drinks, and see, they even have some packages here, I can take with me, living is good, at least this life was not meant for a particular class to enjoy alone."
Harry listened silently, pretending to read but not turning on a single page. The staff across the aisle kept hiding smiles, her joy was contagious.
Airam wasn't exactly speaking to him…But every sentence, every brag, seemed angled in his direction.
"This is how we'll be flying from now on," she said loudly. "No more stress. No more economy queue. First Class life!"
Harry'slipstwitched.
Still, he said nothing. Still, she didn't look at him.
"And Mama," Airam continued, still loud enough for the entire cabin to hear, "tell the kids I'm not suffering. Tell them I'm living life!"
Another round of giggles erupted through the phone.
Harry stared at the empty page of his book, exhaling quietly through his nose.
She was loud. She was dramatic. She was absolutely ignoring him.
And somehow…He found himself smiling at the corner of his lips because she filled the whole space simply by being herself.
Airam finally ended the call with a dramatic kiss into the camera.
Then she sat back, head held high, chin slightly raised.
Harry closed his book. He didn't speak. She didn't look at him.
But the air between them buzzed like the hum of the plane's engines, growing louder as the cabin door closed.