by Jessica Robinson

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

What Have I done?'

I sat in my seat flicking through the on-board magazine, hoping my companion for the flight would be male, interesting and what the hell, cute would be a bonus. Instead a beautiful, elegant lady in her sixties sat down next to me. Aside from her coiffed appearance she also spoke like the aristocracy, immediately I thought this part of my trip at least would be uneventful. Then again what if I have set my expectations a little high for India, what if my whole journey is uneventful, filled with expectations that are unrealistic?

We exchanged polite smiles, only I noticed hers was warmer than mine, more genuine, so I smiled again, realizing then I probably looked a bit manic.

Are you going to Bahrain on Business?' She asked, probably to get me to stop smiling insanely.

No, I'm going onto India' I answered in a ridiculous faux posh accent out of nowhere.

Oh so am I, is it your first time, are you going for long?' as she spoke she repositioned her already perfect bob with a delicate slow motion, she was actually quite mesmerizing.

Yes it is my first time, I've planned to stay for 6 months' where on earth was this over the top, born with a silver spoon in my mouth accent coming from? I couldn't help myself, I've always had a habit of slipping into other people's accents when talking to them, but this was like a poorly acted film with a low budget on casting, so obviously false, she must think I'm nuts.

I was last there when I was about your age' she started to tell me about a friend of hers who had bought an old steam engine train, and sold tours around the country. Her, along with a few of their friends, were invited to try it out as guinea pigs.

The whole way from London to Bahrain she told me all about her trip when she was young, about her son, who she was disappointed, had no get up and go, and about her forthcoming trip. At Bahrain we perused the shops and drank gin and tonics in the bar, and we didn't stop talking until we boarded our next plane from Bahrain to India, at this point we were separated to different ends of the plane. I was gutted, I had judged her from her appearance to be a quiet, civil but maybe snotty type, and she had turned out to be one of the most interesting characters I have met in life, with so much flair, warmth and color. I hadn't a chance to be nervous about my arrival, or sad about leaving my family behind, and she had whetted my appetite all the more for India, my journey had already begun with an unexpected acquaintance.

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