The plane

The next morning, I awoke with great energy and felt positive and enthusiastic about the trip. After showering and a quick breakfast, I grabbed my bag, hugged Sarah again because she was the only one awake and ran out to the garage. Sliding into the Bentley, I found it as delicious as I remembered.

I pulled into the fairgrounds parking lot and stopped next to a medium-sized cargo truck. The vehicle had a thick windshield, very big wheels, and tiny doors that required climbing a step to reach them. It looked like a monster truck past its prime, but, instead of being put out to pasture, it had been recruited into the cargo business. Behind the cab was a flatbed with a boxy steel frame draped with gray canvas.

The ramp was down in the back: Mr. Davis was already loading Ren into the cage. Ren wore a thick collar around his neck, which was firmly attached to a long chain that Mr. Davis and Matt both gripped tightly. The tiger seemed very calm and unruffled despite the chaos going on around him. In fact, he watched me while waiting patiently for the men to prepare the truck. Finally, they were ready, and with a command from Mr. Davis, Ren quickly catapulted into the crate.

Mr. Kadam took my bag and slung the strap over his shoulder. He asked, 'Miss Kelsey, would you like to ride in the truck with the driver, or would you like to accompany me in the convertible?'

(Edit)

I looked at the monster cargo truck and quickly made my decision, 'With you. Driving your car yesterday really spoiled me forever. I'd never pick a monster flatbed over a sleek convertible.'

(Houck)

He laughed in agreement before placing my bag in the trunk of the Bentley. Knowing it was time to go, I waved goodbye to Mr. Davis and Matt, climbed back into the convertible, and buckled my seatbelt. Before I knew it, we were cruising along I-5 behind the truck.

Talking was difficult over the wind, so I just leaned my head back against the soft, warm leather and watched the scenery go by. We were actually driving at a leisurely pace - fifty-five mph, about ten miles per hour under the speed limit. Curious onlookers slowed their cars to stare at our little convoy. The traffic became heavier near Wilsonville where we quickly caught up to the morning commuters who'd passed us earlier.

The airport was about twenty miles farther on Highway 205, a small highway that sat like a teacup handle on I-5. The truck in front of us turned onto Airport Drive and then pulled off on a side street and stopped behind some large hangars. Several cargo planes were lined up and being loaded. Mr. Kadam wove between people and equipment and came to a halt near a private plane. The name on the side read Flying Tiger Airlines, and it sported the image of a running tiger.

I turned to Mr. Kadam, nodded my head toward the plane, and said, 'Flying tiger, huh?'

He grinned. 'It's a long story Miss Kelsey, and I will tell you all about it on the plane.' Pulling my bag out of the trunk, he handed the keys to a man standing by who promptly got into the gorgeous car and drove it off the tarmac.

We both watched as several burly men lifted the tiger's crate with a motorized pallet jack and expertly transferred him into the plane's large, custom cage.

Satisfied that the tiger was secure and comfortable, we climbed up the plane's portable staircase and stepped inside.

I was amazed at the opulence of the interior. The plane was decorated in black, white and chrome, which made it look sleek and modern. The black leather seats were exceptionally cozy looking, a far cry from the cabin seats on commercial jets, and they fully reclined!

(Edit)

An attractive flight attendant with long, dark hair gestured to a chair and introduced herself. 'My name is Nilima, please, go ahead and take your seat, Miss Kelsey.'

'Your accent is similar to Mr. Kadam, are you from India too?'

Nilima nodded and smiled at me as she gave me a blanket, pillow, and a variety of magazines. Mr. Kadam sat in the roomy chair across from me. He extended his hand towards Nilima and she placed her hand on his affectionately. 'Nilima is also my granddaughter, Miss Kelsey,' He said. 'She's been working with me for a while now, and not just as flight attendant. She's invaluable to me.'

'Oh, wow. It's a pleasure to meet you Nilima. It must be wonderful to work closely with your grandfather.'

