How to Woo Your Bride

12| Swinging Moods

There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.

Ronald Reagan

Chapter 12:

   Riya trudged down the aisle to find the next closest flight attendant. She was so angry, that her cheeks were puffed and red. She scanned the room and spotted one attendant, who was busy flirting with a cute French man.

   "Excuse me, I was wondering if there was a spare seat anywhere on this plan." Riya impatiently interrupted.

   The woman looked her up and down, and said in a bored tone, "I'm sorry, but all the seats are occupied."

   Riya glanced at the French man and noticed an empty seat beside him. "What about that seat," Riya asked, suspiciously.

   "Oh, that one is occupied by his girlfriend."

   "Ah, I see. And his girlfriend wouldn't be too miffed to see you flirt with her boyfriend hmm?"

   "I think we are done here?"

   Riya sighed. There was no point in being rude to her. It wasn't her problem that she had a fat husband. "Right. Well, thank you. I must get back to my seat, or quarter seat, if I'm being honest, " she said, smiling warmly and turned around to walk back. The attendant was quite mystified by her sudden change in demeanor but went back to resume flirting with her latest catch.

Riya saw Madhan animatedly chatting with the couple sitting in the column beside theirs. Madhan caught Riya walking towards them, and whispered something to them, which made the couple light up in smiles.

What did he tell them, Riya thought curiously.

"Ah, you must be the lovely wife. I'm Nandini, and this is my husband, Suresh," the woman said.

Riya smiled in acknowledgment, but commented no further.

"We are absolutely delighted to meet a couple who's going to the same city as we are. Who would have guessed, " Suresh said, gleefully. "Why are you standing? Please sit," he ushered.

Suresh did not notice the dark glare Riya gave, but Nandini did.

She thwarted his back and gestured to Madhan. "Oh yes. He told me your little problem. Well, I have the perfect solution," she gushed.

"Well, you both are newly wedded, and must be totally in love. I'm sure no one will mind if you sit on his lap. I would kill for that kind of an opportunity," Nadhini said coyly, looking at her husband.

Riya was horrified. "What the heck?"

"That's a wonderful idea," Madhan said. "I don't know why I didn't think of that before," he said, blushing.

Riya wanted to puke. No! This was not what she wanted as the solution.

"Come on Riya. Go ahead," Suresh said, winking.

Please wear your seat belts. There's a slight turbulence.

Riya smiled weakly. "Maybe later," she said, as she asked Madhan to scoot over so that she could sit down.

Once uncomfortably seated, she wore her seat belt and had to control the urge to not cry out in pain. It was too painful since there was an arm rest blocking on the side.

After fifteen minutes, when she could no longer tolerate the clotting of her blood flow, she unbuckled her seatbelt and got up.

Suresh looked at them and winked at Riya. "Come on now. Don't be stubborn. Your later is now."