A FLIGHT TO REMEMBER!
Have you ever felt that most events that you plan for, do not turn out to be the way you imagined with obstacles and hurdles making them more challenging and interesting? Sometimes, I even ponder whether I would have preferred the dream scenario imagined in my head or the way things panned out? Well on a personal level, I struggle to even complete plans that are perfectly thought of as I keep on speculating a potential twist in the tale. Which may explain why I haven’t even managed to go out to eat sushi with my friend despite planning it for more than three semesters. So today I will be narrating a story for which I had planned for more than two years, but when the moment arrived……..it was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, making it one of the most memorable days of my life.
Ever since my friend Shahzaib told me about his plans to become a pilot in A Level, along with the prospect of a free joyride at the end of his course when he earns his CCP license, I began to daydream the whole scene with us flying over our school, taking pictures and maybe getting to witness a couple of maneuvers. Eventually, that day finally arrived two years later, and I could not hold back my excitement. I told every single friend at university that I will be in the sky over the weekend but they didn’t share the same enthusiasm as it wasn’t a big deal in their opinion. However, this did not stop the 20 year old me who carried a smile throughout the day, talking my heart out regarding how proud I am of my pilot friend.
30th November 2019: This was the day selected by Shahzaib for the ride
This day holds quite a significance as it was Shahzaib’s birthday and my birthday was a day later, but since I didn’t have much money, I had the audacity to go to his house early in the morning without a gift, repeating the beautiful slogan “TREAT DOU MUJHAY”. Poor lad gave a hundred excuses, revealing his plans for the money he’s saving, eventually forcing me to let go of my demand as we headed to WALTON AIRPORT, home of Hybrid Aviation. The only memory I had of Walton Airport was sneaking inside it from Askari V by going through a slum and crawling under a broken cage, just to play cricket with my friends on the airstrip when I wasn’t even a teenager. Therefore, entering it legally with the proper clearance and security check felt like a liability. Anyways, we entered the airport on our Uber and what I saw left me in awe. In front of me, stood 14 planes, each one of them clean and shining, giving a sense of arrogance about the machinery that empowered it. Although I had seen many airplanes in the past, the whole fleet standing in front of my eyes was an experience I cannot express with my words and hope you all get to experience it someday on your own.
While admiring the airplanes, I forgot I was there as a guest and a guard quickly approached me, asking for identification and looked fairly cranky. He began asking me questions and I have a major issue of forgetting major details when I am abruptly asked something, so yes I forgot the name of my friend. “Uncle issay chor dain yeh mera dost hay”, screamed Shahzaib Ansar from the top of a nearby hangar, automatically changing the mood of the security guard whose soft tone now caught me off guard, welcoming me at HYBRID and praying for my early marriage (apparently that’s the wish they give Shahzaib too & since I was his friend……..). Frantically, I rushed towards Shahzaib, to avoid any possible issues, to the hangar where I was introduced to the rest of the pilots and instructors. Honestly, all of them looked at least five to ten years older than Shahzaib and they were treating him like their younger brother. Five minutes later, I got the bad news that Prime Minister Imran Khan was flying to Lahore and as per security protocols, we were not allowed to fly for my joyride at 11 am (the allocated time) as the airspace was reserved. The thing with Shahzaib is that our plans never turn out to be on time, therefore I was mentally prepared for any possible delays. Nevertheless, we decided to utilize our time in the best way possible as Shahzaib gave me the chance to experience the flight simulator, meet the person occupying the control tower along with a basic tutorial of the gadgets and devices useful in flying a plane by getting me inside the cockpit of a Cessna 172
Finally, after a wait of nearly five hours, the moment of truth arrived at 3 p.m. as the control tower permitted us to do a circuit around Lahore on a Cessna 172. Have you ever gotten the vibe that you are Tom Cruise from Top Gun? Time slowed down as you walk towards your plane? Believed that everyone is looking at you as you’re the center of attention? Well I am a fairly dramatic person, imagining all these scenarios even though only one guard was looking at us, mainly because Shahzaib was his favorite. However, all my heroic vibes were slowly brought to an end as I saw the door of the plane and stared at Shahzaib with a look of confusion as to how am I supposed to get inside such a small and high door? Well I wasn’t the only one there who had a thing for acting as the hero, as the guard quickly sprinted across the hangar, helped me get on and gave Shahzaib a nod of approval that the door has been properly closed too.
