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ज़िन्दगी में कभी कोई खास आता हैं,

आपकी आँखों में एक प्यारा सा ख़्वाब लाता है। 

ऐसे ही शख्स को हम अपना बनाते हैं, 

और उसे देखते ही दिल मुस्कुराता है।

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Adrisha hurried through the airport terminal, her heart pounding in her chest. The sponsors of the bike race had generously arranged a business class flight for her, both for her journey from Delhi to Chennai and back. But her mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of Eshaanth the previous night, and she had overslept. Now, she was racing against time, her suitcase wheels clattering against the tiled floor as she navigated through the crowd.

Finally reaching the check-in counter, she breathed a sigh of relief when the attendant confirmed her booking and handed her the boarding pass. With the boarding pass clutched tightly in her hand, she made her way to security, the minutes ticking away in her mind. The lines seemed to move slower than ever, but eventually, she cleared security and rushed to her gate, her eyes constantly darting to the clock.

She made it just in time. As she boarded the plane, a wave of relief washed over her. She found her seat and noticed the passenger next to her had the divider up, clearly indicating a preference for privacy. Respecting his space, she quietly stowed her carry-on bag in the overhead compartment and settled into her seat.

Adrisha glanced longingly at the window seat, wishing she could enjoy the view during the flight. However, she knew better than to disturb the stranger beside her; asking to switch seats would seem impolite. So, she sat back, fastening her seatbelt and trying to make herself comfortable. The hum of the plane's engines provided a soothing backdrop, and she took a moment to collect her thoughts, allowing herself to relax now that she was finally on board.

The flight attendant approached, offering her a welcome drink. Adrisha accepted it with a grateful smile, sipping the cool beverage and feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She pulled out her phone to check messages one last time before takeoff, then switched it to airplane mode. With a deep breath, she leaned back in her seat, ready to embrace the journey ahead and leave her worries behind, at least for the duration of the flight.

As the flight took off smoothly, Adrisha felt a sense of excitement mingled with relief. It wasn't a long journey, just a two-hour flight, but it felt significant. She decided to pass the time by watching something entertaining and chose an anime series that had been recommended to her. Slipping on the headphones, she became engrossed in the vibrant world of animated characters, their adventures a welcome distraction from her own thoughts.

About halfway through the flight, Adrisha felt a sudden, sharp jolt. The plane lurched, causing her headphones to slip off and her heart to race. Around her, she could hear gasps and murmurs of concern from the other passengers. The once-calm cabin was now filled with an uneasy tension. She glanced at the flight attendants, hoping their expressions would reassure her, but they looked just as unsettled as the passengers.

One of the flight attendants picked up the intercom and tried to project calm. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing some turbulence due to bad weather. Please remain seated and fasten your seat belts." Her voice, though steady, carried an edge of anxiety that did little to soothe the growing panic.

Adrisha's hands trembled as she fumbled with her seatbelt, finally securing it around her waist. The plane continued to shake, and her thoughts raced. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing, but every jolt brought a fresh wave of fear.

Moments later, the captain's voice came over the intercom. "This is your captain speaking. Due to severe weather conditions, we will be making an unscheduled landing in Goa. Please remain calm and follow the instructions of the flight attendants."

Adrisha's mind raced. Goa wasn't part of the plan, but safety was paramount. She looked out the window of the other side and saw dark, churning clouds. The realization that they were flying through a storm made her grip the armrests tighter.

The flight attendants moved through the aisle, ensuring everyone was buckled in and offering words of comfort, though their own anxiety was evident. The plane descended through the turbulent air, each drop causing Adrisha's stomach to flip.

As the plane bounced through another pocket of turbulence, Adrisha clutched her seatbelt tighter and muttered to herself, "Hey Krishna, please bacha lo. Abhi to maine dado ko bolkar gajar ka halwa bhi banwaya, bina gajar ka halwa khaye marna bhi koi marna hai bhala? Aap hi btao."

(Hey Krishna, please save me, I haven't even asked grandma to make carrot halwa yet. Dying without eating carrot halwa, is that even dying? You tell me.)

Her murmurs continued, more out of nervousness than anything else. "Abhi to meri shaadi bhi nahi hui. Taylor aur Sunjae bhi duniya mein aane ka wait kar rahe honge. Arey, aap nahi samjhe, mere bacche. Main to abhi unke papa se bhi nahi mili. Please Krishna, bacha lena."

