Time Will Bring us Closer

This one is of the Runners-up Entries of the British Airways Contest

The train gave first whistle when the couple boarded the train. They both were heavily panting; after sitting on the vacant seats, they both felt a bit relaxed. Though, the girl was still looking quite scared, she held his hand and her eyes got moist. However, she managed to hide those tears which were eagerly waiting to explore the world out of the eyes. 

“Don’t worry, everything will be all right. We will make it.” The boy tried to consol her, but inside his heart, he was also scared; if anyone would have asked him that what his greatest desire for the present moment is, then he might have answered it in one sentence  ...”am I asking too much!!!!!”

The train was running and a huge noise was being created, she put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. A slide show began ….

“Pyar karma hi tha to apni jaat ka koi dekha hota. Ab kya ham neechi jaat walon se rishta jodenge” A volcano was hitting the walls of the house, she was shivering with fear and looking at her mother, maybe she can help, but her mother also turned her face and left the room.

Somehow she managed to escape from home and went to Varun’s house. His family was not much pleased to see her and there was nothing to blame them for such hostility. Choices were limited.

Varun’s mother tried to stop her dear son, but the couple was still thinking that once the dust will settle down, everything will be fine, as they used to be; but this small city was getting smaller and stranger to find a safe shelter. They decided to leave the town for few days and hide somewhere. Without wasting even a single second they rushed to the Railway station and grabbed the first train which was about to depart from the station.

Sushma’s sleep got disturbed when her cell phone rang up, it was her younger cousin brother who still had some sympathy for her Summi Didi. He informed her that the Panchayat held a meeting and considered the matter as a Blot on the Honor of the Family.

Time was rushing, the SEARCH was ON;

Leave this city and start a new life. Those were the last words of his brother.

The train stopped at a major station and Varun dialed a number from nearby PCO.

“Don’t worry and come to my place, there is always a door opened when all other are closed.”

Vasu is a scientist and working with DRDO’s Gwalior lab; a very own “Rancho” of IIT Khadagpur. His house seemed a safe and peaceful option as he lives alone. After a few hours, they were heading towards Gwalior.

“See, I have a wonderful solution for you guys.  In fact, if you choose this then, you can make history opps, I mean FUTURE.” Vasu’s eyes were sparkling with proud.

“Vasu, I know you are talented and I don’t doubt on your claims, but buddy, I don’t want to make History or Future  ... All we want is to not to become HISTORY.”

“Your seniors know about your Time Machine and have YOU ever traveled with this machine?” Sushma asked.

“Nope, I have never told anyone about my BABY. Yes many a times I have traveled in past and in future as well and it was an amazing experience, you see... let me explain ..”

“Vasu, what we will do in FUTURE. Your Time Machine can take us to a desirable year or time, but tell me, how I will mange there without knowing anyone, without having a job and most of all a completely unknown and alien surrounding  ...” Varun interrupted him, he was worried and scared as well, the uncertainties of life were looming upon his head.

“Ok, as you wish, but I am still on my words; my Time Machine can solve your problem. See, they are behind you, for how long you can hide, one day they will trace you out and then…?” Ok, as you wish, no Time Travel... anyway, take some rest for now.”

Sleep was far from eyes and love was not enough to bring it back to the tired world of brain and heart. Suddenly, an idea blinked in Varun’s mind and he felt relaxed after pondering over all aspects. “Yes, this would be a good option, if everything goes well, then we can do this.”

“Ashish said he can help me to get a decent job in London, thank god I have professional degrees. He will also arrange something for our stay, though we would need to compromise on that front.” Varun spoke while emphasizing on last sentence.

“Oh wait a minute, do you have passports ..?” Vasu asked them.

“Yes, I have mine, I didn’t left home with empty hands. When all this HUNGAMA started, I understood that I may need to leave home so I took all necessary documents and identity cards in a bag with me. My passport was in mummy’s almirah, somehow I got it.”

“I too have my documents and cards.”

“Smart lovers, I must say. Anyway, it will take few days to complete the visa formalities, till then enjoy this beautiful city of Gwalior.” 

After 15 days

“Bye Varun, do let me know whenever you need any kind of help from me. Take care, happy journey.” Varun and Vasu hugged each other.

