Kartik grumbled under his breath as his mother insisted he wear a suit for his blind date. His interactions with women had been limited, and nerves crept in. Arriving at the café, he spotted you, and was instantly mesmerized. You might not have considered yourself the prettiest, but to him, you were precious. Your innocent demeanor intrigued him, but your bold, happy, and witty nature made him fall even harder.

Four months into your marriage, duty called—Kartik was stationed on a ship for an entire year. The farewell was heartbreaking, tears threatening to spill as you bid him goodbye. But sitting and crying? Living normally? Finding distractions? None of those were an option for you. Ever resourceful, you sought ways to get on that damn ship. You applied for postings, explored job opportunities, and leveraged your father-in-law’s network. Finally, thanks to your psychology background, you secured a counselor position on board. Kartik had no idea.

Six months of paperwork, tests, and formalities later, you held your appointment letter. The journey had been tough, but the reward was sweeter.

Stepping aboard, you reported to the captain, who assigned a female officer to help you settle in with the other staff—counselors, medics, and doctors. The day passed in a blur, but you never once caught a glimpse of Kartik. Too apprehensive to ask around, you dug for information yourself—and soon, you found out exactly which room was his.

After finishing your sessions for the day, you returned to your room, heart racing with anticipation. You took your time, making sure you looked your best. As night fell, you made your way to his room, the quiet hum of the ship filling the air.

Taking a deep breath, you raised your hand and knocked.