(I haven't even gotten married yet. Taylor and Sunjae must be waiting to come into the world. Oh, you didn't understand, I am talking about my children. I haven't even met their father yet. Please save me, Krishna.)

Unbeknownst to her, the passenger beside her had lowered his divider, intrigued by her incessant muttering. Eshaanth was on the same flight, heading back to Delhi as planned, but he never anticipated that he'd run into Adrisha Mishra again. It seemed as though fate kept throwing them together.

Eshaanth couldn't help but scoff, thinking, what is it with us? We seem to bump into each other everywhere. He observed her with a mix of amusement and curiosity as she continued to mumble, her eyes squeezed shut in fervent prayer.

An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he listened to her nervous rambling. She was clearly terrified but there was an endearing quality to her frantic muttering. "Ek dam jhalli hai, par cute hai," he thought to himself, though he quickly brushed the thought aside, trying not to dwell on it.

(She is mad but adorable.)

"Are you done?" Eshaanth's voice cut through Adrisha's thoughts with an unmistakable edge of irritation.

Adrisha's eyes snapped open, and she looked towards him in disbelief, her heart sinking at the sight of his familiar face. "Aap?" she almost yelled, causing a few passengers nearby to glance their way.

(You?)

Eshaanth rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. "Aap yaha kya kar rhe hain? Ek minute, kahi aap mujhe follow to nahi kar rhe? Tabhi main sochu baar baar mujhe aapki ganji aankho wali shakal kyu dekhni pad rhi hain," Adrisha said, her voice dripping with sarcasm and suspicion.

(You? What are you doing here? Wait a minute, are you following me? Now I understand why I have to see your irritating face over and over again.)

Eshaanth's jaw clenched at her words. "Mind your language, Miss Mishra," he retorted angrily. "Don't show your status here. You regard yourself as a very high entity, don't you? Do you think I, Eshaanth Raichand, have time to follow you around? You don't even belong sitting beside me."

Adrisha's eyes narrowed, matching his anger. "Well, too bad, Your Highness, you are already sitting beside me. I guess your status must be lowered, isn't it? Mighty Raju kahi ke," she shot back, her voice equally sharp.

Eshaanth's eyes darkened with anger, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. The flight was no place for a scene, and the last thing he wanted was to draw more attention to their already tense exchange. "Let's just get through this flight without any more drama," he said, his voice cold and controlled.

Adrisha crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Fine by me," she muttered, turning her gaze to the window. The storm outside mirrored the storm of emotions within her. Eshaanth Raichand, with his infuriating arrogance, always seemed to push her buttons in the worst possible way.

The silence between them was heavy and uncomfortable. Adrisha couldn't help but replay their previous encounters in her mind, each one more tumultuous than the last. She had hoped to put some distance between them, but fate had other plans.

Eshaanth, on the other hand, was equally frustrated. He had hoped their paths wouldn't cross again so soon, especially after the argument they had the previous night. Her accusations of him following her around were absurd, and he couldn't believe the nerve she had to suggest such a thing. Yet, as much as he tried to push her out of his mind, he found himself glancing at her, his irritation mingling with an inexplicable curiosity.

The plane's descent into Goa continued, the turbulence a constant reminder of their precarious situation. As the minutes dragged on, both Adrisha and Eshaanth were forced to confront the reality of their unexpected proximity.

Finally, the plane touched down, and the passengers began to disembark. Adrisha stood up, eager to put some physical distance between them. "Excuse me," she said tersely, reaching for her bag in the overhead compartment.

Eshaanth moved aside without a word, his own expression a mask of barely contained annoyance. As they filed out of the plane, Adrisha felt a mix of relief and lingering frustration. Their paths might have crossed yet again, but she was determined not to let it affect her any further.

As they walked through the terminal, she couldn't resist one last parting shot. "Next time, try to pick a different flight, Your Highness," she said over her shoulder, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Eshaanth paused, his eyes narrowing. "Don't worry, Miss Mishra. The feeling is mutual," he replied coolly before turning and walking in the opposite direction.

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Adrisha sat in the waiting area for business class, the plush seats doing little to ease her growing anxiety. The storm outside showed no signs of abating, and the uncertainty about when their flight would take off weighed heavily on her. Glancing a few seats away, she noticed Eshaanth engrossed in his iPad, his fingers tapping away with a focused intensity. The situation seemed to frustrate him just as much as it did her; she saw him rub his face wearily, clearly in need of rest.

