4th Episode: Santorini - The Wedding Dance

*Tring Tring*

"Hello sir. Good morning. It's 10 A.M. Your cab driver has arrived to pick you up and the other tourists from our hotel and he will be starting from here with everyone in another half an hour. Since it is a group tour, he cannot wait more than five minutes sir. So kindly board the cab in time or you'll miss the tour" said the receptionist

He just got reminded that his itinerary had a half day sunset cruise tour to nearby Delos-Rhinea islands. Jumped out of his bed, showered quick, dressed up in a casual trousers and a t-shirt. Took his day tour inventory, stuffed them inside his trek bag, went to the restaurant, had some scrambled eggs and orange juice and headed to the cab. That was his best speed of getting ready and still he was late. If he was late by one more minute, the cab would have left. Fortunately, he boarded the cab and reached the boat pier.

The boat started at around 12 P.M. It was a midsize cruise speedboat. There were families, kids, couples and singles like him. It was a mildly sunny day. There wasn't much heat but the sunlight was eye-poking. Thanks to his duplicate Ray Ban shades that he bought, back home. It was a beautiful sail on the Aegean sea, amidst the Cyclades Archipelago. He was standing on the corner of the deck and enjoying the gushes of water created by the slicing of the boat through the water currents. His phone rang. It was her. He was surprised because she said she'd be busy on that day but she was calling him. Why? He answered his phone.

"Where are you?"

"Sailing somewhere in the middle of the ocean"

"Okay! Jump into the ocean, swim back to the shore, get well dressed for attending a wedding, wear a blazer and reach Santorini before sunset. Come to the Perissa beach there"

"What? Are you crazy? I am in the middle of a day cruise. On the way to Delos. These guys are definitely not turning the boat to the shore"

"Remember our deal? Whenever I call you, you should come wherever I ask you to. Forgot?"

"Remembering it very well. You could have told me in the morning or atleast before noon. I might have cancelled this whole cruise and had come wherever you asked me to. But now, I don't think there's a way out of here"

"Chill monsieur! I was just pulling your leg. I am in Santorini. It's a beautiful place. Evening is the wedding and later is the party. Was feeling bored without anyone here. So just called you to play you"

"You don't sound bored. You sound like missing me"

"In your dreams boy"

"Yeah? We'll see tomorrow"

"Yeah let's see. Okay have a great cruise and a great time at Delos. Visiting any other island?"

"Mmm. Rhinea too"

"Great then. See you tomorrow. Have a nice day. Have fun ogling"

"Oh yeah? You too. Don't forget me after coming across those handsome European best men of that groom"

"I wish!"

"Keep wishing. Bye"

"Bye. See you tomorrow"

They both cut the call and carried on with their day.

It was evening. The beautiful and soothing sun rays were lighting up the mood in Santorini. Perissa is a small village in Santorini with some great locals and a stunning beach. It was a beach wedding on the Perissa beach. Arrangements were made, decors were beautiful, the best men and bridesmaids were smoking great looks too. The married-to-be were from different ethnicity and so the place was filled with different faces from different races. It was a provoking sight. She was sitting under a palm roofed hut like cabin gulping a tangy crushed ice, looking at the tangy sun and submerged in deep thoughts of solitude.

Just while looking around, at a visible distance, a tall, brown and handsome man, well dressed and styled was walking towards her hut. After seeing him, her neck could't turn an extra degree and rather got fixed on him. It was a stunning view with the sun at the background, an orange horizon, a beautiful beach and a man with a blazer and an attitude walking towards her. Yes! It was him. The same guy she asked to jump into an ocean to come and meet her. He didn't jump really, did he?

"Hey Queen! Your Sugar Packet at your service"

"This is some illusion. You're trying to fool me. You're not you. You must be somewhere in the Rhinea, picking pebbles. How in the god damn reality, are you here?"

"I jumped"

"You did? The same guy who said he would fight with me for that log of wood in the ocean if our flight fell into it? Tell me more"

"Okay okay. Chill! I didn't jump. I would but I didn't"

"Then how are you here?"

"For a while, just been a sassy liar and I am here"

"Elaborate"

"Told the boatman that I just got a call from my girlfriend and I really have to go meet her immediately and for that I have to take the evening flight. So, he should turn the boat back to the shore, drop me off and again start the cruise. He asked why can't I go later after we return to shore. I said that I wish I could but should go and elope with her immediately"

"Didn't he ask what's the urgency to meet her and also elope?"

