1 LOVE IN THE AIR ❤️
***
"Hello Ma'am, what's with this new hairstyle?", Arka winked as he entered the cockpit.
"Good to see you sir! Just tried something new today, hope it suits me well". Sabiha answered.
Passengers were boarding the aircraft. Sabiha was the crew in charge on the flight. She is one of the prettiest girls in the airline but her personal life was taken an ugly turn as she had recently got separated from her husband after struggling for four years in the marriage which was nothing more than a ruined piece of cake.
Sabiha was a 30 year old flight attendant, 5'5 in height, light brown skin and her smile was magnificent. She was meritorious in her profession but her private life was abhorrent. She was a victim of domestic violence and yet she asked for amity all this while.
She was recently thrown out by her husband and mother in law and was seeking refuge at her mother's house.
With so many ambiguities in her mind, she preferred working even more to befuddle her brain.
"May I quickly conduct the pre flight check of the cockpit?" She asked Arka, while closing the flight deck door from inside.
"All yours Mam! And you look good in all the hairstyles."
"Thank you Sir!". She was flattered by the compliment as it came her way after ages.
Suddenly her brain rushed to the flashback when she was criticized for her dark complexion by her husband. He never had time to entice her charm but was always at hand to contuse her appearance. This time she was determined about not going back to the everlasting fire where she will be burnt again.
Flight took off. It was a light day for all of them as there was barely any passenger load. Arka was excessively friendly to her and she enjoyed his attention.
"What may I offer you for dinner? You can make your choice as we have all the options available". She handed over the menu card to Arka but his eyes were stuck on her. She blushed discretely.
"Anything that is available and only after you've eaten".
She came out of the flight deck and a call from Arka followed her.
"Also! If you can please send someone inside, I would like to use the washroom"
"Certainly Sir"
She knew it in a period that he was trying to extract some time from her.
Arka came out. She noticed him comprehensively. He had an incredible glow on his face. His shirt was tucked in from front and falling out from behind. He was indeed a gentleman with ivory hair. His smile was absorbing and eyes radiant.
He noticed her index finger while she was tapping it on the galley top.
"Are you married?"
"Separated lately"
" I also dissolved my engagement Mam, that's how I am grey headed". He smirked and gave a high five instantaneously. She gave it back too.
"We will be great fun if you don't mind Ma'am?"
"Sure! Why not?"
She had never commenced any casual conversation with flight deck crew before but somewhere she was bewitched by his wittiness.
"Also, my phone's battery is dying! May I please give it to you to charge it from cockpit"
"Of course!"
He took her phone and went inside his mini compartment. She also got involved in other work but she couldn't stop thinking about him. Intuitively, she wanted someone to talk to. All her friends were scattered. Even if they were within her reach, her husband never conceded it. She was circumscribed in a house where nobody could hear her howl. She needed a companion and she saw one in him.
Aircraft landed and passengers deplaned.
"Ma'am your phone! It's 75% charged now, I hope it will be sufficient!"
"More than enough! Thank you very much"
"By the way! I tried feeding my number in it but it isn't accepting. It seems you don't want it. I cracked all the permutations and combinations though but couldn't open your phone". He made a cute puppy face.
She drooled over his dainty look and immediately typed her number in his phone.
"Now you have it!". She smiled innocently.
"I will text you soon." He shook hands with her and deplaned.
She also wrapped up everything and left the aircraft.
***
Sabiha boarded the cab and pulled out her headphones and as soon as she played her favorite track. A message popped on the phone screen.
"I just wanted to confirm that I have the right number🙈"
"Yes it's my number and I'm not a cheat :)"
"I'm glad! I am usually very bad at asking phone numbers. You're the first one I approached"
"Really? And I have never spoken to any cockpit crew like this. I have always been very hesitant in this matter"
" It took me five flights and seven hairstyles to take your number. I know I'm a loser :P."
" You're definitely not. I would have definitely made an excuse had it been our first flight together"
"I have done a thesis on you Ma'am. People think highly of you here. But why did you separate from your husband? Only if you wish to tell"
"Firstly! I will be glad if you call me Sabiha and not Ma'am and secondly, it wasn't a marriage but a disaster instead"
"Hahah! Same pinch! I was rokafied with this girl who suddenly called it off without an explanation. And I am in a state of bizarre ever since. We were together for five years and now she aspires to be a fashion model. I had never stopped her from pursuing her ambitions but she still chose to leave me and continue her life without me".
" I am sure it must be very disheartening. I can feel your pain"
"There is no pain anymore! I think I have accepted it well"
" I am glad you did! I am seeking a psychiatrist treatment to come out of this phase. Every night I pop in a pill which takes me to a worry less world"
"I did that too! Haha! But it didn't help me much. I'm delighted that we are connecting well and we have too many similarities"
" But how did you know so much about me?"
" I harbored a crush on you for the very first time we flew together. I met you at the office also couple of times. Saw you in different hairstyles every time. And then, lately I spoke about you to Captain Ronit. He warned me not to approach you as you're married and sorted in life. All my friends think I'm a player and all I want is a girl to screw. But believe me! I am very innocent and the most honest guy you will ever find".
" I believe you! I don't require an explanation. You're a very nice person and I'm saying this out of my experience".
Time passed by and she didn't realize when the cab driver stopped at her house. They were explicitly rejoicing the moment.
"I am home now! I will change and message?"
"I haven't even changed yet! I'm so much into our conversation. Please change and text. I will be waiting"
She was happy after a very long time. She finally had someone to talk to. And, Arka was doubtlessly her interest she had established lately. In our society, a man is allowed to marry as many times but a woman, on the other hand is disregarded if she has proposed an annulment. Within seconds, people make apprehensions about her. She is called a house breaker and even a slut. But, nobody tries to discover the agony she must have gone through. There are plenty of women who have turned a blind eye to their partners infidelity but if a woman does it, she is definitely a strum pet. She can't demand happiness. Her character is assassinated. With all these thoughts interrupting her mind, she opted serenity. We have one lifetime to spend and god will curse us if we don't live it from soup to nuts. Systole and diastole makes us who we are but nothing can stop us from accomplishing our goal of life. We can't change others contemplations towards us but we can shift our direction and reconstruct as a better human who lives and let live.
"Hi! I'm back"
"Glad you are! :)"
——— Charu C.
