It All Started When An Air Hostess Offered Me Champagne And Caviar

In our newest addition, Out Loud With Kiranjeet, a monthly column, Kiranjeet Chaturvedi will be talking about things that are not talked about that much, too often, too openly. We begin with Champagne and Caviar Woman...

I'd say I am that woman. Not literally though. I don't even like caviar. But it is the symbolism of the idea that I like. I think it gives an irrepressible bohemian tinge to my commitment to self-care. Today, when Gunjan Pant, a writer friend posed a question to her readers, I was reminded of the time I first thought of myself like this.

Did we manage with mismatched leftovers for a meal if we didn't have someone else to cook for, Gunjan wrote and wondered. Were we bread and sambar women, putting ourselves last, essentially, in catering to the needs and preferences of everyone else in our care?

I know what she means. I have been that bread and sambar woman all too often in the past, in matters of food, and more. I am glad I changed, though, and it all started when an air hostess offered me Champagne and caviar on a flight to Paris, many many years ago.

I was travelling on a much longed for, much planned for family holiday. We had already lost a week's booking in Spain because of Visa delays. Those were high-pressure times for us. My son was almost nine years old, and my daughter almost two. I had a full-time job during the weekdays, and carried home lots of office work. I was chronically sleep deprived. I'd leave home before 8 am and reach back around 8 pm. After dinner, I'd clear the kitchen, prepare for next morning's breakfast and tiffins, then get back to dealing with office work, before turning in for the night. I was struggling to keep everything in control, and was on edge all the time, because nothing would stay in control the way I wanted it to.

I was struggling to keep everything in control, and was on edge all the time, because nothing would stay in control the way I wanted it to.

I was a kind of superwoman wannabe, most concerned that my house be picture-perfect, my children be fed the most balanced meals, and their time be spent in the best-planned manner with the right kind of activities, interactions, stimulation, rest and recreation. My husband who had as busy an office schedule as mine, would somehow just slip into the relax-at-home mode once he entered the house. How he absolved himself of most 'domestic' chores by some automatic inherent programming, while managing to also gain a reputation for always 'helping' is one of the great mysteries to which I no doubt subconsciously contributed. We had only part-time house help and a part-time Nanny for the children. I wanted to relax, and yet felt guilty about the tiniest of self-indulgence.

How he absolved himself of most 'domestic' chores by some automatic inherent programming, while managing to also gain a reputation for always 'helping' is one of the great mysteries to which I no doubt subconsciously contributed.

Inside the airplane, the first in-flight meal service had started. Baby girl was in my lap, our meal aprons were in place, the tray table was open, and the pasta smelled delicious. My son sat separately from us, wanting very much to be a big boy travelling on his own. I lifted the spoon to baby girl's mouth, and she simultaneously lifted the tray table up and slipped off my lap. As the pasta arrabiata fell on her shoes, my lap, and on the plane floor, I tried to stop tears of helpless rage. Baby girl was howling and struggling to get away from the mess, but I was immobile. There go my grand holiday plans, and how the other passengers must hate us, I thought.

That's when the tall blonde senior air hostess saved me from myself. She picked baby girl up, and gently offered me a wet towel to clean my dress with. Then she told me to drop my soiled apron next to the seat, and she led me to the washroom, while she took baby girl off to the pantry area. Strangely, baby girl had stopped howling by now.

When I returned to my seat, the air hostess was waiting next to my now spotless seat.

"It is my job to make sure you enjoy your holiday, Madame. Stop worrying. Have a glass of Champagne. With caviar. Your daughter is enjoying her meal with the cabin crew. Then she will watch a film with her brother." She held out a champagne flute for me, and pointed to a bottle of authentic French bubbly. The holiday had begun.

Kiranjeet Chaturvedi is a trained sociologist and a well-known author. She also facilitates writing workshops and courses run by Write & Beyond. The views expressed are the author's own.