"He did. And I said that.. Err.. She was pregnant"

"Did you really say that?"

"I did and here I am"

She laughed uncontrollably till she got tears in her eyes.

"But how did you know he will turn the boat back?"

"I saw him kissing his family's photo in his locket just before the cruise started. So, I've just been smart and cheeky"

"Hail your smartness! But sure Zeus is going to punish you for this"

"Oh yeah? He, who came down to earth often, impregnated his human girlfriends and let them give birth to a number of demigods and then abandoned them to go live in the heavens? I am game"

"Haha! Blasphemy"

"Be it"

"That's real sweet of you to come here. You kept our deal alive"

"I told you already. When a smart and cute woman calls, any man will naturally get the guts to even swing on the blades of a windmill. Won't he swim across an ocean?"

"Oh! I am flattered. But still don't maintain that swimming part. You did not swim"

"Yes I did not. Because, I don't know to swim"

"Oh really? Join the club mate"

"Et tu, Queen?"

"Si eu, Sugar Packet"

Meanwhile the wedding started and they were called in. They both went inside and enjoyed the magical marriage moments. She was no more a lonely bird there. She was all smiling and happy for her friend. The priest pronounced the couple as wedded and they kissed with love. These two clapped hard to relish the moment and he went a step further and started whistling like he used to back home, whenever he sees something marvelous happening. That kid in him never died. She loved that flawless purity in him. She loved his craziness. Loved the way he carried himself, the way he was flaunting his smartness, the way he listened to his heart, the way he made his moments magical and definitely loved how much he made her feel special right since he sat with that coffee mug in front of her, in the airport. Love is ever inevitable, isn't it?

The wedding bells had rung. Happiness prevailed. Everyone went to the party. What's a party without dance? Yes! Others started dancing.

"So madame, will you dance with me?

"I would love to but I think one of the best men is irresistibly cute and I wish I can dance with him a while", she tried to annoy him

He slightly turned pale and said, "Oh yeah! They looked great"

"Why don't you go pick one of the bridesmaids mister?"

"Ah! I am fine. You carry on", his eyes smoked

To make him more pale, she really walked on towards the best men. Others picked their own women and only two looked single. She went towards them and started talking to them. In a while, all of them looked at him and started talking. He was puzzled. He was a little embarrassed already and hence started imagining if they were only joking about him. He was quite confused as why should she call him there and embarrass him like that. He was a cool man but these things would annoy any man, wouldn't they?

Then she hung her head and came towards him. She looked embarrassed.

"What happened? Did those idiots reject your proposal?"

"No!"

"Really? Why look dull then? You want me to go speak to them?"

"Man! Stop it. Don't embarrass me more. I confess! I tried to play a game to annoy you. I didn't like them and all. I just went and asked them if they could fake a dance with me so that I could see if you're getting annoyed"

"Annoy me? Why?"

"I know any guy would be annoyed. I called you here for the party and now when we should dance, I wanted to see how much you feel bad if I danced with someone else. These are girl instincts. But really I just wanted to play for a while. Not hurt or embarrass you. Sorry if I did"

"I did feel awkward but I understand your game. That quantifies the bond between us and I am happy about it. Let's talk about that later. Now tell me. Why do you look so embarrassed? What did those guys say?"

"They said they are okay with helping me but they asked something else in favor"

"Favor? What kind of favor?" 

"They asked for a hook up but it's not with me. They asked if I could hook you up with them. They are gays!"

He just blurted out laughing. She had a crybaby face. On seeing that face, he started laughing even more.  He couldn't stop laughing for next five minutes.

"But why are you embarrassed for that?"

"Though just for a prank, this was the first time in my life, I suited up, gathered all courage to go and ask a man to dance with me and he turns out to be a gay. Well, two of them actually. Isn't that embarrassing?"

"It sure seems to be", he started laughing again.

"I am not insulting them. Being gay is anyone's choice and I respect that. But why them? Aargh!"

"I respect their choice too. Gays are okay and it is completely natural. But I also specifically respect your concern for me that you didn't hook me up with them"

"Hell I would have, if I had another partner to dance with"

"Haha. That eyes say something else"

"Let them. So, ask me out for dance again"

"Why would I? You ask me out"

"I won't"

"I won't too. I already did and you rejected. Now it's your turn"

Both remained silent for two minutes while he was smiling at her all those two minutes.

