PART 1
MARWAN
She glanced at my boarding pass and smiled.
"Your seat is along the right in the aisle", she said directing her palm.
"Enjoy your flight."
"Thank you" I smiled back.
I grasped the strap of my bag as I made my way, making sure it doesn’t bump against the other passengers.
There was a slight babble inside the cabin as people settled down; some talked on their phones as they bid adieu to their loved ones.
The fragrance of French perfume lingered in the still cabin air as a blast of air conditioning unfurled it further inside.
The joyful screams of children and the sounds of cellular phones hushed into murmurs, as the cabin crew went around distributing refreshments.
I settled into the seat. "Only 5 more hours till I get some proper sleep.” I gently began to doze off as I listened to the songs on my iPod.
I jolted awake as I felt a short tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see a pretty girl staring down at me. I fumbled with my earphones as I removed them.
"Do you mind?" She said with an impassive look.
My eyes were transfixed on the few strands of hair that fell upon her dark eyes. Her diamond encrusted ear-ring had a tiny sparkle, as she gently tucked the strands behind her ear. Her high cheek bones and soft jaw line ran into her smooth wavy hair.
"Umm.. ohh sure", I said as I unbuckled my seat belt and got up to let her in; she sat right next to me in the middle seat. The window seat was unoccupied to give me a clear view of the runway outside.
I peered through the window to find the clear night skies showing no stars tonight. The airport stood in the distance, as tiny silhouettes of busy passengers bustled about beyond the giant glass facade.
The flight attendants secured the overhead baggage compartments and made sure that it was intact. One of them smiled and nodded at an infant child as it started giggling out of curiosity and comfortably eased itself into its new found environment.
I plugged back my earphones without any heed to the safety demonstration video being played back in the TV screens in front of us.
"My heart is paralyzed, My head was oversized, I'll take the high road like I should..." sang ‘Train' into my ears, as I gingerly glanced at her from my side. I gazed at the book she had been holding; the words Kane and Abel were embossed in gold over the blue cover.
Somehow, she seemed familiar. Had I seen her somewhere before?
She caught my gaze and shifted in her seat.
"Don’t creep her out", I whispered to myself. "Please don’t creep her out."
The flight attendants had done their final check. The engines gradually rumbled to life; I felt the tyre crunching the cold asphalt as the aircraft maneuvered itself onto the runway. It halted for a few minutes as another aircraft sped through the runway to take off.
"My pride still feels the sting, You were my everything, Some day I'll find a love like yours...", echoed the music in my ears.
The people around me were busy watching a movie. Some read magazines while others like me were trying to doze off. I chuckled as I watched a young lad trying to wrestle for his share of the arm rest.
As the cabin lights were dimmed, the girl next to me let out an unintended grunt.
She switched on the reading lamp and flipped onto the next page. She had a tight grasp of the book. Her piercing brown eyes swiftly followed each sentence and paragraph with ease.
"Cabin crew, get ready for take-off", the captain spoke into his mic.
The aircraft gently lurched forward, easing into acceleration. The folded seat trays tremored slightly as I felt a sudden uneasiness in my breath. The flight accelerated further, as I felt its force pushing me back against my uncomfortable economy seat.
The mother sang a slow lullaby to her crying baby. It stopped crying and stared up at her with wide eyes of curiosity. I smiled as I gradually dozed off.
“Sir", echoed someone in my dream. I mumbled and tossed my head to the right. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder as I heard the same voice again.
“Sir, would you prefer veg or non-veg?”
I woke up startled. The flight attendant smiled at me; her eyes conveying a sense of hurry.
“Non-veg" I mumbled. The girl next to me tucked her book away as she unfolded her seat tray.
I munched on my baked potatoes and savored its warmth as it tingled my sore throat. The girl never seemed to pay any attention to her surroundings. I waited in my seat after finishing dinner.