Her eyes softened as she spoke about Mr. Kadam. Her affection for him was evident. 'Yes, it's an honor to share so much with my Thatha.'

I didn't know the meaning of "Thatha", but judging by her tone of voice, it must be a caring word for her grandfather. Kind of how I used to call my grandmother "grandma".

'Now I'm felling guilty you're going to work as a flight attendant for us instead of sitting with your grandfather.' She's probably used to travel with him sitting in my place, and now I'm feeling like an intruder.

She just smiled sweetly and assured me that I shouldn't worry. 'I have many opportunities to spend time with my grandfather, and it's an immense pleasure to have you helping us.' Her eyes twinkled in a very similar way Mr. Kadam's does, and she made me feel like what I was doing was much more than just accompany a tiger.

Mr. Kadam thanked Nilima and waved her away as he strapped himself in, forgoing the pillow and blanket.

(Houck)

I had flow in a plane only a couple of times before on vacations with my family. During the actual flight, I was usually pretty relaxed, but the takeoffs and landings made me anxious and tense. The sound of the engines probably bothered me the most - the ominous roar as they came to life - and the "pushed back in your seat" felling as the plane left the earth always made me queasy. The landings weren't fun either, but I was usually so excited to get off the plane and move around that I just wanted to be done with it.

(Edit)

This plane was definitely different. It was luxurious, wide open, and had plenty of leg room and comfy leather reclining chairs. It was so much nicer than flying coach. Comparing this to a regular plane was like comparing a soggy, stale french fry you find under the car seat to a giant baked potato with salt rubbed into the skin and topped with sour cream, crumbled bacon, butter, shredded cheese, and sprinkled with fresh cracked black pepper. Yep, this plane was loaded. And it was probably better if I stopped with the food comparison, it was making me hungry, specially for the kind of delicious food I hadn't eaten I a while tanks to Sarah's super healthy cooking.

(Houck)

All this luxury, coupled with the beautiful convertible car, made me wonder about Mr. Kadam's employer. He must be someone very rich and powerful in India. I tried to think of who it might be, but I couldn't even fathom a guess.

Maybe he's one of those Bollywood actors. I wonder how much money they make. No, that can't be it. Mr. Kadam has been working for him a long time, so he's probably a very old man now.

The plane had built up speed and take off while I was pondering Mr. Kadam's mystery employer. I hadn't even noticed! Maybe it was because my chair was so soft that I just sank back into it when the plane ascended, or maybe it was because the pilot did an exceptional job. Perhaps it was a little of both. I looked out the window and watched the Columbia River grow smaller and smaller until we passed through the cloud cover and I couldn't see the land anymore.

After about an hour and a half, I'd read a puzzle magazine cover to cover and finished the sudoku puzzle as well as the crossword. I set down my magazine and looked at Mr. Kadam. I didn't want to pester him, but I had tons of questions.

(Edit)

I cleared my throat and said, 'Sooo...' He responded by smiling at me over his news magazine. I think he was amused. I decided to ask about the plane first, and then see if the conversation would lead us to his employer. 'Mr. Kadam, please tell me about Flying Tiger Airlines.'

He closed his magazine before setting it down on the table. 'Hmm. Where to begin? My employer used to own, and I used to run, a cargo airline company called Flying Tiger Airlines Freight and Cargo, or Flying Tiger Airlines for short. It was the largest major trans-Atlantic charter company in the 1940s and 1950s. We provided service to almost every continent in the world.'

Hmm. 40s and 50s? Then he has much, much older than he appeared to be. I wonder why is that? I'll have to touch on this subject some other time.

(Houck)

'Where did the name Flying Tiger come from?'

He shifted slightly in his seat. 'You already know that my employer has a fondness for tigers, so it was that, coupled with the fact that a few of the original pilots had flow "tiger" planes in WWII. You might remember that they were painted like tiger sharks to look fierce in battle.

'In the late 80s, my employer decided to sell the company, but he kept one plane, this one, for personal use.'