"Okay sorry gentleman! I would like to dance with you. Will you?"

"Any day of my life, lady. Yes!"

Love was dispersing. Happiness was sounding louder in people's laughs around them. Everyone was enjoying the night. The mood was divine. The carpet was enjoying those little steps people made while dancing with their love held in their hands. The flowers were spreading fragrance all around. The wedded couple took the center stage. Some were kissing each other passionately.

He took her hands, pulled her closer, held her hips, looked her directly into her eyes with passion overflowing through his lacrimals and started to tap some feet to the rhythm of the music playing. Music was like a smoke of drug they both were inhaling together and getting high. Every time the beat changed, he tapped his fingers that were holding her waist and every time he did that, there was a sense of slight and sweet electrocution running right through her spine. Inspite of the sea breeze, she started to sweat behind her ears not out of exertion but out of an unexplainable fear tickling her lower abdomen. Her smell did wonders on him. He mildly sniffed her neck everytime he turned her around. Her breath became hotter, her eyes became glittering, her lips became tangling. He is the not the first man to hold her this close but this was the first time she felt her womanhood tickle her brain and heart in an unified tune.

She looked like a princess, who comes in the fairy tales he read in his nursery. Her eyes were casting spells that he never heard of. Her hairs dancing on her forehead looked like a translucent curtain covering a beautiful painting. She wasn't the first woman he gazed at so closely but this was the first time he felt weak and vulnerable. Yes! His legs were shaking a little not because of the dance but something else. Cold chills were running through his spine. Being a very practical man, he never believed in a cliched romance but he was experiencing it right there and he couldn't escape from the charming spell it had cast on him.

Both had such an exhilarating dance not because of the steps they performed but the dips in their heartbeat they experienced while holding onto each other's bodies. It was the best dance of their lifetime, atleast until then.

Music dropped. Dance ended and they marched towards the dinner tables. They couldn't speak or look into each other's eyes for a few minutes. Then, air got cleared and they started enjoying their dinner. She introduced him to her friend, the bride. Her friend shook hands with him and also complimented that his blazer was looking great and trendy. 

After her friend left, she asked him "I too was about to compliment your blazer. It looks great on you. Must be pricey" 

"Who knows?"

"What who knows?"

"The price"

"Why? Didn't you see when you bought it?"

"Who bought it? I don't spend for pricey looking blazers"

"Then, what about this one?" she pointed at his blazer

"It's rented"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously"

"Where did you find a blazer rental shop in Mykonos, within this short time?"

"It's not a shop. I rented it from a street performer who performs magic tricks on Mykonos roads"

"Don't tell me! He might not even know you. How did he give away his pricey looking blazer for rent?"

"I pledged my Ray-Ban shade as mortgage and accepted to give him 20 Euros rent per day"

"You definitely are crazy! Who would pledge a Ray-Ban for a duplicate blazer and also pay 20 Euros as rent?"

"I would, because that Ray-Ban is a worse duplicate than this blazer and I had bought it on the roadside nearby where I live. It costed me lesser than a burger"

"You're crazy, Sugar Packet"

"Yeah?" he winked 

She laughed at his cheekiness and admired him even more. He was a surprise package, wasn't he?

The dinner was over. Everyone left. She had a room booked for her already but he didn't have one. She didn't want to leave him alone. They both didn't really need a room actually. They talked the whole night lying on the lawn adjacent to the beach side hotel, sky watching, stargazing and listening to the musical waves of the Aegean Sea.

"Hey Mister!"

"Yes?"

"I thought you wouldn't come"

"Why is that?"

"I don't know. I just didn't feel it. It was too much to ask for"

"But I did"

"Why?"

"You sounded dull and alone"

"Really? Don't bluff"

"No! You did. If it was just for fun, I'd not have turned the boat around, booked another boat and came here. But your voice was different. That sparkle in your words were missing and I cannot leave this beautiful lady just like that. I wanted to see the spark back in her eyes and hear her quick-witted words flow like a river. I didn't want a dull version of you to make a fun filled Santorini an irony"

"Don't mesmerize me"

"Not even trying. But tell me. Why were you dull?"

