When Fire Meets Ice - Completed.

82. A T R I P

A/N — Before you start this chapter, I want you to read every word of it. Not just because it’s one of the most wholesome chapters I’ve written, but because every little emotion here matters.
Trust me… someday you might regret not feeling every emotion of this fully.

♥︎

A H A D

The days after Eid were chaotic. Mom’s sisters and Bua had been visiting with their children.

Meanwhile, I was busy planning the mini trip for us. It was a surprise for her, I chose a place Ina had mentioned wanting to visit once.

I walked into our room and nearly gasped when I found Inaya sprawled casually on the bed, the bags left open, still empty.

“Ina?” I called out, exasperated because we were leaving early tomorrow, and it was almost midnight by now.

I had stepped out earlier to explain the plan to the others.

Inaya and I would take a commercial flight tomorrow and leave two days ahead of everyone else. Kaif, Zara and Asim would depart the following evening in the private jet for the States.

The Global Annual Event was on Saturday.

Tomorrow was Tuesday.

Inaya and I would reach by tomorrow evening and stay there until Thursday morning. They’d make a technical halt where we would join them before flying the rest of the way together.

We’d land on Friday morning, attend the event on Saturday, and return to Mumbai by Monday.

I had it all planned out, and this woman hadn't even packed her clothes yet.

She turned to look at me, asking, “What?”

“Why aren't the bags packed?”

“Don't you like… have malls everywhere? Why do I even need to?”

Like I didn’t know she was trying to figure out where we were going.

“I don't have malls everywhere!” I exclaimed, literally lifting her off the bed and carrying her to the closet. “The flight is at eight in the morning tomorrow so sleep early, or I'm leaving you behind.”

“Leave me behind?” She cackled, grabbing a few light outfits and dropped them into the bag.

“What? You think I can't.” I said, sounding more defensive than I did in my head. She turned to me with a sweet grin, patting my cheek as she whispered, “I know you can't.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to hold back the smile threatening to surface. We worked together with little talks in between.

“Do I need any warm clothes?”

I shook my head. “Just take one warm overcoat, in case it gets unpredictable.”

She agreed and we were done packing by 1:30 a.m.

Once done, we plopped on the bed, kissed, laughed for reasons we didn't remember and dozed off.

.

.

“Have fun!!” Zara exclaimed for the fifth time, a little louder than necessary, urging Kaif to wrap an arm around her shoulder and drag her away.

He threw a smirk my way, waving once before they left. Inaya looked around the airport and I held her hand in mine, giving her a look. “Don't see the boards if you want the surprise.”

“Ahadd,” she whined, walking grumpily by my side, “Tell me, I'm so restless! You didn't even let me see our tickets.”

“You told me you trust me and  I can take you wherever I want.” I teased only for her to roll her eyes, mumbling, “Which was clearly a mistake.”