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Chapter 12 - Cloud Nine: Altitude, Attitude & Almosts

Sometimes, turbulence has nothing to do with the weather.

Scene: Morning | Jaipur Airport – The Singhania Private Hangar

The tarmac shimmered under the morning sun as the Singhania private jet, matte-black with golden lion insignia, gleamed like a beast ready to roar.

Inside the jet, plush leather seats, champagne chillers, and touchscreen panels surrounded the sleek interior. A team of three cabin crew prepped everything down to the scent — oud and jasmine.

Reeva Khanna stepped in first, dressed in tailored high-waisted beige trousers and a black sleeveless blouse, blazer slung over her shoulder. Her Louboutin heels clicked softly against the aircraft floor.

Reeva (grinning):"Not bad, Singhania. Royalty suits the skies well."

Trisha entered right behind her, in a crisp dark navy shirt tucked into fitted trousers, sunglasses still on, jaw sharp enough to cut through the clouds.

Trisha (smirking):"And queendom still follows, doesn't it?"

Reeva raised an eyebrow, dropping her blazer on the seat beside her as she sat down.

Reeva:"Follow? Or steal the spotlight mid-air?"

Trisha:"Let's just say, the jet isn't the only thing flying high today."

They laughed. The door sealed. Engines roared to life. Jaipur began to shrink below them.

In the Air – 36,000 feet

The flight was just under 1.5 hours, but the energy between them was electric. They sat facing each other, a private table between them, untouched mimosas on one side and shared glances on the other.

Trisha (leaning back, legs crossed):"You know you're dangerous in black, right?"

Reeva (twirling a spoon in her coffee):"I could say the same. But I don't flirt with business partners."

Trisha (raising a brow):"Oh? So what's this — performance review?"

Reeva (locking eyes):"Call it... team bonding."

A beat passed. Silent, charged, bold.

Reeva:"Tell me, Singhania. Is this jet soundproof?"

Trisha (grinning, leaning closer):"Why? Planning to scream something mid-air?"

Reeva laughed — low, throaty, unapologetic.

Reeva:"Relax. You're not that good yet."

Trisha:"Yet?"

Reeva (tilting her head):"Confidence or challenge?"

Trisha (with a smirk):"Invitation."

The steward entered just then, halting the tension.

Crew:"Ma'ams, we'll be landing in Udaipur shortly."

Trisha took a long sip of her mimosa.

Trisha (to Reeva):"Udaipur's gonna be hot."

Reeva (not missing a beat):"It already is. And we haven't even left the jet."

Scene ends with the jet descending, the lake city sparkling below

As Udaipur emerged like a royal dream, so did the reality of their venture — and the undeniable spark between them.

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