A Gift To Remember

 There is nothing happier than meeting with your beloved family in the world. We all are just running towards money, wealth, and survival day and night. It is the story of everybody whether it may be a wealthy person or a poor beggar, everybody just runs for some more. There is no limit when we left our homes, our loved ones or our soil to earn more and survive in this world.

There is nothing more painful than leaving your family behind for going miles away. But ultimately we have to do this painful act for our as well as their betterment only. Going abroad for 2-3 years is a really very tough decision for Rajan, but still, he didn’t have more choice as he was the only source of income for his family including his old parents and wife who have nothing more hope than just passing some months with him.

This is the story of Rajan, a civil engineer in Dubai. Basically, he is from Hasan, Karnataka. He hail from a small village in Hasan. is dad had a tea shop. 9 years back he got an offer in a Dubai based company for civil engineer. He accepted that offer and left his home for better salary and income. Initially, it was very much painful decision for him but after that it become a major part of his life. He earned a handsome amount of money and within few years he had changed the life of his family, they shifted to town, his dad left his work of making tea and Ranjan got married during his last visit to India.

 After 2 months of marriage, Ranjan once again returned back to Dubai for Job. It was again a tough call to left newly married wife behind. He was unable to come during her pregnancy also. He got the news over the phone that he became the father of a baby girl. He was in deep sorrow but he was helpless. Because work was also very important and there was no permission to go home before 2 years.

  Now, after three years of working, Ranjan finally coming back to India. This time he is not only coming home but permanently coming as he had saved a good amount of money from his hard-working and want to start his own small set up in home town. So, he was coming back with all the memories of Dubai. He promised his wife to bring a diamond pendant to their 3rd anniversary. His wife, as well as entire family, was very much delighted.

 It was Ranjan’s last night in Dubai and going to be a long night for him with all friends and dear ones who were working with him there. He lived with these people for the last 9 years. It was mid night 10:30 and the party still going on. He had a flight to home very next morning but still he wants to spend some more time with those guys. There was the happiness of meeting with his loved ones but at the same time, a bitter feeling of missing that company of good friends whom he met 9 years back and worked along with them like anything. He was emotional that night, because the good peoples, his colleagues with whom he shared a lot of good and bad times, are going to miss him.

          

 “So Rajan, how would you explain Dubai?” One of his best friend in Dubai asked this question with a very soft voice. They all were sitting round facing to each other on a sofa with centre table. Some dry fruits along with a bunch of snacks and a big bottle of 20 years old champagne were put on the table. They were playing cards for one last time which they use to play almost every evening after office.

 “Aaaa, in one word, it is heaven. The place, the people, the environment, everything contains lots of love and intensity. I will always wish to come back and work here.” Ranjan answered with a bit of emotion in his shaking voice.

 “We all will miss you, friend.” He replied with very slow voice and half closed eyes due to high kick of Champaign. The discussion about the good moments of the past was carried on and they did a lot of talking and laughing on old funny moments. Ranjan didn’t sleep that night and prepared for his flight to India. Finally, He took the flight by seeing off to everyone and flew towards India.

 It was 8:30 in the morning as per Indian time and his flight was almost on destination. All landing protocols have already implemented. Seatbelt and non-smoking lights were on. Finally, the caption announced for landing. There was a lot of happy waves just diving inside Ranjan’s heart which he can’t explain. He was not in a position to wait more and eagerly waiting to get the flight land and rushing towards exit gate to meet Rashi (Ranjan’s wife) who was waiting for him just outside the arrival hall.

 As the flight started to descend, the degree of turbulence also increased at double speed. Sometimes it feels like it is we are falling from a high hill or some adventure rope. It was shaking like anything. The weather condition outside was very worst that was also the major cause behind the turbulence but still it was not normal.

Earlier also he had faced turbulence in flights during a typical rainy day landing or take off. But it was far stronger than he even thought. One lady sitting beside him had hold his hand as tight as her nails were hurting him.. Nobody was able to understand the situation or what exactly happening with that god damn flight. Thunderstorms were also threatening them per seconds. Everybody in that flight was scared and hopefully wishing to their gods for life but sometimes life is not in his hands also or we can say that at end time we only are the gods of ours.

The situation was same, the turbulence of that flight had continued even after 5 minutes and there was no sign of landing. Suddenly, the captain made an announcement, “Hello everyone, this is captain, due to weather conditions and high turbulence, we are unable to land at Bangalore International Airport and we are moving towards Mangalore Airport.

 The announcement was like a little sigh of relief to everyone as the flight had diverted and the degree to the shaking of flight had reduced as well as the power thunderstorm lightning also controlled. After another little hide and seek, finally, the flight become in a controlled situation.

Ranjan’s heart was floating like a bullet. Mind stopped working and eyes were closed. A number of negative thoughts started to frighten him as well as others. The face of all family members was revolving whenever he closed his eyes. The lady sitting beside him was also frightened. But, at that point in time, he only convinced himself and tried to console her. The flight was in total control and on it’s way to Mangalore. All were hoping that finally, they will be safe. No matters how long the journey would be to reach home but still happy because of the safe journey.

 “What happened? Are you alright ?” He asked that lady with a ray of a fake smile on his face not with eyes.

 “Yeah!!! Actually no… I really scared. It was horrible.” She replied with very much scared face as well as very low pitch voice. She was really scared and almost in a situation to breaking down. So, he was trying to divert her mind.

