Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 5

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 5

Naina shut the First Class curtain behind her and wrapped her shawl over her shoulders. Too much, too much was happening. Amongst everything that had happened, she hadn’t had the time to think about the kiss! That had been her first kiss!

Her grandparents had been liberal and would occasionally encourage her to go out with a boy for a movie back in India when she was in college. She would go for a party once in a while but she had preferred to bury herself in her books. Secretly she knew her grandfather had been happy but as she had grown older and especially after she lost her grandfather, her grandmother had not been so subtle in expressing her anxiety. Her Dadi thought that Naina was going to die all alone in some random country with only a cat to call her companion! And that’s why she would never get a cat. She wanted to prove her grandmother wrong. She might die alone but she would prove her wrong about the cat part at least.

And the kiss…every girl dreamt about her first kiss. Your standards are raised so high by all the romance novels you read describing the perfect kisses and then when you really have your first kiss it is far from perfect. Sloppy and amateur but it’s an experience and it is a part of every girl’s life but he had ruined it for her!

He had given her a perfect kiss. Just like the ones she had read about in the romance novels. Damn him!

His hair had been so soft, she had wanted to purr and when he had flicked her tongue with his…weren't there bases to a kiss too? Base 1 followed by base 2, etc...he had given her a crash course! Maybe she should stop comparing the kiss to the ones she had read in the Nancy Drew series a century ago! Clearly, that kiss was far from PG-13! What he had done to her with his tongue...that had been NC-17! (No One 17 & Under Admitted)

Her first kiss, she had imagined to be a quick chaste one, almost like a peck…damn him! Had the entire cooling system on the flight stopped working? 

As she was walking down the Economy Class aisle, she was snapped out of her trance when an elderly lady grimaced while adjusting herself on the seat. Her heart went out to her when she heard another elderly man, a couple of rows behind, cough and wince in pain as he clutched his chest.

She couldn’t take it anymore and left the Economy Class.

She leaned next to a counter in the pantry her target located. A young male flight attendant whose name was Raj, as mentioned on his name tag.  

Naina tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear: “Raj, I don’t know how you do it! Must be a tough job. Standing all day and it must be crazy to play around with time! I mean we just lose one day when we get there but you guys, back and forth…”

Raj smiled: Yes, it is, Ma’am. But I like it. I  get to travel to different places too. Would you like to have something?”

Naina: “A glass of water with some ice, please.”

He poured her some water in a glass filled with ice and offered it to her.

Naina: “Seems like it’s a full flight.”

Raj: “It always is.”

Naina: “Not the First Class though. The First Class is practically empty!”

Raj: “Well…”

He was not allowed to say anything about Gael Breno Bourgeois.

Raj: “…you could say that.”

Naina: “Raj, I have a grandmother waiting for me at home…I am so excited to see her! It has been two years now!”

Raj smiled naturally. Perfect!

Raj: “It must be so exciting…”

Naina laughed her cheerful laugh knowing that Raj was getting engrossed in her. 

Naina: “How close are you to your Dadi?”

Raj: “Nani and Dadi both. Very close. In fact, its my Nani’s birthday today and I am sad I am not there to celebrate it with her…”

Naina: “Oh! I am really sorry, Raj!”

Raj: “It’s okay. We will celebrate it tomorrow all over again! She wouldn’t mind!”

Naina laughed: “Oh how cute! I am sure she wouldn’t! That’s the spirit!”

She pushed the curtain away: “Those seats look awfully uncomfortable, don’t you think?”

An elderly couple was sitting in the first row. She dropped the curtain and it fell back in place.

Raj sighed: “Well…”

Naina slowly pulled open the curtain to the First Class.

Naina: “These seats are vacant! There are 6 rows, 5 seats on each row and that means there are 27 vacant seats!”

Raj immediately understood what she was implying: “We…we can’t do that…those are First Class seats and we owe the privacy and special service to our First Class passenger. That would include you and two other passengers who are in the First Class at the moment…”

Naina: “I don’t mind and what if I get consent from the other two passengers? If they don’t mind too, would it work? More than the service, those comfortable seats will make all the difference!”

