Chapter: The Morning After
Sana stirred as the early light filtered through the soft gold curtains, casting warm patterns across the room. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the unfamiliar ceiling above her—their room, her new beginning. A small smile crept onto her lips before she even turned her head. She was a wife now. Jay’s wife.She reached out beside her, her bangles clinking gently. The sheets were cold.
Jay wasn’t there.
Sana sat up quickly, her heart skipping. Her gaze swept the room. The couch was empty, and so was the space near the window where he had stood last night.
Maybe he’s in the bathroom, she thought. But the door was slightly ajar, and there was no sound.
She stepped down from the bed, her feet brushing the flower petals scattered from the night before. Her bridal lehenga lay carefully folded on the chair—he must’ve noticed it before leaving the room. That meant something, didn’t it?
A knock sounded on the door.
It was Jay’s younger cousin, smiling brightly. "Bhabhi, breakfast is ready. Everyone’s waiting to meet you!"
Sana smiled back, nodding. "I’ll be right there."
She dressed quickly, choosing a simple peach suit with light embroidery, a soft contrast to the weighty bridal wear from the day before. Her eyes lingered on her reflection. The sindoor in her hairline. The mangalsutra resting on her collarbone. All of it still felt surreal. Beautiful. Fragile.
She walked into the dining hall where family members greeted her with warm smiles and teasing laughter. She kept scanning the room—Where was he?
Finally, Jay walked in, dressed in a crisp kurta. His eyes met hers briefly. Just briefly. He gave her a polite nod, then sat at the opposite end of the table.
Sana’s heart fluttered anyway. He didn’t ignore me, she told herself. Maybe he just needs space. He’ll come around.
Throughout breakfast, he spoke when spoken to, laughed lightly when teased about being a newlywed. And though he never once looked at her the way she looked at him, Sana found comfort in every shared room, every little gesture.Later, when they were alone in the corridor for a moment, she softly said, "You left early."He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I couldn’t sleep."
Her smile was gentle. "It’s okay. I couldn’t either. Everything feels so new… I guess it’ll take some time."Jay only nodded.And Sana, ever hopeful, believed that silence meant agreement. That maybe he was just as overwhelmed as she was. That love, surely, would find its way between them—eventually.
Chapter: A Shared Journey, Alone
When Jay told her she’d be going with him to London, Sana’s heart bloomed with relief. Maybe this was her chance. A fresh start, just the two of them, far from the noise of home and family. Maybe there, he would see her—not just as the girl he married, but the woman who had loved him for years without a name for it.
She spent the night before their flight carefully packing her clothes, adding small things that reminded her of home: a photo of her parents, her wedding bangles, and the handwritten note from her best friend that said, “Now your forever begins.”
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At the Airport
Sana clutched her passport tightly as they moved through immigration. Jay walked ahead, speaking with calm confidence to airport staff, always in control. She followed quietly, still in awe that this man—her husband—was hers.
They said little to each other as they waited to board, but to Sana, silence didn’t feel empty. It felt like promise. He’s tired. He’s thinking. He’ll speak when we’re alone.
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Sana's POV
They settled into adjacent business class seats, wide and luxurious. Sana took the window. Jay put in his headphones almost immediately and leaned back with his eyes closed.
Sana watched him for a moment, the soft shadows of cabin lights playing across his features. How can someone look so peaceful and yet feel so distant? she wondered.
She turned toward the window, pulling the blanket over her lap. Her fingers instinctively brushed the corner of her seat where their arms nearly touched.
This is okay, she told herself. It’s just the beginning. We’re still adjusting. Maybe London will bring us closer.
She smiled faintly to herself and whispered a prayer before drifting into sleep.
Flight Scene – Jay's POV
Jay kept his eyes closed, but sleep didn’t come.
He could feel her beside him—her warmth, her hope. It lingered in the air between them like something fragile and undeserved.
Why did she come? he asked himself, knowing full well the answer. Because she loved him. Because she believed in something he didn’t.
His heart still belonged elsewhere. His mind still wandered to memories that didn’t include Sana. And yet here she was—his wife—holding onto dreams that had never been his to offer.
He sighed silently, turned his head away from her, and let the hum of the plane drown out everything he couldn’t say.
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