Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 7

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 7

They had to talk about it. Someone had to say something…Naina grimaced every time she took a sip of the peculiar drink. Gael looked at her. At the rate she was going, she was going to be drunk. Good, maybe that could calm her nerves and she would not resort to hyperventilating the next time the plane lurched.

Naina, on the other hand, was getting accustomed to the taste. That or she had lost her ability to taste. Whatever it was, gasoline or not, it was very calming.

How long had they been silent? Breno had ordered for another glass. She felt he was rigid and withdrawn but she was beyond caring at the moment. If he wanted to behave like a stump, there was nothing she could do about it.

Then all of a sudden he started talking. However, she was still busy feeling light and cheerful. Focus, Naina, focus, she thought to herself. He might test you on what he is talking about…

Gael: “I…uh…you were hyperventilating and I read somewhere that…it was something about you hyperventilate when you have too much oxygen or less carbon dioxide and so if you kiss, you help deplete that oxygen or it helps with re-breathing, that is, restoration of carbon dioxide…what I am trying to say is that you were in a state of panic and I tried to reach for a paper bag…while we are at it…”

He pulled out a paper bag from one of the pockets of the seat and handed it to her.

Gael: “This will pretty much do what I did.”

Naina looked at the paper bag in her hand and laughed: “I didn’t know paper bags were so talented.”

But Gael was not laughing: “You have a serious problem with flying. How do you manage…”

Naina: “You mean what do I do when I don’t have a guy sitting next to me who is willing to kiss me every time the plane jumps?”

Gael: “You were breathing at the rate of 50 breaths per minute! A normal healthy adult should not exceed 20 breaths per minute!”

Naina: “Are you a doctor?”

Gael: “No but my brother is and…”

Naina: “And now we are even.”

Gael: “What?”

Naina: “One of your two brothers is a doctor. That is a truth about your life. Score 2 for me and that makes us even.”

Gael did not like to lose. He never did.

Gael: “Next time the plane jumps don’t look at me!”

Naina hugged the paper bag: “Oh, I won’t. My paper bag will keep me safe.”

He looked away grumbling under his breath. Naina touched his arm gently to get his attention.

Naina: “Thank you…once again…I know I was getting out of control…”

Gael: “How do you manage otherwise? I am sure that this is not the first turbulence you have experienced.”

Naina: “I generally take some medicine which keeps me calm. It’s prescribed by the doctor. I..I…it’s all that Gael Bourgeois’ fault! Had he not messed with my day, I would have remembered to pack my medicine in my handbag! It’s also the fact that I have not taken my medicine which is making me a bit more queasy…and it’s my hormones too…I have a serious thing going on with my body during the days before my menstruation…”

Naina gasped and shut her mouth with her hands, her eyes growing large…What in the world was she talking about?!

Gael burst out laughing. Naina looked away embarrassed to the core.

Gael: “So, you are PMSing?”

Naina: “You ask like I am SMSing!”

Gael laughed again: “Well they do have one thing in common.”

Naina: “If you say ‘women,’ I will smack you.”

Gael: “Well, on that note, I have good news for you.”

Naina: “What?”

Stop, Naina. That is all you need to say.

Gael: “You can punch me one more time now. I am a man of my word.”

Right. He had said that she could punch him again if he kissed her again...

Naina laughed and pulled her fist back to punch him but then let it go: “I think I will save this one.”

Gael: “And here I thought you were going to pardon me.”

Naina: “Me? I am the lady; I don’t need to be chivalrous.”

Gael: “Are you always like this?”

Naina: “I hope not…I don’t know…I just seemed to have lost control over my tongue…like right now all I should have really said is ‘no’ but here I am giving you a long explanation and I am still talking!”

Gael chuckled: “Right, PMS. I don’t mind it.”

Naina: “I am sure you don’t considering I am making a fool of myself.”

Gael: “You are only doing what you promised you would.”

Naina: “I promised I would make a fool of myself?”

Gael: “You are personally making sure that I am having fun.”

Naina: “Oh! Don’t remind me that again!”

Gael: “Babe, 14.5 more hours to go…”

Naina: “Do you call every other girl you meet ‘babe’?”

Gael: “No.”

She couldn’t stop herself from blushing even though he hadn't really said anything. He was a charmer and if he continued to do so, she was sure he would charm her pants off too!

Raj walked over: “Excuse me, Sir, your grandmother is asking for you.”

Gael nodded and stood up. He then held his hand to help her up. Naina liked it. It was a small gesture but that’s what gentlemen did. She accepted his hand and stood up but realized oh-oh...

Gael: “Hey, all okay?”

Naina nodded: “I just…”

He didn’t have to know she was a mess any more than he already knew she was.

Gael: “It’s that time of the month before THAT time of the month?”

He was too close to her…it was getting hot again. She felt parched.