"You smart ass! Yes, I was dull. I just reached here and didn't even know what to do. I can travel alone anywhere in the world but that's a travel and I don't need anyone around. But here, attending someone's wedding, seeing everyone in groups or as couples or as families, I miss home. And the closest to home I have near me is you. Even you told me that you feel home around me. Right? May be that's why the heart felt that it needed you around here. I don't want to lie. I missed you suddenly. I felt that we could have shared another frappe here"

"And where am I?"

"You're here!" she reached out to him and pinched his nose. She smiled endlessly.

They continued their random talks and slowly both dozed off in the lawn itself. Night and darkness, which were their secret admirers, slowly sunk into the Aegean and eventually dawn was desperate to visit the beautiful sight of those two beautiful souls lying beside each other, a couple of feet apart only tired of admiring each other and falling in love simultaneously, a whole night. The night didn't wish to end. It got carried away by that magic of romance happening in presence of a dewy sea breeze and wished to stay but it also had to do its duty. It should end to give way to a beautiful Santorini morning's light and happiness to spread. So it did end.

The dawn bloomed.

 

3rd Episode: A Sunset Below The Windmill

"Hello. I am calling from room 202. Water bottle is missing here. Can you please send someone with two bottles?", he called the reception of his hotel as soon as he checked into his room.

After the room keeper brought a couple of water bottles, he thanked him and gave him a tip. Then, locked the door, undressed himself and crashed onto the bed with only his underwear on. Long flights are tiring, aren't they? He just took a nap for a couple of hours and then a mail notification made his phone vibrate and somehow it woke him up. It was a mail from Etihad asking for flyer feedback. He got reminded of the soothing flight he had with a wonderful woman beside him and he couldn't resist smiling to himself. He rated the experience as the best, not to mention the cute airhostess and also sent a very positive feedback. He only then realized that he already has that girl's number and may be he could send a text.

Eyes widened, breath became a little hot, fingers shivered but he managed to send a text "Hey Queen, who never competes! Got all set at your hotel?" He didn't receive an immediate reply. His pulse raced as clock ticked. He checked his mobile's notification area as many times as the the waves touched the shore of the beautiful Mykonos. It was already an hour and hunger became the reality he had to attend to immediately. So, he was ordering some food from the in house restaurant, ate them tummy full and planned to have a long nap again because his itinerary was empty on that day. Just when his eye lids were ready to hug each other, his phone vibrated. It was her. It really was. He was thrilled. He could really feel the adrenaline pumping up inside him and at the same time, it felt home. Yes! He did not say that to her in the airport to flirt. He really meant it. It felt home when she was around.

"Hey Mr. Sugar packet! Sorry. Jet lag. Napped off. Gorgeous hotel. All set. Just woke up and already missing coffee. How about you?" her text read.

"I was about to doze off now. Your text saved my evening. Already had a little nap and good food. Now, am just a man, stranded in one of the most beautiful places on earth but without an ambition and just looking at the empty walls, expecting some miracle to happen to give me some things to do", he replied.

"I don't know if I have the power for making miracles happen. But I can sure give you some things to do for the evening. Like, having a cup of coffee with me?" she responded.

"Don't undermine yourself. You're really a box of miracles and this is the best miracle that can happen for a bored man on a beautiful evening", his exclamation was evident.

"Ah! Do I look like a box?"

"Yes! A box of chocolates. Who doesn't like that?", he flirted back.

"Stop flirting, sweet tooth. Too much of sugar isn't good for health"

"Agreed. But a life without sweet has no meaning in it"

"Oh is it? Come today. I'll personally ask the bartender to add salt instead of sugar in your coffee"

"That's evil, lady!"

"Ha. Absolutely. I am evil. Satan's second cousin. Beware!"

"Oh! Tell me about it"

"Oh yeah! I will. During our coffee. Heard there is a nice place right under the windmills and also right next to the sea, near the Sea Satin Market. The place is great fun, they said. Shall we catch up there?"

"The description itself is mind boggling. Also, when a smart lady calls out a man for a coffee, he'll be ready to spend those moments even sitting on one of the blades of those windmills. But you're only suggesting one under it. So, it won't be a question of 'shall'. It must more be of a 'we're catching up there' stuff"

"Aha! It's not a date, remember?"

"I know right! It's not a date. It's only 'almost a date' mademoiselle"

"That sounds better. Meet you there, monsieur"

"Fine. A six-ish will do?"

"Fiver? Why miss the sunset?"

