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In 1909, Wright brothers received their first contract to build a plan for military, establishing the foundation of commercial aviation industry. After World War 2, USSR's Aeroflot became the first commercial airline in the world to operate sustained regular jet services on September 15, 1956. With Boeing 707 in 1958, commercial aviation has introduced new levels of comfort, safety and passenger expectations and age of mass commercial air travel, namely Jet Age begun. (from Wikipedia)
On 2003 when Captain G. R. Gopinath founded Air Deccan and doors of commercial airlines started opening for India’s middle class. Air Deccan’s cheap airfare and growing income levels, have given aspiration to Indian middle class that they can also afford to fly and experience the Jet Age.
Mania, as lower middle class man (hanging between BPL(below poverty line) and APL) could not afford to be part of Jet age yet, even with cheap-no meals airlines. For Mania, Railway’s reserved sleeper class ticket is the most, he can have. He watched airplanes flying above his head and disappearing deep into the sky.. and his eyes were wondering what is happening, inside this huge metal body.... !!
Poverty enforces limitations. Limitations in space, sources and dreams.. Mania has never dreamt about travelling in aircraft.. It was outside his vision and mental framework.. Travelling in aircraft is thing of big people, rich people, car people,,,,, not him.. He was totally engrossed in his work and finding satisfaction in whatever life has offered to him. He has no time for dreaming.
Mania was working for Abdulla seth, a plastic merchant. Mania’s job was to take samples to various clients and seek orders from them.
Yesterday night, Abdullah received a call from his cousin in Chennai about a possible client who is looking for plastic manufacturer, who can supply material for his upcoming factory. Client has arranged a meeting for all possible vendors at Chennai. It was very essential for Abdullah to be present at the meeting. But unfortunately, due to his ill health, he could not attend. His cousin assured him that he will manage, provided he has good samples to show. Sensing the opportunity and urgency, Abdullah decided to send Mania to Chennai with samples by flight !!!!!
For Mania, who has never travelled in AC coaches of train, travelling by flight was a shocking news !! Truly breaking news for him !!
That night Mania could not sleep. Mania was content with his life and never dreamt to enter into the den of rich men. Thinking about airport, aircraft was bothering him. Thoughts as” What would happen to me !! What will I do !! How will I behave !! I don’t know English, how i will communicate !! what will happen to me in the air !! “ etc.. he cursed his Abdullah seth for his decision.... This Flight-travel had disturbed in tranquillity and simplicity of his life....
Next day, as told, Mania reached to Chatapati Shivaji Airport at sharp 7.00 AM, wearing the best cloths he had. With mixture of nervousness, Inferiority complex, Unknown fear, he entered into the airport premise. He has been told to go to Jet Airways counter. He went to a counter and presented his e-ticket. That lady told him in English that “ Sir, this is Kingfisher counter, you suppose to go to Jet Airways”.. Mania could not understand and kept staring at that lady. Lady repeated the same thing in Hindi. Now Mania understood and searched Jet counter.
He found Jet Airways counter and presented his ticket. While airline personnel was busy in making boarding pass, Mania observed conveyor belt, moving luggage, the weight indicator, a rich lady augmenting with airline staff..etc.
As first time traveller compares system of visiting country to his own country or newly-wed girl compares in-laws culture, with her own culture, Mania started comparing Airport system with his known transportation system: Indian Railway.
Looking at conveyor belt and luggage-trolleys, he remember of loads of baggage, passenger carry at railway stations.. “Rich people don’t’ want to carry, “ he assumed “ Bade log badi bateein(big people big talk). He thought “ If this kind of system established in our Railway station, Karim ki to vaat lag jegegi (Karim will be bankrupted) !!!Karim was his friend working as coolie at Mumbai central station.
Lady gave a new ticket, with seat no(boarding pass). She told Mania to proceed for security check. Mania had no clue about it.. She repeated the instructions which confused Mania even more. Looking at Mania’s ignorance some people chuckled, some frustrated and some has simply ignored. A luggage helper understood Mania’s confusion and he took Mania aside. He explained in Bombaiyaa Hindi that, Mania should go for security check and then go to Gate A14 to board the aircraft. Mania found a friend in him. He asked about happenings at security check.. Helper gave him guru mantra “ Follow the others”... Mania got it.. “ Only thing i have to do is follow other passengers.. My God,, why i could not thought it earlier...” Mania was bit relaxed now.
At Security Check, Mania experienced luggage scanning by X-Ray machines, metal detector’s beeps and boops.. and finally STAMP on Boarding pass.. Everything was happening coherently and wordlessly......
Mania reached to Gate A14 and took his seat. He saw giant bodies of aircrafts parked side by side... He was impressed by the cleanliness, serenity and interior of airport compared to railway station where passengers are often seen in stress, running with baggage, announcements in cracking noise, which nobody understands, raucousness to get a seat.. etc.. Comparatively Airport is serene and silent.. Bade log badi bateein(big people big talk).
At departure time, a young Jet attendant, announced something and everybody stood up. Mania sensed that now it’s time to board. Mania followed others and finally entered into the aircraft. A beautiful air hostess greeted Mania “Welcome SIR”... Nobody has called him “Sir” before... Mania delighted by the honour... “Sir” was soooo sweat,, but “Seth (sir in his language) would have been better. He found his seat and settled.
His fellow passenger helped him to fasten the seat belt. Mania felt that interior of aircraft is more like AC luxury bus, he has travelled few times. Problem with those buses is that water leakage from AC outlets. He assumed that he will not face leakage problems in this aircraft.
Aircraft started moving faster and faster and finally lifted.. Mania felt tickling in his stomach, as flight ascended. ... He saw aerial view of Bandra sea beach, tiny moving cars, buildings as arranged paper boxes, flyovers... City appeared as big toy-land..... Suddenly aircraft leaned towards sea.. For moment, Mania got scared... heart started beating hard. When he saw his neighbour in panic, who was relaxingly reading news paper, He decided to keep calm.. “follow the others”.
Aircraft reached to his height and Mania got majestic view of shining clouds.. Mania struggled to find a word to describe the visual.. He felt “ This is like big piles of Cotton”..Child in him awaken..” I want to go outside an play with these cotton ... and i want to seat on one of the cloud and see whole world beneath me.. sun above me.. and horizon in front of me.. .” His imaginations, lost in monotony of his life, has enlivened and he enjoyed every part of it.. He thanked Adbullah seth for giving him such change. Bade log badi bateein(big people big talk).
Air hostess started serving meals. She asked Mania on what kind of breakfast, he wants, South Indian, non Veg, Punjabi... Mania could understand that she asking for choice of food... he innocently replied “ a VadaPao” A Vada Pao amidst clouds is wonderful treat... Now Air hostess could not understood the demand... Fellow passenger stepped in and asked Mania” They don’t have vada pao.. Do you want Idly-sambhar or Allo Parotha”..Mania was happy with Idly Sambar.. He slowly followed his neighbour and gulped down the food with caution. He was extremely careful not to drop piece of food. Once he finished, he felt relaxing and thanked God for not doing any stupidity...
Chennai arrived and Mania left the aircraft. He reached to the destination and delivered samples. His job was over. He called Adbulla seth about return journey. Seth replied “Take the train..” ..
Now once flight-travelled Mania lamented “ uff...same old general class travellllll. “
Now he is looking for another opportunity to travel by Wright brother’s innovation...He has become part of Jet Age. Now he knows what is Bade log badi bateein(big people big talk).
Regds
vadan
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