HER
AMRITSAR AIRPORT
Naina checked her watch.
Again.
3:10pm
Late.
Obviously.
Her phone buzzed.
She didn’t even need to look.
She knew which chat it was.
Pinned.
Still there.
Still ignored.
For a second.....
her thumb hovered over it.
Then she locked the screen.
Like it didn’t exist.
Her phone buzzed again.
Sakshi calling
Naina sighed and picked up.
Naina: “Hello.....”
Sakshi: “BROOO WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!”
Naina pulled the phone slightly away.
Naina: “Okay first of all, breathe.”
Sakshi: “DON’T TELL ME TO BREATHE! Tune kal bola tha tu aa rahi hai, abhi tak nahi pahunchi!”
Naina started walking toward the gate.
Naina: “Relax meri maa..... airport pe hoon. Flight delay ho gayi. 5 baje tak aa jaungi. Pakka.”
A pause.
Then Sakshi snapped again.
Sakshi: “I swear tera boss na.....”
Naina closed her eyes briefly.
Here we go.
Sakshi: “Usko main personally jaake sunaungi! Who makes someone work till last minute before a flight?! Pagal hai kya woh?!”
A small laugh escaped Naina.
Naina: “He pays me.”
Sakshi: “Toh kya hua?! Insaaniyat naam ki bhi cheez hoti hai!”
Naina shook her head, smiling faintly.
Naina: “You’re overreacting.”
Sakshi: “Main bilkul sahi react kar rahi hoon! Agar tu aur late hui na, main khud aa jaungi tujhe lene!”
Naina: “Please don’t. You’ll create more chaos.”
Sakshi: “Already hai!”
Boarding announcement echoed.
Naina: “Okay I have to go. Boarding.”
Sakshi: “Seedha aa yahan. No drama.”
A small smirk.
Naina: “No promises.”
Sakshi: “NAINA—”
Call cut.
Naina lowered her phone.
For a second.....
the screen lit up again.
That same pinned chat.
Still unopened.
She stared at it.
Just for a moment.
Then turned the phone off.
And walked ahead.
Some things are easier to ignore.....
until they’re not.
FLIGHT TO SRINAGAR
Window seat.
Head resting lightly.
Eyes half closed.
Her phone buzzed once.
She didn’t check.
Didn’t need to.
Clouds outside.
Soft.
Distant.
Untouched.
She turned away.
Not letting her thoughts go back.
Never did.
Srinagar was just a place.
A wedding was just an event.
People.....
temporary.
At least that’s what she believed.
SRINAGAR AIRPORT
The cold hit her the moment she stepped out.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
She walked out with the crowd.....
and then.....
“NAINAAA!”
Naina: “Luis.....”
Luis: “YOU’RE FINALLY HERE!”
He pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her slightly.
Naina: “Okay wow, relax. I just landed.”
Luis: “You took forever!”
Naina: “Flight delay.”
A slight tilt of her head.
Naina: “Missed me that much?”
Luis: “Obviously.”
A small smirk.
Naina: “Good.”
They stepped outside.....
and the cold hit harder.
Naina: “Okay..... that’s not normal.”
Luis: “I told you.”
The drive passed in noise.
Luis talking.
About everything.
About nothing.
Naina just listened.
The car stopped.
Lights everywhere.
Music loud.
People moving in and out.
Luis: “This is insane.”
Naina: “Welcome to Indian weddings.”
They stepped out.....
and the cold hit again.
Worse.
Naina wrapped her arms around herself.
Naina: “Yeah no. I’m not doing this.”
Luis stepped closer.
Luis: “Same.”
For a second.....
they just stood there.
Freezing.
Then.....
Naina moved first.
Stepping into him.
Luis’s arm came around her naturally.
Naina: “We look pathetic.”
Luis: “We are pathetic.”
A quiet laugh.
They started walking.
Arms linked.
Close.
Warm.
People looked.
Of course they did.
Glances.
Whispers.
Judgment.
Luis: “We’re being judged, aren’t we?”
Naina: “Obviously.”
Luis: “Should I let go?”
She looked at him.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Naina: “Are you cold?”
Luis: “Freezing.”
Naina: “Then no.”
A few steps before the entrance.....
Luis slowed.
Luis: “Naina..... you sure?”
Her eyes shifted.
Entrance.
Lights.
People.
And.....
him.
Her jaw tightened.
Just a little.
Luis: “We can stay at a hotel. No one has to know.”
She looked at him.
For a second.....
almost.
Then she shook her head.
Naina: “No.”
Calm.
Certain.
A faint smirk.
Naina: “I didn’t come all this way to hide.”
Luis: “Alright.”
She stepped forward.
No hesitation.
They walked in.
Together.
Unbothered.
Inside.....
the noise hit instantly.
Music.
People.
Chaos.
For a moment.....
no one noticed.
Then.....
Sakshi: “NAINAAA!”
She came rushing through the crowd.
Sakshi: “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!”
She pulled Naina into a tight hug.
Sakshi: “Tu hamesha late kyun hoti hai?! I’ve been calling you like crazy!”
Naina: “Hi to you too.”
Sakshi pulled back, annoyed.
Then looked at Luis.
Sakshi: “AND YOU!”
Luis: “I feel attacked.”
Sakshi: “Tum dono ek saath late aaye ho! Ek bhi responsible nahi ho sakta tha?!”
Luis: “I was on time. She was late.”
Naina: “Wow.”
People watching.
Smiling.
Whispering.
Sakshi grabbed her wrist.
Sakshi: “Chal. Andar aa properly.”
And then.....
it hit.
Not a voice.
Not a touch.
Just.....
a presence.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Naina slowed.
Just for a second.
Her eyes moved.
Across the room.
And then.....
she saw him.
Standing there.
Watching.
Everything faded.
Just for a moment.
Her fingers tightened.
That was it.
She looked away first.
Like nothing happened.
Like he didn’t exist.
Sakshi: “Naina? Chal na!”
Naina: “Coming.”
She didn’t look back.
Didn’t pause again.
But she knew.
He was here.
And this.....
wasn’t just a wedding anymore.
