KMKV FF - Hearts & Diamonds or Clubs & Spades (in hiatus) - Page 2

*****

Part 1

Chapter 2

"Mom, did you do this on purpose?" asked Pooja in a dangerously low voice.

"No Pooja. I swear," said Priya looking at her and then the watch, getting anxious by the moment.

Pooja just frowned as she looked out of the window of the cab.

Great! The problems had already started! And the vacation had hardly begun.

"Pooja, we will get there in time. I mistook 1900 hours as 900 hours. It is a genuine mistake. Sorry. Pooja, please," she tried explaining desperately.

"The boarding closes in 25 minutes," she mumbled still not looking at her mother.

"Here! Look! We have reached," said Priya enthusiastically trying to cheer her up.

Her head snapped up to look out of the other window.

Indeed, they had arrived.

*****

Arjun, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chennai city.

He was getting married to the only daughter of the city Superintendent.

He had a family which adored him, a job he loved and was going to marry a fine girl, but why did it feel like he was missing something? Something very important?

His friend cut into his thoughts when he announced that they had arrived at the airport. Indeed they had. Dubai was a fine city. He had been here on an undercover mission and it was over now. Finally it was time to go back home.

He hated waiting.

He hated waiting in the airport lounge.

That's why he had waited till the last minute.

He bid farewell to his friends as he headed towards the airport with nothing but a suitcase.

*****

As soon as she got off the cab, Pooja ran towards the assembled trolley section.

"Oh God! Why is it so difficult?" she mumbled as she desperately tried to pull a trolley out.

"Need some help?" asked a voice behind her.

She turned to see a tall, well-built, well-dressed gentleman of undeterminable age look down at her with an amused glint in his eyes. His sun glasses tucked in his shirt. He was holding a rather small suitcase and Pooja knew he didn't need a trolley.

"Sure," she shrugged and glided out of the way.

With a gentle pull, he pulled the trolley and swept it to her. Gleefully she accepted it, her eyes shining in happiness.

The man smiled and said, "Your dimples are cute! Where are your parents?" he asked getting angry at them for leaving a small child unattended.

"There," she said pointedly.

He turned to see a lady clad in green saree, her hair tied up in a pony tail, with her back towards him. She seemed to be paying the cab-driver. He watched the little girl literally run towards her mother with the trolley. His gaze was fixed on the lady, as the cab driver helped put the luggage on the trolley. The lady still didn't turn. For some reason, he felt he needed to see her.

Realising it was getting late, Arjun turned away just as Priya turned towards the airport.

*****

"Are you happy now? Here, you can keep the passport and the boarding pass," said Priya as she hunched down to her daughter's height and put a small purse bag over Pooja's neck.

The security check was done.

They still had to wait 30-45 minutes before the actual boarding.

"Mummy, look! Ms. Kavitha, my math teacher," exclaimed Pooja and before Priya could say anything she darted off to meet her. This girl will get into trouble if she didn't stop running off like that. Letting out a slight smile, she followed her.

*****

"Pooja, we should go now."

"Just 5 more minutes. The baby is so cute," said Pooja looking adorably at her teacher's baby.

"But, Pooja I need to do a little shopping," as soon as she said it she regretted it.

Darn it, Pooja hated shopping.

Frowning she said, "Mom, you go. I will stay here till you finish shopping."

"Yes, Miss. Priya. I will be here for 2 more hours. You need not worry," said the teacher smiling at Pooja making funny faces at her kid.

She smiled and nodded.

Sighing she got up to head to the Duty Free Shop trying to find something for her parents she abandoned 7 years ago.

*****

If that lady took one more step, she would slip on the newly washed floor.

On an impulse, he dropped the magazine he was carrying and took two long strides and held out his hand to save the lady from falling.

