The Lion and the Rose

Chapter 78

Ashwika

Where did these people go?

I check my watch that Siva presented me on the first day of my office and slap my passport against my palm, nervously. The boarding area for the flight to Paris is now open but Sathya anna, Bavesh Anna and Vinay Anna are yet to arrive. When all on a five days business trip. We first arrived in South Korea for a client meeting and we are now leaving for Paris to attend a World Business Conference.

It took a lot of convincing by Siva and me and assurance by Sathya anna himself to take care of me, for my parents to agree to send me alone. My parents trust my brothers from SKGI next to Puvi Anna and Siva. But when we reached the airport, Vinay anna received a call from the client and all three of them left for the organisation asking me to Check in. They said that they will reach the airport before the boarding ends but they haven't reached yet.

If my mom knows that I'm roaming alone, I'm done.

The words "GATE OPEN" changes to "BOARDING" on the airport departure board and an announcement is made. I take my phone and call Bavesh Anna, "Anna enga na irukenga?" (Where are you?)

"Document la oru chinna..." He stops. "Iru Sathya Sir kitaye tharen." (There was a small error in the documents... Wait, Sathya Sir wants to speak with you.)

"Thangachi, oru chinna mistake agitu iruku athan naanga inga vanthom ivanunga vera keech keech nu kathitu irukanga." Someone asks him something and he replies that he is talking proudly of them. (There was a small error in the papers, that's why we had to make a short trip here.)

"Naan venumna anga varatum ah neyy?" I hold my luggage trolley to turn. (Shall I come there?)

"Illa illa da, nee flight board panidu, naanga inga irunthu start panna poorom, take off agurathu kula vanthuduvom." He disconnects the call as someone tries to speak with him. (Not necessary da. You board the flight, we are starting now and will reach there before the flight takes off.)

Okay, Ashwi, you can do it. It's not the first time that you are going to board an international flight. It's just that you are doing it alone. Even if Amma scolds you, Siva will feel proud of you.

It's been two weeks since Mathew anna and Jeni akka got married. While dropping me home after their reception, Siva said that I no longer need any people guarding me and I can live a free life which I was living two years ago.

As he said, Raghav anna's people who were working in my house as a cook and driver left and within two days we got a new cook and driver whose background was checked by Raghav anna's team.

Even while getting permission for this business trip, Siva informed my parents that we don't have any threat from anyone. When I asked him about the changes, he showed me a news article published on the day of Mathew-Jeni's wedding. I didn't feel anything as I have moved on from that part of my life. And when I have my Siva, I have nothing to worry about in my life.

I check for the airport instructions on my mobile and follow it to reach the boarding area. The passengers have been ushered to the bus and I confirm whether it is the one for the Paris flight and board it. I find a seat in the middle and sit on it. The bus gets filled and we are driven towards the flight. The passengers get down the bus and climb up into the flight.

I show my boarding pass to the flight attendant and she directs me towards the third compartment which is the Prestigious Class in Korean Air service. The Prestigious class seats are arranged in three columns and each row has six seats with huge leg room.

I walk further searching for my seat number. The seats are made of recliner chairs which can be converted into a bed for overnight flights. This is a fourteen hours flight starting at 1150 hrs in Seoul and lands when it's 1830 hrs in Paris. Tomorrow, August 20 is the conference and on onam I'll be travelling back to India, missing the festivities.