As the attendants arrived to clear the tray, her eyes accidently caught mine for a split second. For some reason, I smiled and looked away to the opposite side.
She did seem familiar.
“Talk to her idiot!” I thought to myself. After giving myself 10 minutes, I finally decided to break the ice.
“That is a really good book” I said.
“I know" she responded.
We sat in awkward silence.
“Isn't the ending amazing, when the Baron…”
“Please don’t tell me the ending, I'm still reading the book” she interjected.
“Fine” I said with sheer displeasure.
The flight attendants had arrived to clear the seat trays. Before I could plug back my earphones, the girl next to me said,
“I'm sorry, have we met before?”
I paused for a second and responded.
“I think we have. I'm not sure myself, but you do seem familiar.”
“Are you a friend of Hiba’s?” she asked. “The one who studies at St Joseph's, Abu Dhabi?”
“Hiba Rasheed?” I asked. “Yeah, she's my cousin; we're pretty close. How do you know her?”
“She happens to be my best friend,” she beamed.
“Oh, so you're Shreya! She keeps talking about you all the time.” I smiled back. “I mean, I did see you in a couple of selfies a long time ago. I just wasn't sure.”
“This is surprising.” The corners of her mouth curled up. “You're her cousin Marwan aren't you? I stalked you once on Facebook.” Her nostrils flared as she beamed mischievously. “I loved the pic where you Photo-shopped yourself into an iron man suit. Real mature.”
“There goes my good impression.” I thought.
“Hiba tells me that you can be a pain in the rear end sometimes. In fact, she was the one who showed me those pictures.” She chuckled.
“Pictures?” a flush crept up my face. “Wait till I show you some of her’s.”
“Aww chill.” She smirked. “You don't have to worry; our whole class saw your old pictures.”
“And yet, you still found it hard to recognise me.” I smiled coyly.
“Maybe its your glasses” she said. “Or your beard. You look a tad different from those pictures.”
“Right” I said. “I stalked you once too. But that was a long time ago.”
“I know" she said. “You accidently liked my picture. Thank you for that.”
“Great" I said as my cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
“Oh, its okay honey” she said as she leaned next to my ear and whispered, “I'm not going to tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone what? That I stalked you?” I said. “You're not really my type.”
“That’s what everyone says.” She winked.
“Moving on" I interjected. “Are you doing your majors in psychology with Hiba or was it something else?”
“No, I'm a media student,” she smiled. “And you are doing your bachelor's in Architecture, right?”
“Uh-huh. So how do you like the book so far?”
“I love the part where Florentyna goes to the Baron and…” she was cut short by a slight tremor in the aircraft. Both of us shifted uneasily in our seats.
The video playback in the TV screens paused as the gravelly sound of the Captain buzzed into the microphone,
“There is a thunderstorm ahead of us. Passengers please take your seats” he said. “Cabin crew please make sure everyone has fastened their seatbelts.”
The seatbelt sign was switched on and the lights were dimmed.
“These things happen during monsoon in Kerala all the time.” I said.
“I know. This sucks” she replied. “So, as I was saying…”
She was cut short as the aircraft shuddered for a split second. The arm rests vibrated in sync, sending shivers down our body.
“I hope we don’t get delayed.” I said. “I haven’t had a goodnight's sleep in the past three days.
“Why is that?”
“Oh nothing… I have trouble sleeping sometimes.” I said as I glanced away.
“Umm okay.” She said with a muted voice as her face showed a lack of interest. “I really like the way they have portrayed each character in this book. It is definitely better than I'd thought it would be.”
“Oh, why so?” I asked. “What kind of books do you usually read?”
“I love to read fantasy and fiction. I really need some action to keep me going.” She made gestures and circles with her palms as she spoke. “I rarely like classics but I -"
The aircraft plunged down in a swift movement. She grabbed my arm while the book fell onto her lap. It rose back up to regular altitude.
