I saw I got on a Giant Wheel,tall like i'd touch the sky.I climbed onto it with two men by my side,two gentlemen.The wheel started rolling and my tummy started churning.I even fell on the cabin floor as the heel of my stiletto found its way through the gaps between the iron bars.I sat down instead for it wasn't so bad sitting and the men beside me,they sat too so I wouldn't feel alone and outstanding!It sent a shiver down my spine,seeing the world rolling,the sky suddenly seemed so close and as quickly so far away.Peeping up through the giant iron structure of the wheel,for a moment,i felt like a prisoner behind bars yet,I was calm like the endless ocean that knew no worries for I was with the men beside me and I knew one of them well,so well,I'd consider him my Life!The other gentleman however,I knew him not,not the slightest.To me,he was a Stranger-with-no-Name,even he didn't feel the need to introduce himself and now,I don't even remember his face.I guessed he was just a friend who simply tagged along and if he was a friend of the man I knew,I was sure he'd have been discreetly chosen.I was with the man I knew,I had nothing to worry,not the constant roaring of the Giant Wheel,not the screeching of its rusty hinges,not of the sky,not of the fall,not of the Topsy-Turvy world.I had nothing to fear for he'd give his life for me.I felt good,I felt proud and I got time to look around and below only because it took an extra long round before halting.I thought it was too long a round,that it wasn't even right,to have promised for one round and take two before getting on that plane to Some place Far Away.The Giant Wheel,it was no fun ride,it was the passage to the Giant Steel Bird,somehow was its aerobridge !The flight was taking off from Bangalore!
Victorious,I got to the foot of the ladder to the plane,it was white and blue,the paint,very faint blue but illuminating.We hopped in hastily like they'd leave without us.Three of us,we took our seats,I sat in the middle.There were people around,passengers looking out for their seats,it took time to finally settle then we were ready for take off.I couldn't see the faces,there were three girls with their backs facing us,sitting in front of the control panel(it wasn't the cockpit),switching switches up and down.The middle one then took up the microphone that lay before her,was more than happy to make the announcement that the plane would reach some place(the name was hard to remember)in 1 hr time and that she would keep updating about the coming places we'd be flying over which;not that the plane would land for a break,it was just so to know.
She wasn't our pilot,truthfully,I was quite relieved.I felt she lacked something,maybe seriousness that gave in her confidence.She was giggling way too much to look professional and sitting on a plane piloted by an unprofessional giggling Captain,it wouldn't matter if it was a short distance flight,but to some distant foreign land that took a day and a night to reach,I had made up my mind,I'd rather hop right out the emergency window with the same haste i had entered in!
Another part of the announcement contained information about call rates and talk time and that we could recharge anytime with Rs.25(air-time they said).I had no clue as to what that was.I was even asking because I'd hate to pretend if someone asked me but I was quickly silenced,by a witty man from the front row,who happened to turn back to and to even mock at the thought that there even lived a person who knew not what air-time was.I was thinking of it to be some kind of recharge sent to the handset through a hand gesture,or even through a whisper for that matter;anything could be possible in a plane I could board from a Giant Wheel.I suddenly remembered I had Just Rs.11 talktime in my phone,was cursing myself for not recharging before a long trip.To avoid the embarrassment,I instantly changed my sentence,I confidently said I knew exactly what it was with the hope he'd not take me for a fool;I still didn't know anyway.
The witty man was the age of around 65,a foreigner to me but origin,I cannot say.I must admit,I am very bad at it.German,even looked like a witty old English,dressed a perfect gentleman in a crisp suit and a hat,a set of dark grey.He was accompanied by another man I didn't pay much heed to whom,now I don't remember his face(there's been two already who's faces i've forgotten).The foreign gentleman had actually turned back to ask me for a piece of paper to jot down the details of the announcement.He asked me to pass over to him what I had written because he was old and couldn't keep pace.I told him I already knew the rates of Vodafone(which happens to be my mobile operator) and that they charge for every extra 10kb (after expiry of data package) 20 paisa.I needn't write.He was finally impressed (old man was hard to impress without hysteria!) and imitated my action with approving eyes and again a witty smile.He did it just the way I had,with the index finger of the right hand pointing to the temple (supposedly the spot of intelligence), "ahh.. U have it all in your mind.!" then a gesture giving away a salute in appreciation;humbly accepted by a nod.