She reached for her glass and downed the gasoline. Oh! NO! Naina! That is not water!

Gael knew what was wrong. She was buzzed but he kept that observation to himself.

Gael: “I thought you said it tasted like gasoline.”

Naina just looked away. She was not going to talk. If she did, God only knows what she would say! She placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself away from him. She needed to maintain distance.

Gael stepped out and let her go ahead. She took the lead. She was able to walk on her own…barely…well, if he said anything to her she was sure to snap at him for trying to baby her again. Aaji was going to know instantly that she was drunk. She had raised 3 boys after all.

Naina stumbled into the First Class followed by Gael.

Naina: “Nani!!!”

She plonked down next to Nani’s seat and burst into a giggle for her haphazard behavior.

Aaji looked at Gael instantly, fire in her eyes. She already knew.

Gael: “It’s not my fault!”

Aaji: “I don’t need to ask you whether you are involved or not!”

Well, hell! What did that mean? Did she think it was his fault or not!?

Gael was instantly surrounded by all the new First Class passengers who had words of gratitude and praise. It seemed they had already told his grandmother of his doing which was sure to have confused her because he didn't have a kind bone in his body. Unaware of how to deal with praise, Gael loosened his tie and looked at Naina for help. But she was in her own world. And he had missed out something important. Very important.

“Pratibhaji, your daughter-in-law has such a beautiful smile!”

Naina: “Me? Yes, I do have a lovely smile. Nani, your name is Pratibha?”

“She does not know your name?”

Aaji: “Uhhh…that’s because I have always been a 'Nani' to her. The boys call me Aaji but my name is Pratibha. Although Leo calls me Prats!”

Naina’s eyes lit up with triumph.

She stood up, wobbly, and hauled him closer pulling him in by his tie: “Your Nani’s name is Pratibha and one of your brothers’ names is Leo. Leo is a short form for Leonardo. Are you Italian?”

Gael: “You are drunk, will you keep quiet? And stop this…(He pulled his tie out of her hold) I am not your public property!”

Naina grabbed his tie again to pull him closer: “So, you can kiss your wife anytime you want and your wife can’t pull you in closer?”

Gael: “Wife?”

Naina: “Oh, come on! Your Nani told the rest that we are married. We now have to play the part for your Nani's sake…”

Maybe she was not that far gone. She was paying more attention to what was going on around them than he was.

Aaji cleared her throat: “Excuse me.”

“Pratibhaji, let them be. They are a newlywed couple after all!”

Gael stepped back. WHAT was happening?

He leaned in closer to his Aaji and whispered: “What have you been upto, old woman?”

Aaji whispered back: “WHY IS SHE DRUNK?”

Gael: “Never you mind that. She is my wife and I can do whatever I want with her.”

Aaji snickered: “From the looks of it, she has you wrapped around her finger.”

His face creased with a frown.

Naina: “HUSBAND! They want to know how we met!”

Aaji: “Why don’t I tell them how you met?”

Naina: “Trust me, Nani. Breno is the best at story telling in the family!”

“Tell us! How did you meet!?”

“Oh, come on! There is no need to blush, son!”

Gael grumbled: “I don’t blush.”

Naina: “We met in China, he is Chinese, you see…”

“How can that be? He is Brazilian. Pratibhaji said that you met in Rio de Janeiro!”

This time Naina put her head back and laughed while Gael faced his doom. Within a few seconds she had managed to score 3 more points. She now knew he was a Brazilian! It was only a matter of time before she figured it out that he was Gael Breno Bourgeois! AND she had done all that while she was drunk!

She is smart and she was not just a professional dancer, walking talking Bollywood queen. It was about time he took her seriously. It was about time he started playing this game seriously.

Gael: “We met in China but things didn’t click. She followed me all the way to Brazil and then I finally gave in. We got married. I felt bad for her. Poor girl had made a promise that she would die single if she didn’t have me. And, come on, she is not a sore sight for the eyes so I decided to just get it done with. Give some meaning to her life.”

That had her stop laughing. A pity as he had grown fond of the sound of her laughter…

Naina: “Excuse me! That is not the story! He is lying! That’s all he does! He has done nothing but lie ever since the moment we met!”

Gael: “Honey, you wanted to use the restroom, remember? And since you are drunk I will help you out.”

Aaji: “What are you doing?”

Gael: “Prats, its best you stay out of this husband and wife matter.”

Although Leo had named her Prats when he was only 5 years old and she had found it quite charming then, the present usage annoyed her. They all knew that and so its usage today had a different connotation. If used in the present day, it only meant one thing. It meant that the boys were annoyed with her.

Naina was looking away from him drumming her fingers impatiently on the armrest. SHE had followed him all the way to Brazil?! HE felt bad FOR HER!!?? He DECIDED to give her life some PURPOSE?!

