“Dad I’m leaving. I’ll be back tomorrow. Please take care and have your medicines on time. Do not forget the house keys when you go for your evening walks. Remember what had happened the last time?”
Giles’ father nodded as if being used to these lectures by his caring son. “Bye son. Have an awesome turnaround trip”, saying so his dad smiled and bid adieu. He hired a cab till the airport and waited for his flight. Other passengers struggled with their baggage whereas Giles simply walked past them with a tiny suitcase, which carried nothing but his laptop. He had chosen a window seat right at the center of the plane. A few minutes later the engine roared to life and the plane began to soar high until the airport was a minuscule spot. Giles closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.
A pretty air hostess offered Giles a glass of classic red wine. He treated himself to another glass and pulling a blanket over his head; dozed off to sleep.
Giles and Gina kissed. A beautiful beach wedding witnessed the union of a couple who were madly in love. Surrounded with happy chirpy faces of family and friends, there was nothing more one could’ve asked for. The duo made for a gorgeous pair and a treat for the photographer. Drinks, dancing and some more drinks followed but Giles & Gina could not get their hands off one another. The college romance was now tied in holy matrimony.
The plane landed and Giles was taken back from his reverie. He smiled, rose to his feet, carried his laptop bag and departed the plane. It was a long twelve hour flight. He bought himself something to eat and sat in the airport’s waiting lounge. Meanwhile his laptop kept him busy. He also gave a call to his dad to inform him that he was halfway there. “God bless you son, have a safe journey”, he said.
Four hours later, a flight announcement was made. Giles recognized it as his and sat on his usual seat right at the middle of the plane. The last flight travel from India to London had completely exhausted him. Two hours down and he collapsed into a sound sleep. His beautiful wife once again greeted him in his colorful dreams. They hugged and kissed and exchanged rings and once again danced and had drinks.
The flight landed and an hour later he was home on the very next day. Giles dad opened the door and hugged his son, hiding his teary eyes he forced a smile. Giles returned the smile and walked in. “Hello uncle, how have you been?” he greeted his dad’s friend who had come over to watch the football match. But walked off without waiting for his reply.
A confused Ron turned to Gerrard for an explanation for this unlikely behavior of his son. Gerrard said, “Pardon him. He will be back to normal by tomorrow morning. He has just returned from a twenty-four hour two-way trip.” He took a moment’s pause and said, “Ron, you remember the Malaysian airline that went missing last year? Which is said to have disappeared in mid-air? No one has any clue as to where the hell it has gone.” Ron nodded in approval. Gerrard continued, “Among the many unfortunate beings who were on that flight was Gina, my son’s wife. It had barely been a month since their wedding and Gina won a scholarship for her further studies from across the seas. We were all extremely happy. Even my wife you know, I could see her smile from up above. We waved at the flight as it went further away from us until it disappeared. The next day ‘Missing Malaysian airlines’ made for the title of every newspaper. My Gina had left us. We didn't know whether we ought to mourn her death or be hopeful that someday we may find her. Giles was devastated but something inside him gave him a new direction towards life.” Ron was all ears and could now feel Giles sorrow.
“Every month, since then Giles books the same flight’s to & fro tickets for a short trip that journeys between airports. He boards the flight with the hope that, if he is fortunate enough he might just be lucky to enter the other world where he could reunite with his beloved wife. Just before the flight takes off, he says a small prayer. Not for a safe flight but instead he prays for it to disappear into a different planet that belongs to him & Gina and their immortal love. However he does not want the other flight passengers to fall prey to his wish, if granted. The whereabouts of the flight have not yet been found. Even the top officials cannot come to any conclusion regarding the sudden vanishing of a gigantic flight. But you never know, my son's thoughts might just be real. May be there is an outer world where all these passengers are leading a normal life just like us."
Gerrard poured two glasses of wine and handing one to Ron said, "So now you know my friend, there is such a thing as ‘a turnaround trip.”
