Azure Knot

:: 19 ::

Prashanth walked into the crew lounge, the familiar hum of conversation and laughter from other pilots and crew members filling the air. But his mind was far from the easy camaraderie that surrounded him. His thoughts were consumed by his conversation with Lathika earlier that evening—the way she had looked, the subtle shift in her demeanour that had taken him by surprise.

She had always been strong, confident, the type to stand her ground no matter the situation. He remembered the way she had once argued with him, putting her foot down in a way that made him respect her even more despite the irritation. But today, she had looked... fragile, almost delicate. He hadn't imagined seeing her like that. The woman who had once been full of fire and determination was now weighed down by uncertainty and fear, and it troubled him more than he cared to admit.

Prashanth felt a strange tug in his chest, something that pulled at him in a way he hadn't expected. Empathy, maybe? He shook his head, trying to brush off the emotion. It was nothing. But still, the image of Lathika, struggling to even ask for his help, stayed with him. He couldn't help but feel bad for her.

He pushed open the glass door to an inner lounge and found an empty seat in the corner, far from the noisy chatter of his colleagues. It was quiet here, which was exactly what he needed. He sank into the seat, leaning back with a sigh.

His mind wandered back to their conversation—how embarrassed she had been to ask about his offer, the one he'd made months ago when she asked what he was on his mind. The offer to marry him in exchange for a portion of his inheritance. He had told her that he'd booked a plot of land on the outskirts of Chennai, a place where he dreamed of building his flying academy. But the truth was, he had cancelled that booking long before they ever met.

He frowned, remembering the lie he had told her. He hadn't meant to deceive her, but he thought it would make her feel less vulnerable if their arrange would benefit both of them instead of one. After all, who would want to ask for help only to be faced with the reality of a situation that could feel humiliating? It was easier to pretend there was a grand plan, something more concrete, than to admit the truth—he didn't want her to feel small.

As Prashanth slouched further into the seat, the weight of his thoughts didn't seem to lighten, but the uncertainty didn't feel as paralyzing. He had made a choice, and now he had to live with it. All that mattered now was what came next—and how they would face the challenges together.

His next schedule was coming up, and he had no choice but to let this rest for now. But even as he prepared himself for the next flight, a part of him couldn't stop thinking about what would happen when they had to confront their families about this decision. That too months after they had cut off communication with their respective families.

✈✈✈✈

Lathika switched on the lights in her small apartment, the soft hum of the fan the only sound filling the otherwise quiet space. She dropped herself onto the couch with a sigh, feeling the weight of the day's events settle in her chest. The conversation with Prashanth had left her feeling a strange mixture of relief and unease. It was one thing to talk about a business arrangement, but it was something entirely different when emotions and personal stakes were involved.

Her hand dangled over the arm of the couch as she stared at the fan spinning lazily above her. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance, replaying snippets of the conversation with him. A small smile played at the corner of her lips, and for a moment, she let herself drift in the quiet comfort of the apartment.

But then, in an instant, her mind snapped back to reality, and she felt a wave of guilt rush over her. "You didn't secure a loan to be paid as per the term, Lathika," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with self-reproach. "You made a deal with Prashanth to marry him and get a part of the inheritance to help you grow. That's not something to be proud of."