I was sitting idle on a sleepy afternoon at work. My colleague was busy booking his tickets for some official trip he was making the following week. His eyes lit up as the HR came by and said his tickets were booked. No, the lighting up was not just for the tickets. There was more.
One other evening as I was discussing my weekend plans with a friend. She was particular about finding out which airline I was taking. I happened to mention which one and a seemingly meaningful grin broke out – more of an all-knowing smirk.
On both occasions, the airline carrier was none other than kingfisher. Get the point? If you don’t, let me clarify. It didn’t matter that they were a premier airline or the only first class airlines in India, neither was it about the service they render. It wasn’t about the frequencies or the routes they fly. Nah, it wasn’t about Vijay Malya either. And if you are into the IPL frenzy, it’s not even about being an RCB fan. It transcends all these materialistic pleasures.
So then what is it? Ah come on! As if you didn’t know! It’s about the beauties in red. Scampering about in their short skirts and high heels, swarming all over the airport, and not to mention, onboard the flights as well. In the best of their make-up, sometimes putting to shame even the queens from Bollywood.
Ok, may be I am being a bit hypocritical here. I used the word beauties, which goes to say I have glanced at them as well. It also goes to say I do behold that beauty, but then I think one needs to draw a line somewhere. Just as there is a huge difference between a casual glance and what we call ogling, there is also a huge difference between being presentable or pleasing to the eye and being a glamour doll.
No, I am not blaming those girls for what nature bestowed upon them. Neither am I blaming them for playing the role of an exhibitionist that they have been commissioned to do. One can’t blame them for a profession they choose among others. On the contrary, I come out in their defense. I am asking the men to spare a thought and let them be. I am blaming the airline companies for putting them on the spot. And I am blaming the men onboard a flight who make them all the more self-conscious. Yeah, some of them girls revel in that spotlight, but hey, I bet I see more expressions of embarrassment on their faces than expressions of pride.
Imagine the early morning flights between two metros. The flights typically carry 90% men. That’s an understatement when talking about the ratio of men to women on these flights. And Imagine 80% of them staring down the aisle at the two girls making their way down serving the morning coffee. That would make me squirm in my seat, let alone the girl who knows every inch of her is being watched.
I talked about ogling earlier didn’t I? Well, as in all cases, if there seems to be that mutual interest, I have no issues. He came, he saw, he conquered (the heart) types. But in most cases, why would some men think something can spark mid air, thirty thousand feet above sea level when it doesn’t click on solid earth? Just because they got that courtesy smile from her? The ogling is followed by a barrage of beeps asking for personal favors. Anything from an extra bottle of water, which in most cases remain unopened, to the utterly unneeded question– “how much longer is the flight?” Oh for god’s sake the whole flight doesn’t last an hour! They want to strike a conversation. Age no bar, Class no bar. And the girls just have no choice than to be accommodating. The best they can do is to throw hints which are never picked up and if picked up, ignored.
We can’t blame the men either can we? Yes they play the active antagonists in this case. But then the instigation perhaps comes from the culture which unfortunately encompasses the skirts, high heels and the sweet words. Very few spare a moment to think of what the girl might feel when she is being stared at, from head to toe. They then go on vying with one another for every little bit of attention she can shower upon her. For them, it’s an hour’s flight, there is beauty to be enjoyed and they will do just that – be it within or beyond the moral or ethical bounds.
So who exactly is to be blamed then? The airline companies perhaps? Yes I spoke about Kingfisher alone, but you must be grossly mistaken if you were to think that’s the only big fish in this pool. I wonder what justifies the airline companies to do the cost cutting on the food or beverages served onboard; while they might go on to pay the big bucks to the girls to deter them from joining the competitor. Isn’t it supposed to be a better way to attract customers with service rather than glamour dolls? But wait, does the public prefer the later?
This is a chicken and egg problem. And the ones who get the raw deal in the end are some of those girls who don’t necessarily want to be part of it all, but are in it since they have no options. Spare them a thought oh mighty men!