'What is your employer's name? Will I get to meet him?'

His eyes twinkled. 'Most assuredly. He will introduce himself in India. I am certain he would like to converse with you.' He shifted his gaze to the back of the plane for a moment and then back to me. Smiling with an encouraging expression, he added, 'Are there any other questions?'

(Edit)

And there he goes giving half answers and evading questions again. Now I was sure he was hiding something, but I still felt he was thustworty and was saying the truth about everything. He just wasn't talking about this employer of his for some reason. I decided to keep alert and remind him at some point during this trip that I wanted to know who was his boss. For now, I wouldn't pressure.

(Houck)

'So you're kind of like his vice president?'

The Indian gentleman laughed. 'Surfice it to say, he is a very wealthy man who trust me completely to handle all of his business dealings.'

'Ah, so you're the Mr. Smithers to his Mr. Burns.'

He quirked an eyebrow at me. 'I'm afraid I don't mind your reference.'

(Edit)

I just waved a hand, more interested in the conversation. 'Never mind. They're characters on the Simpsons. Maybe you don't know them because you've never watched the show, or maybe you just don't remember. It was a silly comparison anyways.'

'I'm afraid I haven't. Sorry, Miss Kelsey.'

'Oh, no need to apologize.' Mr Kadam seemed slightly uncomfortable or nervous when talking about his boss, and I knew I wasn't going to get any more information, so I decided to ask about planes. He seemed enjoy talking about them and I encouraged him to continue. Kicking off my shoes, I sat cross legged in the chair and asked, 'What kind of cargo did you transport?'

(Houck)

He visibly relaxed. 'Over the years, the company transported quite a collection of interesting cargo. For example, we won the contract to convey Aquatic World's famous killer whale as well as the torch from the Statue of Liberty. Most of the time, though, the cargo was quite mundane. We transported things such as canned goods, textiles and packages, quite a variety of things, really.'

'How on earth do you fit a whale into an airplane?'

'One flipper at a time, Miss Kelsey. One flipper at a time.' Mr. Kadam spoke with a serious face. I was surprised with the joke and started laughing hard. He cracked a smile at me. Wiping a tear from the corner of my eye, I clarified, 'So you ran the company?'

'Yes, I spent a lot of time developing Flying Tiger Airlines. I very much enjoy aviation.' He gestured to the aircraft. ' What we're riding in here is called an MD-11, a McDonnell Douglas. It's a long range craft, which is necessary when traveling across the ocean. The body is spacious and comfortable, as you might have noticed. It has two engines mounted under the wings, and a third engine is located in the back at the base of the vertical stabilizer. Of course, the interior is built for comfort and relaxation, and we employ the pilot, ground crew, as well as other staff to ensure security.'

(Edit)

'I don't really understand about aircrafts, but this sounds impressive.'

(Houck)

He leaned forward a bit in his seat and spoke enthusiastically, 'Though this plane is an older model, it still provides for a very swift journey.' He began numbering it's features on his fingers, 'It includes a stretched fuselage, a large wingspan, a refined airfoil on the wing and tail plane, and brand new engines.

'The flight deck features the most modern conveniences - electronic instrument panels, dual flight management, GPS, central fault display - and it also has automatic landing capability for bad whether conditions. Of course, we also kept our original company name and logo on the side, which you identified when we boarded.'

(Edit)

He had become eagerly spirited during his technical speech. I'm sure it all meant something, but I didn't know much about cars, much less about planes. The only thing I could understand without a doubt was that it was a pretty darn good plane and it had three engines. But I didn't wanted he to think I wasn't accompanying, so I tried to put on my best 'how interesting' face. I think he didn't had someone who would sit and listen about his hobby, and I didn't wanted he to get embarrassed because of his excitement.

I must have failed despite my attempt because he looked at me and chuckled. 'Perhaps we should discuss something else, eh? What if I share some tiger myths from my homeland?'

