Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 11

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 11

When the plane was about to touch the runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Gael instinctively laced his fingers with hers sharing the middle armrest with her. She looked at him and smiled. He had not forgotten about her fear. He could feel that she continued to remain tense and slowly rubbed the pad of his thumb on her palm in slow concentric circles. Naina closed her eyes and let his hand and fingers soothe her. When she opened her eyes, she couldn't believe that they had already landed!

Gael: “See, that wasn't bad, was it?”

Naina smiled and quickly leaned forward to give him a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you! I didn't even realize when we landed!”

Gael smiled: “You’re welcome.”

As the plane slowly made its way to the terminal, Gael looked at her. He had to ask her but he didn't know how or how she would react. Naina laughed.

Naina: “You want to know why this?” She was pointing at her saree.

Gael: “You look absolutely breathtaking. Although, I am curious…”

Naina: “My Dadi. It’s her birthday, tomorrow. Had this plane departed on time, I would have reached on her birthday and I wanted to surprise her because this is her saree, she gave it to me on  the last birthday I celebrated with her; two years ago.”

Gael: “Well, now because of Gael Bourgeois, you are going to be with your Dadi the moment the clock strikes 12! You won’t miss a single moment of her birthday. That's a good thing, right?”

Naina rolled her eyes: “Yes... That’s true but I still dislike him!”

Gael: “You could have gone home and changed into the saree…with the changed circumstances, it wouldn't have taken away from the surprise you planned for her now that you are early.”

Naina: “I could have but I just…”

She didn't know why. Was it because she wanted him to see her in  a saree? She knew that she looked her best in the Indian attire…was it because she knew she may never see him again and she had wanted to share this part of her life…She actually wore sarees mostly everyday to work...

Gael: “I am glad you did.”

Naina blushed and looked away.

Gael: “Must be nice to come home after two years.”

Naina: “Yes, it is.”

She looked outside the window as she saw her city, Mumbai, waiting for her.

Naina: “I am finally home.”

The plane stopped at the terminal.

Naina: “Congratulations! With a score of 9 to 5, you win this game.”

Gael: “9? Wasn’t it 8?”

Naina: “You know it’s my Dadi’s birthday tomorrow.”

Gael: “In that case, you get 4 more points…”

Naina: “Why?”

Gael: “You know that you arouse me.”

Naina laughed: “Only 4? Not 5?”

Gael: “And let you win? Heck, no.”

Naina: “Thank you but that is not fair. I will take only one point for it.”

Gael: “So now we are at 9 to 6?”

Naina: “And so you win.”

Gael: “Hmmm…this game is not over. I have a feeling we will meet again.”

Naina: “You really think so?”

Everyone else had started collecting their belongings.

Gael stood up and picked up his bag and suit jacket. Naina followed him with her stuff as the passengers started disembarking the plane.

As they made their way out, they were appreciated by all once again for their gallant gesture and wishes for a successful and blissful future together. John and already made arrangements for Gael’s entourage with security at the entrance of the terminal. Aaji had already disembarked and was waiting for him outside with their stuff.

Gael and Naina stepped out of the plane and looked behind at the same time. Somehow they knew that it had changed their lives. They looked at each other searching for words to say to each other.

Aaji: “Oh come on! We have to collect our baggage, go through customs. There is plenty of time later to say goodbyes!”

Gael kept quiet. He knew that John had already taken care of it. All they needed to do was walk to the car but he was not yet ready to say goodbye too.

They sailed through immigration on account of VIP status and Naina finally did get to sway like Bond a bit. After all, she was an INDIAN Foreign Service Officer! But she made sure it was not mentioned before him. She didn't want him to…she didn't want to ruin their last few moments together.

Gael signaled his entourage to stay back as he lifted her suitcases off the belt.

Naina: “Thank you! I hate to accept it but I really would not have been able to get them off the belt on my own…”

Gael exhaled loudly: “Do you have a rock collection?”

Naina: “I just…it's just part of being a girl…where are your bags? I can wait for you till you get your stuff.”

Gael: “My men already took care of that.”

Naina: “Why do you have these men following you?”