The British airways flight for London’s Heathrow airport was waiting for them. They boarded the flight and soon the sky of New Delhi was becoming cleaner with the air of happiness, peace and LOVE. The sky was looking bluer than other days. Sushma’s hand was gripped with Varun’s hand and after a long time they were feeling like Free Birds.

In the middle of the flight, there seemed a little uneasiness in the pilot’s cabin. Weather was getting worse, the pilots were wondering that why they didn’t get any weather forecast from the ATC. Suddenly, the rain clouds and fog started getting dense around the plane.

Before the pilots could understand anything, it seemed the plane received a jerk, a blow and in the next moment, the sky was clean, there were no signs of clouds and fog. It all happened in a few minutes. Then the pilots received a radio message from the ground station...

“Welcome to the Birmingham International airport, it is a pleasant evening; the time is 7:30pm.”

“Birmingham! how we reached to Birmingham??” the pilots felt a chill in their spine. The both looked to each other; there was nothing that they can explain to each other.

“Let’s land the plane, after all we are still in UK, it could be a navigation related problem, perhaps a technical error that the GPS guided us to Birmingham rather than London.”

 One of them spoke in a timid voice.

“It would be good if we tell the people that we have reached to wrong place, otherwise...”

After a few moments, the pilots made the announcement regarding landing on Birmingham airport. Passengers became restless after hearing this, but somehow they remained calm. Meanwhile the ground staff started preparations for landing. Soon the plane made a safe landing on the runway.

“Sir, there is some issue with GPS navigation, our flight was en routed to London Heathrow airport... inform the authorities about..” the pilot stopped speaking when his eyes fell on the table digital clock, it was showing date …”5^th August 2075”

“I think your clock is showing the wrong date and year, 2075!!!!”

“ It Is 2075, seems you are very tired, you need to rest and we haven’t received any emergency message from Indian or UK aviation authorities regarding a flight being on wrong path or wrong destination. Though, I am wondering that how British Airways is still using such an old plane for this long journey.”

The pilots got freeze on their seats.

“2075!!!!!! But when we left from New Delhi Airport then it was 2014... Is it some sort of joke you playing with us.” One pilot shouted.

After half an hour

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we request you to stay calm and cooperate with us. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience, but we need to inform you that our flight has landed up not just in a wrong city but in a wrong Year as well. It seems like a miracle of god that we have reached in the year 2075. Due to some natural phenomenon,  A time portal hit the plane and here we are…”

“Please stay calm, the Birmingham airport authorities have promised us to take care of all the passengers and you all are welcomed to spend some quality time in the First Lounge of British Airways. Enjoy the finest dining and drinking facilities or if you wish you can take a short nap in as well in the lounge cabins. Till then we are trying to find the solution, so we can take you back safely to London.”

“Varun, don’t you think that our destiny has brought us here. Vasu was talking about time travel and see unintentionally we made it.”

“Come on sumi, what silly things you are thinking. I still think it is some sort of practical joke that British Airways is playing with the passengers… Maybe, it is a new way to pamper the passengers or... I don’t know…”

“Varun, it is 2075.” Sushma spoke in a slow yet firm voice.

“Varun, just few hours ago, we were running away from our home, our motherland and most of all form our own families. Why..?? Because we don’t wanted to become a target of hatred, false ego, hypocrisy and most of the false arguments of Honor and Pride.”

“I don’t want to go back in that time, which refuses to recognize true and innocent love; I don’t want to go back in that heartless world that don’t want to accept us. If we have to stay among the strangers than what is bad here?  I Want To Stay Here.”  

After Three Hours

The plane took off from Birmingham International airport with all passenger and crew except two people; Varun and Sushma.

“Welcome to your new life in 2075.” An airport official spoke.

An old song was being played in the lounge bar…” The Silver Street that leads me to the Place I want to be… Show me the way, take me to Love..

The pilots felt another blow hitting the aircraft and saw the lightening among the dark clouds..

“Welcome to the Heathrow airport London.” The ground station greeted the pilots.

“May I know the date?” one pilot asked.

“It is 16^th march 2014.”

Both pilots smiled.

 This post is written for the indiblogger.com contest 

"Go further to get closer"  sponsored by British Airways

Image Courtesy: Google

This story is a pure work of fiction. Names, places and events all are fictitious and has nothing to do with any real life incidents.