'Yes, please. I'm sorry, I just had no idea what you were talking about before.' I said and smiled sheepishly. I drew my legs to the side and tucked them into my chair. Then I pulled my blanket up to my chin and leaned back into my pillow.

Mr. Kadam's intonation changed as he went into storytelling mode. His English articulation dropped off, and his brisk accent became more pronounced, the words more melodic. I enjoyed listening to the cadence of his rhythmic voice, he was an amazing storyteller and I could imagine him surrounded by grandchildren listening to his stories. He looked like this type of grandfather.

(Houck)

'The tiger is considered the great protector of the jungle. Several Indian myths say the tiger has great power. He will bravely combat great dragons but he will also help simple farmers. One of his many tasks is to tow rain clouds with his tail, ending drought for humble villagers.'

'I'm very interested in mythology. Do the people of India still believe in these tiger myths?'

'Yes, especially in the rural areas. But, you will find believers in all parts of the country, even among those who consider themselves a part of today's modern world. Did you know that some say that a tiger's purr will stop a nightmares?'

(Edit)

'Mr. Davis said that tigers can't purr. I asked and he told me that big cats that growl and roar can't purr, but I swear I can hear Ren purring sometimes.'

(Houck)

'Ah, you are correct. Modern science says that a tiger cannot produce the sound identified as a purr. Several of the larger cats make a pulsating noise, but it isn't quite the same as the purr of a housecat. Still, there are some Indian myths that speak of a tiger purring. It's also said that a tiger's body has unique healing properties. This is one of the reasons why they are regularly hunted and killed, and their bodies mutilated or sold for parts.'

That's horrible. He leaned back in his chair, relaxing. 'In Islam, it is believed that Allah will send a tiger to defend and protect those who follow him faithfully, but he will also send a tiger to punish those he consider traitors.'

(Edit)

'Hmm, interesting. I don't know anything about Islam. If a tiger appeared in front of me, I would just run away from it. Let's face it, I wouldn't know if it's coming to punish or protect.'

He laughed. 'Yes, very wise of you. I confess, I have adopted somewhat of the same fascination that my employer has for tigers, and I have studied numerous texts regarding the mythology of Indian tigers, in particular.'

He trailed off for a moment, lost in thought, and his eyes glazed over. His index finger rubbed at a spot on his open collar, and I noticed he was wearing a small, wedge shaped pendant on a chain that was half tucked inside his shirt. Whatever was on his mind seemed heavy, maybe related to that pendant. Or maybe it was just an habit of his, who knows.

(Houck)

As his focus turned back to me, he quickly dropped his hand to his lap and continued, 'Tigers are also a symbol of power and immortality. They are said to vanquish evil through various means. They are called life givers, sentinels, guardians, and defenders.'

I straightened my legs and angled my head back into the pillow. 'Are there any damsel in distress type of tiger myths?'

He considered, 'Hmm, yes. In fact, one of my favorite stories is about a white tiger that sprouts wings and saves the princess who loves him from a cruel fate. Carrying her on his back, they relinquish their corporeal forms and become a single white streak journeying into the heavens, eventually joining the stars of the Milky Way. Together, they spent eternity watching over and protecting the people of Earth.'

I yawned sleepily. 'That's really beautiful. I think that one's my favorite too.' His soft, melodic voice had relaxed me. Despite my best efforts to stay awake and listen, I was falling asleep.

He continued steadily, 'In Nagaland, they believe that tigers and men are related, that they are brothers. There is one myth that begins, "Mother Earth was the mother of the tiger and also of man. Once, the two brothers were happy, loved each other, and lived in harmony. But a feud began over a woman, and Brother Tiger and Brother Man fought so wildly that Mother Earth could no longer tolerate their quarrel and had to send them both away.