He leaned in closer and whispered in her ears: “They are bounty hunters…”

She laughed and let it go. It’s not like he was going to tell her the truth anyways.

Naina walked over to Aaji and before Aaji could say anything she hugged her.

Naina: “You must be so proud of your grandson. He is an honorable man. He is very special…”

Aaji looked at Gael with tears in her eyes. No one said that about Gael. They never spoke about him or only had bad things to say…she never believed them but she believed this girl with all her heart. If Gael couldn't tell her what she wanted to hear; she would gladly accept what this girl had said.

Aaji: “Thank you.”

Naina stepped back and touched her feet to seek her blessings.

Aaji: “I wish you all the best in the world. May all your dreams come true.”

Naina looked up and smiled. As they slowly started making their way to the exit, Aaji stepped back a little and let them walk ahead together.

She looked at them and blessed them with all her heart. “May your destinies meet and become one. This is what I wish for…for both of you. May God be with you.”

Naina stopped. To her right, at the very end, she could see her Dadi. Her Dadi had not yet spotted her because she was definitely not expecting her to walk out in a saree.

Gael stopped next to her.

The silence was heavy with a lot of emotions and neither was able to give it a name. All this over one plane ride?

Naina: “I go right.”

Gael: “And I go left.”

Naina looked at him and held her hand forward for a handshake. He took it but instead of shaking it, he leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand.

Gael: “Until next time, Ms. Malhotra.”

He started stepping back and moving away. Naina’s heart had begun pounding and tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Why was she feeling like this? Why did it hurt so much?

Naina: “Wait, will you not tell me your name?”

Gael: “You already know it.”

Naina: “All I know is ‘Breno!’”

She had said it her way. She was panicking…

Gael stopped and smiled. She looked into his eyes, the beautiful white gold…she was trying to take in everything…she never wanted to forget…

Gael: “That’s all that matters.”

He looked beyond her and he saw a group of people led by an elderly lady approaching Naina. It had to be her Dadi.

Gael pointed to the sky as a plane took off in the air: “A Deus, Naina. Arrivederci.”

She looked up to the sky to see the plane take off and was immediately engulfed in a group hug.

She tried to look beyond everyone but could no longer see him. 

And just like that he was gone.

“Naina! Naina!”

“Oh my God, you wore the saree!”

“Naina, you travelled in a saree?”

“Mash’Allah, two years have done you good! Mayaji, our Naina looks better than Katrina and Deepika!”

“Arey, Naina! Won’t you give your grandmother a hug?! Did you leave something behind? What are you looking for?”

Naina: “Huh?”

“I am behind you Naina! Give me a hug!”

She couldn't see him! Where was he…

Naina’s Dadi turned her around to hug her.

Dadi: “Naina! Naina! I have missed you so much my child…Today, you have made me so happy! You wore the saree! My child, my sweet sweet child…”

Naina hugged her Dadi and they started making their way to the car. She turned around to try and find him one more time but he wasn't there. She closed her eyes and wished him well.

“A Deus, Breno. Arrivederci.”

She may have not understood much of what he had said when he spoke in a foreign language but she recognized his parting words.

The way he had said it…the deliberate pause between "a" and "Deus" had not escaped her. "Adeus" in Portuguese meant "goodbye." Derived from "a" and "Deus" put together to literally mean "to God." The deliberate pause between "a" and "Deus" meant that he was not really saying goodbye.

"Arrivederci" was Italian. She knew that it did not actually mean "goodbye." It was impolite to say goodbye in the Italian culture. She knew it meant "to meeting each other again."

He had told her to leave it to God. To their Destiny.

It was only after he saw her sit in her car with her family and leave the airport, he got inside the Rolls Royce waiting for him. Aaji was already in the car. 

Gael: “Let’s move it, John.”

Aaji: “Naina left?”

Gael didn't say anything.

Aaji: “Nice girl. I will miss her.”

Gael: “Me too.”

Her eyes widened with shock to hear him accept it. She had not expected him to accept it even though she already knew what was in his heart.

Gael’s phone started buzzing.

Gael: “Leo! All okay? … Good luck! I know you will do well. I know you will make us proud! Here, talk to Aaji. She would like to wish you too…”