One Step at a Time (Saraj Oneshots)

Flying away (to new beginnings)

Basically need the show to acknowledge Savi's trauma, so here is step one. Takes place when the two them decide to fly away to the Rab Rakha set. The last time Savi flew it was a disaster, so let's call back to that :)

...

It started the second she entered the airport. It took her a moment to realize-she didn't think she had ever traveled by plane before. She'd never needed to--never wanted to--a memory flashed before her eyes, one she had managed to ignore for so long, and she took a deep breath, wanting to ignore it yet again.

"Savi, Savi!" Rajat's voice snapped her out of her reverie, and she noticed him standing a few feet away, hand gripping the luggage. "Chalein!"

"Right, right," she whispered, wiping the layer of sweat forming on her neck. She didn't have time for this-she had a flight to catch.

---

She sat in the chair, her head colliding with the seat as her eyes snapped shut, wanting to just rest her mind. It should have been easy, she thought. Just one flight, the only practical solution to the hectic day that lay ahead.

"Nice," Rajat began, making himself comfortable next to her. "You got me a seat with leg space." He looked at his wife. "Not that bad, actually."

Savi cracked a forced smile in his direction. "1989 model, remember?" She tilted her head slightly in acknowledgment. "I wouldn't have done this, honestly, but I realized I need to sit next to you for two hours. I need you to shut up while that happens." She gave her reasoning, and Rajat's sarcastic smile fell in a second. "Well, that's good, actually. I'm also not interested in having any conversation with you either." He took his AirPods out, plopping them in his ears, and immediately zoned her out.

Savi's face fell a little when it happened--not that she should expect anything from him. Why would he? But she welcomed the distraction he offered anyway. Sometimes, being with him felt like she could forget everything that had ever happened to her-maybe even embrace the new life that had come her way as Sai's mother, his companion-whatever they were. But then moments like these made her realize maybe she was far from letting go of the Savi she was before.

Savi Bho--Thakkar--she had a million things to think about, and here she was, getting stressed over being in an airplane. Her breaths started to get deeper as she tapped her chest lightly, her eyes darting a little toward the people placing their luggage, hoping to see nothing suspicious.

"You okay?" Rajat's voice cut through Savi's thoughts again, and she turned to look at him. His expression was soft, something that she had noticed was happening a lot lately, and she nodded. "I'm fine. Just been a while." She wiped her neck again-why was it so hot in here?

"In a plane?" Rajat's eyebrows rose, and Savi nodded affirmatively. "Second time, actually."

"Second?!"

"Never needed to," she shrugged, fastening her seatbelt-or wanted to. "I've always been in Maharashtra only."

"Where was the first time?" Rajat asked curiously, and Savi's expression darkened slightly, much to his surprise. "Not important," she snapped, looking ahead. Before Rajat could dwell on it further, the announcements began, marking the beginning of their flight.

                        ...

Savi gripped her seat tightly, eyes scrunched up in concentration as she tried to focus on anything but the fact that she was in the air. Helpless, alone--what if something went wrong?

"It's okay," Rajat's voice calmed her down ever so slightly, and she let out a deep breath. "It's only a few minutes." For some reason, the fact that he wasn't making fun of her surprised her, but she was too occupied with her thoughts to dwell on it. "We'll be okay."