The announcement confirming their worst fears came shortly after: the storm was still raging, and the flight would be delayed for hours. Adrisha let out an audible sigh, a mix of frustration and resignation. Eshaanth’s shoulders tensed at the sound, but he continued to bury himself in his work, trying to block out the inconvenience of their situation.

Adrisha decided to call her family to let them know about the delay. Her grandmother, her dado, would be particularly worried. She reached into her handbag to retrieve her phone, only to realize with a jolt of panic that it wasn’t there. She frantically searched through the bag again, hoping she had overlooked it. But her worst fear was confirmed: she had left her phone on the plane.

Her heart sank as she scanned the waiting area, hoping to spot a staff member who could help. When she finally found one, she explained her predicament, her voice tinged with urgency. However, the staff member’s response dashed her hopes. They couldn’t allow her back onto the plane until boarding resumed. She would have to wait.

Adrisha felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. How would she inform her family now? She contemplated asking someone for help, but her introverted nature made the thought of approaching a stranger daunting.

Eshaanth had been observing Adrisha’s interactions with the staff member from the corner of his eye. He couldn’t hear their conversation, but her dejected expression was clear enough. Something was wrong. He tried to push his curiosity aside, telling himself that it was none of his business. Yet, the sight of her sitting there, looking so forlorn, nagged at him.

Adrisha looked at Eshaanth, who was sitting silently, absorbed in his work on an iPad. She hesitated, her fingers nervously tapping against the armrest of her chair. She needed to ask for his help, but the memory of their previous encounter, filled with harsh words and misunderstandings, made her pause. She had called him names in the heat of the moment, and now, swallowing her pride and seeking his assistance felt like an insurmountable challenge. But she had no other option; she was too shy to approach anyone else, and her phone was left on the airplane. She needed to make an urgent personal call to her family.

Adrisha continued to look at him, her mind racing to find the right words. She shifted in her seat, her anxiety growing with each passing second. Eshaanth, feeling the intensity of her stare, looked up abruptly, his eyes meeting hers with a sharp gaze.

"What?" he said almost harshly, his tone cutting through the silence like a knife.

Adrisha's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a nervous smile. The saying "waqt aane par gadhe ko bhi baap banana parta hai" echoed in her mind—sometimes you have to do things you wouldn't normally do out of necessity.

"Uhm," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "I... I need your help."

Eshaanth raised an eyebrow, his expression softening just a fraction, but his skepticism was still evident. "What kind of help?"

"I... I left my phone on the airplane," she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I need to make a call to my family. It's urgent."

He leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. The tension between them was palpable, the remnants of their previous argument hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

"Why should I help you?" Eshaanth asked, his voice steady but with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Adrisha hesitated, her mind racing for a suitable response. "Yes, why would you help me?" she muttered to herself, but suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind. A mischievous smirk spread across her face as she looked up at him.

"Dekhiye," she began confidently, "Agar aapne meri help nahi ki na, to mai yahi par let kar zor zor se rone lagungi aur phir agar koi puchhe ki kya hua to mai bol dungi aap ne mujhse wada kiya tha ki shaadi karenge aur ab aap peechhe hat rahe hain."

(Look, if you did not help me, I am going to cry aloud while lying on the ground, and if someone asks what happened, I am going to tell them that you said you would marry me, but now you are backing out.)

Eshaanth's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you sure you don't need treatment?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Adrisha raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "Treatment for what?"

"For your brain," he replied dryly.

"Here, take this and leave me alone," Eshaanth said, taking out his phone and handing it to Adrisha, who gave him a toothy smile before taking it from his hand.

He shook his head, trying to refocus on his iPad, but it wasn’t even a few seconds before Adrisha started poking his biceps, making him grit his teeth and look at her with a scowl.

"What now?" he asked, exasperated.

"Password," she said with a cute smile that made his heart flutter for a moment.

He sighed, took the phone from her hand, and unlocked it before giving it back to her.

She took it with a smile and quickly dialed her home. The call was picked up by her Dado, Kalyani Mishra, who had been very worried about her granddaughter as the news was reporting bad weather. Kalyani's prayers were interrupted when she answered the call, relief washing over her.

