This is your Captain-Welcome aboard!

My first flight experience made me realise something good. Sky is limitless so as your dreams -@k Writing’s

Dearest Shri,

My Son, you are a big boy now. Well, technically, NO, but as compared to the time when I first held you in my arms, YES! You have grown up. Touchwood! Time flies, and so did you on the 23rd of June, 2022. Yes, my love, this date has been added to your existing list of accomplishments labeled as "Shri's firsts."

Thus far, your mode of conveyance for any long destination had been your Papa’s car, which you always refer to as #SwiftDzire. We couldn't persuade you to try any other means of transport. Actually, it was difficult because we ourselves were not convinced given the comfort of one’s own vehicle during journeys. So, once we were confident that you were ready to travel by another mode, we booked a flight (for the three of us) to #Bengaluru, where your Grand maa lives with your Reena Aunty (Bua).

Once the booking was made, we slowly started to familiarise you with airplanes as another means of transport by story narration, and showing you pictures and videos of the same. You were not very excited until you saw me watching #Topgun movie on my laptop. The speed with which the fighter planes rocketed drew your immediate attention, and now it was you who was enquiring about the aircraft. I smiled with these words in my mind; what an achievement, Seema! Mission accomplished! #TomCruise, I owe you this one.

Now that you seemed comfortable with the idea of taking a flight, our next task was to acquaint you with the entire process that one goes through while traveling by plane. From what an airport is to how you feel when you are thousand feet above the ground. This was achieved slowly and steadily by replacing your sleep time stories that always revolved around your favorite fictitious character 'Monty' with conversations on the flying procedures. You listened to them with great interest.

Then came D-day. The three of us were on your maiden journey to Gwalior airport, #RajmataVijayaRajeScindia Airport. Once we reached, the excitement of watching a big plane flying past us as we alighted from our taxi was nowhere in your eyes; instead, all we saw was your fascination for the trolley that was being used to carry luggage by the people around you. This was because of your undying love or obsession for objects with wheels, especially those where you get to have complete control (no interference from your parents). Children have their own sweet world!

Once we entered through the initial security gate and our bags got scanned, it greatly disappointed you that our traveling bags, especially the ones with wheels, were taken away by the airport authority for check-in. All our attempts to make you understand why and where our bags were being taken seemed futile. You were greatly disturbed and kept enquiring about the whereabouts of our baggage every now and then.

After the final security check, as we all sat in the departure holding lounge, which was beautifully furnished, we could clearly see the airport #apron through the transparent automatic gates. We thought the view would divert your mind from the checked-in baggage that, as per your belief, was stolen, but your gloomy face conveyed otherwise. We sensed that you had lost your enthusiasm for your maiden flying trip until the time we heard a loud roar of a plane that probably had landed. You got startled for a while and, thereafter enquired with eagerness, was it the aircraft that we were supposed to board. A negative from me, and no plane in sight on the apron once again disappointed you. Although we often heard the deafening roar of planes taking-off and landing, there was no sight of them on the apron, which made us curious. Therefore, you and I went closer to the transparent boarding gates, and to our surprise, we saw fighter planes instead of commercial airplanes taking-off from a nearby runway. We both exclaimed with equal joy as we watched those beauties rising in the sky. It was indeed a wow moment! My child, the presence of these man-made birds could be explained by the fact that the #GwaliorAirport is a civil enclave airport at the Air Force Station. Son, were these flying beauties Dassault Mirage 2000, MiG, or Tejas? I had no clue. I simply admired them flying in quick succession.

After some time, there was silence which signaled that the arrival time for our commercial plane was closing. Eventually, you spotted an #INDIGO plane entering the apron. After all, now you could recognize the alphabet and read small words, especially if they were familiar. You exclaimed joyfully, "Mumma, Dekho humhara waala plane aa Gaya." [Mom, look, our plane has arrived].

