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.”

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 4

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 4 

He was the mother of all bird turds!

As soon as the compartment panel shut, Gael covered his face with his hands and then ran his hands through his hair.

What was that?

Gael: “Bird turd!”

And then he burst out laughing. Great, he was losing it too.

Oh but what a kiss it was! He closed his eyes and growled to get his body to calm down. The blood had rushed to places it shouldn’t have. At least, not with just one kiss…but then it got him thinking…was this after or before…was this when she had grabbed his collar? He had found that undeniably sexy…

Gael Breno Bourgeois! You are from Rio! For a man who spends his day on beaches where the dress code is nothing but sunshine, he was behaving like it was his first kiss! He was not starving when it came to…and yet this girl, this Indian girl…

Gael: “Ai, meu Deus do ceu!!!! Ela é indiana! She is Indian!”

He was probably going to have to marry her. This must have been her first kiss! Oh my God!

He was a bird turd but he was not a coward!

He pressed the button to open the panel and to…he had no idea to do what…

Meanwhile, it took her a few seconds to figure out what had happened and she did not like the outcome of her rationalizing.

So, yes, she had been dying and then SHE had crawled over to beg for his comfort. He had helped her to put on her seat belt and then SHE had grabbed his hand!

Naina: “I grabbed his hand not his face! I didn’t pull him towards me for a kiss…did I?”

She gasped when she realized that she had shamelessly welcomed his kiss and wrapped her arms around him.

Naina: “Why don’t you just pull him by his tie and take him to the nearest restroom!”

The thought itself made her blush to the core.

Naina: “WHAT THE HELL?! Knock on that panel and unleash your fury!”

She nodded having resolved that she was not going to let it slide and SHE was NOT going to think about the kiss! Just thinking about it gave birth to a restless flurry down in her belly…

You don’t even know his full name!

She turned around to face his booth and with all the anger, more for her irrational behavior than for what he had done, she hit the panel. She was fuming and closed her eyes before her fist made contact with…

Gael didn’t even flinch. This was not the first punch someone had thrown at him. But she did pack a solid punch. He deserved that one and he was sure he was going to bruise…

Again, it took her a few seconds to realize that she had not hit the panel. She refused to open her eyes but wailed when realization struck her.

Naina: “Ohhhh noooo!! I…I…did I hurt you?!”

She opened her eyes and pulled her hand away from him which was still fisted. But then she looked at her fist and realized why she had knocked in the first place! A frown took over her face in a matter of seconds and she tried to punch him again…

Gael caught her fist in his hand swiftly: “Oh no, you don’t. That one only when I kiss you again.”

Naina pulled her hand out of his and glared at him. She looked around and whispered very loudly.

Naina: “HOW DARE YOU! You can’t just fight with me and then kiss me!”

Gael: “So I can kiss you if I don’t fight with you?”

Naina: “Yes…NO! STOP IT! LET ME TALK! What you did was…”

Gael: “Was it your first kiss?”

Naina’s eyes grew so big and so brown; he was thirsty all over again.

Naina: “No it wasn’t! I have had better!”

She saw a flash of something in his eyes again. The first time she had seen it was when she had looked into his eyes just before she wrapped her arms around him. That light in his eyes had forced her to abandon everything. She had felt like she was going to die but when he had kissed her, the passion she saw in his eyes had filled life back into her very being. It was like someone had turned on the lights and his eyes…his eyes had turned silver. No longer felt like cement and ash but a sparkle of the purest white gold. Now she had seen it in his eyes again but only for a flash of a second.

Gael: “That felt like it was your first kiss.”

It had been her first kiss but he didn’t have to know that.

Naina: “That’s not the point! The point is that HOW DARE YOU KISS ME?! I don't even know your full name!”

Gael: “And I don't know yours. Look, you came over to my seat. YOU were having a panic attack and I did what I could think of to calm you down.”

Naina: “Is that all you could think of?!”

Gael: “I was not going to hold your hands and sing a song for you.”

This was officially the most he had spoken to anyone in over a month!

Naina: “Shah Rukh Khan would have done that!”

Gael: “And that is precisely why this was your first kiss.”

Naina: “You know who Shah Rukh Khan is?!”

Gael: “Look, I just want to tell you that it was just a kiss and you are not going to get pregnant; so there is no need for you to get so hormonal about it! There is no need for me to marry you. I mean, I am not going to marry you. Just forget it happened. Okay?”

This time it took her a whole minute to wrap her mind around this one. But when she did, she grabbed a bottle of water in front of her and poured it all over his head.

Naina: “I bet this reaction was not amongst the other stereotypes that you have about Indian women in your head!”

Gael was having a hard time believing what had just happened. But he was having an even harder time believing that he actually realized he deserved that one…too.