"As you wish, miss"

The texting ended there and both of them headed to a refreshing shower. She liked a cold one while he preferred a warmer one. And he stayed longer in the shower. Men love their showers, don't they? They love their showergasms - the elated feeling they get standing under a soothing and relaxing shower and doing nothing. Both got dressed in a casual wear such that there was no intention to impress each other. It was more of a coexisting romance that they're yet to reveal but it was evident that they both were there only for a beautiful moment and no urge to take it anywhere forward. They were two smart individuals and that tiny ribbon called smartness, which they've pinned to their chests lured each other more than any fashionable outfits they would be wearing anytime. They were very much aware of that.

She reached the place first and picked a corner table, close to the sea view. As all other men, he was naturally late. Found a lot of people drinking, eating and dancing in that beautiful open cafe, his eyes scanned through the crowd to only find a size definitely-not-zero woman at a corner,wearing a sleeveless flower dress, revealing the back of her beautiful shoulders and looking at the calm blue waves of the Aegean Sea.

"Bonjour mademosielle!" he bowed with one hand at his back.

She smiled graciously. What a smile that was!

He sat in that old looking wooden knit chair.

"You're no different. Men are men. Always make the women wait" she frowned.

"Yes! But this man brought flowers for the lady.  A bunch of red and yellow roses with a Borage at the top"

"Ah! I am not so girlish. But I love flowers. The fragrance they spread is more positive, isn't it?"

"Truly! And that Borage amidst the European roses is the starflower with a lot of medicinal qualities and goodness"

"So, when did you become a botanist?"

"I am no botanist but an avid listener. Listened to the florist marketing it"

"Smart! So, shall we order the Frappe?"

"Why the frappe? Why not the latte?"

"When in Rome, do as Romans do. Latte is for Italy! Now you're in Greece. So, do as the Greeks do. Enjoy the luscious greek frappe!"

"That's what you call a proverbial enlightenment. Also, am weak in selecting a dish or drink. So, I'll go with what you say"

 The rich looking Frappes arrived. She had ordered some bread too. He really liked the frappe.

Their talks went on and on. Both of them didn't care to know about the other one's identity. They just talked about random things. They were more interested in letting their hearts blabber rather than letting their minds speak. Only the mind cares about the identities. Hearts know only to rejoice and create memories for the minds. They do not want to know the background of anyone to spend time with them. All that these hearts need are moments to etch in the memory book they possess in the limbic system of the brain.

"Hey! See there?" she interrupted their talks and pointed at the horizon.

"That's beautiful! Horizon during the sunsets is a vision to behold, isn't it?"

"No doubt! Especially, this evening looks even beautiful, sitting on a beautiful cliff, drinking a delicious frappe, looking at the marvelous Aegean waters and watching the sunset"

"Yes! I don't exist anywhere here, do I?" he smirked.

"Haha! Don't be cute. Yes! With a smart man, who has a smirking smile and abundance of universal talks to make my time with him more intriguing"

"Now, that's what you call a consolation"

"Is it? Why should I console you mister? I really like this moment, being with you, who's still a stranger but someone from back home, happened to be my flight seat neighbor, now the only awesome company I shall have and enjoy in this beautiful city of strangers. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be watching the sunset with you. I'd be sulking in my bed to cure the remains of my jet lag"

"I am flattered and honestly grateful too for your gracious presence here. Without you miss, I'd have missed this divine sight too. No flirting. Just the truth"

"I can see it in your eyes and I appreciate that genuine attitude"

Sunset slowly faded away. It was then the dark blanket of sky with glittering stars. A dimension, as physicists call that, 'Time' didn't move forward instead personified itself and sat at their adhacent table and gazed at these two talk things so fluently and without a pause as if they knew each other for centuries already. Time fell in love with both of them even before they'd fall for each other.

"Oh! It's dinner time already. Have we time-traveled a couple of hours forward? I never knew that time has run so fast" she exclaimed in surprise

"I wish we could really do time travel so that I shall set the timer back to this evening's start and could do that again and again and again for some ten to eleven times"

"That's a compliment. I feel the same. You're such a good company. You must have a lot of friends"

"I do. But friendship is a variable phenomenon. The affection stays the same but the people may move far away. Some may even become busy with their new friends in new colleges or workplaces. If we don't hold onto them and not accuse them of forgetting us, all of them will keep loving us till they die. And at evey next instance, life gives us new friends too. We shall spread more love and enjoy the moments with people. People are beautiful. They give you a lot of insights. Especially, the smart ones give you insights and wisdom more than ten books together do"

"How beautifully said!"

