Dec 04, '12
THE FELLOW PASSANGER
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She must be OR could be from fropper, this feeling kept nagging me ,but I couldnt place her, nor could exactly
recognise her.For last one & a half year, I have commuted between Indore Banglore ,and Indore Delhi ,to N fro,
umpteen times,by same flight,somuch so that Crew Ladies indulged in giving me more than A familiar smile.
This time too boarding from Indore ,with wife, 4 Delhi, The Leading Lady,Sonali Chaterji[I read on plastic
Plate tenderly perched on her Tennis Ball size breast!!],greeted us.We occupied the seats 18 &19 D
middle N window, she was last to board, threw her carry bag, on seat 17 D,[aisle] N before I cud take stock of her
,rushed saying wash -room.I heard some commotion, from rear side,after few moments.Instinctively left my seat
to enquire,the crew lady was refusung to Unlock D washroom door, as Aircraft was stationed,N arguing with her,
I said :Look SWH, heavens are not going to Fall, if U unlock D door, this poor soul is on Diurectic drugs & her bladder is
full.I heard her giiggling[I was in 4 hearing much giggling,during 2 hr,flight I later realised],crew lady unlocked D door
giving me ugliest of look that she can conjure up in given circumstances.
When she came back to occupy seat by my side, not bothering to show courtsy of thanx 4 D help, extricate,
I think it was TABLET, cud be small laptop,donot know,from her bag,plugged in sockets of D gadget N her ears.
I couyldnt help cautiously looking at screen[tho Im convinced its against laws of gud manners],A SAB TV serial,
was on D run.Its fitted with TV-Tuner OR A recrded programme ?? I senslesly kept wondering!! While aircraft was still stationed, I
took stock of her, very familiar looking face,snow-white complexion,shoulder cut, hennaed hair,mischeivious hazel eyes,
lurking behind plastic rimmed glasses,might be 5feet,age, cud be arround 30.She languidly stretched her legs,N torso
staining brown my black trousers at lower ends, N instead of saying sorry giggled.I noticed her pearly white shining teeth
behind voluptuous Lips,painted with strange pink hue.Hazel eyes flashing, my first instinct was to duck,D seat belt kept me in place.
I responded withmost endearing smile that I cud muster up.We were airborne by D time N I guess just to initiate convo. she asked
with inevitable giggling: Uncle U obssesd with Khadi Clothes !! It was more of A statment than A question.Unnecesarily I looked
at myself , I was in multicolored striped Duke T-Shirt N ,black terrycot trousers,to keep the convo alive I said: Not exactly
obssesd, but, like cotton stuff more than synthetic Yarn. She heartily giggled again.I noticed her attire. She was in
white cotton Chudidaar, N pale Yellow, embroidered Kurta, N some designer leather Chappals, all very graceful looking.
She was sounding so familiar, N yet as I cudnt place her, I bluntly asked U on fropper or some other portal??
She with equal bluntness said NO.!! I often feel heaviness in head during flights, was gently stroking my scalp ,N
putting rotating fingers in both ears try to ward off ringing sensation.She pulled out somthing from her bag N offered to
me, saying with giggle :Take this U ll feel better.I gently took her palm from below,with my left hand N picked with right hand
index finger N thumb D bright Yellow Green wrapped Candy, on it was printed KACHHA AAM.
She pulled another , giggled N said: Give 1 to Aunty too.I have forgotten D aunty who was blissfully sleeping on my
right all this while.I gave this 1 to my wife, she struggled to rip it open,tried with her teeth, making it more slippery wth her saliva,
failed to tear D wrapper, on my left I cud hear constant giggling.Embarrased by her giggling I took, D candy, rubbed it dried on
front of my T-Shirt,felt winning A fort ,on pulling out D candy, my wife happily sucked it, on my left giggling Music was On.
She was last to board ,but manged to be first to disembark. I saw her again at opening end of the U shaped Luggage conveyer belt,
I was at the last end so were facing each other.I bald stockily built guy was helping her piling huge luggage on trollies, I thot she was Alone.
B 4 leaving, she threw A smile,at me, giggling she must be cudnt hear, waved at me N left.
I still felt uneasy ,as I cudnt place her, yet she sounded so familiar.