The size of the plane did not excite you in the way we had imagined. As we all queued up and made our way to the aircraft, I tried clicking a few pics of yours, but the security guard refrained many other passengers and me from doing so. After all, it was a defense base. We finally boarded the plane, and as you were seated comfortably in your window seat, I could see more inquisitiveness in your little eyes than joy. I guided you through the buttons, the window slide, the seat belt, everything within your reach, and much more. By more, I mean the pilots, co-pilots, cockpit, air hostesses, and all. And all you asked me was, where exactly is our trolley bag on the plane?

I saw you restless as the plane taxiied from the terminal to the runway. You wanted the plane to leave the ground and touch the sky as soon as possible. Eventually, the aircraft reached the runaway, caught speed, and flew….I heard a Waaaooow from you. All our initial apprehensions about how you would react when the plane took-off disappeared as I watched you savoring the moment. On the contrary, as I looked at your Papa on my right, he seemed a little anxious, but you were the focus of my attention, and thus, I ignored him momentarily.

I could see you enjoying the ascent or climb of the plane all by yourself. Once the aircraft reached a certain altitude, that is, the cruising phase; you had many questions for me. And after I answered them, hopefully correctly, you had so much to narrate. Everything you saw through the window, you excitedly passed on to me as if I was unaware, and I acted ignorant too, which gave you so much confidence and authority.

My Son, I appreciated a couple of things about your disciplined behavior on the plane. You neither took off your seat belt nor pressed the button for calling the air hostess even once. I could see all the other kids doing otherwise, which gave their parents hard times and embarrassing moments. Once, just to make you familiar, I asked you to press the button and call the air hostess for a glass of water. Still, you politely declined, saying, Mumma, Mujhe aunty se darr lagta hai (Mom, I am a bit scared of that aunty, she might scold), and moreover, we already have a water bottle. I am so proud of you, Shri!

It was a short flight to #IndiraGandhiInternationalAirport (IGIA), #NewDelhi. Once the flight landed, we had a seven and a half hour of layover before our next flight to #Bengaluru. We used that time to quickly visit your Nannu-Naani’s place. After enjoying our visit, we were back at #IGIA, and this flight, my Son, will always be memorable for the three of US. Keep reading, my dear, to find out why.

After following all the standard procedures at the #IGIA, we finally boarded the #Indigo airport bus that took us to our designated plane. Whereas the aircraft at Gwalior was an ATR-72 (a smaller plane), this one was a more giant Airbus A320 (Sharklets). To know more about these beauties, I am sure you know what to do-Yes, simply Google, my love!

The apron here looked beautiful because it was spacious with so many aircraft. The night-time enhanced the beauty of this place as innumerable lights were blinking. The sharklet looked terrific. I could see the excitement in your eyes- the only window to your expressions as the rest of your face was covered by a safety mask.

On boarding the plane, the three of us sat together as it was a 3+3-seater plane, unlike the previous one, which was a 2+2-seater. You obviously occupied the window seat next to your Papa. Everything about this plane was superior to the previous one except for the delay. Our flight was delayed by around 35 minutes before boarding. Even after we got seated, there was a further delay of about 15 minutes due to a technical issue about maintaining cabin air pressure.

Once the announcement “cabin crew, prepare for take-off” was made, I looked at the faces of you and your Papa, and guess what? I could see the same level of excitement. I was like, you resemble your father in looks and he in your expressions. What a combination! Touchwood! Shri, I have flown more than a dozen times, your Papa half a dozen, but we were still thrilled only because it was your first. Guess that is why it is said that parents live all over again with and for their child.

The take-off was smooth, and there was less turbulence during the climb, unlike the previous flight. Being dark, there was not much for you to see outside the window once the plane gained altitude. I slept as it was a more extended flight, and Moreso because this time you had your father by your side to attend to your non-stop queries.

