When the shooting part was over, CK was very excited to finally see himself on the big screen. Only the trailer was yet to be made now, and CK was working with the director on it. Suddenly, CK's phone started vibrating. The director noticed the picture of a guy flashing on the screen. CK was surprised to see his friend calling him after a long time. CK picked up the call quickly, while memories of their friendship clouded his mind.
“Hey, are you even alive in this world?” exclaimed the guy.
“Yeah, I have just been busy shooting my film,” said CK, laughing.
“You forgot us even before you become a movie star.”
“Hey, how can I!?” CK exclaimed.
“Alright, I don't want to disturb you, but I just have an important news for you, that's why I called.”
“What is it? Are you getting married?” CK teased.
“Umm…yes,” his friend replied shyly.
“What? I was just kidding! Are you serious?” CK asked.
“Yes, and this weekend itself. You have to be there by all means.”
“What do you mean by this weekend? It's the day after tomorrow!” CK raised his voice.
“Really, I didn't know!” he replied sarcastically.
“What’s this? Why are you informing me so late?” asked CK angrily.
“Come on, dude. You know how our family are, they didn't accept our love. It's just you guys who are going to there for our wedding.”
“Sure, I will, but why are you in such a hurry?” CK asked.
“Her family is planning an arranged marriage for her and we have no time to think of a better way to convince them than a register marriage. That’s why.”
CK didn’t want to trouble him anymore by shooting more questions, so he simply assured him that he would be there by his side. He had made the promise without thinking, but the Director gave him permission to go on the condition that he would return in time to attend the music launch for the film. As soon as he heard those words, he picked up his phone to book first class air tickets to his friend’s city, but they were unavailable at such short notice, so he landed up in economy class.
THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
CK's seat was next to the main exit door. He had chosen this place so that he could at least stretch his legs and put his 5’10’’ tall frame to comfort. As soon as he occupied his seat, he covered his face by the palm of his hand. At that moment, CK didn't know that this journey was going to turn his life upside down. He couldn't believe what he was looking at. He saw the exact saree which was worn by his mother in the picture hanging in his room. He had always wanted for that picture to come alive. CK removed his hand from his face suddenly and raised his head up gradually to admire the saree, and then looked up at the face. She got up to approach an air-hostess, while his gaze followed after her. The air-hostess pointed her finger towards him and she saw him raising his head over the seats. CK turned his head back to the front after a nano-second of eye contact. In that nano-second, however he noticed that she had a mole in the white part of her eye which he had not seen before and he had never seen anyone wearing such an old-fashioned saree to the airport before. She appeared very unique to him, still lost in his thoughts, he heard the sound of her approaching steps and caught a glimpse of that saree again from the corner of his eye. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and lowered his head while murmuring, not here, not here. He feared that the moment would overwhelm him emotionally and he would burst into tears. Just then, he heard the softest feminine voice, “Excuse me…”
CK opened his eyes but did not look up. He shifted his legs and scooted to one side before closing his eyes again. She took a seat next to him and a fold of her saree came to rest over CK's hand. It trembled at the touch. His tears threatened to escape from in between the tightly shut eye-lids. He pulled his hand back and clutched his pants in tight fists. The air-hostess was giving instructions, but CK couldn’t hear anything. She saw CK's trembling hand, his eyes tightly shut and his head bent down. CK heard the same soft voice again, but this time very close to his ears. “First time?” CK opened his eyes, winked away his tears and saw her incredible smiling face. Before he could realize that he was staring at her, she said, “Wear your seat belt and put this cotton in your ears,” stretching her palm towards him. One moment she was beautiful, and caring the next, like an angel sent by his mom. CK thought that his mother had sent her in her saree so that he could identify her. “Take it,” CK heard her soft voice again. He took it with his trembling hands being conscious not to touch her palm. Even to take the cotton to his ears was a task for him, but he accomplished it after a few tries. “I am Sara” said the girl, extending her hand. CK simply repeated her name in the softest voice possible, nodding slightly. She nodded too in a cute way along with him, then CK held her hand. The flight took off, she held the armrest of her seat tightly and closed her eyes tightly as the plane left the ground with a jerk. CK was capturing each reaction of her. After a few second’s, she released his hand, saying, “This loud take-off noise makes the images of flight incidents that I have seen in the news; flash before my eyes. I am not afraid otherwise,” said Sara and took a deep sigh. CK felt as if she had known him for years by her friendly way of talking. He thought of asking her where she got that saree from but decided to not say it so soon.
He wanted to continue the conversation with her but couldn't thing of an appropriate topic to start. Sara, however, continued on, “By the way, what’s your name?” CK scolded himself in his mind for not having shared his name when she had shared hers. ‘CK,’ he replied.
“I didn't ask for your initials,” she said, trying to tease him.
“That's what my friends call me” he replied smiling, just to please her.
“So, am I your friend now?” asked Sara, raising her eyebrows.
CK know this is not love, because he doesn't believe in love at first sight, he questioned and answered himself nodding his head yes. CK saw her smiling and about to turn her face from him. Oh no no come on CK ask her something thought CK waking up his mind. Unable to stop himself anymore, he asked her in a low voice, “This saree…” but then immediately cursed himself for raising the topic. “Hmm?” she asked, turning towards him.
