"Shakes" on a Plane
Somewhere in the skies above New Delhi: I
was aboard the infamous Air India flight, full of trepidation after
hearing the various catastrophes about the flight. Now let me describe a
little bit about myself- I am inclined towards a stoic (yeah I know a fancy
word) kind of a temperament- one that believes in Karma. So we
(the stoics) believe in come what may and possess the devil may care attitude
towards things. So I am on the flight, ruffling the pages of a Christie novel- when the
trouble begins.
The word "turbulence" might send a shiver
down an experienced flier's body. To the inexperienced (me too) this is
basically when your plane starts going haywire, up and down and in my case
(turning turtle as well). So this is the cue for most passengers to start
remembering the oh-so-many Gods and Goddesses. Also, for people like me (the so
called stoics) it’s the cue to start observing others. So began the turbulent
15 minutes- one that I will remember for my life.
While the flight is going up and down, left and
right, a few hyper active girls are clutching their purses with their full
might, shouting out for their mummies. Then an elderly uncle was explaining in
great lengths about his experiences and how he had learnt to be calm and
composed, to anyone who was willing to listen.
One of the typical aunties (in her high pitched
cackle) was going in great lengths about how her daughter had advised her not
to go. Best was this 30 something guy, who was busy with the business news, as
if oblivious to the whole scenario. And then, my eyes fell on a lady- sitting
in the middle rows, an infant in her arms.
The lady (I want to call her Bernadette) was
sitting there- fear in her eyes, looking at her baby. But was it actually fear?
I was caught awestruck by the look on the lady's face. It was unfathomable-
fear? Courage? Thoughtful? Reminiscent? I still don't know.
Then came that big jolt- when the plane lost around
a thousand meter of height in a quarter of a second (I guess). All hell broke
loose. Vomiting, screaming, shouting, the air hostesses trying their best to
restore sanity-even the business news guy looked shaken. And then there
was Bernadette, smiling at her sleeping baby, kissing on the baby's forehead
and sitting silently- closing her eyes.
It's then that I realized what a stoic means.
Bernadette had her life in her hands (quite literally) and she cared nothing
about anything else. She know, alive or dead, she would be with her baby- and
that was enough for her to be calm. Is this what we all should do? Yes, there
will be instances when you be far from the person
(or thing) that you truly care about- but can your present and past actions not
help in giving you an assurance that you left that person (or thing) in the
best possible scenario. Karma might be a bitch, but Karma might just make you a
Bernadette- one with the courage of a bear.
Kal Ho Na
Ho…Right?
Comments
Post a Comment