Aeroplane journeys...

With new kaftans, lot of sun tan lotions, beautiful cane hat, sexy swim suits, cotton kurtas…the bags were packed for much awaited trip to Mauritius.

We checked in at IGI, cleared the immigration and with smiles and sheer excitement we boarded the plane.

The plane slowly moved to the run way and halted. The pilot announced that he was waiting for a signal to take off as there were some birds crossing the path.

I neatly took off my shoes in order to relax and put my newly bought book in the space provided in front. I could sniff the slight smell of the churning fuel by the engines. The grass on the either side of the runway swayed with the air blown from the rotation of the fans. It seemed as if the wild unkempt grass waved goodbye.

Five minutes passed and we heard our pilot say, ‘we are ready to take off.’ All clear, seat belts tightened and the plane accelerates...

We look at each other, smile and grasp each others hand as we always do on each flight.

Next moment, in a flick of few seconds, there is a loud bang!!

Everyone looks around. Confused, paralysed and shocked!! There is utter silence. We are still very much on the ground.

The pilot gives instructions ‘cabin crew do not move.’ My heart stops beating. I speculate we are hijacked, and this is the end. 9/11 comes to my mind.

Jas says it is engine failure. I overhear a voice; someone sitting at the rear end of the plane, shouts fire, fire, plane is on fire.

We still have seat belts fastened, no one moves. We wait for some instructions, and the pilot commands ‘evacuate ASAP…from the right ….quick….evacuate!!’

Panic strikes, the airhostess opens the emergency exits, the shoots slide open and we jump.

Our plane is on fire!!

With Gods grace no one is hurt, just few minor band aid scratches and all passengers escape.

Today after watching the ghastly 9/11 footage at school, it ran a fear down my spine. It takes courage to even imagine the predicament of the people trapped in those planes which crashed into the twin towers. They knew that it was ‘the end.’

We do not have any clippings or pictures of those passengers. The trauma they would have been through at that spur of moment is incomparable.

The collapse of the famous landmarks of NY is one of the most gruesome acts of brutality. Every time you see the footage you are drowned in sadness.

As the video rolls the shrieks and cries of hundreds of trapped people leaves you speechless. You can feel the agony and helplessness of those to rush out of the burning buildings.

We see the firemen rushing towards the site. Hats off to them, they risk their life in danger to rescue every soul they possibly can.

The rescue team is working hard, the site is gruesome. The two buildings are ablaze like a giant tall volcanoes throwing out smoke. The fire brigades and ambulances are all over the streets. Injured people are being rushed to aid. The rescue team is finding hard to plunge into the smoke but they are working very hard.

The clipping shows people hanging outside from the skyscraper, high up in the air. Watching the video our first reaction is Oh my God!

Smoke slowly engulfs the entire city. A blanket of dust and debris covers the streets. On the near by streets we see people dumbstruck and taking pictures and making videos.

The tremor brings down a near by building. Within minutes the two towers fall, crushed to the ground like a pack of cards.

Watching these clippings I visualize the magnum opus of destruction. The death of innocent people. The vulnerability of people to seek help to save their own lives.

The collapse of twin towers is a frightening mark in the history of terrorist attacks on mankind.

My experience of the Air Mauritius- bang runs through my mind. I close my eyes and say to myself not many are lucky to have safe aeroplane journeys. I thank God and seek his blessings. May peace prevail on earth.