*****

Her eyes were focused on the shop in front of her as she thought about what to get her parents. She failed to notice the newly polished floor and her slight heels just made it worse. When her legs betrayed her, she closed her eyes tightly waiting for the impact which never came. Instead she felt a hand encircle her shoulders, holding her from falling. Her eyes snapped open and she stared into the deep brown eyes that were equally staring down at her. Her hands had found its way to hold on to his shirt collar. His left hand was around her and his right hand lay safely on her bare waist. Her eyes widen when she realized where his hand rested. Trust sarees to be uncovered at the most convenient places! With the realization, she pushed away only to pull him with her. Her eyes shot up to him in accusation. He let go off her and looked pointedly at his shirt. Her forehead creased into a frown, when she realized her stupid chain had wound up in his shirt button. He gently tugged off the chain and stared at her, probably expecting a "Thank you."

After a minute of silence and a staring war, he spoke up.

"Be careful. Watch your step," he said like she was a small child.

With that he turned away, before Priya could even decide if she wanted to say a "Thank you."

*****

Priya held Pooja's hand as they walked through the wing towards the aircraft.

"Mom?" started Pooja suddenly.

"Yes, Pooja?" asked Priya smiling.

"I want one."

"An aeroplane? That's going to be expensive," she said jokingly.

Pooja rolled her eyes, "No mom."

"Then?"

"A baby."

"What?" she asked unbelievingly as her eyes widened.

"A baby mummy, please," she looked pleadingly.

"Damn it!" she said to herself.

(To be continued)

Part 3

*****

Her drop and his grab well described. Enjoyed 2nd chapter more. Thanks.

Good One 👏 so, here they haven't met before ah? hmmm Interesting !! great going..

Great Start 😃 Love the title also... 😉

Thank you for the reviews!

Ok! So no special requests?

*****

Part 2

Chapter 3

"Kill Me Now," she muttered to herself.

"Mummy, pretty please," she looked at her pouting.

She gritted her teeth, as her free hand curled into a fist, her blood pressure increasing steadily as she walked towards the aircraft.

"What am I going to do?"

"Don't worry. I'm there for you. I will take care of the matter," said a voice behind her.

She turned to give the man her piece of her mind, but stopped short when she saw the man from the "unfortunate accident" before her, talking on the phone.

He crossed her not even giving her a glance.

"Mom?"

"Honey, we will talk later."

*****

10...11...12...13 A B

And he had to be on 13 C!!!

What the hell?

"Mom, I want the window seat," called out Pooja from behind her.

She turned to her, "Pooja, it is not our seat, now go sit in the middle seat."

She looked dejected as she overtook her and glided to her "said" seat.

But, when she saw the passenger next to her, her moods lifted.

"Uncle?"

Uncle?! Wait! Did she know him already?

"Can I sit there?"

What? No!

"Sure...Pooja, is it?"

"Yes, uncle."

"Call me Arjun."

He got up and crept towards the aisle, just then a passenger thought that would be the right moment to overtake Priya, as she fell forward, her fists on Arjun's chest as his hands involuntarily found its way on her shoulders, their eyes meeting just a second long enough before Priya straightened herself as Arjun sat comfortably on the seat by the aisle.

With no other passengers coming their way, Priya took her laptop bag and stood on her tip toe to put it on the overhead locker, all the time conscious that her waist wasn't exactly modestly covered.

Satisfied, that her bag was safely put, she looked down at him. He had his head phones on and was trying to choose a movie on the screen in front of him.

She cleared her throat. He looked up at her and got up and made way for her to enter.

She glided inside to the middle seat, not knowing what else to do with Pooja being adamant to be in the window seat.

She turned to look him and muttered a "Thank you".

He raised his eyebrows.

"For the seat and for what you did previously," she said slowly.

"No problem," he muttered and went back to his movie.

*****

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Crook and I'm your pilot and on behalf of the entire crew I welcome you aboard Airbus 632, from Dubai to Chennai. The travel distance is 2920km, which will be covered in 3 hours 20 minutes. Happy journey," chirped the speakers.

After announcing all cell phones to be switched off, the TV in front of each passenger proceeded to show the standard safety demonstration.