'"Brother Tiger and Brother Man left the home of Mother Earth and emerged from a very deep dark passage inside the earth said to be a pangolin's den. Living together inside the earth, the two brothers still fought every day, until eventually they decided it would be better to live separately. Brother Tiger went south to hunt in the jungle, and Brother Man went north to farm in the valley. If they stayed away from each other, then both were content. But, if one encroached upon the other's territory, fighting began anew. Many lifetimes later, the legend still holds true. If the descendants of Brother Man leave the jungle in peace, Brother Tiger will also leave us in peace. Still, the tiger is our kin, and it is said that if you stare into a tiger's eyes long enough, you will be able to recognize a kindred spirit."'

My eyelids were dropping against my wishes. I wanted to ask what a pangolin's den was, but my mouth wouldn't move and my eyelids felt so heavy. I made one last effort to stay awake by shifting up on my seat a little bit, forcing my eyes open.

Mr. Kadam looked at me thoughtfully. 'A white tiger is a very special kind of tiger. It is immitigably draw to a person, a woman, who has a powerful sense of self conviction. This woman will possess great inner strength, will have the insight to discern good from evil, and will have the power to overcome many obstacles. She who is called to walk with tigers-'

I fell asleep.

When I awoke, the chair across from me was empty. I sat up and looked around, but I didn't see Mr. Kadam anywhere. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I headed off to find the restroom.

Opening a sliding door, I walked into a surprisingly large bathroom. This was not at all like the small boxy bathrooms in a regular plane. The lights were recessed in the walls and they softly illuminated the special features of the room. The bathroom was decorated in cooper, cream and rust colors, and which were more to my liking than the modern, austere look of the plane's cabin.

(Edit )

The first thing I noticed was the shower! I opened the glass door to peer inside because, a shower in a plane, of course I wanted to see! It had beautiful rust and cream colored tiles set in a lovely pattern there were mounted pumps full of shampoo, conditioner, and soap. The copper showerhead was detachable, and a simple squeeze turned it on and off, similar to a kitchen sink sprayer. I figured this design would help to use less water, which wouldn't be in abundance on a plane. A thick cream colored rug covered the beautiful tiled floor.

(Edit)

Off to the side, two vertical cubies, set into the wall, were filled with soft, alabaster towels held in place with a copper bar. Another wide compartment sported a silky soft, fully lined robe that felt like cashmere. It hung from a copper bar. Just under that, another smaller alcove held a pair of cashmere slippers.

A deep sink, shaped like a skinny rectangle, had a pump on each side of the copper faucet. One was full of creamy soap, and the other with a sweet lavender lotion.

I finished up in the bathroom, almost hating to leave it, and headed back to my comfy seat. Mr. Kadam had returned, and Nilima brought us a delightful smelling lunch. She had arranged a table between us and set it for two. What made the table unique were the slight depressions designed to hold all of our dinnerware. Our plates sat in short, round groves specially made to fit them. There was a little thumbnail on one side to lift them in and out easily. Our glasses rested in slightly deeper grooves, and there was even a small vase full of short stemmed yellow roses set in its own hollowed out space.

Nilima lifted the warmer covers off our plates to set free the delicious aroma of fish.

She said, 'Today's lunch is crusted hazelnut halibut with buttered asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, and a lemon tart for dessert. What would you like to drink?'

'Water with some lemon, please,' I responded.

'I will have the same,' said Mr. Kadam.

(Edit )

'Won't you sit to eat with us Nilima?'

'Don't worry about me, Miss Kelsey, I've already eaten. Enjoy your lunch,' she left with a sweet smile.

'Mr. Kadam, doesn't your granddaughter mind working as a flight attendant and serving us?'

'Oh, no Miss Kelsey, it's not like that. Nilima is inherently sweet and humble, and it's been a while she herself decided to take this role whenever we are flying just ourselves to have a little more privacy. She actually enjoys the work, and we almost never have guests flying with us.'

'Well, please make sure she knows I would not object if she wanted to sit and eat with us, I would welcome it.'