After completing roughly half the journey, I saw an air hostess, Ms. #Pinky, a little perplexed. Once our eyes met, she gently approached me and enquired; one of our captains informed me that his teacher was traveling with her kid, but unfortunately, he probably forgot to pass the name, and right now, we are unable to reach him. Are you that teacher? I proudly said yes, that's me. Your Captain must be #HarshBharti, and you cannot connect to him as he is currently flying to UAE. She seemed so relieved and then politely continued, ma'am, the Captain has requested the crew members to take good care of you and your family. Will you have something tea/coffee/juice, anything ma'am? I can't describe the kind of feeling I had at that time. I felt proud, happy, special, and emotional simultaneously. My dearest Shri, nothing gives a teacher more happiness than a student who remembers her long after he has been taught. In this case, 16 years, to be precise. Those three words, "Our Captain's teacher," felt so magical that they would stay with your mom for the rest of her life.

I politely turned down her offer and asked if it was feasible for the flight captain and crew to show the plane's cockpit once it landed, as this was my son's maiden flight. She quickly agreed and said, "Of course, ma'am." She hurriedly left and returned to politely enquire your name, and when she could not catch your name, she asked me to spell it, which I did. She swiftly left and returned with a beautiful customized card and requested if I could write your name as she could not get the spelling correctly. I happily did. Again, she left to only return with a beautifully decorated gift hamper and a personalized note from the captain and crew congratulating you on your first flight. I gently picked up the congratulatory message card and politely refused to take the hamper. But she insisted and finally, I hesitatingly took it with much gratitude. After all, a teacher is supposed to be giving to her students and not the other way around. You, my son, were unperturbed by whatever was happening and said a quick thank you to the flight attendant, Ms. #Pinky.

When the flight landed, the air hostess, Ms. #Erica, gently held you by your hand and took you inside the cockpit. I waited in the alley seat and watched you converse with the pilot, #CaptainRajiv, and the #FirstOfficerKrishna. I don't remember how often your Papa and I had made you rehearse this scenario and briefed you on how you were supposed to talk to the commanders of the plane if in case you happened to meet them. You did not disappoint us. After a minute or two, you came out and exclaimed that Mumma, the pilot uncle, is wearing specs and still he can fly the plane unlike otherwise told by you, and there are so many buttons in the cockpit that I was unable to count, and I told them my name, where I was flying to, and whom I was going to meet. Mumma, now I want to become a pilot, not #ElonMusk uncle. So, after about 3 years, your first dream finally gave way to another one.

Once you spotted our luggage on the conveyor belt at the baggage area, your happiness knew no bounds. You were elated as you discovered where precisely the luggage disappeared after check-in and how it traveled with you and finally found its way back to its owner.

My dear Son, this was how your first flight from #Gwalior to #Bengaluru via #NewDelhi concluded. To make the closing experience of your first flight a little more memorable, we took you to watch your first movie at #PVR Central Spirit Mall, Bellandur in #Bengaluru. Another first for you! The film was #TopGun-Maverick- an aviation action cinematic marvel amongst your mom’s favorites. So, it was a perfect closure to your maiden flight,which started with #TopGun and concluded with the sequel.

Keep soaring, Son, with your feet, firmly grounded, always!

Showering all my Blessings today, tomorrow and forever-Mumma

PS. 1. Shri, the next day, when I spoke to #CaptainHarshBharti, my heart was so overwhelmed that all I could do was bless him abundantly. He is one of my most decent, polite, humble, and handsome students who has made this big all by himself and has always stayed connected. But strange, we do not have a single picture together. Hey, Captain, let us keep that on our wish list and tick it off whenever we meet next, and yes if Shri ever continues with his dream of becoming a pilot, you will be his guide and maybe a mentor. Son, #CaptainHarshBharti's response would be ‘Aye Aye, Madame.'

PS. 2. Thank you, Team #Indigo for making my Son's maiden trip unique and memorable. Heartfelt gratitude especially to #CaptainRajiv, #FirstOfficerKrishna, #Pinky, #Erica, #Perilla, and #Sunepinla.