At Mumbai

The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon when Sukhman and Nandini arrived at the airport. The air was crisp with the scent of jet fuel, and the distant hum of engines filled the atmosphere. Sukhman's heart pounded. This was it—the first step toward a life he had only dared to dream about.

Nandini, noticing his nervous demeanor, gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Nervous, Mr. Singh?" she asked with a smirk.

Sukhman swallowed hard and nodded. "I've never been on a plane before. It's... intimidating."

She chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Just relax."

The Flight

As they boarded, Sukhman's anxiety only grew. The narrow aisle, the scent of recycled air, and the sheer number of people packed into the cabin made him feel trapped. He hesitated before taking his seat next to Nandini.

"Paaji, you good?" Harinder had asked him last night, knowing this moment would come. "You ain't the type to get scared, right?"

Now, sitting stiffly in his seat, Sukhman wasn't so sure.

The engines roared to life, and the plane began taxiing down the runway. As it picked up speed, Sukhman's grip tightened on the armrests. Nandini noticed and smirked.

"Relax, Sukhman. The pilots know what they're doing."

He let out a shaky breath and muttered, "Baba ji, kirpa karna..." (Baba Ji, have mercy...)

As the plane lifted off the ground, he squeezed his eyes shut. He willed himself to think about something else—anything else.

Flashback: After Signing with Vaayu GP

After signing the contract, Nandini had arranged a room for him at Hotel Rosemary. Harinder, exhausted from the chaos of the day, plopped onto the bed with a groan.

"Oye, Paaji, aaj ka din koi bhool nahi sakta!" (Oye, Paaji, no one can forget a day like today!) he said, rubbing his face. "Chase, police, contract... sab ek din mein ho gaya!" (A chase, the police, the contract… all in one day!)

Sukhman nodded, still processing everything.

Harinder suddenly sat up, alarmed. "Ohh bha&^!** (Ohh, damn!) "Meri maa! Mujhe ghar jaana tha!" (My mother! I had to go home!)

He scrambled for his phone while Sukhman laughed.

Just then, Nandini walked in, arms crossed. "So, you two had quite the adventure getting here, huh?"

Sukhman sighed. "Yeah, it was... complicated."

Nandini smirked. "Your father really is against this, isn't he?"

Sukhman nodded. "He's stubborn. I tried reasoning with him, but..."

Nandini sighed. "No problem. I'll handle it."

She made a quick phone call, then turned to Harinder. "Your car will be repaired and ready in an hour. You'll be able to go home soon."

Harinder let out a relieved sigh. "Dhanyavaad, madam ji." (Thank you, madam.)

She nodded. "As for you, Sukhman, we leave for Mumbai tomorrow. Everything's arranged."

Sukhman blinked. "Mumbai?"

"Yes. That's where Vaayu GP's headquarters is. We have work to do."

Arrival in Mumbai

Sukhman snapped back to the present as the plane touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The moment he stepped out, the humidity hit him. Mumbai was alive—bustling streets, honking cars, and the scent of the sea in the distance.

A sleek black car awaited them. As they drove through the city, Sukhman stared out the window, watching the towering buildings, the endless traffic, and the sheer energy of the place.

"Welcome to Mumbai, Mr. Singh," Nandini said with a smile.

The drive to Vaayu GP headquarters was long but mesmerizing. They passed the famous Marine Drive, the towering skyscrapers of Bandra, and finally entered a high-security complex that housed the team.

---

Meeting Yudhvir Shikre

As Nandini left to arrange a meeting with Vaayu GP's sporting director and team principal, Sukhman found himself alone in the lounge area of the headquarters. It was a modern, sleek space with Vaayu GP's colors—blue and silver—emblazoned on the walls. He barely had time to take it all in before a voice broke his thoughts.

"Arrey! Tum naya ladka ho kya?" (Hey! Are you the new guy?)

Sukhman turned to see a tall, well-built man with sharp features and an unmistakable confidence in his stance. He had a neatly trimmed beard and wore a Vaayu GP polo shirt.

"Haan... mera naam Sukhman Singh hai." (Yeah… my name is Sukhman Singh.)

The man extended his hand with a grin.

"Yudhvir Shikre. Team ka first choice driver." (Yudhvir Shikre. The team's first choice driver.)

Sukhman shook his hand firmly.

"Mujhe pata hai kaun ho aap. Aapne Asian qualifiers ke races dekhe the maine." (I know who you are. I watched your races in the Asian qualifiers.)

Yudhvir chuckled.

"Acha? Toh batao, kaunsa best laga?" (Oh yeah? Tell me, which one was the best?)

Sukhman smirked.

"Sepang wala. Woh move jo tumne last lap pe kiya tha... usko dekhke lag raha tha ki aapka koi aur hi plan tha race ke liye."

(The one in Sepang. That move you pulled on the last lap… it felt like you had a different plan altogether for the race.)

Yudhvir leaned against the table, clearly pleased by Sukhman's understanding of racing.

"Bilkul sahi pakda tumne. Mere hisaab se ek race tabhi jeeti ja sakti hai jab tum poori tareeke se race aur apne opponents ko samajh lo. Aur sabse zaroori... risk lena seekho. Aur mujhe aap korke mat pukaro. Ab hum ek hi team me hai."

(You got that right. I believe a race can only be won when you fully understand the track and your opponents. And most importantly… learn to take risks. Plus don't give me too much respect. We are in one team after all.)

Sukhman nodded, absorbing every word.

"Vaayu GP ke liye race karna kaisa lagta hai?" (How does it feel to race for Vaayu GP?)

Yudhvir's eyes gleamed with passion.

"Yeh sirf ek team nahi hai, Paaji. Yeh ek sapna hai jo poora ho raha hai. Pehli baar India ka ek GP team World GP Championship ke grid pe khada hoga. Soch sakte ho?"

(This isn't just a team, Paaji. This is a dream coming true. For the first time, an Indian GP team will be on the grid for the World GP Championship. Can you imagine that?)

Sukhman could feel the weight of those words.

"Mera bhi sapna hai ek din world stage pe race karne ka." (It's my dream too, to race on the world stage someday.)

Yudhvir patted Sukhman's shoulder.

"Toh phir, sapne dekhna band karo aur tayyari shuru karo. Yeh sirf shuruaat hai."

(Then stop dreaming and start preparing. This is just the beginning.)

Before Sukhman could respond, Nandini returned.

"Gentlemen, let's go. The team principal and Sporting Director is ready to meet you now."

Sukhman took a deep breath.