Page 169 - Musings 2021

replace them with new ones before the flight takes off again. What a waste, right?
Technically, I’m paying for it; I’d rather make use of it.”

Jose: (a bit astonished) “How many have you collected so far?”

Saji: (with a droll smile) “Ha-ha, that’s a good question. I’ve collected at least 30 earphones
so far. These end up getting damaged quite fast as I mostly just give it to my son. He keeps
them happily. You have sons? They are quite the troublesome lot.”

Jose: “No sir, I am just 25.”

(Jose, still a bit surprised, gets back to his sudoku. After a while, Saji reaches up and pushes

the button which is for requesting the steward for assistance. The air hostess comes over to
Saji’s seat promptly.)
Saji: “Can I have the password to the Wi-Fi please?”
Air Hostess: (slightly annoyed as the button is usually for something more serious) “Sure sir,
can I have a look at your boarding pass?”
Air Hostess: (returning the boarding pass after noting down something) “The password is
AI502PS. Anything else that you need?”
Saji: “No.”
(The air hostess returns to the rear compartment of the plane. Saji powers on his laptop and
connects to the Wi-Fi. He starts downloading a few movies from a website.)

Saji: (turns to Jose) “Have you seen the movie, Catch Me If You Can? It’s said to be good;
I’m downloading it for later along with some other movies.”

Jose (disturbed that he was interrupted from his sudoku lies): “No sir, I haven’t.”

Saji: (smiles at him) “You know what, you can also download some movies or something,
and you are in fact paying for the Wi-Fi.”

(Jose, not knowing how to reply, turns to his sudoku. Saji gets up to use the washroom when
the plane starts to shake. The baby in the front starts crying again. The seatbelt sign turns on
and the pilot announces that there is slight turbulence incoming. Saji, ignoring this
completely, resumes walking to the washroom.)

Air Hostess: “Sir, please get back to your seat. The seatbelt sign is on.”

Saji: “But I’ve to use the washroom.”

Air Hostess: “Sir, there is turbulence incoming, please get back to your seat.”

Saji: (relentlessly) “I can stand some turbulence, let me go.”

Air Hostess: (in a well-rehearsed and stern tone) “Sir, I can’t let you do that. Please get back
to your seat.”

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