Naina swiftly got up as soon as the seat belt sign was off and was about to turn around and leave when…

Gael: “Sorry.”

Naina: “For what?”

Gael: “I am not going to apologize for the kiss. I saved your life.”

Naina whirled around: “You saved my life?! What if I was really having a heart attack? Was your kiss a kiss of life? Was it going to pump my heart back on?!”

Well, it had pumped much more than the two beating hearts…

Gael: “You were not having a heart attack.”

Naina: “And you know a lot about heart attacks?”

He did. Once when he had held a gun against…Gael grabbed a bunch of napkins and started wiping his face when the plane lurched due to turbulence and Naina crashed into her seat again. The seat belt sign was back on but Naina grabbed his hands again, panic written all over her face.

Gael: “Is this where I start singing 'Humpty Dumpty' or are you having a heart attack this time?”

Her life was too important for her to say anything back at him. She just closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing and squeezing his hands with all her might. That kiss was very welcome now. Why had she made such a fuss? It was only a kiss!

Gael leaned in closer: “Imagine that everyone is naked around you.”

Naina swiftly opened her eyes and looked around.

Damn, Gael had not thought that one through. His Aaji was in a booth of her own and not visible and since there was no one in the First Class apart from him…

Both of them looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Naina: “I am pretty sure this is considered to be sexual harassment.”

Gael: “Not if the view is anything but harassment…”

He had wiped his face and hair by now. There was a click as a panel slid open and Aaji came into view.

Aaji: “Quite a bumpy start….Naina? Oh good! You two made up!”

Naina stood up: “I am going for a walk.”

Gael: “Three rows down and there is an exit to your left AND your right. Tell me if the weather is any good out there.”

Naina: “Was that a joke?”

Naina walked away. She wanted to stretch her legs and see people, other people, to get him and the indecent images of him out of her mind!

As soon as Naina left the First Class,

Aaji: “Was that a joke?”

Gael: “Of course…I mean she can hardly walk out…Aaji, I know what you are thinking and stop it.”

Aaji: “I can’t even remember the last time you have…”

Gael: “I make fun of Leo all the time.”

Aaji: “BRENO! I can’t remember the last time you were sooo…”

Gael: “Let it be, please.”

Aaji: "BRENO! why do you have a bruise under your eye?!"
Gael: "I don't know. I was drinking water and..."
Aaji: "You forgot how to drink water from the bottle?"

She had noticed that his shirt was wet.

Gael: "The turbulence..." 

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 3

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 3 

Aaji: “Breno? Are you okay?”

Aaji was the only one who called him “Breno.” She tugged on his arm to pull him down and checked his forehead. “Are you unwell?”

Gael: “Aaji! I am fine, please, not here! I am not a kid anymore! I grew up a long time ago!”

Aaji: “Hmmmm…much too early. But, for me, you will always be the charming boy running around in your favorite beach shorts that Leo and Davi had accidentally dyed pink!”

Gael instantly remembered her pink…he cleared his throat.

Gael: “I don’t think that was an accident.”

Aaji: “They were only 4!”

Gael: “Those two were born with mischief waiting to be unleashed.”

He guided her to her seat on the plane.

Gael: “John booked the entire First Class for us so we have our privacy…”

Aaji laughed: “This is not how we traveled…”

Gael: “As much as you would like to pretend that things have not changed, they have. Back then we could not afford to buy a ticket so easily and today I can buy the Airline. I am your grandson, if I can compromise, then so can you.”

Aaji: “You can never compromise. It is just not in your system. Coming to India is not a compromise. This is sympathy because you know I am dying.”

Gael: “You are an old witch who knows how to play with emotions very well. If you ever say that again I will push you off this plane!”

Aaji: “I have always wanted to sky dive!”

Gael: “Keep doing what you are doing and I will make your dream come true.”

Outside, in the boarding area

“This is the last call for Miss. Naina Malhotra…”

“Oh my God! Oh my God!”

“What?”

 “I messed up! I gave her a seat in the First Class!”

“What?! BUT THE ENTIRE FIRST CLASS IS RESERVED!”

“I hope she doesn't show up…”

Naina ran into the scene, her hair flying, a complete mess…she had lost track of time trying to choose the best whiskey for her Dadi. Personally she despised whiskey but her Dadi loved it. Fortunately she had been able to pay for the bottle and make it in time for her flight.

Naina: “Naina Malhotra!!! Present!”

She kicked herself mentally! She was not in school anymore!

The agents at the boarding kiosk looked at each other. Mutually, they reached to a consensus. Gael’s reputation was enough to scare the daylights out of them. There was no way they were going to be the ones to break the news to him. The in-flight staff was going to have to deal with that. Besides, there was nothing they could do! The flight was all booked and Gael and his grandmother were not going to occupy all the First Class seats…As long as Naina Malhotra’s seat was assigned to the other end of the world and she kept to her side…

Both of them prayed a silent prayer and shut the boarding gate as soon as Naina was on the plane. God be with them.

