"I could get used to this comfort!" Sanyukta remarked as soon as they settled into their adjoining plush seats in the spacious business class cabin. They an aisle and a window seat to themselves with plenty of legroom. "First Class is better, at times you are all by yourselves!" Randhir said. He was no stranger to luxury. "Yes, but on the other hand it is more intrusive because the crew is always checking on you to see if you need anything. How could we enjoy our privacy over the next sixteen hours?" She argued and he smiled at her, for a non-traveller she was quite aware!

"Anyway, the seats look ok, and the antimacassars are spotlessly white, I dislike the idea of seeing hair oil spots on those!" He remarked. "My husband is a fussy traveller!" She joked. "Not fussy but discerning traveller, one should get one's money's worth, what is wrong with expecting quality? You are joining the service industry, you know how finicky business and first class passengers are. The airlines compete with each other to seduce them!" He was rarely wrong and she thought it best not to argue. He nuzzled her lightly to cheer her up and she blushed.

"Our co-travellers will soon be fast asleep; their ideal way to travel during a night flight; they will only wake up for meals. Even if I'd love to we cannot do anything naughty here,  we will be in trouble if we are caught!" He grinned at her. "Some day in the future I'll be narrating the tale of our first trip abroad to our kids! Maine naam bhi soch liye hai unke liye Randhir!" She said dreamily. "Who talks about kids on the way to their honeymoon, Sanyukta? People stock up on contraceptives instead!" He winked. "Such a bad Daddy you are!" She squeezed his arm affectionately.

"Wait till we get there, I'll show you how bad a Daddy I can be!" He paused as a stewardess offered them drinks. They opted for some champagne and cocktail snacks. "Is the apartment very ritzy?" She asked him, although she had guessed the answer. "It is a furnished three bedroom place on the Upper West Side. Going by the neighbourhood it is pretty average. In any case, Mom has made a sensible investment! What is the point in maintaining an over-the-top condo when one uses it sparingly on one's business trips to New York? Nevertheless it is better to have your own place rather than to live in a hotel!" He explained. 

"I think she always makes sound investment decisions, Randhir!" Sanyukta knew Renuka had business in her blood. "Well, it is a quiet neighbourhood, mostly residential, and Columbia University is just a short walk away. I was still in boarding school when she bought the apartment, it was a subliminal message to me that I would have to go to Columbia! In our circles it is the preferred university for a business degree. Other people think it is easy for kids with moneyed parents to get into Ivy League schools but the truth is many actually get in because they work hard for it. The tuition is exorbitant though." Randhir had to traverse the path charted by Renuka, there was no choice.

"Anyway, we will be close to many attractions in Manhattan including Central Park, Riverside Park,  The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History. We can start our New York tour with these. The New York City pass also covers these two museums and the Empire State Building. And there are option tickets to choose between Top of the Rock Observation Deck or Guggenheim Museum, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island or Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises and 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. We can cover these over a nine day period." He told her enthusiastically.

"It is a good thing you are familiar with the city, I am looking forward to seeing as much as I can while I am there!" She gushed. "Take it easy, baby! No need to rush through it all. I'll be in New York for many years. Come back as soon as you finish college, get a job and live with me. We just got married, right now we need alone time locked indoors. Who knows, our kids may even be born there!" She could see desire build up in his eyes, only to be interrupted by the dinner service, leaving her amused. The crew offered them a choice of beverages and they asked for some wine to go with the meal. Although they had a light repast earlier they had managed to work up an appetite by now. They opted for the Indian entree selection. Randhir chose the lamb korma while she had the saag paneer. After enjoying their dessert of berry cheesecake they prepared to sleep.

 They would have loved to stay up and chat some more but the cabin turned quiet as other passengers, mostly frequent-flying business travellers unlike them, went off to sleep promptly. Fortunately the seats converted into comfortable flat beds and they soon dozed off, waking up just before the crew began serving breakfast. After freshening up both opted for a hot American breakfast with orange juice, fresh fruit, strawberry yoghurt, cheese omelette with sausages, croissant with jam and some freshly brewed coffee. Their dinner as well as breakfast had been excellent.  

After breakfast was cleared away Randhir took out his laptop and began working on something. Seeing him occupied she took out her phone and started composing a draft. "I am writing a note to Aman, I promised to write him daily! What are you working on?" She asked him . "Making a business proposal for Mom, she will improve it as required!" He replied. "Randhir, do you think she will forgive us for getting married without her knowledge?" She asked diffidently. "I told you Sanyukta, we do not call her the Terminator for nothing! To quote Kyle Reese, the Terminator can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with, it doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." He laughed. 

"How can you joke about this Randhir?" She sounded worried. "I know my mother very well Sanyukta, she may not hassle you much but she will not forgive me for rewriting her programming without her consent. Something's gotta give, and to minimise damage we have to keep our secret until you finish college and I am able to establish myself professionally. We'll be landing shortly, don't worry, have happy thoughts and think about how we can start our honeymoon. Showering together sounds like a good idea, does it not? Junior wants to play as soon as we get home!" He whispered close to her ear. "You are blessed with a one track mind!" She whispered back as they began their descent for landing in Newark.