The flight started taxing and Pooja looked out of the window in awe. Arjun dissatisfied with the movie collection, put off the head phones and leaned back to a comfortable slumber. Priya flipped her magazines and after 5 minutes when the flight had started ascending, she put the magazines down and decided to take a short nap.

*****

The buzz in his ears reminded him that he was in an aircraft. His perfect dreamless nap was broken when an air hostess shook him awake. He opened his eyes groggily, surprised to find hair on his face. He rubbed his eyes awake and sat up straight, wide eyed, when he realized that the pretty lady next to him was lying on his shoulders and he on her head. The jerk startled Priya as she woke up. She didn't seem to realize their position. Arjun looked everywhere but at her.

"What drink would you like sir? Whiskey? Beer?.."

"Just juice."

"Orange? Apple? Pomegranate? Guava? Pineapple?"

"Guava," chirped both Arjun and Pooja at the same time.

Priya looked from Pooja to Arjun, how did these people like "guava"? She hated it!

The air hostess gave them the drinks and looked expectantly at Priya.

"Orange."

Priya again looked from Pooja to Arjun as they gulped it down in one second. Weirdos!

*****

He stretched a yawn as the air hostess took away their completed food tray. Arjun didn't have the guts to sleep after what had happened. But, Priya who had no idea of it had slept peacefully until he woke her up for dinner.

He turned to look at her. She was dabbing her daughter's lips with a napkin.

They looked like a wonderful pair. He had observed them during the brief period of their dinner together and that said so much.

He suddenly wondered how his wife and their child would interact.

Surely, this woman's husband was a lucky man.

That was the last thought in his mind before the aircraft began to wobble.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats. The fasten seat belt sign has be turned on. We are crossing a zone of turbulence. Thank you."

All the passengers obliged.

After a few moments, Arjun leaned a little over Priya to a very scared Pooja, "Don't worry, this happens all the time. It will be there only for a few minutes."

She was holding tight to her mother and muttered, "But, never when we travel."

His own hands were held on tight to the arm rests.

The air craft suddenly dropped altitude and Priya's hands found his in the arm rest, as his hands left the arm rest and interlocked with hers.

His gaze turned and locked on with Priya's for a brief minute before he turned away, his hands never leaving hers.

Her one hand was holding on to Pooja while the other him.

She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.

*****

The flight had descended and neither of them spoke of their hand holding as they walked towards passport control and after that she looked around and found that he was nowhere in sight. She ignored the deep feeling within her that urged her to look out for him and walked towards the baggage claim.

*****

He found them again when they were at the pre-paid taxi counter.

"There is no one to pick you up?"

The lady almost jumped and he realized he had startled her.

"Sorry."

"No, it's ok. And no, there is no one to pick us up. We have to find a hotel."

She had no idea why she was giving him information.

He frowned, "Its 1'o clock. Do you have any idea how unsafe it is?"

"I know. But, this is the best I can do. We know no one in this city. My parents are in Cochin."

He had half a mind to bad mouth about her careless husband but stopped himself. He barely knew her and strongly felt that he didn't want to get into her bad books.

He looked at Pooja, whose eyes were half drooped with sleep.

"I can escort you."

She looked at him with wide eyes.

"...if you don't mind."

"No, it's ok. We can manage."

Why did he feel so protective towards these two?

"Ok. Give me your phone number."

She raised her eyebrows.

He understood the look, "So that I will know you have reached safe."

He saw her hesitance and quickly added, "You can always unblock my number if I try something funny."

Satisfied with his argument, she gave him her number.

When she saw his contemplating on what to save her name as, she provided, "Priya."

He saved quickly and gave her a missed call and said, "Arjun."

That was most courtesy they were going to give each other that night.

"If you are in any problem, don't hesitate to call me."

Both of them parted ways, neither of them noticing a man watching their conversation in amusement and capturing the precious moments in his phone.

(To be continued)

Part 4

*****

Good one ma.. So, they reached India.. waiting to know whats in store.. 😊

OMG Such an amazing one

Awesome part... Arrival to India... Great... 😃