Plane that does not fly

Plane that does not fly

-  Gopi Krishna Dhungana

Rajesh was fond of picnicking. He was a student at a private school and he had occasionally been going on picnics in river banks and open lawns. They sometimes collected money to buy food for picnic and at other times they brought cooked food from home. Picnic in Nepali  is literally cooking food somewhere in Jungle and eating together but, for Rajesh, it was only packing a meal and it take it to eat outdoors.  

He did not know of cooking in the jungle and eating together in a different way. Coming back home from picnicking, he also liked to report all about picnic to his parents, brother and sister.

It was a summer vacation at his school. His mother was going to Kathmandu, the capital city, for her medical treatment. He was interested to go with his mother and was resolute to go with her. Family members allowed him to go with as there was holiday at his school. He was happy. Father said, 'The plane ticket is booked for tomorrow, Rajesh has to finish his homework by today evening.'

Enchanted to go to the capital city, second-grader Rajesh put into his all efforts and finished his homework given by his teachers.

He had never travelled by plane before. He had only seen planes flying and gliding in the sky from the land. He had once asked his father, 'How do planes fly? Why does not it stop in the sky to board people? How does pilot presses on brakes?' Father had answered all his queries duly.

It was the first day Rajesh was going to board the plane. He was exuberant from the morning to travel by plane in the afternoon. They were to reach Simara Airport from Birgunj. He asked his mother in the morning, 'Mom, plane flies in the sky, what happens if the plane falls from the sky? I am scared.' Mother calmed him saying no need to fear, accidents are also likely to happen in the buses in travelling.

Father took them to Simara Airport from Birgunj. Mother bought a boarding pass and they were ready to board the plane. Rajesh saw the plane closely. Rajesh said to his mother, 'The plane in the sky was small but this plane is bigger than the bus.' While riding the airstair of the plane, Rajesh saw a young woman joining her hands in posture of Namaste. Rajesh entered the plane by answering the Namaste to the woman.

Rajesh asked his mom, 'mom, no one welcomes in the buses, but why the woman bids Namaste in plane? Who is she?'  'Air hostess' mother replied. The plane took off soon. Many things were new to Rajesh on the plane. He again asked his mom, 'what is on the head of the driver?' Mother replied, 'the persons flying the planes are not called drivers; they are called pilots instead. Helmets are only used by motorcyclists. The pilots use the headphone on the head for communication.' 

Air hostess offered chocolates. Rajesh took two chocolates. Meanwhile, Rajesh found that the plane was landing on the Kathmandu Airport. Uncle and aunt from Balkot Bhaktapur were already waiting Rajesh and his mom at the arrival lounge of the airport. He was pleased to ride on the car after plane. On the car towards Balkot from Gatthaghar, aunt tried to trick, 'Rajesh, look there, the plane you came by is coming towards you.' Rajesh however replied smartly, 'Planes do not reach wherever like cars do?' Uncle showed of the next plane approaching the runway. All looked towards the plane and the flying plane came to a halt on the runway. The rainfall in the afternoon drew fog.  The clouds carrying water were passing by in the sky.

Rajesh asked, 'Why aren't the planes flying?' Remembering his questions in the morning mother taunted him saying that the plane may have stopped in the sky to board people. At the chowk of Nayathimi people were looking up at the plane unable to fly. Some people feared of the possible accidents. Rajesh asked, 'mom, our plane did not stop in the sky, did it?'  Mom said, 'keep quiet Rajesh, people on board may be quite frightened.' The car headed towards Balkot.  

Rashmi, cousin of Rajesh, was preparing to go on a picnic with her neighboring friend. They also agreed to take Rajesh with them. They started their picnic in the evening under the shadow of a banyan tree nearby the house. However, Rajesh could not enjoy the picnic today though he loved picnicking much. The plane unable to fly in the sky haunted him, he was occupied by thinking about the people on the plane. He asked Rashmi, 'Sister, have you ever seen a non-flying plane?'

'The planes after landing in the airport come to a standstill,' replied his sister. Rajesh questioned again, 'No, the plane stopped in the sky a while before.'  

Rashmi told the same to her friends. Caught by surprise and awestruck all came to Rajesh and asked in unison, 'Plane which was not flying high above? It's quite surprising!' All began to look up in the sky, but nothing came into their notice. A plane on hold in the sky due to fog had already flown away.

(The original story is in Nepali language and translated by Rudra Pangeni)