Excuse me Mr. Rao

Genuine people don't carry a mark on their foreheads saying "100% Genuine with a lifetime warranty". The story goes way back to 2006, when I was on an official trip to Bangalore from Delhi.

I caught my Kingfisher flight & took the aisle seat. The flight was pretty much empty; probably nobody wanted to take an early morning flight in the Delhi Cold. The flight soared into the skies, & the Seat Belt Sign was turned off. I had to give a client presentation some final touches, so I took out my Notebook, & started working on my Presentation.

The Kingfisher Flight attendants dressed in a red skirt & a white shirt with a red half sleeved jacket were stylish, pretty & fashionable; that is what made the airline a hot seller 'but not hot enough to beat the Delhi cold'. The Flight Attendant came to me with a bunch of magazines & newspapers; I don't know thinking what (since I was already working on my Laptop). Obviously I let her down & didn't take any; I finishing my work.

She came back in sometime with the breakfast tray which I accepted; returning her a smile. I started thinking how come they can smile all day long (maybe fake it till you make it). If I had to smile the whole day, my jaws would surely droop down dead.

Every time she passed by me, she would throw a smile. This happened many times, till she finally broke the ice. She came up to me & said, "It's very odd to ask; please don't mind; but are you Mr. Rao". I didn't expect her to try these filmy lines that guys usually try on gals, so I firmly said “No, I am Shali”.
She froze stood there for a moment & then said, "Oh! I am sorry I mistook you for one Mr. Rao".
She left for her cabin & soon I realized the magnitude of the damage I had done, by letting a pretty girl swoosh away from my hands. I closed the lid of my laptop & started cursing myself for being such a wimp.

The flight landed, & with it crash landed a loser. While de-boarding the flight we exchanged gazes, & she said "Thank you Mr. Shali".

A quote fitted that moment very well, "Life is like a train of opportunities; you catching the right Bogie, at the right time & at the right Platform".