From the last couple of years, I always happened to be found associated with planes. My MSc hostel was situated nearby an airport. Many hot summer nights me and my friend from Microbiology, spent watching the planes, ascending, descending and gyrating midair. We used to spot a particular plane in the late evening everyday. My friend had a humor that his future prince charming is going abroad in that plane. God help the prince charming... I never understood how come he is flying everyday. I mean, imaginations also must have some realistic basis. But my friend as adamant as she is, never tried to understand this :). Such were student time fantasies.
She always became dreamy eyed watching the plane and I always laughed watching her drama. Sometimes I wondered whether she is in love with the person inside the plane or the plane himself. Later, I came to know of that she was more interested in flying and there was never a real prince charming in picture :). No wonder, 5 years down the line, she is the busiest classmate whizzing past 4 countries for her work and still single. I just hope, she will refrain herself from punching me in the nose, next time we meet for revealing her prince charming facade.
Well... Post MSc, Again I landed in another state, for my research where the airport happened to be nearby. My paying guest accommodation was on top floor of a building. The roof ensured a full view of the runways and tarmacs. Power cuts, summer nights, night walks on the roof, on many occasions, I was blessed with the vision of clouds, starry nights and planes. On many occasions I tried to capture some of them. Alas, my mobile camera is of very bad quality in capturing night visions :).
Anyway, 2 years down the line, even my little brother, had the experience of flying several times due to his tight exam schedules. But I was the one left with only watching the planes at night. Life flows in its own way. Then finally, one day, as one of my professors pointed out, it would not have been better than this, I got the chance to visit another small country island via a top world class airline to deliver a lecture about my work :).
Suddenly I found, all the memories flashing back to my mind. The experience was unique in its own way. There were many first times. Fist time flying, first time abroad exposure, and first time friends from other countries and not to mention the first time for so many twisted pronunciations of English :). But most prizing were a few hours, before landing in that country amidst heavy cloud. The beauty was something else. It was so breath taking, that I will never be able to explain it with words. The moment will always be ached in my memory as one of my best moments, surrounded all around with strange patterns of puffy pure clouds. I felt like I was in a cloud-themed movie set. It was heavenly. I got tempted beyond my measures to pick up a handful of them and eat or atleast smell :). I, and my silly ideas. The night vision of my own country was the icing on cake while returning :). For the first time, I felt very proud for the warmth and loving people of my country. I was happy, coming back again to my own place, own people and own culture. The result: I happily paid my cabby almost double his wage as tip , thinking he is also fellow country man in need of encouragement :).
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