While I was lost in
beauty of the wing flaps swinging against the wind passing
through, a voice interrupted. It was the pilot in command on mic. “Due
to insufficient fuel in tank, we are having to do an emergency landing.
Passengers are requested to fasten their seat belts. Do not panic as our
aircrew members would make sure that we land safely.”
Suddenly
the left wing started rising high. The flight was bending to one side.
My heart started pounding hard. Adding to our anxiety and thrill, the
aircraft started giving jolts. The air was filled with brouhaha.
Everyone was pale and stressed. The old ladies and kids started
screaming in fear. I looked outside the window again. It seemed that the
left and right wings were playing see-saw pivoting the helpless
passengers. A shrieking beep emerged from the mic. It was the captain
this time with an Italian accent. “We can see the passengers getting
scared, which is quite natural at this time. We request you to keep calm
and have patience. We are trying the best we can to land safely without
any harm.”
I
looked outside again. We were flying above the clouds at a great
height. No trace of land. The sun was right at our left. The flight
suddenly started getting jerks as if it were running on a corrugated
runway. My heart was pounding in sync with the jolts. But the worst was
still to come. With a regular dance of left and right bends, the plane
started falling. Probably there was no enough fuel even to reach the
nearest runway. This time the men too joined the screams. I could feel a
strand of sweat trickling down my forehead. I could sense my heartbeat
top in my skull. I felt like throwing up. I closed my eyes tight and
gave up completely.
The
airplane was freefalling now. My eyes opened by default. I started
cursing the gravitational force for being there. Tearing the clouds
apart, our airplane was claiming to be the highest free-fall ride ever.
Now I could see a dense green forest under us. It was coming closer
each millisecond. Only God knew what was next. The aircrew members had
hibernated in the cockpit. Back there in my subconscious mind, the
writer in me was getting prepared to blog this dreadful experience if we
are saved.
The
trees were tall. Finally our flight was going to come to an end. Our
airplane chose a wide and dense tree to end this trauma. Tearing apart
the tree with an enormous noise, our air carrier slipped down the
branches, when someone threw a glass of water over my face. I opened my
eyes and saw myself surrounded by people. I couldn’t understand what’s
going on. All heads were staring hard at me. I was lying down. All were
strangers to me. I looked around to find the co-passengers and the
airplane I was in, but didn’t find any. I closed my eyes tight and
opened to recollect what had happened. Suddenly I heard a familiar
voice. It was my friend sitting beside me. “Have some water. You’ll feel
better.” She helped me sit up.
“See
I told you not to give away your blood, you didn’t listen. Now see you
fainted!!” . Only then I realized it was only a dream. There was no
plane, no air crash, nothing. Just a nightmare!!
Actually
I had donated my blood in a blood donation camp held recently. But
probably my body couldn’t bear the sudden blood loss. So I had lost my
consciousness for a while. But the thrilling air crash experience it
gave without an actual flight is worth penning down!! Someone gave me glucose water and some sweets to energize me. I sipped the sweet water and slipped away with a slant smile !!
