The Cruise

Rashi was waiting for the cruise to begin. It was the first time that she was on a cruise and that too on her own, and she loved the sense of adventure that came along with it. Just last week she had been approached by the cruise operators to write about the cruise experience. Rashi was an experienced travel blogger with more than 2500 subscribers to her blog. She was a freelance writer too and had been on FAM trips before, contributing articles to various magazines and websites. Probably that was what had made these cruise operators approach her. Not only were they paying for her trip but also she had been offered a fee for every article of hers that would be published on the cruise. Her hair flowing freely in the breeze, she looked on with excitement as people boarded the ship.

Finally, the time came for the ship to set afloat. Her excitement mounted as she was beckoned on the deck with all the travelers on board. They were offered a welcome beer, which she refused. She instead opted for fruit juice. As she was sitting on the deck, sipping the juice and soaking in the atmosphere, someone brushed past her and a little of the juice spilled on the table. Fortunately, it did not flow further and drop on her dress. She looked up in chagrin, but the consternation and genuine apology in the man’s eyes made her calm down.

“Sorry Ma’am,” he apologized.

“That’s okay,” she replied with a shake of her head.

She got up to go to her room, but the man insisted that he buy her a drink to replenish the spilled one.

“Are you on your own?” he asked curiously as he carefully placed the drink on the table.

“Yes,” she replied.

“That’s strange,” he commented. “You are the first woman I have seen travelling boldly alone on a newly launched cruise.”

“I am on a job,” she declared.

“Oh! Is that so?” he said. “I thought you were on a holiday.”

“No. I am on what you call a working vacation.”

“And what sort of work do you do, may I ask?” he was curious.

“I write,” she said faintly, not knowing how to explain her job on the ship.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “Then you are Rashi Kapoor, aren’t you?”

 Rashi was amazed. ‘How does he know my name?’ she wondered.

Seeing her confused expression, the man held out his hand and introduced himself with a charming smile, ”Hello again! I am Vinod Katkar.”

Rashi was astounded. ‘Vinod Katkar! Oh my God,’ she thought. ‘He is the owner of the ship and it is he who is launching the cruise and had approached her for the campaign. And here I am, boasting that I am on a job.’

Seeing her stunned expression, the man's smile widened. He then gripped her hand in a firm handshake and proceeded to put her at ease. It was a perfect start to the cruise and a friendship that was to last for years.