Life is full of ironies. It's something that almost everyone in this world can attest to. Often the last thing we want to do in our life is what exactly what we end up doing at one point or the other. Some people attribute it to destiny, some to Karma, some just say that's life and live with it! However, it's always encouraging to think that even ironies can have a silver lining hidden in them if we look hard enough.
Akaash Verma was a recipient of one of such ironies of life. Akaash was a brilliant researcher and was currently pursuing his PhD in nanotechnology from an Ivy League university in USA. At 25 he was already well published and well respected not only by this peers, but also by this professors. His expertise in nanotechnology caused him to receive various invitations from conferences worldwide to talk about his research. His professors always encouraged him to attend in order to help him further his career. However, this is where Akaash's irony begins. As much as he enjoyed his work, his field, attending conferences, sharing his knowledge and expanding his network, he equally hated the primary means to reach the conferences. Akaash Verma hated to fly!
Being a man of science, Akaash knew that statistically flying was the safest mode of travel. He flew when he had to, and usually did not have a problem. But any flight with turbulence usually caused severe panic attacks. He hated the moving, the shaking, the bouncing, and the rumbling of the plane, anything that had anything to do with turbulence. He hated it with a passion, but always bit the bullet along with a few sleeping pills every time he got on a plane. Another irony of the situation was that his name in Hindi meant Sky.
Well as luck would have it, Akaash's latest research publication was very well received by the industry and he was invited to be the key note speaker at an upcoming conference. However, the conference was in New Delhi, India, so would have to fly. Upon talking to his advisors, Akaash decided to fly to straight to New Delhi since it would be the shortest possible route. Since he was the key note speaker at the conference, he was upgraded to the Business Executive class.
On D-day or D-evening (as it was a post sunset flight), Akaash decided to dress up in a suit since he was flying the elite class, and checked in at the counter. He went through security, and waited for boarding. He was getting anxious by the minute and as the boarding was announced he realized that he had forgotten his sleeping pills. In his panic he ran to the convenient stores in the boarding lounge but none of them carried any sleeping pills. In his frustration, he picked us some very strong cold medicine hoping that might do the trick just as well.
When Akaash return to his flight gate, he one of was the last few people to board. He gave his boarding pass and was escorted to his window seat. The business executive class was one level below First class and had wide seats with lots of leg room. His seat also had an electrical outlet for his laptop as well as his own entertainment TV screen with comfortable headphones, a cushion footrest and he was able to recline his seat almost in a flat position. This was going to be a very comfortable flight. Akaash, stored his laptop under his seat and got comfortable readying a book. The flight was reasonably full and he hoped that the seat next to him would remain empty. No such luck.
A few moments after Akaash had gotten comfortable; the flight attendant escorted someone to the aisle seat next to him. Wanting to be polite, Akaash looked up and saw a very professionally dressed young woman being seated next to him. She was dressed in a business suit with a knee length black skirt, black jacket over a white silk blouse. In one glimpse Akaash saw that while she was good looking, she was also very serious and decided to keep out of her way as much as possible. But politeness first...
"Hi," he said smiling a little.
"Hello," She replied but did not return the smile.
Despite being very intelligent, Akaash was also quite handsome, but he had never learnt how to be comfortable around women. He had dated on occasions, and been around the block once or twice but nothing long term. Looking at her demeanor Akaash did not want to push his luck, so he returned back to his book.
The flight took off on time, and everything was going smoothly. Akaash decided not to take the cold pills so he could concentrate on reviewing his research papers. An hour or so into the flight, the flight attendant came to them with menus for appetizers, dinners and dessert. Akaash was simply loving this. Both he and the woman next to him made the same choices, but still there was no conversation before or during dinner which was served on restaurant quality dinnerware. Akaash finished his dinner in silence and returned to his research papers and an hour or so later decided to take a nap. The flight was been very smooth and the captain said he anticipated a smooth flight. He looked at his watch and he still had over ten hours to his destination. Yes, he thought, a nap would do him good.
Akaash woke up with a jolt! The plane was bouncing up and down, and Akaash panicked. He grabbed both his arm rests with all his might and pushed back on his seat. He always kept his seatbelt tied, so he just closed his eyes and started taking very short shallow breathes trying hard not to have an anxiety attack. The plane continued to move side to side, and up down for several minutes. The metallic sounds of the plane were causing Akaash to sweat but he didn't dare relax his grip or open his eyes.
Fortunately a few minutes later, the turbulence subsided and the Captain's voice came in from the speakers. Akaash listened to every word without opening his eyes or relaxing
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for the unexpected turbulence. However there seems to be a storm developing ahead and while we will try to keep this flight smooth as possible, we suggest you keep your seatbelts securely fastened for your own safety. Thank you."
"That's a pretty firm grip." Said a voice next to him. Akaash opened his eyes and turned to the voice to see the woman next to him looking at him. Then he looked down at the armrest and saw that he had actually been holding her hand on the armrest separating their two seats.
"I hope you don't mind, but I'd like my hand back." She continued.
Akaash looked back up at her, and for the first time she was smiling. The smile completely lightened her face.
"I'm sorry," he said as he let go of her arm, "but I really don't like turbulence."
"I guessed that," she said, "though I must admit you don't seem to be the type that's afraid of flying."
"Oh flying I can handle," Akaash said, "It's the turbulence, and the potential of a crash that bothers me."
"Ok," She said quizzically "I think."
"By the way, thanks for not yelling and calling the flight attendant," Akaash said sheepishly. "That would have been really embarrassing."
"Don't worry about it" she said. "I was very surprised when you grabbed my arm suddenly, but when I saw you freaking out, I realized you weren't trying to make a pass at me."
"Believe me, making a pass at you was the LAST thing on my mind," He said. "I was just trying not to have an anxiety attack!"
She just laughed at that.
"Well my name is Akaash. Akaash Verma." He said and extended his hand.
"Sejal Patel," She met his hand with hers and smiled. "Much better grip this time."
"Yea, this is my professional shake not the panicky one."
"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but when you were having your anxiety attack, you actually looked quiet adorable. It's not everyday I get to see a grown man panicking." She added teasingly.
"Thank you for taking my ego and tearing it to shreds, but I guess I deserved that one." Akaash said. "Though you could have been a bit nicer before. You looked like you were about lash out at the next person who said anything to you."
Sejal just looked at him for a moment and smiled broadly. "Yea I know, it's just that if I smile at people and come across as friendly most guys just immediately start flirting with me. Especially Indians. Oh, don't give me that look, you know what I'm taking about." She continued.
"Yea, I do," Akaash admitted. "Actually been guilty of that a few times myself."
"Just a few times?" Sejal raised her eyebrows. "Well anyway, when I saw that I was sitting next to you, I just thought it would be better if I didn't get friendly with you since this was long flight and I didn't want to get uncomfortable."
"I guess I can understand that," Said Akaash, "Though I doubt you expected this to happena" and started laughing.
Sejal couldn't help herself but had to laugh too.
"Ok, I'll make a deal with you," said Akaash, "I won't flirt with you for the rest of the flight, but you have to agree that you won't be so serious. Deal?"
"I can do that. Deal" Sejal smiled. "So what do you do?"
"I'm a graduate student, and I'm going to New Delhi for a conference." Akaash Replied. "What about you?"
"Well I'm a project manager my firm and am going to meet some business consultants." Sejal Replied. "What's the conference about? Are you presenting or just attending?"