n

n

nThe flight attendant had handed her a small box of complimentary assorted Swiss chocolates. By the time she could ask or say anything she had left to serve chocolates to other people who were still awake. From her raised eyebrows it was evident that it was her first-time flying in business class, and she had no idea whether the chocolates were complementary or chargeable like a mini-bar of a hotel room.

nShe was feeling way too embarrassed to call the attendant back and ask her about it, but at the same time was too hungry and badly wanted to eat them, but didn't want to pile on any extra bills in case. So she looked around and saw the guy next to her ripping off his chocolate packet up and was about to eat one.

nSo she mustered up some courage and asked turning a bit towards him,

n

"Excuse me !!!

"

n

"Um... hi. This is my first time travelling in business class, so erm... actually, I wanted to ask. Um… are these chocolates chargeable?

"

nRaymond was surprised when he heard her voice. His initial instinct was to blurt out a

"What?

", but he paused for a while and said.

n

"No, they are complementary.

"

n

"Really!!

" She exclaimed.

nBefore he could say a word she had already gobbled two of them. The chocolate melted in her mouth, and she closed her eyes and relished it.

nRaymond was shocked and at the same time amused by her frankness. He was a frequent traveller who always flew either in business or first class, so he had seen many people who acted all airy when they were bumped up to business class. But here she was frank to her very core, enjoying such small things in life.

n

"By the way, you can ask to get you more if you want. Just let them know.

" Raymond added.

n

"Really!

" she blurted out but in the next second cursed herself and reminded herself to think and then speak. She turned her face away from him and sank in hers eat as she started thinking –

"Does he think I am cheap?

" A small frown appeared on her face, and he could sense that she was deeply trying to contemplate something, before she turned towards him again.

n

"That's fine. I am good with this.

" Akira replied.

nRaymond could sense a bit of traction in her voice. She looked hungry and had finished all her chocolates and her fingers were fidgeting with the wrappers.

n

"Here take mine. I don't like them much,

" he says and before Akira could say no to it, he had already placed his chocolates in her box. He gave her a sincere smile. She smiled back and returned to gobbling the chocolates up.

nAfter she was done eating she stole a quick glance to her right. He was again busy with his work. He looked super neat. His shirt looked quite expensive and his demeanour was so calm and composed. He looked like someone who demanded authority. She again stole a glance at his hands which were busy with the keypad. She looked at his cufflinks which appeared very familiar to her and then looked at his hands which moved swiftly from one key to another on the keypad. Then she suddenly noticed a scalded patch on his hand.

n

"Must be painful.

" She said.

n

"Excuse me?

" Raymond replied.

n

"I mean your hand. Looks like you have got a bad burn, Sir. I have a silver nitrate cooling cream which helps a lot for such burns. I always keep it handy.

" Saying so Akira started searching for the ointment in her purse.

n

"Sir? , did she really address me as sir?

" Raymond was amazed. He initially wanted to say no, but she was already frantically searching her bag. He sighed and stretched his scalded hand out in her direction.

n

"Found it.

" Before she could pass the ointment to him, she saw he had stretched his hand towards her.

n

"Oh.. ok

", she mumbled. She felt awkward that she was about to apply ointment to the hands of someone who was totally a stranger. But the next moment she recollected about the chocolates that he had given. She silently thought in her head.

"Ha, this will make us even.

"

nShe took a coin size amount of cream and started applying on his hands. She saw him tense up a bit. There was an awkward silence between them. The silence was eating her up, burning her ears. So she asked-

n

"By the way what happened? How did you burn yourself?

"

n

"Well I had just bought my coffee and some hothead bumped against me today at the airport and this happened.

"

nAkira's hands stopped moving, and she turned towards him in horror.

nHe had a sly smile on his face.

n