The Last Few Seconds.. Part 4

[This is a fictional account of two young kids, a brother and a sister, who were on the AIR INDIA flight AI 171 on JUNE 12 , 2025 - RAVINDRA LOOMBA]

Both, he and his sister were going to London to settle there with their parents. He was six and she had just turned eight.

The young boy and his sister talked excitedly, repeatedly about the new life they were going to experience; the many privileges they were going to enjoy in London. The two felt proud that their mom was a doctor. They were a little sad that they were leaving behind their friends at school and in the neighborhood. He promised them that he will be back soon to visit his cousins and grandparents who repeatedly reminded him not to forget them with tears in their eyes. They would miss seeing him and his sister grow up in Ahmedabad. How could they forget anything? Mom was there to feed them dhokla and jalebi …. and there were many Indians in London to make them feel at home!

It was the afternoon of June 12, the fateful day had arrived.He had woken up early and showered and dressed himself on that day without getting scolded by his dad. The neighbors who knew them stood outside their houses waving them goodbye when the taxi picked them up for the airport.

After checking into the airport and going through the formalities, the two - brother and sister - looked through the glass walls at planes taking off and landing. It was magical. Their parents meanwhile made the last few phone calls while waiting for the lady at the counter to announce the opening of the skyway for boarding. They boarded the plane half an hour before departure. The young boy looked around the cabin “ Wow, this was just like a movie theater with such plush seats”. He invited his sister to sit next to him so they could be part of the selfies that their mom was taking from  her seat near the window. He noticed a crowd of people rushing past with their luggage and pretty ladies in blue saris guiding them along, helping them put their carry ons in the bins above.

Then a man's voice came over the intercom ‘Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain Sabharwal with first officer Kunder. Please fasten your seat belts for takeoff. You may unfasten these once the indicator light goes off. This is a no smoking flight. This flight to London will take approximately nine hours.’ 

The plane started taxing for takeoff….