It's early in the morning having my hot cup of coffee at the airport enjoying the view of people running here and there from behind the glass doors of café coffee day. It's a strange feeling something in the back of my mind is bothering me, I am feeling a little uncomfortable..finished my last sip of coffee.

Stood in the queue to board the flight and it is going to be a short 55 minutes travel from Chennai to Hyderabad. A warm welcome from air hostess with a beautiful smile on her face made my day. My seat is 5A a window seat..comfortable enough..still 10 more minutes time is there to take off..Unlike any other day today, there is not many passengers are there in the flight and it was hardly full.

I started looking out of the window and still it is little dark outside..suddenly someone has come and sat in my next seat..I turned and looked at her and she is having such a pretty face and a beautiful smile..She wished me Good Morning and I wished her Good Morning too..It's wonderful morning weather in Chennai..isn't it. She asked. I nodded my head in the affirmative.

We were all set with seat belts and the flight started taxing and getting ready for take-off.. She closed her eyes and held my hand placed on the armrest next to her tightly while the flight was taking off. After that, she said sorry..even though I am a frequent flier I get nervous when a flight takes off.

I said it's Ok. Even I have a fear too. But you expressed it and I didn't. We smiled at each other.

She introduced herself as Sreshta and I introduced myself as Krish.

Airhostess started serving beverages and snacks. Since my booking comes with complimentary food she ran through a list of items she have and I took some sandwiches and salted nuts. Sreshta ordered a sandwich too..
Sreshta: Hey by the way...nice Mehandi
Me: What
Sreshta: Mehandi was really nice...I am talking about Mehandi design.
Me: I am kind of dumbstruck and don't know what to say..
Me: Thanks Sreshta: Did you recently get married or what..where is your partner Me: No..I was not married...that partner word sounds a little weird to me..but kept quiet. Sreshta: Then how come you have such a beautiful mehendi all over your palms and hands..the design was really nice...good choice of pattern.. Me: She kept on complimenting and I started feeling a little uncomfortable there.. Me: Actually..

Sreshta: Don't tell me that you have a boyfriend
Me: I don't have a boyfriend and I'm not a gay. Recently I visited Tirupathi Gangamma jatara and during that jatara I dressed up like a woman to be part of that ritual.
Sreshta: Wow..is it so?
Me: Yes..actually I tried bridal look and some of my local friends suggested me to go with full bridal makeover so I tried this mehandi as part of that.
Sreshta: Oh..thats wonderful. BTW what do you do..
Me: I'm working for an MNC
Sreshta: Oh good..I'm running a boutique and a parlor in Hyderabad
Me: So you are an young entrepreneur..right
Sreshta: Yeahhhhhh..
Sreshta: So, are you working from home or going to office...
Me: Actually we are working in Hybrid model so going to office for 2 days...
Sreshta: That's interesting...then you must be ready to answer so many people in office soon
Me: Why?
Sreshta: With this mehandi and shaped eyebrows how you are going to face your colleagues...If you can then you must be gutsy.
Me: Yeah...I'm worrying about that only..moreover, my team is full of female colleagues except myself..

Sreshta: Oh really...do you think they will consider you as male after seeing all this...hehe..just kidding. Tell me how you are going to manage at home...
Me: Actually I told my Mom and my dad works in Mumbai..and visits us once in a month..so that won't be a problem. The real problem is Neha(my elder sister)...She always pulls my leg even for small small things.
Sreshta: Then have fun...
Me: C'mon ..if you can suggest me a plan to get rid of all of this..then please suggest it.
Sreshta: In the office tell them that you are getting a cough and all opt for WFH.. And coming to your sister you need to manage...I can't help and you can't avoid your sisters teasing.
Can you show me some of your pics..I would like to see them.
Me: I opened my phone gallery and showed her some of the pics in saree, half saree, chudhidhar and in western dress.

P.S: This story is purely a fiction story and all rights are reserved to Meghana Dixit.