“Hey, its okay.” I smiled. “As I said, these things happen all the ti-"
The aircraft leapt out of its course and dived to the left as a loud explosion rang out somewhere along the rear. The passengers started screaming as we began tumbling down.
The seatbelt grabbed me as the lurch tried to shove me out of my seat.
The girl’s head hit my shoulder. She clasped her fingers and dug her nails onto my upper arm, as her eyebrows made a tight knit.
I heard another explosion; this time it was loud. I closed my eyes and tried to see if this was all in fact a creation of my own mind; the result of three sleepless nights.
I looked outside the window to find a glowing streak of light.
“Fire!” someone yelled and immediately, there was chaos.
The demonic tail of inferno drifting into the icy altitude, laughed at how naïve people become when they realize that they are about to die.
“Everyone please form brace position” yelled the flight attendant through her microphone.
The aircraft kept swinging left and right as I heard someone spew a thin stream of vomit over the cabin floor. The putrid reek swirled into our noses as we struggled to breathe.
A middle aged man, who sat along the rear, unbuckled his seatbelt as he made an attempt to stand. He lost his footing as he was thrown to the tilted left portion of the aircraft, smashing his head onto the window.
Blood splattered onto the nearby mother who screamed and shouted prayers of mercy. The baby’s screams drowned in the chaos.
His bugged - out eyes haunted us as the maroon blood seeped out of his cracked skull. He lay slack-jawed, scrunched on the floor with a broken spine twisting his body into an uncomfortable position.
“He's dead!” Someone shouted. “Oh lord, he's dead!!”
My heart began pounding and my eyes began to strain. My breathing became heavy and my mouth began to salivate with bile slowly filling behind my teeth.
My ears felt stiff and all the noise began to drown; everything was in slow motion. It was like breathing under water.
My eyes couldn't make out much. The lights felt dimmer and all the lines began to blur.
My upper arm started to feel wet. My mind shifted its gaze onto the warm breathing beside me. I glanced at the girl; her nails had left scratches on my lower arm.
Her eyes were closed and her lips were pursed as she held tightly onto the arm rest; the tilt of the aircraft had caused her left shoulder and her upper torso to rest upon mine.
“We need to do something Marwan.” She said.
“What do we do?” I thought to myself. I was unable to process what was happening.
The noise filled my ears once more as oxygen masks popped down from above. The engine on the right roared in vain and struggled to keep the aircraft from crashing into the ground.
“This is how it is going to end then.” I thought to myself.
The propeller beside our window burst into flames as the aircraft jolted in the sky and tumbled down in free fall. The overhead baggage compartment shot open as all the luggage fell upon the screaming passengers like hail.
A sudden realization struck horror into my thoughts.
“The baby!” I shouted. “Someone please help the mother!!”
My shouts and screams were drowned as more explosions were heard ahead of us. The cabin lights kept flickering above us until it went dead; there was only darkness, except for the blazing trail shimmering outside my window.
We fell like a shooting star.
All of a sudden, the engine roared back to life. The aircraft pulled itself upright as the whole cabin kept shuddering. The dying aircraft struggled to keep us alive for a few more minutes.
A quick relief went through my body as I gradually began to relax; my stiff muscles were slowly beginning to loosen up.
No sooner had I found a ray of hope, I heard a tiny crackling towards my left.
“It could just be anything,” I thought to myself. An eerie silence began to prevail throughout the cabin. The noise grew louder.
“Everyone please fasten your seatbelts and remain in brace position. We are about to land” the captain spoke into the mic.
Everyone became dead still; there was a ghostly silence. Only a few murmurs could be heard other than the shuddering of the cabin.
The unusual crackling along the left sounded louder this time. The engine roared and howled like a hurt predator.
My palms felt cold.
I watched the trees align my window, as the clear runway approached nearer. The aircraft lurched forward and heaved itself into a thundering thud; its body made a high pitched scream as it grinded against the coarse tarmac and screeched in continued acceleration.
