A Flight...

Unnerving as a road travel experience in Mumbai can be, I was already having the sinking feeling of returning to the same mundane affairs that kept me alive in Chennai. The airport was not quite far from my home by Mumbai standards but the traffic sure made it tiring.

Upon reaching the airport, the Mumbai Indians colors were to be noticed scattered across the entrance instead of the usual blue colors. Adding to the hype already lit up by the media and the hoardings on the side of the road, those uniforms had already sparked a buzz! Everyone was suddenly busy looking for their favorite players, instead of sniffing around paying attention to the security checks.

“Crap!” There it was! The long queue at the check-in kiosk! I was already beginning to lose my patience. After 40 long minutes of eye-straining exercise (only for MI players, don’t get me wrong! :P), I had my turn and I zoomed in to the counter, put the luggage on the conveyor and took the boarding pass and half sprinted to the boarding gate. Adding to my frustrations, He still was nowhere in sight. I had 30 minutes at my disposal and I didn't even have the slightest idea of what I was gonna do.

I am not sure how long it took for the boarding to start but in the meantime I thought of the day I left in Chennai in a hurry, the unexpected break in the midst of a grueling semester, and about the brain splitting two months that were ahead of me. But I thought, who cares, I was already on the sinking boat. I stood in the queue for boarding, and a light murmur behind me grew into a scurry of people in a matter of seconds almost making me jump out of my skin!! I let my gaze follow the people running to some particular direction, and it dawned upon me… it was Him! I ran with those pushing past me, and tried to get into the crowd, but it was impregnable. I just wanted a glimpse of Him. Here He was, in all His grandeur, the Master Himself, calm and composed, flashing that half, almost cynical smile. I devoured that moment when His eyes met mine. I stood there watching Him leading the crowds ahead. I glanced back at the boarding gate, the staff waiting for the thunder to pass, and the passengers to return and board. I went on through the gate, pondering over what had happened. I sat on my seat, still dazed and enthralled. It was amazing how the mood of the passengers had turned to the lighter shade after the boarding being delayed a few minutes. There were smiles and excitement all over.

I sat on my seat, and closed my eyes and recalled the moment. The flight took off from the runway after waiting for another few extra minutes. I looked out of the window, to the amazing glow of lights, to the arterial network of the lights down below, a spectacular art of work by the Man, intermittently given the final touches by the huge forests and lakes sprawled across the giant city. It look like a leaf on a plant, but with a shine so bright even the Sun couldn't resist hiding across the planet.

“Sir, it’s our final boarding call for passengers of flight 6E 191. Are you on that flight?” I saw with my blurry eyes, an airline staff looking at me with a look of disapproval and exasperation on her face. I still hadn't board the flight, but I think I had already taken a flight in my dreams.