Mr. Kadam inclined his head towards me and smiled. We enjoyed our lunch together and Mr. Kadam asked me many questions about Oregon, he seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for learning new facts and asked about everything from sports, which I know almost nothing about, to politics, which I know absolutely nothing about, to the fauna and flora of the state, which I know a lot about. I was glad I could give him some information at least.

We talked about what high school was like, my experiences at the circus, and about my hometown: the salmon runs, the Christmas tree farms, the farmer's markets, and the blackberry bushes that were so common, people actually considered them weeds. He was easy to talk with, a great listener, and I felt comfortable with him. The thought crossed my mind again that he must be a wonderful grandpa. I never got a chance to know either of mine. They died before I was born, as did my other grandma.

After we finished our lunch, Nilima returned to clear our plates, and I watched how she removed the table. Maybe if I learned I could offer to help next time. As she pushed a little button, a small, quiet motor sounded the legless rectangular table tilted up until it was flush to the wall and then slid into the paneling. As the table settled, she let go of the button and instructed us to buckle up because we'd be arriving in New York soon.

The descent was as smooth as the take off, so I made it a point after we landed to meet the pilot and tell him that he was exceptionally gifted. Mr. Kadam translated for me. As we refueled for the journey to Mumbai, I visited with Ren.

(Houck )

After making sure he had enough to eat and drink, I sat down on the floor next to his cage. He sauntered over and collapsed down on the floor right next to me. His back was stretched along the length of the cage with his striped fur sticking out through the bars tickling my legs, and his face next to my hand.

(Edit)

I laughed at him, leaned over and stroke the fur on his back. It was incredible how comfortable I felt with him, it was like he wasn't a big tiger. I recounted some of the tiger myths that Mr. Kadam had shared with me and his tail kept flicking back and forth, in and out of the cage bars.

Time flew by quickly, and the plane was soon ready to take off again. Mr Kadam was already strapping in. I quickly patted Ren's back and returned to my chair as well. It was nice to have easy access to Ren inside the plane, through the connecting door.

We took off, and Mr. Kadam warned me that this would be a long flight, about sixteen hours, and also that we would lose a day on the calendar. After we reached the proper cruising altitude, he suggested that I might like to watch a movie. Nilima gave me a list of all the movies they had available, and I picked the longest one on the list: Gone with the Wind.

She moved to the bar area and pushed a button on the wall, and a large white screen quietly slid out from the side of the bar. My chair turned around easily to face the screen and it even reclined with a footrest, so I made myself comfortable and passed the time with Scarlett and Rhett while Mr. Kadam read behind me on his chair. Nilima had disappeared again and I wondered how many different "rooms" this plane had, it was so big.

When I finally got to, 'After all, tomorrow is another day,' I stood up and stretched. I looked out the window to see it was black outside. It only felt like 5:00p.m., but I guessed it was probably 9:00 p.m. in our current time zone.

Nilima bustled over and returned the movie screen, and then she began setting up the table again.

'Thank you so much for these delicious meals and thank you for your wonderful service Nilima,' I told her appreciatively. 'Wont you eat with us?'

'No, Miss Kelsey, in this trip I'm just the flight attendant, I'll leave you to talk with my grandfather, but don't worry, we'll have time to talk later.'

'Yes, thank you, Nilima.' Mr. Kadam winked at his granddaughter, and she smiled softly and left.

I shared an amiable dinner once again with Mr. Kadam. This time we talked about his country. He told me all kinds of interesting things and described fascinating places in India. I wondered if I would have time to see or do any of those things. Maybe I should make an itinerary when I was at the reserve and Ren was settled.

He spoke of ancient Indian warlords, mighty fortresses, Asian invaders, and horrible battles. He talked as if he had seen all these things happen and I felt like I was there seeing and experiencing it for myself.

For dinner, Nilima served us stuffed chicken Marsala with grilled zucchini and a salad. I felt a little better eating more vegetables, because I wasn't exactly eating very healthy at the circus, but then she brought out chocolate lava cakes for dessert.