The landing gear had not been deployed!
My fingers grew pale as they held onto the arm rests. We swirled and swiveled as the corner edge of the left wing hit the runway. It crackled and howled as sparks flew out of the propellers.
“Oh no" I murmured.
Two windows along the left shattered to pieces, as flame engulfed the passengers seated nearer to it. No sooner had it happened, a few more windows shattered in the rows seated behind me. The fire had finally found its way inside.
All hell broke loose, as the flames washed into the cabin like a tide that engulfed anything and everything in its way. The aircraft somehow began slowing down.
The girl next to me screamed as I felt the wave of heat growing stronger and consume our souls.
The brightness blinded me into some unknown abyss deep within myself, as the flames ripped through my raw skin and melted my bones.
******************************************
PART 2
SHREYA
The brightness hadn't faded away. I felt the piercing gaze of people looking down upon me.
What was going on?
Was I dead?
Did I make it out?
It felt like a lucid dream.
I heard screams and sirens as I felt the squally weather delivering gusts of radiant heat into the cold night from a distance.
I couldn’t open my eyes. The cold midnight breeze gently kissed my skin and to my horror, it felt like a thousand needles were piercing my face, hands and feet, all at the same time.
Only a muffled sound came out as I tried to scream. I felt a strong discomfort, as if someone were clenching my throat and trying to pry my tongue out.
My upper abdomen cramped as a crushing pain clenched my chest.
“She is going into shock. Somebody get her to the hospital.” I heard.
“Sir, we found another one!” echoed someone.
I drifted into darkness; the brightness in my perception fading away.
***
I did not know how much time had passed. My parched eyes burned fiercely as I felt my forehead throb with pain; my eyes were finally open. I could make out blurred images of silhouetted figures in a bright background looking down upon me, as if I were a specimen of their experimentation.
They held something in their gloved hands.
“Relax" one of them whispered as I delved into darkness again.
***
120 Days to go
It has been 1 year, 2 months and 16 days since the incident. I flip the calendar back and forth as I keep wondering how different things would have turned out, if I hadn't boarded the flight that night.
I remembered the bright colours Abu Dhabi had painted in my life. St. Joseph's was more than just a school; it was family.
Aarav and Hiba keep me company now and then.
106 Days to go
I remember the time when my bandages were removed. My aunt and kids were standing right next to me. She gave a half-smile as she caressed my palms.
“You don’t have to be here, aunt Anu.”
“Its okay dear. Where else would I want to go.”
“I don’t know if you would recognise me anymore.” I said as I pursed my lips beneath the bandage.
The kids shrieked and flailed in horror as they bumped against a trolley carrying surgical equipment. The clinking of metal against floor was sensitive to my ears and rang for as long as I could remember.
98 Days to go
I dust my piano and sit down to play. My fingers gently touch the keys.
“I missed you,” I said and composed myself as I sat there for an hour without playing anything. Tears welled up and ran along my scarred cheeks.
82 Days to go
I see explosions and hear loud noises.
“No!” I mumbled. “Not again!”
I jolted awake with moist eyes; a few tears had smothered my cheek.
A loud banging noise rang out downstairs. I heard a series of clatters as plates were being smashed and vessels were being toppled onto the floor.
I lifted myself off my bed, grabbed my walking stick and made my way outside the room. I looked down the stairs to find my uncle grappling my aunt by her neck.
“I asked you to stop doing that!” he shouted. “Why do you disobey me you piece of filth!” He spat at her face.
This was the umpteenth time I had seen my uncle beat my aunt.
I felt animalistic rage build up inside me as my teeth grinded. I tried to stop myself from roaring.
I felt helpless; all I could do was to just stare as this kept happening over and over again. I prayed that the children were fast asleep.
I wish my parents were alive. I wish they'd never gone out on the night of the car crash.
