Between Us💌

Reaching Gwalior

"Sartik!! Sara ji!! Sara ji...Champion...rooh babaaa...yaha dekhiye." the paps were hooting and cheering as they both were on the airport starting their journey to Gwalior.

Both of them were feeling not butterflies but the entire zoo in their stomachs for some unknown reason. Both of them were feeling like high school crushes standing beside each other for the first time. Though they have felt the exact same thing before...many years ago. They did namastey together and waved a bye to the paps.

As they sat on their seats which were obviously beside each other, the soft glow of the evening sun painted the clouds in hues of pink and gold, a stark contrast to the emotions swirling inside her. She was watching the cloud as the flight took off.

Beside her, Kartik was lost in adoring her. He saw her taking her eyes away from outside. He couldn't read her expression if she was happy, anxious, excited or anything.

"Excited about Gwalior?" Kartik's voice broke through her thoughts.

Sara turned to him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "It's your place. Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Kartik chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a mix of nostalgia and amusement. "True...I am feeling so overwhelmed"

"I know how it means to you..." she said and kept her hand over his hand squeezing it a bit.

"Last I went during Chandu Champion" he said.

"I've never been there," Sara admitted taking her hand back, glancing back at the clouds. "I'm curious to see what it's like, to see where you grew up"

"You'll love it," Kartik said, leaning back in his seat, his eyes still on her. "It's a city full of history and charm. And the food? You won't be able to resist"

"Agar iss baar mere diet ke time pe mujhe dikha dikha ke tumne kuch khaya na to dekh lena" Sara said narrowing her eyes.

"Arey yaar khana to khane ke liye hi to banaya jata hain na? Ab main kha sakta hu aur tum nahi to iss main meri kya galti" he teased.

She raised her nails like a cat to attack on him and he laughed saying,

"Baas baas jangli billi shant...main khud hi aaj kal health conscious ho chuka hu...diet pe hi rehta hu jyadatar"

"I know" she said softly.

"Don't worry main iss bar tang nahi karunga" he said with a casual serious tone.

She didn't reply.

As the plane began its descent, the sprawling city of Gwalior came into view. The car ride from the airport to their hotel was filled with Kartik pointing places out to her, sharing stories of his childhood.

As they reached their hotel, they were parting their ways and she turned and said,

"Shuno"

"Haan bolo" he turned.

"Maine kabhi kaha kya ki tang mat karo?" she asked looking into his eyes.

He was confused and with a frown, he said, "Nahi to...kiu?"

"Baas ese hi pucha" she said and went to her room.

He didn't understand and went back to his room.
Their team who were hearing their conversation from the plane giggled all together. They were already on the mission to make encounter between these two hopeless people who are still in love but refused to admit.

Their rooms were adjacent, a thoughtful touch by the hotel.

After a quick change into something more comfortable, Sara stepped out onto the balcony of her room, taking in the view.