The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the aroma of different foods from the restaurants filled the air. The check-in counters were crowded with people, some excitedly chatting with their loved ones while others were focused on getting their paperwork in order.
The staff at the airport were bustling around, trying to keep up with the demands of the travelers. The couple, Suresh and Ilakiya, wove their way through the crowd, pushing their luggage trolley before them. The airport was alive with energy, the hum of voices and the constant movement of people creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. Suresh couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the chaos of it all, but Ilakiya seemed to be taking it in stride.
As they made their way to the check-in counter, they were greeted by a friendly staff. "Good morning, sir. Welcome to AirAsia."
He smiled at her as he parked the baggage trolley and reached into his jacket pocket for his passport. The airline staff, dressed in a smart red and white uniform, asked, "Can I have your passports sir?" Suresh passed the passport together with the e-ticket printout. The staff member looked at the printout and said, "That won't be necessary, sir. We have your details here." She took only the passports and then proceeded to verify details on her system.
Suresh waited at the check-in counter while the passports were being processed. His expression was one of dissatisfaction as he firmly crossed his arms over his chest, making it obvious that he was not pleased. He turned to see Ilakiya, who was dressed in a form fitting long sleeve white turtleneck and black pants. She had a matching white Pashmina shawl around her neck. Her eyes were lined in black and a small red dot on her forehead. She had her headphones on and tapped her foot.
Ilakiya, noticing Suresh's scowl, removed her earbuds, coiled the wires and placed them in her black slingbag, ready to address his concerns.
"Is this trip necessary now?" he asked in an irritated tone, "I'm in the middle of an important project that directly affects my promotion in the company."
Ilakiya gave him a patient smile, and with a gentle hand on his arm, she said "Yes, Suresh, this trip is necessary. The ayurvedic center only accepts a limited number of people every year, and we were lucky to secure a slot. We've been planning for this for months, remember? " She helped him with his luggage as she spoke, pushing the trolley towards the check-in counter.
"Besides," Ilakiya added, "what's the point of making all this money and not having anyone to pass it on to?" Suresh couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as he knew she had a point. He couldn't deny that they had been trying to start a family for a while now, and the stress of work had been taking its toll on him. He thanked the airline staff and grabbed the tickets and passports from the counter.
"Nobody knows where we're going, right?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice. Ilakiya gave him a reassuring smile and winked playfully. "Of course not, everyone knows. We're going on a month-long tour of temples in India," she said with a chuckle. "Unless the aunty next door decides to tarnish your name, I can't do anything about it." Suresh couldn't help but smile at her lighthearted comment and the two of them made their way towards the security check.
"I could've handled it myself, my way," Suresh grumbled, still visibly unhappy about the situation. "Now I have to take a month off from my job, possibly face questions if the news spreads, and I'll be missing my appointments with the urologist." Ilakiya listened patiently, understanding his concerns.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Well, you've been going to the urologist for over a year now. Has anything changed?" Suresh had to admit, he didn't have much progress to show for all his visits. Ilakiya then suggested, "Let's try this ayurvedic method for a change."
Suresh thought for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. He knew he was running out of options and was willing to try anything that could help. He finally nodded reluctantly and said, "Fine. Let's go." Ilakiya smiled, happy that he was willing to give it a chance.
As they approached the security checkpoint, Suresh and Ilakiya presented their boarding passes to the officer. The officer scanned the passes and looked up at them, "Cochin, Kerala," he confirmed, with a friendly smile. Ilakiya nodded and handed over her carry-on bag for inspection. The officer took a quick look through her bag and returned it to her. "Enjoy your trip," he said. Ilakiya smiled and thanked him before they proceeded to the waiting area for their flight.
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