It was take-off time. The empty runway, the exuberant feeling of sitting as the Co-pilot, realizing that my friend has finally achieved his dream, accompanied with nervousness as I never trusted his driving skills let alone flying, forced me to give a meek smile to Shahzaib who asked if I’m ready. The plane started to taxi for the takeoff, however within thirty seconds I realized something is wrong as we had crossed two-thirds of the runway and were only as high as Ronaldo’s leap to score headers. The calmness on Shahzaib’s face had also disappeared, replaced with a sense of anxiousness and worry while I was only busy making a video on my phone of the takeoff. “MOOTAY APNI TAANG PEECHAY KAR FLYING GEAR BLOCK KAR KAY BETHA HUA HAY!!!!!!!!!” shouted Shahzaib as I realized I was trying my best to stop Shahzaib from flying. Immediately, I readjusted my posture, taking my legs away from the flying gear. So I suggest for the future, never consider me as an able partner in anything at all. With a sigh of relief, Shahzaib completed the takeoff as we gained altitude to tour the city.
After flying over Qaddafi Stadium, M.M Alam Road and Kalma Chowk, I felt a chill of cold air on my left leg and casually investigated the reason for this. Immediately, I started to remember all of my sins, the people I love, DARUD SHAREEF, KALMA etc as I was partially ready for the worst. THE DOOR OF THE AIRPLANE WAS OPEN!!!!!!! My brain immediately recalled all the action movies I ever saw in which the hero would kick the villain out of airplanes and helicopters to their impending doom. Was Shahzaib about to recreate those action packed scenes as I had intimidated him several times while playing cricket at school? I called Shahzaib and asked him to save me. According to Shahzaib, I spoke as if I had seen a lion. So guess what? Shahzaib asked me to take control of the plane for ten seconds while he opened my door and shut it once again during the flight. In my opinion, that was the most daring thing I have ever came across in my life but yeah I got the Tom Cruise ‘Top Gun’ vibe as I flew a plane on my own even if it was for ten seconds.
I think Shahzaib realized that his overly dramatic friend believed that he came across a life threatening experience as a moment of silence soon followed this incident. Anyone who knows me properly, would vouch the fact that I never stop talking and if I am silent, it has to be something major. To cheer me up, Shahzaib proposed that we try the G-Force experiment by challenging me I can’t survive it. Well considering my competitive nature, I didn’t even hesitate for a second and showed enthusiasm. With my approval, Shahzaib lifted the plane, gaining altitude, making me feel as if I am on one of those dangerous rides at JoyLand which makes you nauseate and fuzzy. Determined not to be labeled as someone who failed the G-Force test, I remained steadfast despite Shahzaib’s constant mockery and jeering. Everntually, he stopped gaining altitude, and asked me if he should begin the second phase of this test, reminding me I did survive the first stage. Half-heartedly, I gave my nod of approval as Shahzaib directed the plane to begin a nose dive. BOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before I tell you what happened, I believe it’s crucial to remind that whenever you get a tutorial from your friend, ask him to start with the basics rather than flexing with the advance techniques. SHAHZAIB NEVER TOLD ME IN THE TUTORIAL THAT THERE ARE SEATBELTS IN THE AIRPLANE! And that noise was produced as a result of my head smashing against the metal top of the plane. “Tum nay belt nahi pehni?” Shahzaib innocently asked. And I replied, “BC TUM NAY BATAYA HI NAHI BELT KA AJEEB”. Next, I had to jump to the backseat of the plane as it was tied on the backside of the front seat. While I was judging pilots for doing this, I was quickly reminded that my Aunt used to do something similar on her civic just to stop the car from giving that irritating bell, indicating unfastened seatbelt.
After flying over the city for more than twenty minutes, it was finally time to land. Considering the drama that I had experienced throughout the flight, I was expecting the worst. At that moment, I did what most Muslims do, remembering all the Surahs I had been taught and silently praying while trying to maintain my cool. When the control tower called Shahzaib, a part inside me silently screamed that please don’t press any buttons Shahzaib (in light of the various “Nahi dubana tha Button” memes from a famous Indian comedy movie). Nevertheless, we eventually managed to land without any inconveniences, ending a journey filled with fun, fear, excitement and unforgettable moments.
Although only several months have passed since this airplane ride, I can only recall all the unpredictable events properly and have trouble recalling anything meaningful from the smooth flight that lasted for more than half an hour. While I may have skipped some important details regarding how scared I was while narrating stories to my friends at university, the truth is that such emotions are the true representation of your memorable journey. While taking inspiration from one of the most beautiful yet criminally underrated movie called “Inside Out”, I decided to express all of the various emotions and moods I faced during this event, which in my opinion acts as the cherry on top. With that being said, I will personally check the door of the airplane and seatbelts for fellow passengers when I will be flying on QATAR Airways in the near future, with Shahzaib sitting in the cockpit.
To many more memories and years of friendship Pilot Khawaja Shahzaib Ansar!