Aaji: “I have only one dream, Breno.”

Gael: “I know. To be in India with your people, with your soil, with your potholes…”

He stopped speaking as soon as he sensed something. Something unnatural and foreign to him and something that he was sure he was not going to like…

Naina walked into the First Class with all her duty free shopping bags.

Naina: “Its okay. I can find my own seat. You don’t have to walk me to…”

Air Hostess: “Ma’am, I think there is a mistake. Hang on...”

Naina pulled out her boarding pass to check her seat number.

Naina: “I am sorry, is this seat 3C? I think you are on my seat….YOU?!”

Gael looked up. He didn’t have to look up to know who it was. He could recognize her voice in his sleep.

Naina looked past him and gasped in delight: “Nani! How are you??”

Aaji: “Ahhhh Naina! You won’t believe me when I say that I really missed you!”

Naina: “Oh! How sweet! I know I have that effect on people so I am not surprised…Sir, I would be happy to exchange seats with you if you would like to sit with your Nani.”

What in the world was wrong with him? Why did he lose control of all his communication abilities every time in her presence?

Naina: “Is he always like this or is he shy around girls?”

Aaji was looking at Gael keenly who was openly staring at Naina. What was wrong with him? She believed she had taught him some manners. He was always polite and well-behaved but right now, and even earlier, he was openly staring at this girl…

Aaji: “Breno!”

Naina: “Breno?”

Gael who had finally found his voice lost it all over again when he heard her say his name. No one called him Breno except for his Aaji. Not even his brothers. It had always been very private, his middle name.

Gael cleared his throat: “I…”

Aaji: “Actually I took Breno’s seat!”

Well, hell. Every time he tried to open his mouth these two women rendered him speechless. He never spoke much but he was trying for crying out loud! Let the man speak!

What was his Aaji even talking about?

She got up from her seat and practically pulled Naina into the seat she had just vacated. Naina had been surprised too and didn't realize what was happening.

Gael stood up automatically as soon as Naina sat down causing her to frown. What was with him? She put her bags on the seat next to her…Was he allergic to her? First he couldn’t speak and if she tried to get any closer, not if she tried but when the circumstances got them any closer, he ran the other way!

Was something wrong with her?

She tried to sniff herself to check whether she reeked…

Aaji: “SIT!”

Gael was caught off guard as his Aaji pushed him back. All lies! The old witch was not frail!

At the same time, Naina, who was busy sniffing herself, stopped: “NOT MY TRUFFLES!”

She sprang onto his seat as he came crashing down….More than her truffles were crushed…

Naina screamed and Gael practically fell on the floor more so because of her scream than his reflexes to prevent himself from crushing her.

The in-flight staff and Aaji were just staring at the two of them amidst the commotion. Aaji knew his temper; she could see it in his eyes. The rocket was about to take off any moment now and she quickly stood in between them. So much for trying to get them to sit together... She quickly handed Naina’s bags to the air hostess.

Aaji: “Why don’t you go ahead and get the plane moving?”

The staff scrambled out and then the real volcano erupted.

Gael: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE FIRST CLASS?!”

It was the way he had said it that did not sit well with her. Agreed she was only bumped up owing to the circumstances and she really could not afford to pay the fare for a First Class ticket but he did not know that and he had no right to judge her when he didn't know anything about her!

Naina got up: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY? DID YOU BUY THE WHOLE FIRST CLASS?!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, the seat belt sign has been turned on…”

Aaji: “Breno…”

Gael: “Aaji, sit down and stay out of this!”

Aaji knew when to keep quiet and sat down on the closest seat next to her. But she had not taken into account that the woman next to her had a worse temper.

Naina: “NO! DON’T SIT DOWN! STAND UP!”

So powerful was her out lash that Aaji automatically stood up! There was a sharp intake of breath as Gael tried to grapple with the fact that she had just ordered his Aaji, HIS Aaji but then she threw him a curve ball!

Naina: “HOW DARE YOU ORDER HER AROUND!? Nani, you should only sit down if you feel like not because a…bird turd…likes to uhm…throw tantrums!”

Absolutely forgetting that she had ordered his Aaji just a millisecond ago, Gael was taken by something else…

Gael: “Wait a minute, did you just call me a bird turd?!”

Since that was the bigger problem here…

Naina sneaked a look at Aaji who was just staring at them her jaw dropped. Poor woman was going to have a heart attack but she had to set the imprudent boy straight! She walked over to him and pulled him by his collar because that was as far as she could reach easily  He was a head taller than her and she was wearing her tallest heels! 

