My Defining Decade

Sometimes it takes a view from the aisle to decide how you want to look by the next decade of your life.

What caught my attention was this exceptionally attractive girl. Big eyes expressing some concern to the old lady sitting beside me. As she adjusted her bag in the overhead cabin, I noticed in admiration her tall, healthy frame, rippling brownish hair, and the best smile.

She seemed to be the daughter of the old woman sitting next to me. After all there was so much comfort in their demeanor. Then there appeared her two infants whom I had not noticed; so lost I was in the attraction of this young mother. The older woman produced goodies for them like some magician. Fruits, sweets, cake, chips, donuts, all rolling out of her bag one by one.

..I stopped peeping.

Chocos Chocos Chocos Chocos. The tiny three year one repeatedly demanded. My favorite lady

was inapt at handling the ruckus and her angry eyes revealed a lack of any more patience. The woman besides me, held on the slipping reins. She quickly replaced the mother who went on to sleep in a vacant window seat behind them.

The next hour that transpired was my chimera. The two women were not mother-daughter duo. They were mother-in-law and daughter-in- law. The chemistry between them is something which I never got in my own life .

I saw granny placating the kids with calm words. She played cards with the five year and the three year one for the whole one hour. Then some difficult time started as the kids would not give her mobile phone. She gracefully managed. I watched her giggle holding them in her lap, as they set her hair loose, and her dupatta on the aircraft floor.

The mother kept distance, knowing well perhaps she would lose her cool. She pampered her mother in law with coffee,and asking for juice and water. Clearly the kids doted on their grandmother;

with designer dress, straightened hair, glorious in her lipstick and nail-paint and glittering finger-rings.

Such a sight in the family I never saw in my own life. My mother-in-law, felt a blow on her ego to show any love. She always suppressed her love and still does.

I can do nothing but respect her choices, but my choice is made.

I am that glorious granny down the aisle in the years to come. I sure am.