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Chapter 15
"Prachi, have you finished packing ?", asked Milind. "Almost", replied Prachi. Milind frowned slightly. She was wearing a salwaar kameez and seemed to be packing more of the same. Milind didn't have any problems with Prachi traditional way of dressing, he actually quite liked it but he wasn't sure if summertime Europe was the place for it. En route to Prachi's parent's home, to have lunch there before leaving for the airport, Milind stopped at a mall. "Do you need to buy something?", asked Prachi confused. Milind handed her his credit card and prodded her out of the car, "Get yourself some jeans, I'll pick you up in 2 hours time." Milind drove off, leaving a stunned Prachi at the entrance of the mall. Prachi was slightly perturbed but also felt compelled to do as Milind said. But she wasn't sure where to start, she hadn't worn western clothing since her teens. She phoned Preeti and explained her dilemma. It took Preeti a full minute a stop giggling, "God Prachi, can you get any luckier? You actually have an husband who wants you to go shopping." After 3 more phone calls to Preeti and almost half an hour late, Prachi finally returned back to the car with half a dozen shopping bags.
On the plane Prachi found herself sitting between Milind and one Mrs Purab Singh. Mrs Singh was on her way to London to see her son and his family. Before take-off could even commence, Prachi had patiently heard all about Mrs Singh's son who was an accountant, the spices she was carrying in her luggage because they couldn't find them in England, what grades her grandchildren were in, her daughter-in-law who had forgotten she had been born in the heart of Punjab and was now dressing as if she was a westerner with her pants and her skirts unlike Prachi who looked so pretty in her salwaar kameez. "Do you prefer, 'western' type women?", Prachi suddenly asked Milind, still a bit unsure about the earlier mall trip. "What?!No, I just thought you will be more comfortable with some jeans.", said Milind. Prachi smiled at him, she couldn't mistake his sincerity.
Fifteen minutes after take-off, Prachi started to feel distinctly nauseous. She knew she wasn't the best of travellers and therefore had delibrately not eaten much the entire day but it didn't seem to have helped. "What's wrong?', asked Milind noticing her uneasy expression. "I don't feel too good.", replied Prachi. Milind immediately leant over and unclipped her safety belt,tilted her seat back and signalled for a flight attendant. "Are you sure you didn't eat anything in the last hour?", asked the flight attendant. "Yes, she is sure.", replied Milind a bit impatiently, "Could you please get her some water?". The flight attendant had left, when Mrs Singh suddenly said, "Maybe you're pregnant?". Both Milind and Prachi stared at her for a moment in stunned silence. "She is not pregnant.", said Milind firmly. "Are you sure?", persisted Mrs Singh. In a whisper she added to Prachi, "I know how these young husbands are. They don't give their poor wives a minutes rest." Inspite of her present state, Prachi found herself stifling a laugh. If only Mrs Singh knew the truth. "I'm sure.", replied Prachi with a weak smile. The flight attendant returned just in time with some soda water which soon helped Prachi. Except for Mrs Singh's neverending chatter, the rest of the trip went off smoothly. At Heathrow Prachi and Milind waved off Mrs Singh goodbye before they could catch their connecting flight to Zurich.
It was already dark when they reached Zurich. What Prachi could see of Zurich delighted her. She loved the cobblestone streets, the elegant buildings and the old world atmosphere that still existed in a modern vibrant city. Their hotel was situated in a quiet part of Old Town. It was elegant and understated. The conference wasn't going to start until Monday, so Milind booked them a city tour for the following day. Prachi was exhausted and couldn't wait to get to her room when it struck her that she and Milind would be sharing a room. The room was lovely and comfortable with a living room enjoining the bedroom. But Milind and Prachi hardly any paid attention to ambiance of the room as they negiotiated their sleeping arrangements. "I'll sleep there.", said Milind pointing to the sofa in the living area. Prachi was aghast. There was no way his 6 foot frame would fit on the sofa and she also knew he wouldn't allow her to sleep on the floor, so she said, "Why, don't we both sleep on the bed. It's big enough for both of us." Milind felt as if he ought to refuse but he was too tired and the bed looked too damn inviting. By the time Prachi showered and got out of the bathroom, Milind laid sprawled on the bed fast asleep.