Gael only obliged because he was shocked. No one dared to touch  him let alone pull him by the collar…he simply didn't know how to react to that. If it were anyone else but her, he or she would have been dead right now, literally. It was a good thing he had decided to let his entourage fly with John. She turned his face away with her hand so she could whisper into his ear.

Naina: “Bastard! I called you a bastard!”

Gael hid a smile. She didn't want to swear in front of his Aaji. How charming…

Gael: “You called me a bastard?! Do you know who I am?!”

That was NOT  a whisper!

Naina: “OH! TO HELL..O with you!”

Gael gave her a weird look shaking his head. He walked over to Aaji’s seat and swiftly buckled her in. He put her headphones on.

Gael: “This might get ugly. You pay attention to the safety instructions in case of an emergency and someone needs assistance…” He switched her TV on to the in-flight safety instructions video playing on the screen.

Naina ran over to Aaji: “Here, this is the manual with the safety guides in case you need to resuscitate someone in case of an emergency…”

Gael and Naina glared at each other while Aaji tried her best to stop herself from laughing. Gael noticed it and pressed a button pulling Naina out with him as a compartment panel slid shut providing Aaji a private booth all to herself.

Naina took a deep breath. She was not at home. They were on a plane! There were other passengers beyond the curtains who had probably heard her scream! She should stop behaving like an imprudent little girl herself! 

Naina: “May I see your boarding pass please?”

Gael: “Just shut up and sit down.”

Naina: “Where?!”

Gael: “On my head!”

Gael stormed to his previous seat and collected his stuff. He dumped it all on the seat in the row ahead of hers. His aaji was in the same row but he needed his space. Aaji had started it and so she could sit on her own and think about what she had done!

When Naina had not moved at all, he looked at her exasperated.

He grabbed her by her hand and forced her onto her beloved seat 3C! She didn’t say or do anything. Frustrated beyond words, he pulled the straps of her seat belt and buckled her in tight.

Gael: “Here! Now the whole row is yours! When we are up in the air, you may roll around from seat A to seat E!”

He turned around and sat down on his seat and signaled the air hostess to get them up in the air ASAP.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

The only reason Naina had lost steam earlier was because she had felt the plane move. She had remembered that she was on a plane, about to take off and her fear of flying had seeped into her being.

Oh no! What was she going to do?! She tried to sing in her mind, she tried to think of Shah Rukh Khan but no, nothing happened! Her heart was beating so fast she felt like it was going to burst, she could not breathe, her knuckles had turned white…She tried counting and could not get past 5…1,2,3,4,5…what comes after 5? She was going to die…the plane paused for a bit and the engine started roaring. She knew what comes next. The momentum and then…She would not survive…

She looked around, there was no one around! The only reason she survived flying all these years was because she would be in the economy class and there were always people around her. She would always find someone to chat with to ease her fear and pain. She couldn't see Aaji because the compartment secured her in her booth. There was no access to her…There was only one other person.

Oh to HELLO with it!

She swiftly unbuckled herself and staggered to the seat next to him. Fortunately, he had not isolated himself in his booth. The plane was building momentum now…He looked around as soon as he saw her collapse on the seat next to him. She was struggling to put the seat belt on and as the plane moved towards take-off she got worse. She was gasping for breath and pale; she looked like death. There was no doubt that she was having a panic attack. He reached over and put her seat belt on. Breathless, she grabbed his hand with a death grip and looked at him with pleading eyes.

Naina: “S..ssttoopppp the…the…pp…lane!! I..I..c..canttt…”

There was no point talking to her or holding her hands. It would not work. Oh to hello with it!

He leaned forward and with his free hand cupped the back of her neck tilting her face up as he dove in. Her lips were the softest and the sweetest he had ever tasted.

What was this? A sympathy kiss? Was he trying to divert her attention? What was he doing again?

She welcomed his kiss, obviously lost in trance and pulling him into it along with her, leaving all rationality behind on the land as the plane finally took off, slowly and steadily rising up in the air. His lips met hers, hot and hungry…he had heard about make-up sex and they had been fighting just a minute ago…He stopped thinking as she wrapped her hands around his neck.

Now, this was no longer a pity party. He was no longer trying to comfort her. He was having a real party and he was not doing this out of sympathy but rather out of pure desire. He pulled her in closer, deepening the kiss while her fingers ran through his hair and found the back of his neck. She stroked tenderly easing the knots at the back of his neck and upper shoulders –

Gael pulled out so fast, Naina lost track of time and space. But it came back to her within a few seconds. She gasped and covered her face with her hands but before she could react any further Gael pressed a button which engineered the panels to pop out protecting himself in the booth from the scorned lady’s wrath. He had taken advantage of her vulnerability and now he was being the coward and running away from confrontation.

Why was the world scared of Gael Bourgeois again?