"What about you? Many friends?"

"Not many. I am an ambivert but the inclination is more towards the introvertive side. People think am more of attitude and used to fear having friendship with me. Only a handful of good friends in all places I've ever been. Even this trip is to attend my school time best friend's wedding at a beach in a nearby island. It's tomorrow. I don't know anyone else here except her"

"I don't know how many friends you have but trust me on this. You are one of the best friends anyone can get! Not every friend will take a long flight alone to attend one's wedding. She must be lucky to have got you"

"I am happy and humbled to hear those words but I really don't know if she feels that way too. We haven't been in touch for long. Only recently I got in touch with her to know that she's soon getting married to a Greek and going to settle in Greece once and forever. But that's okay. As far as that girl, who shared the first bench with me in classroom, shared my lunch and been the only reason for me to smile during school is happy in her life, I'll need nothing else other than that"

He was just gazing at her with his hands on his chin, his eyes shortened and an inevitable smile spilling at the corner of his lips, just like a mesmerized man looking at his master.

"Hey Sugar packet! Am I telling you a bedtime story here? Hands on the chin, sleepy eyes, huh?

"I am not trying to compliment you here. But I am just feeling amazed by your pure affection and gazing at you with abundant respect and astonishment. You're a beautiful soul. I wish I knew you a lot earlier"

"Why? To flirt with me?" she winked

"No. To have a plenty of these 'almost' dates" he winked back

"You are crazy"

"I am. But a crazy man in solitude in an unknown place is dangerous, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is! So, what can we do?"

"Take me wherever you go in this island. I'll just walk along, listen to you talk and ogle at other beautiful European girls"

"Forgot the survival of the cutest theory?"

"Oops! No. Haven't"

"Better. Haha.. Okay! I will call you anytime and call you anywhere. So just make sure you are there whenever and wherever I call you. Else, you're dismissed from being a company for me in this Greek wonderland"

"How will I miss that miss?"

"Okay! It's late now and I am not hungry for dinner. What about you?"

"I am not hungry either. May be the rich frappe"

"Yeah? Fine then. We'll take a leave. Tomorrow is the wedding. So I don't know if I will call you tomorrow. But I will call you soon"

"As you wish, madame! Always at your service"

"Stop flirting around with all women like this on the way back to the hotel. Be a good boy, get back to hotel and rest"

"Sure. You too. Your hotel is nearby?"

"Yeah. Walkable. How about yours?"

"Runnable"

"Aargh!"

"Okay sorry. I should take a taxi. I will take care, You reach the hotel and text me that you're safe"

"Sure. Thanks for this great evening. Have a good night"

Both walked on either directions of that beautiful beach view lane with a lot of smiles and a light heart. He couldn't resist turning back and looking at her walk all the way under those street lights until she took that long left at the end of that lane.

It was such a beautiful evening.

2nd Episode: Aisle - The First Flight

"So, you like the aisle seat?" he asked.

"Yeah mostly. I'd always book an aisle one. But considering the difficulties of a tall man, I'd offer you the aisle now and let me take yours" she smiled.

"Can you be a little less sweet? I just had three packets of sugar, remember? he giggled.

"Okay! Let me be the scariest nightmare you shall ever have"

"Ah! It's okay. I am fine with the extra sweetness. No diabetic family history. I'll survive"

"You'd better" she laughed. He too did.

They both sat comfortably in their exchanged seats. After a while, the cabin crew started their routine flight safety announcements.

He was looking keenly as if he was too concerned about flight safety instructions.

"She's cute right?" she asked.

"Who?" he asked in doubt.

"That air hostess girl. The short one. She's chubby but cute"

"Hey! Nothing like that. I wasn't looking at her. It's better to listen to safety advices right?"

"It is. But don't tell me you're listening to it for the first time. I know you like her. That's why you are gazing at her. Don't pretend that you aren't"

"Yeah she's cute. But how did you know I was only looking her?"

"When we boarded, she was like 'Welcome sir' and you bent a little extra and also involuntarily drooled. It was quite evident. However it's not a big deal. She's really cute. If I were you, I'd go talk to her and get her number before we land"

"Nope. I am fine with the gazing part. Sometimes, you just have to enjoy the moments and not roast them too much. Else, they'll lose their taste"

"Agreed"

"But hey! You really have a superpower. Noticing things!"