"Prachi, have you finished packing ?", asked Milind. "Almost", replied Prachi. Milind frowned slightly. She was wearing a salwaar kameez and seemed to be packing more of the same. Milind didn't have any problems with Prachi traditional way of dressing, he actually quite liked it but he wasn't sure if summertime Europe was the place for it. En route to Prachi's parent's home, to have lunch there before leaving for the airport, Milind stopped at a mall. "Do you need to buy something?", asked Prachi confused. Milind handed her his credit card and prodded her out of the car, "Get yourself some jeans, I'll pick you up in 2 hours time." Milind drove off, leaving a stunned Prachi at the entrance of the mall. Prachi was slightly perturbed but also felt compelled to do as Milind said. But she wasn't sure where to start, she hadn't worn western clothing since her teens. She phoned Preeti and explained her dilemma. It took Preeti a full minute a stop giggling, "God Prachi, can you get any luckier? You actually have an husband who wants you to go shopping." After 3 more phone calls to Preeti and almost half an hour late, Prachi finally returned back to the car with half a dozen shopping bags.
On the plane Prachi found herself sitting between Milind and one Mrs Purab Singh. Mrs Singh was on her way to London to see her son and his family. Before take-off could even commence, Prachi had patiently heard all about Mrs Singh's son who was an accountant, the spices she was carrying in her luggage because they couldn't find them in England, what grades her grandchildren were in, her daughter-in-law who had forgotten she had been born in the heart of Punjab and was now dressing as if she was a westerner with her pants and her skirts unlike Prachi who looked so pretty in her salwaar kameez. "Do you prefer, 'western' type women?", Prachi suddenly asked Milind, still a bit unsure about the earlier mall trip. "What?!No, I just thought you will be more comfortable with some jeans.", said Milind. Prachi smiled at him, she couldn't mistake his sincerity.
Fifteen minutes after take-off, Prachi started to feel distinctly nauseous. She knew she wasn't the best of travellers and therefore had delibrately not eaten much the entire day but it didn't seem to have helped. "What's wrong?', asked Milind noticing her uneasy expression. "I don't feel too good.", replied Prachi. Milind immediately leant over and unclipped her safety belt,tilted her seat back and signalled for a flight attendant. "Are you sure you didn't eat anything in the last hour?", asked the flight attendant. "Yes, she is sure.", replied Milind a bit impatiently, "Could you please get her some water?". The flight attendant had left, when Mrs Singh suddenly said, "Maybe you're pregnant?". Both Milind and Prachi stared at her for a moment in stunned silence. "She is not pregnant.", said Milind firmly. "Are you sure?", persisted Mrs Singh. In a whisper she added to Prachi, "I know how these young husbands are. They don't give their poor wives a minutes rest." Inspite of her present state, Prachi found herself stifling a laugh. If only Mrs Singh knew the truth. "I'm sure.", replied Prachi with a weak smile. The flight attendant returned just in time with some soda water which soon helped Prachi. Except for Mrs Singh's neverending chatter, the rest of the trip went off smoothly. At Heathrow Prachi and Milind waved off Mrs Singh goodbye before they could catch their connecting flight to Zurich.
It was already dark when they reached Zurich. What Prachi could see of Zurich delighted her. She loved the cobblestone streets, the elegant buildings and the old world atmosphere that still existed in a modern vibrant city. Their hotel was situated in a quiet part of Old Town. It was elegant and understated. The conference wasn't going to start until Monday, so Milind booked them a city tour for the following day. Prachi was exhausted and couldn't wait to get to her room when it struck her that she and Milind would be sharing a room. The room was lovely and comfortable with a living room enjoining the bedroom. But Milind and Prachi hardly any paid attention to ambiance of the room as they negiotiated their sleeping arrangements. "I'll sleep there.", said Milind pointing to the sofa in the living area. Prachi was aghast. There was no way his 6 foot frame would fit on the sofa and she also knew he wouldn't allow her to sleep on the floor, so she said, "Why, don't we both sleep on the bed. It's big enough for both of us." Milind felt as if he ought to refuse but he was too tired and the bed looked too damn inviting. By the time Prachi showered and got out of the bathroom, Milind laid sprawled on the bed fast asleep.
CID