I looked down and on the foldable tray/table was my four lined copy with two lines,top and bottom, of red and two middle ones of blue.I know you know exactly what I am talking about.The hand-writing exercise copy we used in school throughout our primary section as to set a good hand-writing that would,as a grown-up,define you,your character,your impression,only if i'd realize then how important it was (it just seemed trouble back then) perhaps,I would be writing right now in the most beautiful Cursive with a fine fountain tip but alas,m typing!The copy was soon to end its journey,only last few pages remained,even of which,half of a page was torn out.When I took up my pen to really start jotting whatever more was due to be announced,I saw two copies on either on either sides of my page,covering almost all of mine.Only a small middle portion of the page in colourful lines could be seen against the pale off-white pages of the other two copies.They were of the two gentlemen sitting on either sides beside me.I looked up and sideways to give a wary look,by the time,they had made up enough space for me to write.I didn't tell them,they knew,however,there were no more announcements.
Up and away! Finally we were in air.A glance outside the window,I could see nothing.Only cloud they must have been perhaps maybe,we were actually in it,making way,searing and roughing through its belly but the forgiving generous cloud,I am sure it didn't mind.
I looked with love at the gentleman beside me and I got back the same love,the same warmth in his eyes.He finally talked.I hadn't quite noticed it seems.He was silent all the while,from the time we met and got on together on the Giant wheel and through the announcement and the encounter with the two foreign gentlemen;except a few exchanged looks,he hadn't uttered a word!I never realised,it didn't even matter much.His presence was more than enough for me.
He had come to take me somewhere,someplace far off and i was going,without even a second thought,not of people,not of the world,not of hope or desire,not of love or despair,not even of my faithful dogs!
So he finally spoke,spoke of a Stallion,mighty and strong,of a Stallion he dearly loved and was greatly proud of.I could see in his eyes,his overwhelmed eyes full of tears,the love he had for this Stallion,His Stallion!
He tilted his head a little,looked right over my shoulder,a little above my head with the softest of eyes I have ever seen,wet with sparkling tears.He managed a crying smile,his cheeks reddened,perhaps,it was the look of ecstasy and I knew it was all for his Stallion.He loved his Stallion dearly yet,could never be with him,to guide him,to support him and to care for him but,he knew he was always there for him,in his dreams,in the sky,in the wind,always around, and that thought of togetherness forced a smile on his crying eyes.
The look on his face,the emotions he could neither express nor repress,gave me an overwhelming feeling,of love,of joy I had forgotten long ago.
The love that we gave and now have carefully locked was returned ten folds,the moments we missed of togetherness was missed a thousand times more.They could see us when we couldn't and when they saw us happy,they were happier.Immense love has always been and will always be around.He was happy his mighty Stallion had been doing mighty things.Never a moment had he let him down.His pride always and will forever be.He needn't worry about his Stallion.He mentioned he called him, "My Stallion" often,the Stallion, my Brother.
It looked like a Halo over his head,the radiance from behind brightened him up more.He was glowing and finally,he came back from his travel down the memory lane,aware of his surrounding now,in the plane,travelling to some distant foreign land.Now he rests assured.
He turned his eyes on me,I knew he loved me no less.He opened his arms,took me in,kissed the warmest kiss on my cheek and told me we're going (must be home),to where people were waiting for me,where I would always be happy with love all around me.I was excited,I was thrilled,I couldn't wait to be home.
I looked out to the sky through the square cabin windows,triumph and ecstasy filled my soul.I wished I could fly.Out there in the vastness of the clouds in the sky,something caught my eye,beauty redefined in the purest of places;a Beautiful garden,a garden that would never end.Such beauty,such radiance that could be only felt not touched,only seen not spoken of.I didnt care if it was even possible for I was in the sky,on an aeroplane,the Steel Bird,it didn't matter.It was beautiful,I'd rather believe I said to myself.A garden with the biggest green leaves and planted on what,cloud?I didn't care.The loveliest of flowers it bore,delicious,like I 'd eat them whole.Soft baby pastel pink on the tip and cool lemon yellow towards the stalk.All flowers same,none more beautiful than the other or maybe,such flowers could be planted only on clouds!
I couldn't achieve bliss alone,I had to share it,I had to show him before it faded again.
He was looking at me with tears of joy and sorrow when I suddenly screamed out loud .. "Appa ,hernu na chito kya dami flowers.!" ( "Dad,look such beautiful flowers.!") ..
He turned around to see the flowers.I was glad,very glad he too saw them but I, I couldn't see Him after that.
And just when I thought it was as real as me,I opened my eyes and realised he's gone..
It was only a Dream ...
