The new day dawned. The sun was an orange ball of fire in the clear blue sky. She said her prayers, had her bath, ate breakfast of aloo parathas, and got ready to start her day. Her mother had made the parathas and the tea. Her father and brother were still asleep. She cycled to the tennis courts and began practice with her young friend. He was just 22 and was working in a computer office in Gurgaon. Such jobs were rare, and he treasured them. It was six in the morning, and there was a chirping of birds. It promised to be a good day.

They played for about forty-five minutes, then they called it a day. The match ended a draw. He left on his two-wheeler to go home, change, and go to the office. She left for her NDA exam center in a bus, leaving the cycle there to be picked up later

She had an exam to give for a pilot. She was tense. She reached the venue on time. Several other aspirants were there all male, but that did not deter the young lady. She promptly showed her admit card and wrote the exam. She checked again and revised her paper. The exam was to be followed by an interview. Her medical fitness exam was to be held the following day.

Soon it was noon. She thanked her supervisor and inquired about the result. He told her she could download the result in May. She left for her home after befriending another young cadet. She was reminded of her NCC activities in school.

She came home and told her mother about her day. The days passed and soon it was time of her result. She checked the website and found her name on the list. Ecstatic, she called Arav and informed him about her selection. He came home and asked her parents for her hand. Her parents agreed. This was a double whammy.

She had to leave for Khadakwasla and begin her training. The training period was of three years. The years were tough being away from home, and her routine was also hectic. But it was worth it, and she completed her training with flying colours. 

She got her posting in Chandigarh. They had a civil marriage. Her friends and his family, his mother, father and sister, attended the wedding. Aarav soon joined her in the cantonment. They had a servant, and they drove her car themselves. He got a good break in Chandigarh as a computer officer, but he had to travel to his place of work. Their days were long, but in the evenings they attended parties on weekends.

She loved getting into the cockpit and flying the plane up in the blue sky. There were many flying exercises that took place. She was an alert pilot. Her rank was that of a flying officer, and her superior the flying lieutenant. She was happy with her. She learned all about the aircraft.

Then she had to undergo training in Kerala. Aarav did not accompany her, and he moved to a company flat. She completed her requisite number of flying hours and was ready to return to Chandigarh.

Araav's family was now giving hints about a baby. However, there were complications, and she could not conceive. Arav was understanding but saddened by the thought that they could not have a family. The family's army officer doctor had been trying to help the young couple.

Meanwhile Arav's sister got married to a banker. The wedding was a grand affair in Delhi and lasted for a week. There was mehndi, followed by sangeet, the wedding itself and then the DJ night. Everybody enjoyed themselves, and food and drink were flowing. The bride was wearing a Sabsachi lehenga, and the groom, not to be outdone, wore a cream kurta pyjama. The pheras were held at night. There were many guests. Overall, the mood of the family was buoyant.

They decided to buy their own flat, so they checked out several properties. Finally, they settled on Golden Era homes and booked a three-bedroom flat. Her mother had a fall in her village, and she came to the army medical hospital to get treated. She had suffered a fracture of the leg. Gradually, with due care, she recovered after three months. Then she moved back to her village home.

She had to travel to Paris. She bought several lipsticks and shampoos, and perfumes from the house of L'Oréal. Her in-laws were overjoyed with the gifts, and so was her sister. Aarav, as usual, abstained from any comments. Their life was where code met cloud, and love flew higher than any of them had thought possible. But the sadness of no children clouded their marital happiness.

They began to see past the surface: Aarohi learned the beauty in precision and patience; Aarav discovered the thrill of risk and real-world urgency. Somewhere between debug logs and cloud bursts, they fell in love — not the grand cinematic kind, but the quiet, steady sort that surprises you when the engine’s off and the sky is still.

Once, Aarohi had to fly blind on her practice flight. Aarav thought she was reckless, but he helped her with an AI custom weather mapping tool, and they soon began to rely on each other for support.

There was a party in Aarav's office one weekend. His superior was coming. So Aarohi wore a beautiful blue chiffon saree and stepped out with Aarav. The party was a grand success. There were many businessmen, and a merger was announced between Aarav's company and another one. Aarav was promoted. Their joy knew no bounds. Meanwhile, Aarohi was trying to avoid a posting to another place, and she succeeded. She was fearless, focused, and famously elusive — the kind of woman who chased the wind and dodged expectations. Sometimes, the skies still called her away, and sometimes, he got lost in code for days. But they always found each other again, grounded in trust, lifted by love.

Some are made to fly.

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