Well, all the seats were bought by Mr. Bourgeois anyways. If he didn’t mind then who was he to have any problem?

Raj: “Sure…”

Naina: “Roughly how many senior citizens are in the economy class on the flight?”

Raj: “I can give you a specific number.”

He pulled out a chart and ran through it. He looked up.

Raj: “29 passengers.”

Uh-oh…

Naina: “I will give up my seat but then there is…”

Raj: “Miss Malhotra, it’s a really nice gesture but you have been given this seat as compensation. Why don’t you enjoy it? Just forget about it. It’s okay. It’s not the first time they are travelling in the Economy Class. They are used to it.”

But Naina couldn't do it. She could not go back to the First Class, back to all that comfort, and forget about it.

Naina: “I will get you the 29 seats in the First Class.”

She turned around and went back to the First Class. She was probably going to have to do a lot of begging but she was doing it for a good cause.

Aaji was back on her seat and fast asleep. Breno was working on his laptop tapping away furiously. She silently slid into the seat next to him.

He looked at her and wanted to just grab her and kiss her…calm down boy… its best he ignore her and continue working.

But she had other plans. She cleared her throat trying to gain his attention.

He stopped typing and looked at her before she poured another bottle of water over his head. 

Gael: “What is it going to be this time?”

Naina looked at him confused.

Gael: “My men nail you to the floor at gunpoint and then I sit on you. You, in turn, punch me and then empty a bottle of water on my head. I guess we are even now. So, I am just wondering what your next move is…”

Naina practically whined: “How could you miss the kiss!?”

Gael smiled, happy to see that he was not the only one all shook up.

Gael: “Oh yeah…I forgot…well…yeah the kiss, whatever.”

He was going to play it smooth. However, he saw the flash of anger in her eyes before she successfully masked it. Damn he thought. She must be a good poker player. Not as good as him since he had easily caught the flash but that was only because he was one of the best. He was extremely happy to see just how bothered he had made her with just one kiss...

Naina: “No move. But a request, please?”

This was going to be interesting.

When he didn't say anything, she assumed he was still listening.

Naina: “There are vacant First Class seats and there are a couple of senior citizens on boards this flight…sooooo…”

She was so nervous she didn't dare look into his eyes. The cement was back and it terrified her. She was concentrating on her bangles and rolling them over and over on her wrist.

Gael looked at her bangles which were an explosion of colors, jingles and life. Just like her.

He grabbed her hand to stop her from making all the noise: “What? What do you want?”

He was going to make her spell it out and beg?!

Naina: “If the senior citizens could move to the first class for the rest of the flight…(before he could open his mouth, she rushed, her words spilling one after the other) You will be doing a real good thing! They will bless you and oh, you will make the journey so comfortable for them…”

Right. She didn't know he was Gael Breno Bourgeois and she didn't know that he had bought all these seats. Even the one she was sitting on. The staff on board had informed him about the confusion while she was on her walk. 

Gael: “They want the consent from the other passengers in the First Class before they make the arrangements to move?”

Naina nodded.

Well, would he have ever done that? No, simply because he would be on a private jet. Even if he had been on a commercial jet, he would have never thought about the other passengers. He didn't have the time to think about…but right now he didn't want to do a lot of thinking. He knew her face would light up with a remarkable smile and he would give away a billion dollars right away just for that. Although, he had not admitted that to himself yet.

Gael: “Sure, whatever.”

What the hell? Where was that smile?!

Naina was still not looking at him. She started playing with her bangles again.

Naina: “Uhhhh….”

Gael: “Stop playing with your trinkets. I can’t hear you over the noise pollution you are causing.”

Naina instantly paused.

Naina: “There are 29 senior citizens on the flight.”

It didn't take long for him to figure it all out.

Gael: “No.”

Naina looked up. Damn the cement! She couldn't work with this! She was going to have to go in blind!

Naina: “Can you imagine all the good karma you will be creating for yourself!?”

Gael: “I am a Protestant.”

