• Second Chances •

24. A Night In The Clouds

Ram could tell that Priya was slightly worried. He knew that she had never travelled out of the country. But seeing her now, Ram realized that she had never taken a flight before. Priya didn't look nervous at all. In fact, if anyone asked Brinda and Aditya, they would not be able to tell either. But Ram had learned to notice the small things Priya did when she was nervous. 

Like now, she was channelling all her energy in leafing through the magazine the airlines had provided them. Ram had also noticed when she had frozen for a millisecond before entering the craft. And now, even though all of her was calm, she was blinking rapidly. 

Ram was glad that he had chosen the middle seats and a little away from Brinda and Aditya. He really didn't wish for anyone to see Priya if she got vulnerable or scared. Some weird instinct had told him that they would be better off without the window view tonight. 

Smiling, he leaned over to Priya's seat and said, "Did you tell Meera Ma that we have boarded?"

"Oh yes," Priya smiled back. "I did." 

"Right. And did you tell her the time we are going to land? Be sure to tell her the Indian time..." 

"Yes!" Priya cut his monologue short. "I installed a time converter on her phone. Plus, Sandy is there." 

Ram laughed. "Yes. Sandy! I forgot." 

Then he glanced at the time. "We should take off in a few minutes." 

"Okay..." whispered Priya and managed a small smile. 

When the plane made its way to the runway, Ram sensed Priya look out of the window tersely. And the biggest giveaway was that she had clutched the handrest a little too tightly. 

Ram didn't know what to do. He had no idea how she would react if he did something to help her. But then again, it was not his problem. He wanted to help her. He wanted to put her at ease. If she didn't like it, then it was her problem. But he couldn't not try. 

So even though his hand shook with fear and hesitation, Ram silently put a palm over Priya's cold hand. 

She didn't flinch. Instead, Priya slowly turned her head to look at him. She looked into his eyes, seeming a little grateful. 

Ram's own lips quirked. And even though it sounded stupid, he found himself saying, "I know that we aren't exactly friends but can we hold hands?"

Priya's eyebrows knitted. She looked at Ram in confusion. 

Seeing her face, Ram reasoned, "Well. I don't like take-offs." 

Priya was not convinced. She questioned him, "Don't you fly frequently?"

Ram nodded. And then lied. "I do. But I hold Aditya's hands." 

After a pause, Ram added, "Or whichever body part he offers that day."

Hearing the unexpected way that sentence ended, Priya doubled up. She threw her head back and laughed. Ram was surprised to see her like that. He had never really seen her laugh so openly in his presence. Nonetheless, it suited her. And her laughter gave him the pluck too. 

He weaved his fingers with her and quipped, "I have a better option now."

Priya didn't mind it one bit. She huffed instead and said, "Oh please!" 

"No really!" chuckled Ram. Then he raised a brow. "So. Any advice on how to not fret?" 

Priya shook her head. "Well. Let's see. They say that Winston Churchill used to do this. Imagine that the person in front of you is naked and half of your fears and apprehensions are gone."