Forever His

Chapter 37: Santorini

Mahnoor's POV:

My eyes slowly start to flutter open and I shift slightly in my seat, the soft hum of the jet's engines filling the quiet cabin. I didn't mean to fall asleep, especially not here, beside him, but the weight of the past few weeks must have caught up with me. My body felt heavy, wrapped in a warmth I don't remember seeking out.

I stir again, pulling the blanket tighter around me. I hadn't grabbed it. I knew that much. He must have covered me. The thought made me pause, something unfamiliar settling in my chest. It was a small gesture—practical, really—but for some reason, it stayed with me. I couldn't explain why.

I opened my eyes just enough to glance at him. He was asleep now, head leaning back against the seat, his breathing deep and steady. His face, usually unreadable, looked softer like this, more relaxed. No trace of the tension I'd gotten used to. It was strange seeing him like this, without the guarded edge that was always there when he was awake.

I should turn away, close my eyes and go back to sleep, but I don't. Instead, I find myself looking at him again, more than I meant to. I wasn't sure why. Something about him—about this quiet moment—made me linger. I couldn't place it. It's not attraction, not really. It was something else. Something I didn't have a name for.

And then I realize—I'd done it again. I'd turned back to look at him, without even thinking about it. I didn't understand it, this strange pull to glance at him, to see him like this. It felt odd, unsettling in a way, but not in a bad way. Just... different. I couldn't explain why I noticed these things, why I kept looking, but I couldn't seem to help it.

He shifts slightly in his sleep, and I hold my breath, not wanting to wake him. There was something fragile about this moment—about the stillness between us—and I didn't want it to end. I didn't know why I cared, but I did.

I turn away, closing my eyes again, but the feeling lingered. Something had shifted between us, subtle and unnamed, hovering in the quiet air of the cabin. I didn't know what it was, or if he felt it too, but it was there, pulling at the edges of my thoughts in a way I couldn't ignore.  I was going to be alone on my honeymoon for most the time, like he had said. I pretended I wasn't bothered—I was. 

All my life, I've gone through so many friendships, had many broken ones. I feel like I'm always in the shadows, unnoticed and forgotten. No one ever sees me, like I'm invisible in a crowded room. I've never felt like I mattered much to anyone. It's as if my voice doesn't count, always drowned out by others. I try to speak, but it seems like no one really listens to me. I'm constantly overlooked, as if I'm not worth acknowledging. It feels like I exist on the edges of people's lives, never quite important. I've grown used to being ignored, like my presence doesn't make a difference. No matter what I do, I never feel like I'm enough for anyone. I'm left standing in the background, watching everyone else move forward. 

I hear shuffling from my right and turn to see him slowly waking from his sleep. I clear my thoughts.

"Good Afternoon. Rise and shine." He rubs his eyes like a child and I can't stop my lips from turning into a solemn smile.

"Hm, we still have three hours left." He calls over one of the crew members to serve food. There was homemade biryani, pasta, steak for mains and rice pudding, chocolate cake or freshly made jalebi for dessert. There were snacks but I just took a slice of cake. 

"I'll have one large pasta with water. Bring one chai with two sugars. A little heavy on the cardamom." 

I blinked, a little taken aback, watching how he spoke to the flight attendant with such casual certainty. I didn't know why it surprised me. It was such a small thing, really—an order. But there was something about the way he said it, like he didn't need to ask, like he just knew. And I guess, somehow, he did.

For a moment, I just stared at him, my mind scrambling to catch up. I hadn't realized he'd been paying attention, let alone noticed how I liked my chai. I certainly hadn't told him outright. We didn't talk much about personal things, about preferences or details that felt too close to home. Yet here he was, remembering something so small, so specific about me, without even thinking twice. 

It left me feeling... strange. I wasn't sure what to make of it. The gesture was quiet, subtle, but it held weight. A warmth settled in my chest that I couldn't quite explain. I hadn't expected him to remember—or even notice in the first place. But he had.

"How do you know I like a strong cardamom flavour?"

"Because whenever you're drinking it, the whole room is filled with the aroma of the scent, meaning you like it heavy."

"Right. Of course."

I glance at him again, but he was already back to his usual self, leaning back in his seat, calm and unreadable, as if ordering my chai exactly the way I liked it was the most natural thing in the world. I don't even think my best friend knew that about me in our years of friendship. He'd realised in less than a month. Sometimes, it was the little things that mattered the most. Or maybe they added up to make something big.

And for the first time, I wondered what else he'd noticed, what other small details he'd picked up about me when I hadn't been paying attention. And for the first time, I felt seen.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

HIIII! 

I know this isn't a hugely long chapter but I really like it. Probably one of my favs!

The parallels are so cute

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT AND FOLLOW!!!

Love you ALWAYS and see you in the next chapter!

Byee