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 …”5th 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
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
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 16th march 2014.”
Both pilots smiled.
