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The man’s words gripped Sanjana with guilt, and she stood silently fighting back tears. This was betrayal in a way, getting people’s hopes up that she would join civil services while all she could think about was getting her flight hours logged in.
Comfort swept over her when she felt the gentle squeeze of her hand before Jai spoke up. “Mr. President, there are many ways we can all help and not necessarily through the government. Sanjana is always talking about different projects that would help our region. Rest assured that we are always looking to do good in one way or the other.”
She looked up at him, and all she could think of saying was,Thank you, I love you for saying that, but she could not. She said that with a smile as her heart fluttered for the prince who threatened to rule her heart.
Chapter 13
Sanjana slowly averted her eyes from the car window to look at the man who was frantically typing on his phone. They were on their way back from her grandparents’ village and headed to her parents’ place. Not knowing what to say to him for the two-hour journey, she had pretended to fall asleep.
Soon after, he got a phone call which he ended and had only been messaging like he didn’t want to talk because she was asleep in the car. He was also on phone calls at night after all the festivities the past couple of days and would take them from the balcony.So considerate!
Sanjana knew he was working on something important, and it was hard for him to step away from it all. But she was happy he had joined her, not only because her family was thrilled, but it felt good to be with him.
“Jai…” she said tentatively. He looked up at her and stopped typing. His sudden shift startled her, and she fell silent for an extra moment. She managed to smile and add, “I know you’ve been very busy the past few weeks, and I’m very happy you were able to make it.”
He smiled with so much charm it made her heart race again. “I couldn’t miss all the fun for anything.”
“You’ve been working at night the last few days. You should get some rest.” She couldn’t believe what she had said.
He nodded. “Yes, we are on the last leg of the project, and I’m sorry for being away and ignoring your messages.”
She shook her head, her smile broadening. “That’s okay.”
He held her gaze for a long moment. “I’m going home tomorrow morning. I’ll send the plane back for you whenever you are ready to return to the palace.”
Guilt gripped her when she realized she had not told him about her plan to get in some flying time while she was at her parents’ home. At that moment, she no longer cared about the hours she wanted to record. “No. I’d like to go back with you.”
One end of his mouth twisted up wickedly like he was a tad bit surprised. “Okay. We’ll go whenever you are ready then.”
“Oh, I can wake up early if we need to go by a certain time.” She no longer looked forward to going to the flight club.
He gently shook his head. “No rush. Whenever you are ready.”
She blushed, knowing he was referring to the time she took each morning to drape the saree while at the village and pressed her lips together. “Okay, but it won’t take that long as I won’t be wearing a saree tomorrow.”
He let out a chuckle. “Got it.”
The smile on her face widened. “And, thank you for all the nice things you said about my papa’s work with his colleagues. It’s great that their small organization got all the coverage from the reporters who came to see you at the village event.”
He nodded. “For all the good work they are doing, it’s what they need. Now they have inspired so many retired government officials to join them.”
She nodded, batting away tears of joy and guilt. Joy for her father getting the recognition and guilt that she was not going to be doing what her family was hoping for her to do—pursue a career in the IAS.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked like he knew there was more to the tears of joy.
She lowered her eyes and shook her head, not wanting to say anything. Next thing she heard was the click of the seat belt, and he inched closer to her. A tentative finger went to her chin to raise her hazy eyes to his. “What’s going on?”
The tone and caress in his voice caused her to let out a cry, and she crashed her face into his chest. She didn’t know why she was being so emotional with him, yet it felt like he was the only one she could speak her mind with. “I… after my failed attempt to pass the IAS entrance exam, I was disappointed. As a way to distract myself, I went to a flight club and… I want to be a pilot. I’m not interested in pursuing that path anymore.” She let out a sob, hiding deeper into his chest.
Even as she cried, she felt a strange relief pass through her. Like the weight of keeping the secret lifted just by sharing it with him. And she had no qualms about him knowing at that point.
“Sanjana, calm down.” His voice resonated against her ear as she stayed close to him.”
“I feel extremely guilty about giving up on my family’s dream. Am I a bad person for wanting to do what I want to do?” Her voice was a whisper that was almost lost in the sounds of the engine and ambient noises.
He wrapped an arm around her and held her close to him but did not say anything until she calmed down a bit. One hand went to her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away the moisture as he held her. “There is nothing wrong with chasing your dreams.”
She pulled back slowly, her eyes going up to his. “I know, but I cannot bear the disappointment they will have when I tell them I’m not pursuing what my papa and Deepika are doing.”