"Every girl has this superpower deep inside her. It just comes out only when another girl around us looks extra cute and people start noticing them. It's not envy. It's just a natural survival instinct to be the fittest in the room"

"Survival of the fittest?"

"No. Survival of the cutest"

"Ha! You'll survive" he smirked.

"Consolation?" she frowned.

"No. Let me rephrase it. You'd win the contest, if there was one"

"I'll rather not participate. I am the queen of my world. A queen need not compete to win anything because she already owns everything"

"Amen to that, My Majesty!" he touched his hands onto his forehead like a salute. She nodded with an attitude like she had accepted his salute and both laughed together, when the whole flight was silently listening to the air hostess's flight safety instructions.

"Ouch! May be we should reduce our volume a bit", she whispered.

"Yes! We should", he murmured to her.

After a while, the flight took off without any shakes or quakes , thanks to the pilots. These two started joking rather whispering to each other about what if the engines fail and what if the flight drops into the ocean and how they can have a Titanic kind of story just with a different ending that they will fight to death with each other for hopping into that log of wood and not be stupid like DiCaprio and freeze in the cold currents of the ocean. Yes! They both were crazy. They did not try to enquire much about each other because their randomly deviant but intriguing crazy conversation included science, space, spirituality, sky diving, how  funny did the old man in their back seat snored, for what they would jump off a cliff and more.

Meanwhile, the cabin crew started invading the aisle with their food and drinks. They had their own meal preferences and coincidentally both were neither drinkers nor smokers. They had a not-so-satisfying meal because they both missed the freshly grilled chicken breast.
After her meal, she took a tablet with some water because she had cold. It was CPM - ChlorPheniramine Maleate and it will knock almost nine out of ten people to a deep sleep. She did not escape its effect. While he was explaining why he loved Stephen Hawking more than Newton, she slowly hung her head on his shoulders and slept off. The only two times she opened her eyes were when she was thirsty and when she had drowsy walkathons to the restroom twice.

He should have felt bored without those crazy talks but he did not. He felt a soothing breeze inside himself when she was sleeping on his shoulders most of the times. He would have had many dates and romantic moments earlier but gazing at the beauty of a sleeping girl was new to him. It was beyond his imagination and  despite being carried away for hours together all he did was making sure that she did not get disturbed.

*Kling* sounded the announcement tone.

She woke up to that and bid him a 'Good Morning'. He responded back with a Good Morning and also a sigh of relief that she's finally up.

*Kling* "Hi. This is the Captain. We have almost reached the destination. We will land in about another fifteen minutes"

She was still drowsy and didn't want to open her eyes.

"Hey Miss! The flight's landing in few more minutes"

"I know mister. But I want to sleep. Can you book me a ticket in this same flight back to where we took off? I shall sit here and sleep till then"

"Yes I can but who'll answer that Zeus guy?"

"Oh yeah! That strict officer!" she sighed and opened one of her eyes and giggled at him.

*Kling*
"We have landed at Athens International Airport. It's a clear day with a soothing warm weather. The temperature outside is 25 degree Celsius and the local time here at Athens is 10 A.M. We hope you had a good flight and we served you good. We will be happy to serve when you fly with us in the future too. Have a great time at the beautiful Greek capital"

He helped her with her bags and they both got off the flight.

"You were the one who leaned on my shoulders most of the time. Didn't sneak into my shirt right?" he witted

"You!" she laughed hard and punched at his arm

Eventually they crossed the immigration too and was walking towards the exit gate of the airport. His heart was pumping suddenly. His adrenals were bursting out. He wanted to talk to her more but he knew that the moment they cross that exit gate and get into their respective cabs, they are just strangers again. They haven't quite asked about each other too except their names. He wasn't a shy guy but suddenly a fear of rejection tore him apart. As they were pushing their trolleys towards the gate, he suddenly stopped.

"Hey"

"Yeah?" she stopped too

"You broke a promise!"

"Promise? What did I promise?"

"You promised sixteen long hours of stupid talks but you offered only a couple of hours or less"

"Yeah! That was the CPM. Though I really enjoyed those couple hours of random laughs I was knocked out involuntarily. Apologies"

"But promise is a promise. Right?"

"Yeah but what shall I do? Can we take the next flight back home so that I shall fulfill my promise?"

"If that's still the only option, I won't mind taking it. But we have others"

"What're they?"