She shrank her pretty eyes and continued, “Oh, this saree…I am going to attend an important meeting today, so my mother asked me to visit our native temple. One is only allowed to enter in a saree or a dhoti, and I didn’t have any, so I bought it from the nearest boutique,” said Sara. “Is it a single piece?” asked CK.
“Yes, but why? Do you need it for your girlfriend?” asked Sara, looking at him from the corner of her eye.
“No, my mother is wearing the same saree in her picture,” said CK, his eyes growing red again. He turned his face away, controlling his emotions. He couldn't understand why he had revealed all this information to her so quickly and easily. He scolded himself for not maintaining a control over his tongue under the influence of emotions. “I'm sorry,” said Sara, her voice growing softer still. CK nodded and mumbled, “It’s okay.” “Where are you going?” asked Sara, trying to shift the conversation.
“I am going to my friend's registered marriage,” said CK, finally facing her.
“So there will be running, chasing and firing?” asked Sara laughing and CK shared her laughter. “Look now, I’ll perform a magic trick for you,” said Sara, her eyes widening. She pressed the call button just above her head, and whispered, “Wait, you will see the magic.”
A beautiful air-hostess immediately arrived next to their seat and asked politely, “How may I help you, ma’am?” CK, however, couldn't take his eyes away from Sara.
“Two coffees,” said Sara, then her eyes danced back to CK thinking he had never done it. He felt as if her eyes spoke more to him than she herself. He was ready to go with whatever she decided. ‘How did you like that?’ she asked, anticipating CK’s reaction. True to his acting genes, he acted surprised enough to convince her. She beamed in response. Her innocen
ce, child-like enthusiasm, and effort to comfort a stranger impressed him. She ran her fingers through her loose hair that curled naturally at the bottom, and each time she did it, it made CK heart slip a beat.
The air-hostess soon returned with two cups of coffee on a tray. Sara stretched out her hand excitedly to grab them. It was then that CK noticed how tall she was and estimated that she had to be at least 5’8’’. For the first time in life, CK felt happy about his dad’s gene who is so height. Controlling his emotions, CK repeated to himself This is not love, this is just some kind of an infatuation, played up by this saree and her friendly nature obviously. We were strangers only half an hour ago, and now we are friends having coffee together.’ He couldn't help but believe in his mother’s involvement in this fateful encounter. He prayed to his mother, I want this friendship to continue on and discover her better. I don't want this flight to land. A sudden noise just then drew CK out of his thoughts.
The air-hostess screamed and dropped her tray, as someone pushed her forward. CK then saw a man pointing at her with a gun. Before realizing what was happening, he heard someone shout, hijack! He turned to see six other men with rifles in their hands. People started to scream and get up from their seats. Some even started to run without knowing where they were headed to. Everything happened in a fraction of seconds. Seeing this, CK held onto his seat tightly and closed his eyes, as if he were travelling in a roller coaster. He sensed Sara getting up from her seat next to him. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the terrorist gun pointing at air-hostess moving towards him. He twisted her hand behind her back and pointed the rifle in his other hand at Sara.
CK's mouth and eyes widened. The terrorist looked at CK and then at Sara. CK pulled at Sara’s hand, but she was frozen in confusion. She returned to her senses upon another jerk of the hand by CK, registered the rifle pointed at her, and slumped back into her seat. Meanwhile, the other rifles quietened everyone else in terror. A sudden turbulence outside made the plane lose height suddenly and the people screamed even louder. Some even started to cry. When it regained balance, CK heard a mother tell her trembling child, “The pilot felt asleep for a few seconds, but it is okay now, baby.” Tears appeared at the corner of Sara’s eyes too. One among the six terrorists came forward and removed his shirt. Everyone’s jaw dropped open and a pin-drop silence followed. This man was wearing a suicidal explosive vest.
“You have been hijacked for a reason. Cooperate with us, or else…” He pointed to a button. The terrorist communicated with each other in a foreign language. One among them pulled out a bag from above the seat and commanded, “Put your cellphones and passports in this bag everyone.” The man started collecting phones and passports from each row. CK had seen nothing like it outside of films and was astounded. A sobbing sound coming from Sara’s direction pulled his attention towards her. Her eyes were red with fear and weeping.
“What's wrong?” CK asked with utmost concern.
“I haven't seen anything in life yet. I am young and unmarried even, I don't want to die…” she sobbed.
After a few minutes, the man with the explosive belt shouted, “Put on your seat-belts, we are going to land!” Feeling clueless, Sara peeped out the window, but a rifled man screamed at her, “Shut the windows, DOWN DOWN DOWN NOW!”
With trembling hands, she pulled down the shutter “What did you see?” asked CK, panicking. “I don't know exactly, it seemed like a forest,” said Sara, breathing heavily. Before she could complete her sentence, the flight jerked violently as if about to crash. Feeling helpless, some people hugged their loved ones sitting beside them, while the others screamed. Everyone could see an instant death looming ahead. Oxygen masks fell down from above each seat, but people fumbled with their shaky hands to put them on.
