Shruti smiled and exchanged her seat with Roohi, who was practically bouncing with excitement. As Shruti settled into the middle seat, she realized that she was now sitting alarmingly close to Siddharth. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a flutter in her chest. The proximity of their bodies seemed to create a palpable tension, and Shruti's heartbeat quickened as she struggled to calm her nerves.
Just as she was trying to compose herself, the air hostess's voice came over the intercom, instructing everyone to fasten their seatbelts. Shruti fumbled with her seatbelt, but it seemed to be stuck. She tugged at it gently, but it refused to budge.
Siddharth, noticing her struggle, leaned forward to assist her. "Let me help you," he said, his voice low and smooth.
As he reached for the seatbelt, his face drew closer to Shruti's, and she felt her heart racing like a jackrabbit. She stared at his face, mesmerized by the sharp angles of his jawline and the piercing blue of his eyes. Time seemed to stand still as they sat there, frozen in a moment of intense proximity.
Finally, Siddharth managed to free the seatbelt, and as he turned to face Shruti, their eyes locked in a sparkling gaze. The air between them seemed to vibrate with tension, and Shruti felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes.
For a few seconds, they just stared at each other, their hearts pounding in unison. Then, Siddharth suddenly snapped out of the trance, his cheeks flushing a deep red.
"I...uh...need to go to the restroom!" he exclaimed, his voice awkward and hurried.
With that, he leapt out of his seat and made a hasty exit, leaving Shruti feeling bewildered and breathless.
In the washroom, Siddharth stood in front of the mirror, taking deep breaths as he tried to calm down. "What is wrong with me?" he murmured to himself, his eyes scanning his reflection as if searching for answers. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. "Why is it beating so fast?" he wondered, his brow furrowed in confusion.
He couldn't understand why his heart was racing like this. Was it the proximity to Shruti? The way she looked at him? The way he felt when their eyes met? Siddharth shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He took a few more deep breaths, feeling his heart rate slow down, and his mind calm.
After a few minutes, Siddharth returned to his seat, feeling more composed. As he approached, he noticed that Shruti and Roohi were both fast asleep. "They must be tired," he thought, looking at them with affection. He sat down quietly, trying not to disturb them.
As he settled in, Siddharth felt his own eyelids growing heavy. He leaned back in his seat, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep too.
A few hours passed, and Siddharth slowly opened his eyes. As he became more alert, he realized that Shruti's head was resting on his shoulder. He looked down at her, and his heart skipped a beat. "She looks so cute while sleeping," he thought, a soft smile spreading across his face.
As he gazed at her, Siddharth noticed a stray strand of hair on her face. Without thinking, he gently reached out and slid the hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down his spine.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Shruti's eyes fluttered open. Siddharth's heart skipped a beat as he realized he had been caught. He quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, hoping that Shruti hadn't noticed his momentary lapse.
Shruti slowly opened her eyes, disoriented for a moment. As her gaze focused, she realized that her head was resting on Siddharth's shoulder. She quickly pulled away, her heart racing with embarrassment. "God! What are you doing, Shruti?" she murmured to herself, her cheeks flushing with mortification.
As she sat up straight, her eyes drifted to Siddharth's face. He was still asleep, his features relaxed and peaceful. Shruti's gaze lingered on his face, and she couldn't help but think, "How can he look so handsome while sleeping?" His eyelashes cast a shadow on his cheeks, and his lips were slightly parted, giving him a vulnerable yet endearing appearance.
Shruti's reverie was interrupted by Roohi's yawn. "Good morning, Shruti," Roohi smiled, stretching her arms over her head.
Shruti returned the smile, trying to compose herself. "Good morning, Roohi. Did you sleep well?" she asked, attempting to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil inside her.
Roohi nodded, and they chatted for a while, discussing their plans for the day. As they talked, the plane began its descent into Paris. Before long, the pilot's voice came over the intercom, announcing their arrival.
As they disembarked from the plane, Roohi excused herself to visit the restroom. Siddharth, who had been quiet until then, turned to Shruti and asked, "Should we sit somewhere?"
Shruti nodded, and they both walked over to a nearby chair. As they sat down, Shruti couldn't help but feel a sense of awareness, knowing that she was sitting alone with Siddharth, even if it was just for a few minutes.
Both Shruti and Siddharth sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the gentle hum of the airport around them. They both seemed lost in their own thoughts, unsure of how to break the silence.
Finally, Shruti spoke up, her voice breaking the awkward silence. "By the way, why did you make a plan for a trip?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Siddharth chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Ah, it was Roohi's plan. And you know her, when she sets her mind on something, nobody can stop her."
Shruti laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's so like her," she said, her voice filled with affection.
Siddharth's expression turned serious, his eyes locked onto Shruti's. "Actually, when she asked me if we can invite you too, I was worried if you would accept it or not," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability.
Shruti's brow furrowed in surprise. "Why wouldn't I?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Siddharth shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a gentle motion. "I mean, you are the only heir of the Singh estate, so you must be very busy," he said, his eyes searching hers for understanding.
Shruti leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting upwards to gaze at the ceiling. "No, no, I haven't indulged myself in the work yet. Actually, I am more into art, and once I start working, I will not have time for my passion," she said, her voice filled with a hint of wistfulness.
As she finished speaking, Shruti turned her face back to Siddharth, expecting him to respond. But instead, she found him staring at her, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
Her cheeks grew red as she felt a flutter in her chest. "W... what happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Siddharth realized he was staring at her and became embarrassed. "Sorry, I just..." he started to say, but his phone rang with a notification, interrupting him.
He looked at his phone, and his eyes grew wider in surprise.
Shruti's eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the sudden change in Siddharth's expression. "What happened?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Siddharth's eyes were fixed on his phone, his brow furrowed in surprise. He hesitated for a moment before turning the screen towards Shruti. "It's a message from Roohi," he said, his voice laced with a hint of worry.
Shruti's eyes scanned the screen, and her expression changed from curiosity to surprise. The message was from Roohi, and it was brief but urgent. "Hey bhaiya, I'm so sorry but I have to go back home. There's an urgent issue with my studies and I need to take care of it. Please take care of Shruti and make sure she has a great time in Paris. Love you!"