"You can start with paying our dinner bill for tomorrow's night"

"Do you realise that you're almost asking me out for a dinner date?" she smiled notoriously.

"Almost is the key word there. I haven't asked yet. I am almost there"

"Smart ass huh?"

"Not very smart. See I haven't even asked your number yet"

"You won't ask my number. I know you don't like to roast things too much. Right?"

"You got me on that. My bad! But hey, sometimes you'll have to roast a little extra for the spice to completely settle in"

"Ah! Mr. Masterchef! First state me a good reason why do we need to meet again"

"Because I don't know anything or anyone in Greece. Believe me. I wanted to travel, I just randomly picked this place, packed my bags and flew here. This is my first Europe trip and it still feels home when you're around. All I wanted before was to be away from home but all I want now is to feel home all the time that I stay here"

"That's a genuine one! If you promise that you won't judge me, I'd like to confess that I myself wanted to get your phone number but didn't know how to ask it. Though I have a packed itinerary ahead, I would love to share a cup or two of coffee with you when I am here"

"Why would I judge you?"

"I don't know. Men judge women, who give space right?"

"Yes they do! But when did you give space at all? You even robbed my armrest space during the flight!"

"Errr.. That's an average joke. No points for that. Okay! Just give me your handphone. I shall dial my number in there"

"Sure" he gave his phone

She dialed her number and she got his number on her phone.

"Happy?"

"If you still are going to pay the dinner bill"

"You'll let the woman pay for the date?"

"I won't but it isn't a date, is it? It's only 'almost a date' right? So you can pay"

"Playing smart!"

He shrugged his shoulders as they both walked their trolleys out to the cab bay area. They both hired a cab each to their respective hotels and bid a goodbye with a hug.

The taxis went the opposite ways.

1st Episode: Coffee Table - The Airport

"Can I sit here?", he asked and she nodded with a subtle smile on her face and a sizzling coffee cup in her hand. He poured in three packets of white sugar into his cup of coffee. She giggled. He lifted his head and looked at her to know why.

"Three?", she giggled again.

"Yeah! I have a sweet tooth", he winked.

"You want some?", he asked her. 

"Yeah! But I love the brown. Not the white", she said.

"Why?", he asked.

"Just like that. Women always love men, who are a few shades darker than them, don't they? Likewise, the sugar too!" she shrugged her shoulder

with a wicked smile.

"Exactly. Like how we men are attracted to the white, be it our women or our coffee's sugar!" he too gave the wicked smile.

"Men!" she grinned.

"Women!" he pointed at her. They both laughed!

"So, do you like coffee?", she asked.

"More than my girlfriend", he replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Because I don't have a girlfriend yet"

"You are funny and smart"

"The feeling is mutual, lady!"

"So, where are you flying to?"

"Athens now. Mykonos from there!"

"Don't tell me. What a coincidence! I am off to Mykonos too"

"Ah! The Greek gods are so generous that they gave me a company even before I visited their land"

"Hail Zeus!" she laughed. They both laughed in a surreal coincidence.

"Attention passengers. This is a boarding call for Etihad airways flight EY 90 to Athens. Your boarding gate is open. Please approach to Gate no. 12 for boarding. Thank you!"

"So, Zeus has called us now. We should hurry up. Can't risk pissing the God off, can we?, he gulped the last sip of his coffee from the cup.

"How can we?", she held her fingers onto her throat like she was asking for a pardon.

He was smiling at her in amazement. He never had this feeling before. Suddenly, the 18 hours long flight seemed to have become a more beautiful ride and he was more than curious to check with the cabin crew if he can somehow sit beside her during their flight.

They both walked towards the gate and got their boarding passes scanned.

"Oh good god!" he exclaimed.

"What?", she asked.

"Your seat number!"

"What's in my seat number?"

"Nothing. You just happen to be my seat mate on who's shoulder I am going to lean while am dead asleep", he smiled.

"Very well! But strictly no sneaking into my tee"

"Oops!" he raised his eyebrows.

"Just kidding! Come on. We have 18 long hours to snore on each other's faces", she smiled again.

He was getting used to her enchanting smiles. He could not set his eyes anywhere else. Her smile demanded his attention involuntarily and he didn't want to put up a fight. He was enjoying it.

"Welcome sir, Welcome mam!" greeted the air hostess. "Have a nice flight".

"It's going to be the best flight you've ever had", said his heart.