Wednesday, May 13, 2015

SOMETIMES I HAVE TO EAT MY 'HUMBLE PIE,' NO GO!



"Of late, going by statics one is to be really more worried on road than in air. The figures alone speak the truth here..

It's a sort of phobia that grips some travelers. Many become normal in time but with few, the fear continues..

If you actually understand the facts, you too can be freed from such fears. I tell you, many stories of moving up and down, tilting side ways, being subjected to bumps etc during air travel are just the normal happenings and they should never make us apprehensive..

And if you really ask me.. Wait.. Let me count.. Yes.. I completed 199 flights so far,1 short of 200. And to tell you.. I got into so many odd situations while traveling which at the end, I simply realized that it is all what people imagine. Now a days, I laugh off within myself when I imagine how I used to react in the beginning..

Presently being a frequent traveler and having so many sky miles in my account, I just relax in my seat and fully enjoy my flight when all routine activities go around. Take my word, air travel is the safest journey of our times!"

Saying thus, the gentleman ended his talk, bid bye to his listeners and rushed to the airport to catch his 200th flight. As the time was short, he quickly checked-in, completed security formalities and in a short time was into the aircraft. Having fastened the seat belt, he sighed relaxing himself in his seat..

Soon the engines started, the aircraft taxied and in a few minutes took off smoothly into the clear skies and leveled. A smaller aircraft was in service in that route as the journey time was short with less traffic.. 

Few snacks/drinks were quickly served to the passengers and by the time they finished, the aircraft started its descent with an announcement and all the passengers were in their seats with the seat belts fastened once again. The whole journey was smooth except for few bumps due to mild turbulence and the gentleman was in a total relaxed mood all along..

Suddenly, the aircraft entered a cluster of clouds which were initially thin and transparent but quickly became thicker and darker. The small flying machine started moving up/down and left/right under the effect of turbulence of the surrounding clouds.. 

The outside scene became hazy with the visibility reduced quite a bit and all the reference with respect to the horizontal position of the aircraft which was there a few minutes ago seemed to have vanished. As the journey continued in minutes, the dark clouds continued with audible violent sounds heard all around..

For a while it was confusion and tension to the passengers. The confusion soon increased as the seconds dragged into minutes and the minutes continued with no land seen around.. 

The gentleman was knowing well that the smaller aircraft like his would be flying at lower altitudes but there it was taking much longer time to come down with nothing seen all around except the dark clouds. By that time, he expected the land be seen as the usual clouds would always be much higher. But as more time moved on, at what height was the aircraft then?

Suddenly there was an uneasy feeling with the gentleman as an unknown fear gripped him temporarily.. 

'What's going on here? If this speed continues.. God! That means.. Then..' 

That's all.. Instantly the experienced frequent traveler came to full attention and keeping his hands together firmly in a total bowed down gesture started saying his well Known Prayer within himself for overall care in the situation..

In few seconds, the aircraft was suddenly out of the mass of dark menacing clouds with the clear land seen in front in somewhat bright evening light with the sun about to set in the western horizon..

The plane soon landed, taxied to the point of arrival with a simultaneous small announcement on PAS that an unusual mass of clouds were encountered on the way. The seat belt signs went off next to that followed by the sounds of the engines reduced to the minimum..

The gentleman looked at his co-passengers on both the sides with a sigh of relief quite visible on his face and the co-passengers too in turn looked at him smiling silently as they all together got up from their seats to move out of the aircraft!

Keyword: 'HUMBLE PIE'

25 comments:

  1. Lovely post

    http://www.ananyatales.com

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    1. Thanks a lot.... It is based on a true Event in my life....

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  2. Scary......Given the recent incidents of aircraft mishaps, my confidence in flying safety is lost.....when in air, just pray....:).....

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    1. The feelings are appreciated but still Air Travel is quite safe and equally that is the only Mode of quick Travel over long distances.... When we see these Realities, unnecessary Tensions do come down in us!

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  3. Recently I too experienced a very very jerky flight, although it was for a couple of minutes only... the kind of thoughts that crossed my mind!!!! I too have lost my earlier confidence in air travel.

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    1. All Aircraft are fully designed to withstand the sever Weather conditions and the related Air Loads while flying.... The Passengers may feel the jerks but they are just normal.... Thanks for bringing out the Right point....

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  4. I love flying sir! And I believe, if things have to go wrong they will go wrong anywhere... why spoil your experience, isn't it? :)

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    1. You are right Archana.... A positive approach towards a problem is forever an Asset in our life! Thanks for the valuable Comment!

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    2. My pleasure sir! :) I love reading your posts... they are full of wisdom :) thank you for sharing your life's valued experiences with all of us :)

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  5. but how can we forget that over 125000 people die on Indian roads each year.

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    1. You said it very much right.... Thanks for the Read!

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  6. Anything can happen anywhere. But I think, through your story you've tried to say the eternal truth about life; it always leaves us with new experiences and at no point we can say that we have had enough...

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    1. Yes, Maniparna! That's the Right way of looking at life in every Sphere of Activity.... Thanks for the good Comment....

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  7. Hello Sir
    Nice post but anything can happen anytime. Nothing is in our hand. But still loved your emotion involved in the post.

    Thank You

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    1. Thanks Yash.... The same Message is conveyed here!

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  8. Loved the beginning, middle and the end.. in short, loved it completely.. The speech, the mood it set, the thrill.. It is a nice story..

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    1. Yes.... It's just a Fiction based on certain background in that line.... Thanks for the appreciation!

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  9. I love air travel for i find it's very amusing. nicely written about ur experience here.. :)

    A Rat's Nibble

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    1. Thanks a lot for the appreciation! Some thoughts in this direction....

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  10. Statistics show that you are safer in the air but any extreme turbulence can make the most seasoned of travellers nervous. We feel safer with our feet firmly on the ground - that, too, is a fact whatever the stats might show:)

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    1. Yes...Exactly that is the Psychology of some Passengers....You said it very much right!

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  11. Few days back I too feel awkwardness during flight visit, sometimes it feels as if loss of breathe during take off.
    http://mohanmekap.com

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    1. Yes! It's tension when we experience a bit different surroundings.... But all that is just normal and safety is very much ensured everywhere.... Thanks for bringing out a good Point of discussion!

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  12. I know some elderly people who have this phobia of flying...but then if something has to happen, it can happen anywhere, why lose out on the convenience of flying?

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    1. You said it very much right here.... Flight journey is not only convenient but there is no alternative here to address our limited time problems when we have to travel long distances and some times shorter ones too.... Here, fear is one's own wrong understanding of other wise safe travel! Thanks for a good Comment!

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