“Please don’t hurt me” she pleaded. She looked frail, as tears cascaded onto her choked-up face. Her cheeks turned blue and her eyes widened in fear as her pupils became constricted. “Think of the baby-" she grabbed his fingers and rested them upon her stomach.
His lips tightened further as he let go of her. She fell on all fours and began weeping loudly as she gasped for breath.
“I'm sorry" he said blankly and left.
76 Days to go
“Meat sub or chicken?” asked Aarav.
“I don’t think I'd like either.” I said.
“Oh come on! You have got to try meat sometime!” he fussed. “You have no idea what you're missing out on.”
“I became a vegan when I was 13, Aarav.” I said rolling my eyes. “I know exactly what I'm missing, now quit being such a douche.” I smirked.
“Fine.” He said irritably with raised eyebrows. He handed me a veg sub.
“Speaking of douches,” Hiba said. “Aarav asked Smriti out for coffee.”
“What!” I gagged on my sandwich. “What did she say?”
“Well she agreed to go out with him,” continued Hiba. “Tell her how the date went Aarav,” she grinned.
“Well…” He ducked his head and began to fidget.
“Go on" I simpered.
“We really got to know each other. I mean, she was amazing,” he smiled. “I gave her a poem that I'd written for her.”
“And?”
“She loved it” he said. “In fact, she loved it so much that she asked me to write one for her boyfriend as well.”
I looked at Hiba trying to hold my laugh.
“Aww its okay” said Hiba. She patted Aarav on the back and burst into giggles.
“On the bright side,” he said. “She paid our bill.”
“Wow" I said. “Is there going to be a second date then? Maybe both of you could make out and she can ask you to teach her boyfriend to do that.”
Hiba and I laughed for a good minute, as we shared more conversation. I had missed them.
“What plans do you have for next Sunday?” she asked.
“Pretty much the same,” I said. “Read a book or maybe binge watch a TV show.”
Hiba's expression began to harden. She held onto my palm. “I want you to come to my house. My mom and dad are celebrating their 21st anniversary together. It would really mean a lot to them if you came.”
I hadn't stepped out of my house in a long time. The stares and murmurs in the streets pushed me back into my room. I felt safe inside.
“I cant make any promises” I said as I looked away.
60 Days to go
I didn't visit Hiba’s parents. I sent them a painting I’d made in my spare time; I congratulated them and gave them my best regards.
I sat in front of my piano and drifted into melody, as my fingers gingerly touched each key. A momentary joy washed over my sweet sorrow. I really wished my parents were still alive.
54 Days to go
I finally decide to face my fears. I sat in a chair, facing a dozen people huddled in a circle.
Nobody seemed to be bothered about my face or appearance. Maybe the people in this PTSD self help group had their own problems to deal with.
I saw him sit across me in a grey sweat shirt and jeans. He still wore his glasses, but his beard was slightly more trimmed than I had last remembered. He also had a scar behind his neck.
He held a Kane and Abel in his arms.
42 Days to go
We rarely talked. Both of us sat there, listening to the horrific stories of what the other members had gone through. When it was my turn, I would say ‘Pass’.
That evening he finally confronted me.
“Hiba said you would come,” he said. His voice was coarser than the last time. He took out his inhaler, gave it a shake and inhaled deeply. “You better finish reading this.” He said as he handed over his Kane and Abel.
I stared at him blankly.
“How have you been?” I asked.
“Not bad. I think I should get going. See you tomorrow.” He said and limped away.
"Okay," I murmured as I turned around and walked.
I stopped abruptly as I heard a screeching noise of tyre against tarmac.
I turned back and glanced at Marwan, who lay motionless on the road as blood seeped out of his nose. I clenched the Kane and Abel as my pulsating heart tried to jut out of my chest.
My eyes watered and my breathing became heavy as I dropped down onto my knees and stared at the one person that I had truly missed since that night.
The only other survivor than me.
******************************************
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