First flight journey

As I entered the waiting lobby, for the last time I looked back and waved at my family… I could see vaguely the eyes turning moist, the smiling faces giving way to gradual teary eyed sad faces… with mixed emotions in my heart, I pretended that I did not see that change, and walked ahead… I am very good at escaping emotions and doing the  ‘alllz well’ drama to my own self… I drag the mental cursur to the ‘Edit’ button of the brain, ‘Click—dropdown—Change mode to insensitive and I’m good to go! I have a well – programmed and thoroughly updated emotional department in my brain – once the settings are made, they generally don’t betray me. 


People resting on the couches awaiting flights, some running to the loo in the last minute, well-groomed and chic ground staff busy giving instructions… I was excited to see what it is like, in an airport waiting lobby. It was my first flight journey!


I was flying to Hyderabad, to join a reputed company, for my first job, straight out of college. Free flight ticket to Hyderabad was the most attractive element in the offer letter, and the one that caught all eyes and ears the most!


After the thrill-filled wait in the lobby where I tried my best to spot another face which might be sharing the same emotions within – so that I could see whether it’s the same for all – it was announced that my flight wants us to proceed to board it. Each step of mine, in the queue, to board the flight seemed shouting out loud – the small steps in a day, leading to a great experience for a lifetime!  First day in school and college,  the first date, first night after marriage, first day in a job, first time inside a flight… these experiences are priceless and  can’t be repeated… they come and go in a hurry, leaving a lasting imprint in the mind... 


The seat belts looked so chic, the reading light and back rest of the seat quite unique, the travellers quite  high class with ‘I fly everyday and I’m reading or sleeping to kill my time’ look on their face. I realized my excitement yet again while the airhostess gave me her perfect professional smile and guidance on where my seat is. 


Ohhh wow… I smugly placed myself on the comfy  seat… clapped-in the seat belt,  leaned relaxingly pushing the back rest behind, took a wide look at the happenings, faces, and everything around which were registered ‘new’ by my brain, and after a few minutes,  slowly closed my eyes… Wahh… I wanted to  store it within myself fresh with all emotions, imprints and the aura with the full and real-time aroma of the moments…
The storing process got shaken and disturbed a bit by a ‘thud’ which happened in the seat beside me… Aahh, heavy ass... my mind assessed.


Beside me was seated an executive-looking, middle aged business lady, who was talking on phone, while getting herself and her stuff placed in the right places. " A frequent traveller for sure", my mind couldn't leave the 'impression-making' mode. I thought for a second about befriending her and talking about random flight stuff... but chucked it seeing her heavily occupied with her phone business. 


And that moment was about to happen... the take-off moment! The moment the plane started moving in the run way, my heart too started racing along and the moment it took off... I felt like Icharus - yes I did, but wasn't over confident like him anyway :P )


But I guess I looked like a new century version of him, with mouth and eyes wide open as the plane went uuup in the sky. I think I also looked quite dumb, coz when I turned left with a face dripped in ecstatic smile, what I saw was an amused co-passenger in that woman. And she was so amused, that she couldn't really help having the expression on her face and having an eye contact with me :P


"It's my first flight journey" came out of my mouth, and her instant reaction was "I can see that' laced with an "it's ok baby" smile. Well, may be she was reminded of her own, memories down the lane... 


The light blue sky with cotton bundle clouds gave way to desert-looking afternoon high skies, all red and grey and brown and yellow... differnt shades merging into each other without conflict, but perfect unison, as though showing unity in diversity... and the side wing of the air plane looked like it's paddling through the evening stream, wanting to reach it's destination but not wanting to leave the beautiful way behind... The high skies brought out the long hidden urge in me to mix colours in a palate, dip a paint-thirsty brush into them, make strokes of it on a white patch... and try recreating a piece of the perfect nature I was wading through...
The sights outside and inside the airplane were equally spell binding, though one was beautifully extremely wonderfully natural, and the other - artificial but wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience, which too I din't wanna miss...


I also cannot forget my first-time fork and spoon experience that I had high up the sky, my ears getting pricked due to pressure difference, the airloo experience, the afternoon sky paving way deepening shades for the night sky, the hyderabad I saw from up there - well lit like a city of festivity, the smooth gliding down of the plane, me with the plane touching the rough hyderabad airport run way... and what not... every moment was savoured like a tempting delicious new dish, which engulfs you in it's unforgettable aroma, even after it's done... Incredible and one of a kind indeed!


After that trip, I should confess, no other flights of mine had even 1% excitement of it, except the first time I booked the airticket home-went to the airport-did the check in- and boarding, all myself - which was another first to my credit. 


Otherwise, I easily got bored, and mostly the thrill  of either going back home for a vacation or the joy of coming back to my apartment and life in Hyd subdued the in-flight feelings... But just the memory of the first flight still gives me goosebumps, and brings a sweet memory-laden smile to my face... The charm of the experience is as fresh as dew, every time I narrate it, think about it...