Meanwhile, the flight came to an abrupt stop. Realizing that they had survived such a fatal landing, many people shed tears of relief. Some still held on to the oxygen masks, while the others hugged and kissed their loved ones. CK’s eyes were still closed. Through a film of tears over her eyes, Sara saw CK and tapped him on his shoulder. “We landed safe,” she said.
CK opened his eyes and turned around to see everybody celebrating. He grabbed her wrist and shouted happily, “We are alive, we are alive!” Just then, everybody went quiet, CK heard his voice separately. Following his voice, he also heard “If you want to be alive just shut up and sit.” CK turned front hearing it, it was the terrorist.
THE HIJACK
The terrorist took control of the flight.
“We will start the flight when your government meets our objective. Until then co-operate with us, else go to hell,” shouted the terrorist leader, wearing the explosive belt.
A few seconds later, “What is your objective? Can you tell us?” A man wearing a coat asked.
“Why, are you going to help us?” The leader mocked him with a wry smile.
“Since we are hijacked, we have the right to know!” Another man stated.
If one man starts everybody follows. Bloody human nature ! CK thought.
“Have they gone mad? Why are they arguing with them?” Sara whispered to CK.
The leader kept staring at the man who raised the concern. There was whispering all around.
“Since you are hijacked, we have the right to kill you too!” The leader lifted his gun and pointed at him.
“Oh no!” The passengers shouted! CK saw a terrific look on the guy who was being held at gunpoint.
“No please, please!” CK murmured. Sara’s mouth was wide open. Everyone else’s eyes were glued to the trigger. There was pin-drop silence—everyone could hear their heartbeat.
Their heart skipped a beat hearing the gun shot. Sara closed her eyes tight, with her hands covering her ears. CK twitched, hearing the gun shot. People started to shout, panicking. He saw the guy through his shrunk eyes, he was alive. He turned and saw the leader, and noticed that he was stopped by another terrorist.
“We need them to make demands, don’t waste them. We will kill them one by one, shoot them and send their corpse to the government, so that our demands will be met soon,” whispered the terrorist in a weird English slang. The leader noticed CK who was keenly listening to the terrorist’s words. CK glanced at him and put his head down suddenly as if he didn’t hear anything.
What are we food not to waste? he thought, turning toward Sara. He saw Sara who was still closing her eyes.
“The gun shot his seat. He is alive,” he assured her, getting close to her ears. I prayed to be next to her but not this way, mom , he thought.
“Ah,” gasped Sara, turning towards CK.
Sara turned and checked on him and then breathed a huge sigh of relief, placing a palm on her chest.
“Thank God, he saved him I had not seen anyone dying.” He exhaled.
“I have.” Sara uttered, looking straight, while rubbing her nails.
He turned and looked at her, puzzled. Sara’s face suddenly become dull and her eyes revealed that she was screening the worst day of her life in her mind.
“One Sunday evening when I was sitting on the bench inside the college girls’ hostel for some fresh air, watching the girls playing badminton and returning to college hostel from their home by car, my phone rang. I read my friend’s name on the screen. I didn’t know that I was going to get the worst news of my life through that call. I attended the call.
‘Your mom called you many times, but it was not reachable it seems. Call her,’ said my friend.
Whenever I didn’t pick up my phone, my dad often called my friends and asked them to inform me. He even scolded me for not having my phone with me. I used to joke that only girls with boyfriends carry their phones wherever they went, and I used to plead him not to disturb my friends. One day he even replied that he is not a 16-year-old guy to disturb my friends and he laughed. I told my friends about it and they laughed like anything,” explained Sara, smiling, with tears welling up in her eyes. CK pictured Sara’s words in his mind.
“H
e never acted like my dad. He was my friend. Sometimes I used to call him by his name. I came to know recently that he used to enjoy it. He had told my mom that after his mother only I call him by his name. He was an introvert and we were his only world. After my mother, he spent more time with me than with my brother,” sobbed Sara, battling her tears, “he couldn’t bear if I cried,” added Sara, wiping her tears.
“The phone in which I received a call from my friend was also surprise from him during my first year. It’s my first phone and I still have it. But I didn’t know that I was going to get the worst call of my life through that phone at that time.
I called my mom, hearing the words ‘your father had a heart attack,’ everything went out of focus for me. Then I came to know that he had taken bath in ice-cold lake water to perform rituals on my grandfather’s 30th day post-death in the village. He was hospitalized for 15 days and then got discharged. I can still remember the smile he had when he reached home.” Tears rolled down Sara’s cheeks. “He told me stories about what happened in the hospital. My mom and I didn’t allow him to talk much since the doctor insisted not to let him strain. After an hour, I saw him inside an ice box.” Sara burst out in tears. CK held her trembling hands.
“I didn’t know what happened, it was like a stroke—I saw him taking his last breath.” Sara wept as CK kept pattering her hands. Why did I say that? Only because of that she remembered her dad. Not having a loved one from the beginning is better than losing them before our eyes, he thought.
“I am strong, I am strong, I won’t cry.” Sara wiped her tears. “I will not cry,” Sara added.
NEVER BEEN A LOVED ONE Page 2