I sighed. 'Why does everything so bad for you always taste so dreamy?'

Mr. Kadam laughed. 'Would you feel better if we shared one?'

'Sure,' I grinned, cut my lava cake in half, and scooped his portion onto a clean plate Nilima had brought out.

I licked the hot fudge sauce off my spoon. Life, well... at least today anyway, was good. Very good. I could learn to live like this. I wanted to enjoy while it lasted, pretty soon I would be back to my very normal and boring life.

For the next couple of hours we talked about our favorite books. He liked the classics like I did, and we had a great time revisiting memorable characters: Hamlet, Captain Ahab, Dr. Frankenstein, Robson Crusoé, Jean Valjean, Iago, Hester Prynne and Mr. Darcy. He also introduced me to a few Indian characters that sounded interesting like Arjuna, Shakuntala, and Gengi, from Japanese literature.

Stifling a yawn, I went back to check on Ren again. I reached through the bars to pet his head and scratch him behind the ear.

Mr. Kadam watched me and said, 'Miss Kelsey, are you not afraid of this tiger? You don't believe that he will hurt you?'

'Well, he's a very powerful animal, I think that obviously he could hurt me, but I know he won't hurt me. It's hard to explain, but I feel safe with him. He's more my friend than a wild animal.'

I thought he was going to think me crazy when I said that, but Mr. Kadam didn't seem alarmed, only curious. He spoke softly to Nilima for a moment.

(Houck )

She approached me, inquiring, 'Are you ready to sleep for a while, Miss Kelsey?'

I nodded and she showed me where my bag had been stowed. I picked it up and set off for the bathroom. I wasn't gone for very long, but she'd been very busy.

There was now a curtain dividing the area, and she'd set up a pullout couch that became a snug bed with satin sheets and thick, soft pillows.

A recessed light with a button was set into the wall right next to the bed. The plane was darkened,and she told me that Mr. Kadam would be on the other side of the curtain if I needed anything.

I quickly checked the tiger's cage again. He watched drowsily through slit eyes with his head on his paws.

'Good night Ren. See you in India tomorrow.'

Too tired to read, I climbed under the soft, silky covers, turned off the light, and let the drone of the engines lull me to sleep.

The smell of bacon woke me up. I peeked around the corner and saw Mr. Kadam seated, reading the paper with a glass of apple juice on the table in front of him. He looked at me over the paper. I saw that his hair was slightly wet and that he was already dressed for the day.

'Best attend your morning ablutions, Miss Kelsey. We will be arriving soon.'

I grabbed my bag and headed for the luxurious bathroom. I took a quick shower, soaping through my hair with the fragrant rose scented shampoo. When finished, I wrapped my hair with a tick towel and pulled on the cashmere robe. I sighed deeply and let myself bask in the soft fabric for a moment while I decided what to wear. I chose a red blouse with jeans and brushed my hair back into a ponytail, tying it with a red ribbon. Hurrying back to Mr. Kadam, I sunk down in the leather chair while Nilima brought me a hot plate of bacon, eggs, and toast.

(Edit)

I ate the eggs, nibbled on the toast, and drank some orange juice, but decided to save my bacon for Ren. As Nilima stowed the bed, I helped with the table from breakfast. She shot me a grateful smile when I finished and wandered over to the cage with my treat. Trying to tempt him, I held out a piece through the cage. He came over, very gently bit the edge, pulled it out of my hand, and then swallowed it down in one gulp.

I laughed. 'Gee, Ren, you've got to chew it. At least I think you do. Do tigers chew? Well, at least savor it first. You probably never get a treat like this.' I held out the other three pieces one by one and he gulped them all down like I expected he would. Then he shot his tongue through the bars to lick my fingers.

I laughed quietly and went to the bar to wash my hands. Then I cleaned up all my belongings and stowed my bag in the overhead compartment. I'd just finished when Mr Kadam approached. He pointed out the window and said, 'Miss Kelsey, welcome to india.'