The Heart Lies...

Chapter 2

Still clutching her shawl close to her, Koyal proceeded on towards the baggage screening counter. She wasn't carrying much with her. Just one handbag and a luggage. She heavily dropped her luggage onto the conveyor belt. As it came out of the machine she went on to pick it up. "Ma'am, there is some further checking to be conducted." "What further checking? The screening is done right?" "There has been a security threat. We have been ordered to individually check all the luggages. The inconvenience caused is highly regretted. "Is this really necessary?" "Apparently, yes" "Arghh...ohkk" Ofcourse it has to be necessary. Just when I feel like running out of this city as fast as my legs could carry me, you have to present all these road blocks. Thank you so much God for your help. Grudgingly she opened the lock. The officer ran a cursory glance around it. He was about to let her go when suddenly...
His eyes chanced upon several tiny corked bottles filled with sand, stringed together. His eyebrows furrowed into an arch. He gingerly took them out. There were about ten of those. As he delved further, the things he caught hold of grew more and more weird. One by one he took out a doll, lacking a head, a box filled with dry leaves, a huge set of mismatched tissues, each embellished with a different logo, various entry tickets, etc etc... . With every item he picked out Koyal blushed a brighter shade of red with embarrassment. Great, now they will probably think I'm some crazy voodoo master or something. "I can explain..." "Yes some explanation is needed, although I have to admit that none of these seem illegal, they sure are suspicious. Follow me."Arghhh! She followed him into a small cubicle and was made to sit opposite a senior officer. "Look, they are just souvenirs. I know they may seem to be weird, but souvenirs are what thay are. And now that I have cleared everything I would like to be boarding my flight." "Woah, not so fast." "See you will have to admit that they may be suspicious but harmless." "Yes..true.." "Then let me go!!" "Ma'am, please calm down. We are only doing our duty." She descended into a brooding silence."Kindly fill out your details and then you are free to go;though we will have an eye on you." She filled out the form in angry cursives and then with her head held high with all the dignity she could muster she made her way towards the door and then..."Ouch" She hit her toe on the frame. The officer rushed towards her. "I don't need your help. Stay away." Of course, I had to stumble! And why did I have to bring those keepsakes along. Uff!
She went on to a kiosk to get her boarding pass issued. "I would like to have the window seat, if it is available.""Sure, let me check. Yes, they are available. Here you go dear. Proceed on to security check." Yipee! One good thing that has happened today. Perhaps this is a good omen for the trip. Standing in the queue for security check she noticed a guy, not really the guy but his smile. A mischievous lopsided grin. An Edward smile. She didn't really like the twilight series but the smile had captured her imagination. She was caught in those lips. The grin suddenly vanished and was replaced by boisterous laughter. That killed the moment. Her eyes wandered from his lips to take in the whole of him. He had nothing noteworthy in him. The most anyone could say about him was that he still retained some of his boyish cuteness. He was surrounded by a medley of people. Everyone quite different from each other yet they seemed to belong together. A group of around ten odd people. No one nearly sophisticated. They would have looked better on a goan beach smoking weed. A bit too harsh an observation, but you get the idea. Some music junkies with half of them with guitar cases. And 'Edward' seemed to be the soul of the group. Just the kind of guy she hated. Dangerous. Untrustworthy. A total insult to an Edward smile. She moved on with disdain. The security check over she went on to board the flight. She got herself settled into her window seat. She closed her eyes and had just gotten herself into a peaceful state when a hand prodding her arm made her jump. "Y..yes?" "I know it would be a lot of trouble but me and my two kids are travelling alone and one of us has got a separate seat. Would you mind swapping seats? I'm sorry the other one isn't a window seat but an aisle one." Oh yes, I would mind. A lot. "Yes, thats fine." "Thanks a lot dear." 'No' has never been a word in your vocabulary,right? That added with your misplaced sense of righteousness has done you shit loads of good. When will you learn?? She moved ahead.No..no..let this be a mirage. The row she was supposed to sit in and the ones behind it were occupied by those group of junkies. And sitting in the seat beside her was none other than....him. There goes my good omen.

*Do vote and comment if you liked the story so far.*