Although it takes only 14 muscles to smile, it requires more than 14 million grey cells to decipher what meaning the smile conveys. Especially if you are at the receiving end of a smile from someone of the fairer sex. This happened a few years ago at Kolkata Airport, when I was about to leave for Chennai. Though this incident also stands testimony to my poor skills in English language, I would like to assure the readers that my English has improved considerably since then. After the luggage check-in formalities, when I went to the Spice Jet counter to collect my boarding pass, I saw a stunningly beautiful ground staff seated who was handing over the boarding passes to the travellers. No wonder why the airlines was named Spice Jet. Being an ardent fan of the window seat which gives me an areal view of the spectacular City of Joy, I asked her if a window seat was available. She replied, with a smile on her face, 'Sorry sir, no window seat is available'. I replied, Ok, 'I would prefer an AISLE seat. Unknowingly, I pronounced it as "AIZEL". She smiled back, saying Ok sir. This smile was wider and prettier than the previous one. I was spellbound by the beauty of her smile which transported me into a world of trance. I began wondering whether the smile was really an admiration of the charm and charisma which I carried with myself.
Inside the aircraft, I asked the airhostess, where is 16D? She replied, again with a smile, "Go straight sir, its on the AISLE." (She pronounced it as it should be A-I-L, and not as AIZEL). Never having heard such a word before, I asked her again, and again she said, its on the A-I-L sir. I was really stunned, and realized what a fool I had been. I felt as if I was at the epicenter of a huge earthquake. Now I realized what those pretty smiles meant. As I sat on my AISLE seat, I could'nt think of anything else apart from the embarassment which had befallen me. Since, then I had decided never to sit on an AISLE seat. A middle seat would be a preferable option incase the window seats were occupied.
