Iridium

 

Each time she stood at the flight’s check in counter, this picture flashed in front of her eyes. It was in her school science textbook - a basic scale with a cube of the chemical iridium on one side and the elephant on the other. Amongst the three science subjects, she particularly disliked  chemistry. It was the sole reason she was unable to pursue medicine or architecture. The subject still haunted her. She  wondered if she could smuggle some iridium in the baggage limit. 

 

As a frequent flier her sole aim was to carry maximum in the assigned weight. It was against her middle class sensibilities and proud parenting of her hoarding mother. Her mother firmly believed, a lady mist have a choice to wear for the day or the occasion. She would not even waste the last 100 grams.

The range of travel blogs and efficiency tips couldn’t change her childhood conditioning. The cheap flights came both as a boon and bane, as travel and baggage increased proportionally. Carrying on her mother’s tradition there was elaborate project planning every time  to select- deselect, weigh and worry, drag and run to catch the flight and get the baggage past the check in.  

 

She was proud of the fact that she never had paid for extra baggage. Like her favorite Geet in ‘Jab we met’ who never missed a train, she had her own stats to be proud of. However her life story was still stuck at her personal Anshuman - her ex. Hoping one day she will find love like Geet found Aditya. 

Knowing fully well that the real people behind the reel lovers had broken up. The hero married a freshly minted pretty Delhi girl. The heroine, a 50 year old divorced actor plus prince of a forgotten riyasat. They had two kids each, all social media darlings already even before they were born. She saw their pictures and hoped for them to become a celebrity couple someday. That would be quite a scandal. 

 

She was no celebrity and wondered how some managed airport looks. A comfy track pant and a T-shirt, with socks and comfy shoes was her go to. You see she said comfy twice. I think she also broke up because it wasn’t comfy. Boyfriends should fit like gloves but mostly are a bit here and there. Although gloves were still better as they already came in pairs. 

 

Then she admonished herself for being so negative. It’s just silly to cry over spilled milk. She was proud of herself for confronting him in that coffee shop and telling him to go f*** himself. Geet would be proud too. No fuss, no drama, just climax. They were together for twelve months and it would at least take half the time to get over him, as suggested by chiclit films. 

 

In her mind she had been practicing the first unexpected meeting after break up. What will they say to each other? When? Where? There was a lot of uncertainty and anticipation, with some obvious butterflies. What if he apologises and you are proven right. Would an apology mean they can be back together. Tough love! Only in hell she would do it. It’s like having not even an iota of self respect.  

 

Time for Security check. Now the dismantling and undressing happens. The most inappropriate place to open your clothes and leave your things but people do it so casually and quickly. These were the side effects of the privileges of flying in a terrorized world. 

 

She cleared the security and was walking towards her boarding gate. She saw a glimpse of a medium height fellow with slight curls. She shifted slightly and elevated on her toes to get a better look. Was that him? 

Him - was the man with an infectious smile and naughty glint in his eyes. He knew how to charm the girls. They had spent countless nights talking to each other on the phone. His voice was even better at night, that sleep induced huskiness and the intoxication of the night. 

 

Nah, that wasn’t him. His profile was different. The kind of handsome without being boyish. 

 

She reached her boarding gate and was considering the perfect place to park herself. It was a standard set of travelers. Families and Solos, crowding the seats just next to the boarding gate. Despite knowing your seat number and the calling order, people will still queue and crowd at the gate. If she found a good place may be she can read a few pages or even catch that streaming show, she has downloaded in a planned manner. Her plan was to finish it before the weekend. She decided to read which was more fulfilling any day. In fact she was reading an interesting book, but that’s not to miss that she was also reading two very uninteresting books, and also the reason for picking the third, to keep the pace going. 

 

Then she saw him. This time it was him. He was sitting talking on his phone. Oh always the phone! It was always busy. He worked late hours and would only call around midnight and could only stop by very late. A small secret rendezvous outside her paying guest. Their sly meetings and the beating heart waiting for him. He cancelled a lot. She waited a lot. The idea that there was someone else was heart breaking. 

 

His face blurred. Her tears clouding her thought. Soon they will be standing in the same queue to board. Sooner he will turn his head and see her standing there. It was not a hidden stare but more of a frozen one. There is something about looking at someone and they realising the eyes on them. It always happens. His head movements were minimal while she was watching him.

 

The PA sounded, “Good afternoon, flyers!…….” 

 

His head slightly moved towards her. And suddenly her body turned. She started walking in the opposite direction. She wanted to run but it had to be a fast walk to look normal. Did he see her? Could he see her? Just get away. Oh come on. He will think it’s someone else. 

 

He can’t  see her in the shoddy track suit. He had never seen her like this. Oh it was too soon to have the post break up gorgeous look. She was still in self pity, looking at her phone, expecting a sorry call. It took all her courage to not call him. The tears were brimming ready to spill any time. She was not yet alone to even wipe them off without making an obvious public crying scene. Probably break ups have to come with a public embarrassment so you can finally put an end to your pathetic behavior. The reaction of strangers albeit is quite eye opening. 

 

She reached the open area.  Oh shoot! She said, missing her flight for the first time.