Flying Lessons & Other Stories

“Flying Lessons” is told from the first-person perspective of the protagonist, Santosh. As the story begins, he is near the tail end of a three-week European vacation with his grandmother, Nani. At the outset of the trip, Santosh expects Nani to take him to museums and cultural spots. Instead, Nani orchestrates unconventional outings, and Santosh finds himself in many awkward and uncomfortable situations as a result.

In Barcelona, a few days before returning home, Santosh plans to go to the beach with Nani. That morning, she calls a Chanel store to order him a swimsuit. During this phone call, Santosh observes that she is already meticulously dressed and is quite demanding. Nani finishes the conversation by asking the clerk to say hello to a few people, indicating that she is someone of importance who can pull strings.

At the beach, Santosh wears a small red and white striped swimsuit, while Nani is outfitted in a couture dress, high heels, and a fur coat. She announces that she will not stay. When Santosh objects, she encourages him to make friends while she gets her hair done and meets someone for lunch. Nani declares that making friends is simple.