“Oh, don’t worry, everything will be alright and it is common. It generally happens. In bad weathers flights always diverted to other airports. Don’t worry, I faced it earlier also. Everything will be ok.” Ranjan tried to divert her mind with some consolation in his voice.

 “Yeah hope so…..” She said with very much depression in her voice.

 “No-no definitely everything will be ok….don’t worry.” He said again.

 “Yeah thank you…………….” She said and tried to be normal with some fear in her inner heart which she tried to hide but her converted to stone eyes were telling all the story.

 Flight attendants started to roam with waters which were really necessary at that time. Because everybody was in shock and frighten. Ranjan asked one to his bay and took a cup of water. She has also taken water.

            

 The plane was on it’s way to Mangalore. The city of green hills and clean beaches. Mangalore is really very much awesome city to visit and anybody wish to visit anytime but at that time, nobody was in a position to go there because it was an emergency landing and everyone was waiting to go home.

 “So, you reside in Dubai or went there for work?” Ranjan asked the lady for starting of a general conversation which was just to pass time to reach Mangalore.

 “No, I went there to meet with my sister who has shifted with her husband 2 years back. I was waiting to meet them for a long time, but due to workloads, I was unable to plan for going there.

But last week I went there as I had some more leave left followed by a chain of holiday.” She explained simply with more normal voice than earlier.

“Okkkk…..” He replied by nodding his head.

 “And you ?” She asked the same question.

“Aaaaa I was there for work. I am living in Dubai for the last 9 years. After every 2 years, I used to come back to India for 1-month leave. This time it was 3 years. But now onwards I will not go back and I am returning to home.” Ranjan replied in a very simple manner.

 In meanwhile, the flight once again started to descend and this time at Mangalore Airport. Everybody were very much active this time and frighten due to previous experience. The flight roamed over the airport in sky and finally descend on airport. It was little turbulence, some shake and jerk and finally it was looking like flight was just over runway and at any moment it will touch the ground. Within few seconds, there was a normal bump and flight touched the ground. Finally everyone inside the plane become relaxed and happy. Maximum of them has untied the seat belt also.

  But it was just second, there was another big danger approached. The speed of flight on runway was not reducing and airport gate as well as all taxi ways also crossed and no reduction in speed of plane on runway. Suddenly a final jerk happen followed by a big impact sound. Before anybody inside the plane could understand, the plane had overshoot the runway and broke the fence surrounding the airport. The travellers who had untied their seatbelt had thrown away like anything inside the plane and it started falling from hill. Mangalore Airport is on a hilltop so, there is no way our rather falling from it if a plan overshoot runway and the same was happening.

  Due to crash the tail side of plan broke and detached from it causing to thrown away everybody sitting on that side. It was like a calamity. So, much sound and noise of peoples shout and cry. Within a few second the plane felled from hill top and a big impact. Ranjan become unconscious for few seconds. When he opened his eyes, there was pure calamity. The lady sitting beside him was dead due to impact of her head with tray table.

Plane was on bushes of hill. He tried to stand but very painful as he also impacted on many parts of his body but once again tried to get out the plane which could be explode at any moment. He tried and painfully extract from the plane from emergency door which might be opened by somebody else. He was looking at others if anybody else could be rescued, but no hope of live there. He walk away in uneven bushes of hill as much as possible and reached to a small road on hill side. He walked a lot with his injured legs as well as body. He sat on side of the road. Suddenly he heard a sound of explosion. His body froze as he understood what had exploded. He fell unconscious on the road….

 Ranjan opened his eyes and it was hospital. He was still in pain as there was so many bandages over his body, fracture on ribs and left arm. His vision was blur and slowly it cleared. He was emotional to see his wife and father standing in front of him. He tried to sit but it was painful. Everybody broke down and crying emotionally. His wife can’t stop her tears which was flowing continuously. It was a massive crash and only 6 persons survived among all 256 passengers. The aircraft was totally destroyed and nothing left. The family members of other travellers were still running everywhere either different enquiry booths at Mangalore city hospital for some blind hope. Ranjan’s injury was not major but still it will take more than 6-7 weeks to recover completely as per doctor’s instruction.

  

 Ranjan’s dad was out for some necessary procedure. His wife was sitting beside his bed. She was holding his hand and talking about that accident.

 “Happy Anniversary……” She said by looking at him and holding his palm by her both hands.

“Today…..?” He replied with confused voice because he remained unconscious from last 1 day so he didn’t know the exact day and time.

 “Happy Anniversary…………” He replied and once again started crying.

 “Hey, what happened….don’t cry, you are ok.” His wife consoled him.

 “I couldn’t bring your gift of a diamond pendant which only thing you asked me. I am really sorry. Sorry sweetheart.” Ranjan said emotionally.

 “Hey, don’t say this. On our anniversary, god has given me not only a gift but a gift to remember. You are only my precious gift. Imagine, there are only few people survived from that crash and you are among survivors. So, this is not coincidence but this is god’s gift to me on our anniversary.” She had told a big thing.

   Sometimes, an invisible thing also became a big part of our life. Ranjan was feeling bad because the gift which he brought from Dubai had destroyed with that god damn flight, but the most precious gift given by god was his life. God gave another chance to him to do more things and buy more gifts in future. So, it is called “THE GIFT TO REMEMBER”.