Page 170 - Musings 2021
P. 170
(Saji, visibly annoyed, gets back to his seat and puts on his seatbelt. After a while, the plane
stops shaking, and the seatbelt sign turns off. Saji goes to the washroom and gets back
shortly.)
Saji: (turns to Jose) “Can you believe her? She won’t even let me use the washroom.”
Jose: “I think it’s for our own safety.”
Saji: “Have you travelled in crowded buses in Kerala? The bus drivers drive zig zag, and the
roads are full of potholes. If I can stand upright in those, slight turbulence is nothing.”
(Jose again not knowing what to say, keeps silent. Saji looks at the sudoku and notices that
Jose is stuck at a point.)
Saji: “That’s a nine.”
Jose: “What?”
Saji: “The bottom row, second column; that’s a nine.”
Jose: (annoyed that he spoiled the puzzle) “Thanks.”
Saji: “So what do you do? Are you working?”
Jose: “No, I am doing a PhD in Calicut University.”
Saji: “Wow Dr. Jose! Has a nice ring to it. I’m an accountant in a company called Energy
Solutions in Bangalore. That’s where I am going right now.”
(Jose puts on a fake smile and nods. He puts back his sudoku and takes out the in-flight
magazine and starts browsing through it. He goes through the snacks available, turns around
and mimes at the Air Hostess for assistance.)
Air Hostess: “Sir, how may I help you?”
Jose: “I’d like to order a paneer tikka sandwich. That’s Rs. 350, isn’t it?”
Air Hostess (taking the cash): “Yes sir, please wait for a few minutes while I prepare it.”
Saji: “Excuse me, can I also have the complimentary cookies?”
Air Hostess (turns to Saji): “Pardon?”
Saji: “The complimentary cookie packet provided by the airlines; can you get that also for
me?”
Air Hostess (surprised): “Sure sir, I’ll bring that along with the sandwich.”
The Air Hostess goes back to the rear end of the plane. Saji sees the puzzled look on Jose.
Saji: “They don’t ever tell you this, but you can get free snacks on a flight. You just have to
ask for it, and surprisingly people never do! You wouldn’t have ordered that extremely
overpriced sandwich if you knew this, would you?”
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