Naina: “Doesn’t mean you have to protest all the time…(the look he gave her) sorry! That was a low one but karma is a universal concept. Okay, if you don’t, I will naturally have bad thoughts about you and that will create some bad mojo for you and I am sure you don’t…”

Gael: “I am pretty sure wishing ill for someone will create bad karma for you, if that’s the angle you are going to continue playing at.”

Naina: “See! Not only will you create good karma with all the blessings from the Aajis and Aajobas on board but you will also create more good karma by helping me not create bad karma for myself! AND you don’t have to worry about the bad mojo I will be creating for you!”

She knew how to bargain even if it made sense to no one but her.

Gael: “No.”’

Naina: “I will personally make sure that your trip is just as comfortable and relaxing in the Economy Class!”

Gael looked at her: “Personally make sure? I am going to hold you to that.”

Naina rolled her eyes: “As long as it does not fall under sexual harassment.  I still don’t know your full name!”

Gael: “It's Jackie Chan.”

Naina burst out laughing: “Sure.”

Naina: “Breno, please?”

Damn. She had said his name again. She pronounced it wrong but he liked the way SHE did it. His Aaji pronounced it differently too but not like Naina. Every time Naina took his name he wanted to make her say his name again and again, while she was panting for breath and...damn, calm down boy... 

This time she better give him that smile and that glittering shimmer in her golden brown eyes.

Gael: “Fine.”

She did not disappoint him.

Naina: “What’s your name?!”

Gael: “I told you. Jackie Chan.”

Naina: "I think Breno is your nickname or middle name..."

He raised his eyebrow questioning her. How had she known? She did not know who he was!

Naina: “Well, that was a no brainer. Get it? Brain No, Breno…hahaha!”

Gael: “Wasn’t that inspired.”

Naina: “It was a good one. Aren’t you going to ask me my name?”

Gael: “Right. What’s your name, Naina?”

She burst out laughing. She loved his sense of humor! He had such a straight face every time he spoke and the contrast of his cement-like eyes…it was mesmerizing.

Naina: “Where ARE you from? Your accent…there is a bit of Italian, English, and American too and maybe even Brazilian with some words or phrases…”

Gael: “China.”

Naina started laughing again. She laughed easily but this was one of the best times she was having…

Naina: “Sure. You look Chinese, alright.”

Gael: “It hurts, okay? The society doesn't accept me back home, I was born deformed you see. I have been struggling with the Chinese societal norms all my life.”

Naina: “You are never going to give me straight answers, are you?”

Gael simply shrugged: “Mommy told me not to be too friendly with strangers.”

He had a funny comeback for everything!

Naina: “But you are allowed to kiss strangers?”

Gael leaned in closer and whispered against her lips: “Only because I don’t kiss and tell…Naina, when do you begin to personally make sure my trip is relaxing…”

Naina cleared her throat, suddenly uncomfortable. Gosh, where was the cool air. It was getting hot in here.

Naina: “You are not a ‘Breno’.”

Gael: “Excuse me?”

Naina: “The name ‘Breno’ is too nice. You are not nice. You are mean and shrewd! That's why I feel that 'Breno' is your nickname. But what’s your first name?”

Gael: “Its Bree-no, not Brain-no.”

Naina: “Oh. I am sorry. Your Nani calls you…”

Gael: “She is not a native Portuguese speaker and she just got used to pronouncing my name like that.”

Naina: “AH-HA! You are Portuguese!”

Gael: “Babe, I am Chinese, whether you believe it or not. And my favorite dish is sushi.”

Naina:  “Sushi is Japanese.”

Gael: “We Chinese may have a problem with our Eastern counterparts but a majority of us do respect their culinary skills.”

Naina laughed: “What culinary skills! They don’t even cook the fish! It’s all raw!”

Gael: “Indians. Unless everything is not drowning in a pot of curry for days on end doesn't mean it’s not any good. Have you tried any?”

Naina: “Sushi? No and don’t talk about it. It makes me feel queasy. Just the thought of seaweed…”

Gael: “Maybe you should wrap it around butter chicken.”