All that was a lie anyways! Why did she care?

But the fact that he was a Brazilian was not! He was from Rio! Yes, that suited him...no wonder he had no qualms about kissing her every five minutes. Brazilians were all about public display of affection or public display of every personal emotion! But then they were very intense and passionate lovers and above all extremely possessive…

But what had her angry the most was the realization that the kiss, the two kisses to be precise, they had shared meant nothing to him! She knew that in Brazil a kiss was a greeting absolutely nothing else. That was just the Brazilian way of saying Namaste! Even if it was on the lips and not on the cheeks!

She was not in love with him but as much as she hated to accept it, it had been more than saying Namaste to this Brazilian guy as far as she was concerned!

Naina: “I am not going anywhere with you!”

Aaji: “Nandiniji, Vimlaji, Krishnaji why don’t we let these two have a moment alone…as you know they are newly married and it takes time to adjust to living with each other, isn’t it?”

“Oh but they are a lovely couple. A match made in heaven…they will make such fine children…”

And the rubbish continued even though their voices faded as they walked away.

Naina finally stood up to face him however she had to hold on to his arm to steady herself.

Naina: “I scored 3 points. So that adds up to 5 points for me.”

Gael: “Wait a minute; I thought we were on a timeout…It’s not fair that you can get all the information from my grandmother while I only have you to tap for information!”

He was NOT going to tap her to get anything!

Naina: “All is fair on an Air India flight.”

Gael warned her: “You are playing with fire.”

Naina leaned in closer: “I have heard much more about Brazilian men…”

He swallowed loudly and cleared his throat: “Naina, I am warning you. I can play dirty too.”

Naina: “I wouldn’t want anything else…”

She walked past him looking back at him, her eyes giving him a top to bottom check and slowly licked her lips. She then flicked her hair to one side and raised one of her eyebrows questioningly at him which was followed by a wink and a risqué smile.

He was just staring at her pretty sure that his jaw had hit the floor. What was he, 15 years old? She laughed fully aware of the effect she had on him. Drunk Naina was very sexy and would have had him guessing whether she was naïve at all! Drunk Naina had him wrapped around her finger. She shook her head, her eyes still laughing, as she turned around and tried to open the door to the restroom.

Naina had no idea what she was doing! Who was this person? And more important what was in that drink?! When had she turned into Cat Woman!? She felt so empowered, she felt so sexy…and she wanted to pee right now! Ever since, he had mentioned the restroom, she had wanted to go!

Naina banged on the door and looked at him harried: “It won’t budge!”

It took him another few seconds to come back to reality. She was making him go through physical torture.

Naina: “Breno! I am not kidding! I need to go and I need to go now! OPEN THE DOOR!”

Gael: “I am not inside if you are suggesting I am occupying it.”

He couldn’t move, not yet. He needed to buy some time to take care of that composing bit.

Naina: “It’s not occupied!”

When Gael didn’t move, she started banging the door again and yelled at him: “WELL, DON’T JUST STARE, DO SOMETHING!”

That had the attention of the entire First Class.

Gael lost his temper and displaced it on the door storming against it and propelling Naina and himself inside the bathroom as the door slid shut behind them.

It had happened so fast. One second he was ten feet away from her and the next second he was not even half a millimeter away.

The toilet was soooooo close….which meant she had to had to had to had to had to…She started moving against him trying to cross her legs to…

Gael grabbed her tight to hold her steady. If she moved anymore she would realize just how much she affected him.

Gael hissed: “Stop moving!”

Naina: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSIDE??? AHHHHHH I CAN’T FIGHT WITH YOU RIGHT NOW!!! I NEED TO GOOOOO…..”

Oh, she really was desperate…

Gael tried to turn around to get to the door but damn, there was no space…

Gael: “I can’t move.”

Naina: “What?!”

Gael: “This is a tight space, I can’t move. You have to go around me and slide the door to the left.”

Naina: “I can’t! I can’t! I can’t do it! I am just concentrating on keeping it inside!”

Gael tried to turn around but he couldn’t. She was jumping too much. There was no space, didn’t she get it. And a certain section of his body was not co-operating with him!

Naina lost her patience: “I CAN’T CONCENTRATE ENOUGH TO REACH FOR THE DOOR BEHIND YOU AND IF YOU CAN’T MOVE, I AM GOING TO GO HERE RIGHT NOW WITH YOU STANDING IN THE RESTROOM!”

With one swift move, Gael grabbed her butt and hauled her up against him, spreading her legs apart as he moved in between them pinning her to the wall. To create more space around them he had to get rid of any space in between them. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to balance herself. She then wrapped her legs around his lower waist which brought her as close to him as possible. Once she was secure in his arms, he moved his free hand behind him, holding her up against the wall, and slid the door open. He dropped her not so gently but on purpose and slammed the door shut as he stepped out.