Chapter 4: Humrahi
"Its only here that the waiting time is perhaps more than the flight duration." Pari muttered exasperatedly, pacing the tiny Delhi airport lounge for the hundredth time. The 10:00 p.m. had been delayed on dual accounts of a technical glitch and bad weather and she groaned as she looked at her watch which showed 2:45 am. Most of her fellow travellers had been put up in neighboring hotels and inns, opting to travel the next day. The unseasonal storm which had hindered the flights from running on time had past and an announcement had been made that they would soon proceed to their destination.
A handful of men walked up to the sole frontline staff member standing near the boarding gate. "Is the damned flight ever going to take off? one of the infuriated men asked, obviously drunk. "Sir...We're doing our best. Until the runways are cleared, we cannot really do anything. " "Then go out and clear the runway dammit." another man caught hold of the slender girl and shook her. "Sir...Please sir....I'm...." "Shut up and go tell your bosses to start in five minutes...Don't you know who we are?"
"Someone who definitely weren't paying attention when their parents were teaching them etiquettes." Pari's voice snapped from behind the crowd as she walked towards the shaken airline personnel. " No matter what the provocation, this is no way to behave with a woman.....Any defenceless person for that matter....I'm sure the airline officials and groundsmen are doing their best and if you think you can do better, you are more than welcome to take a pitchfork and start clearing the runway yourselves. And its a criminal offense manhandling an airline official on duty. " she finished superiorly.
The crowd of five men turned to her. "Fine Miss Personification-of-Properiety........As you say, manhandling an airline official on duty is an offense. But putting a little sense into a smart-mouth, meddlesome chit is definitely not a crime, is it. " one of them asked, advancing towards her now. " Now I've done it....." Pari thought hopelessly as she started walking backwards and ran into a pair of steading arms.
"I would advice against it." A deep voice said coolly. "If you care to see the bulletin board, it says the flight starts boarding in five minutes. If you commence a fight here, I'll be obliged to log a complaint with the concerned authorities, the security will be here, there may be inquires, arrests, there will be a further delay and I will miss my race tomorrow evening. " He said, sounding aggrieved. " So gentlemen.....Please be good to me and yourselves and settle this matter after boarding the aircraft. " he gestured towards the tarpaulin. " After you gentlemen...."
Pari had just gathered enough self assurance to begin a "Thanks..." when the speaker turned to her with a, "Are you travelling first class?" "Yes...." "Downgrade your seat to economy......I'll send word to the steward et all to make sure those five are in the first class, seated far away from each other and kept happy....I'll get a seat next to yours to make sure there is no further trouble." All Pari could say was an inadequate "Thanks" as Abhir Bhasin swung his duffel bag on his shoulders and hurried towards the aircraft, looking back to give her a reassuring smile.
Sitting down in her prison cell and recollecting her first meeting with him, Pari did not know when she fell in love with Abhir. She did not know whether it was that exact moment at the airport or during their journey therin. She didn't know whether it was during the lengthy games of chess they played against each other when he visisted Shantiniketan. Or during the times he remembered to bring her and Archita, a bouquet of fresh flowers or a box of their favorite chocolates. But she knew a part of her would always love him with the same despairing extremity with which he entirely loved someone else. Her sister Bhumi.
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