Agniya stopped in the aisle and thoughtfully looked at her seat by the window. People were pushing her from behind, someone was swearing, but the young woman needed time to consider her options.
A large airplane, a seven-hour flight ahead. Three seats on each side, thirty rows. Agniya had specifically chosen a window seat: she hated it when flight attendants rolled the cart by, people walked around, children ran… The noise itself didn’t bother her: as an experienced business traveler, Agniya had long owned noise-canceling headphones and could listen to music, generally knowing how to entertain and distract herself. And today she was very tired, hoping to sleep at night because she had to work all day tomorrow… But, it seemed, fate had other plans.
The middle seat was occupied by a lady of considerable size. Not quite as gigantic as shown in American shows about overweight people, but definitely not petite. She had fastened her seat belt with extensions, and Agniya saw that one seat was extremely tight for the woman. She sat with her legs slightly apart, “eating” into the personal space of Agniya and the person who would sit by the aisle. Or?
“Good evening,” Agniya addressed her neighbor politely and pointed to the aisle seat. “Excuse me, is this also your seat?”
“What—my seat?” the lady didn’t understand.
“Your seat.”
“No, mine is in the middle.”
“Miss, are you going to sit down?” someone asked Agniya impatiently from behind.
“Go ahead.” She stepped back to the empty seat, letting passengers pass, then turned back to her neighbor: “So, the three of us are sitting here together?”
“Well, yes.”
“I see.”
Agniya estimated visually… She herself weighed sixty kilograms, but even this wonderful weight wouldn’t save her from the monumental leg that would undoubtedly press against her knees. The young woman sighed and pressed the call button for the flight attendant. The lady watched Agniya, squinting suspiciously.
“How can I help?” the flight attendant approached with a professional smile.
“My seat is by the window,” Agniya explained calmly. “We have a seven-hour flight. I’m afraid my neighbor and I… won’t fit comfortably together. It will be cramped for both of us, and…”
“Hey!” the lady began to turn red. “What are you implying, you little herring?”
“I’m not implying anything,” Agniya shrugged. “I can say it outright: you should have bought two seats for yourself, or flown business class. In the current situation, it will be uncomfortable for both of us, and you, too. And by the way, I did not give you any reason to insult me.”
“I don’t need a reason!”
“Listen, let’s try to resolve this peacefully,” said the flight attendant.
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” Agniya agreed.
“Unfortunately, there are no free seats available in economy class.”
“That’s a shame. Any other options?”
The flight attendant sighed heavily.
“I can seat you in business class.”
“Her—in business class?” gasped the lady. “And what about me? Move me, hear that?”
“Unfortunately, the seats in our business class are only a couple of centimeters wider than those in economy, and only one is available,” said the flight attendant with a stoic face. “I’ll move this passenger. The window seat will be free, and you’ll feel much more comfortable than in business. Shall we go?” she turned to Agniya.
“Let’s go. Thank you.”
Followed by the lady’s resentful gaze, Agniya moved along with the flight attendant.
“What do you do when there are no free seats and there are complaints like this?” Agniya curiously asked as she settled into the seat offered to her. Not by the window, but her neighbor was a handsome young man, also wearing noise-canceling headphones.
“Well… we fly,” the flight attendant philosophically answered. “Though, it’s somewhat more stressful.”
“Thank you for accommodating me,” Agniya smiled.
“Thank you for not making a scene.”
“Oh, I’m a lawyer. I’m tough.”
“We’ll serve food and drinks after takeoff,” the flight attendant said and left.
Agniya stretched out her legs, took out her headphones, and an e-reader. There was no anger or irritation inside her, only satisfaction that things had gone as she wanted. And that she hadn’t been afraid to speak up—a solution was found.
“We parted peacefully,” Agniya thought, opening an unfinished novel on her e-reader. “In an era of body positivity, I could have taken a blow to the head. But would she herself have been comfortable spending seven hours like this? Or more, if the flight is delayed? I don’t care how much she weighs; but I do care that it physically infringes on me.”
“We will be taking off soon,” a passing flight attendant warned. “Fasten your seatbelt.”
Agniya clicked the buckle and reached for her book.