"Hello," Kalyani said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Dado," Adrisha said, her voice bright with a smile.

"Adu beta, are you okay?" Kalyani asked hurriedly, thanking God for answering her prayers.

"Arey Dado, take a chill pill. Aapki Adu ko kuch ho sakta hai kya?" Adrisha replied, making Kalyani chuckle and Eshaanth curious. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

(What can happen to your Adu?)

"Haa meri toofan mail, tujhe kya hoga, tere wajah se dusro ko kuch hota hai," Kalyani joked, making Adrisha whine.

(Yes, my storm, what will happen to you, it is people who will suffer because of you.)

"Dado, my flight was delayed due to the weather, so I called to let you know. Right now, the flight is at Goa, and it will take off once the weather clears up," Adrisha explained, making Kalyani hum in understanding.

"Waise Adu, ye kiska number hai?" Kalyani asked, noticing the unfamiliar number.

(Adu, whose phone number is this?)

"Arey Dado, aapko to pata hi hai tragedy aur meri kitni gehri dosti hai. Adrisha and her struggles," she said dramatically, making Kalyani chuckle and Eshaanth's lips twitch up in amusement.

(Dado, you already know that tragedy and I are best friends.)

"Long story short, I forgot my phone on the plane and had to take help from a very generous man," she said, emphasizing 'generous' sarcastically, making Eshaanth raise an eyebrow.

"Ohh, beta, you should thank him properly, dear," Kalyani advised, her tone warm.

"Don't worry, Dado, I will definitely thank him. Come on, I'm not mannerless," Adrisha said, rolling her eyes.

Kalyani just shook her head with a fond smile. "Okay, I will cut the call now. Love you, Dado," Adrisha said and made a kissing noise at the end, making Kalyani chuckle and Eshaanth blush.

Hearing her make that kissing noise, he couldn't help but think that something must be wrong with this girl. The sound, which seemed to convey a mix of longing or playfulness, was unexpected and slightly disconcerting.

At the same time, he was acutely aware of a warm flush spreading across his cheeks. This reaction confused him; he hadn't expected to feel embarrassed or flustered in response to her sound. His body’s involuntary response—blushing—was at odds with his mental reaction, adding a layer of complexity to his feelings. He found himself grappling with an odd mixture of concern for her well-being and self-consciousness about his own emotional and physical reaction. This left him both intrigued and unsettled, as he tried to reconcile his empathy with his unexpected blush.

Adrisha ended the call and handed the phone back to Eshaanth. "Thank you," she said sincerely, her playful demeanor softening.

"Thanks," Adrisha said, her voice sincere.

Eshaanth simply hummed in response, returning his attention to his iPad, unwilling to look at her.

"What hmm? Are you a cow?" Adrisha quipped, making him rub his face in annoyance.

"What is your problem?" he asked angrily, his patience wearing thin.

"Look, I was just teaching you some etiquettes which you lack. When someone says thank you, you need to say 'you're welcome' or 'it's my pleasure,'" Adrisha explained, crossing her arms and looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

Eshaanth gritted his teeth, trying to keep his composure. "Don't get on my nerves. Go back to where you were sitting, okay?"

Adrisha tilted her head, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Oh, come on, King kong. It's just basic manners. I'm sure you can manage that."

Eshaanth's jaw tightened as he looked at her. "Listen girl, go back to your seat now."

Adrisha sighed dramatically, but there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Fine, fine. But you really should work on your social skills. It might make you more approachable."

Eshaanth closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before glaring at her angrily with dark eyes, which made her scared.

She raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, Mr. Grumpy. I’ll leave you alone. But just remember, I'm always here to help you with those manners."

As she turned to walk away, Eshaanth couldn’t help but let out a small, exasperated laugh. "she is impossible," he muttered under his breath.

Adrisha flashed him a bright smile over her shoulder. "And don’t you forget it!" With that, she sauntered back to her seat, leaving Eshaanth shaking his head, a reluctant smile playing on his lips.

Eshaanth watched her go, trying to refocus on his work. Despite her annoying persistence, he found himself somewhat entertained by her antics. He couldn't deny that her energy brought a strange, unexpected lightness to the atmosphere. But he quickly pushed the thought aside, determined to concentrate on his tasks. As he resumed his work, he couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises Adrisha had up her sleeve.

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