Naina: “Oh god! You are one of those Goras! Why am I not surprised!? You think all Indian food consists of is curry, butter chicken and Indian flat bread.”

Gael smirked: “You mean Naan? Yes and don’t forget Chicken Tikka Masala.”

Naina: “Have you ever been to India? Or is this your first trip?”

Gael was born in Mumbai and had lived there until he was 15 years old.

Gael: “No. Never been.”

Naina: “I am sick of you people imposing your opinions about what you think about India. You have not even set foot on the land and you think you know everything about India! We all don’t eat butter chicken every day!”

Gael: “Of course not the vegetarians. They prefer aloo gobi.”

Naina: “If I have this conversation anymore with you…”

Gael: “You won’t be able to personally ensure…”

Naina: “Yeah yeah, whatever. I am going to go and talk to Raj.”

Gael was irked: “Raj?”

Just on cue Raj entered.

Raj: “Mr. Bou…”

Gael: “I am ready to move. Make sure all are catered to well. When my grandmother wakes up, let me know. I will tell her about the change. Show us to our seats.”

He had taken for granted that Naina was going to sit next to him. Of course, how else was she to give him the personal service she owed him?

Naina and Gael followed Raj out of the First Class.

As soon they left, Aaji opened her eyes, a slow knowing smile creeping on her face. She had heard it all.

Had he really kissed her? This boy needed to take it slow. Naina was not like the Brazilian, American or even European girls he hung out with. She was going to have a talk with him. To seduce an Indian girl, he would have to be kind, gentle and slow. And he would definitely have to learn to dance to the Indian beats.

Gael gulped: “I don’t think I am going to fit in there.”

Naina looked him up and down: “Maybe if you sat diagonally your legs could fit in the space…I will sit somewhere else…”

Gael grabbed her hand: “NO WAY. YOU are going to sit next to me. You got me here and you are going to give me company for the rest of the flight.”

Naina: “Where do you want me to sit?! On your lap?!”

Gael was about to say something indecent and that was probably why the universe intervened.

A middle-aged man walked towards them and spoke up: “Excuse me, we just wanted to thank you for your kindness. We have never seen anything like this happen! Thank you! My nana and nani are so happy they want to personally thank you.”

Another person spoke up.

“Thank you! I..I can’t believe you would do something like this…God bless you! May you have a beautiful family and kindhearted and generous kids just like you!”

Naina heard Gael choke. Of course, he was such a man, hyperventilating just on the mention of wife and kids.

Naina: “Thank you! Thank you for accepting our help. We have our grandparents too and we understand how it is…”

“Your grandparents will be so proud of you. Please, ours would like to meet you.”

Since Gael was in a world of his own, Naina continued the conversation.

Naina: “We would love to meet them too. Let them get settled in and then we will go and spend some time with them.”

“Thank you…”

Another man and his wife came forward.

“This gentleman is very tall. He might find it uncomfortable to sit here. We would like to offer to exchange our seats with you and your husband. Our seats are in the front of the cabin and will provide more leg space…”

Gael who had been to the beach with his children again and back  in a span of few seconds practically groaned: “We will take it!”

Naina and Gael stood in front of their new seats.

Naina knew she should ask him to choose since he was doing this because of her. 

Naina: “Which one would you like? The window or the aisle?”

Obviously the aisle because his legs were going to stick to the wall if he took the window as a result of the protruding airplane door. It really sucked to be so tall sometimes. The aisle would offer more room for his legs. But he found it amusing to see Naina look at the window seat longing for it. She clearly wanted the window seat. She was such a baby! It would be time for their kids. First his wife would have to grow up.

Gael sucked in his breath instantly. What was wrong with him?! What was with this instant reaction to her!? God, instead of telling Naina, he should have lectured himself. It was just a kiss, he didn't have to tie the knot with her!

Gael: “The window…”

He saw her face drop. He was such a bird turd. All this just for a few seconds of cheap pleasure!

Gael: “You take the window. I want the aisle.”