Fiction
The passengers
were turning the air-conditioner knob of flight SW 2552 from Ahmedabad to Delhi
when the announcement came. “We regret
to inform you that the air-conditioning of this flight will not function
properly for a while due to a technical hitch which is being rectified. We solicit your cooperation and regret the
inconvenience caused to you in the meanwhile.”
“The
air-conditioning will not work till we reach Delhi,” Shiv Kumar heard the
passenger sitting next to him say.
“Why?” asked
Shiv Kumar.
“Didn’t you
see the VVIP passenger for whom the flight was delayed by two hours?”
“Yup. That’s
Khushi Ram Baba, isn’t it?”
Who did not
know Khushi Ram Baba? He was a godman who
was in jail for some time for raping one of his devotees. The news had become a notorious controversy
discussed in great detail by all the news channels in the country. The godman reportedly fell ill while in jail
and needed specialised treatment. So he
was being taken to a multinational hospital in Delhi. Shiv Kumar knew all these details though he,
like the other passengers, was ignorant about the cause of the flight delay
until the godman was brought to the boarding gate by a huge retinue of cops all
around him. Surrounding the cops were
the bhakts of the godman who kept chanting “Jai Sri Ram, Jai Khushi Ram, Jai
Jai.” It is only after the godman and
his bhakts were escorted to their seats in the front part of the plane by the
airhostesses that the passengers were allowed to board through the rear entry.
“Khushi Ram
cannot endure air-conditioning,” explained the fellow passenger to Shiv Ram.
“Thank God, he
is not allergic to body odours; otherwise we would have been asked to deboard,”
said Shiv Kumar. The plane had begun to
smell of sweat mixed with deodorants and body sprays because of the
temperature.
“The bugger
should have chartered a flight,” mumbled the fellow passenger.
“This is a
kind of publicity,” responded Shiv Kumar.
“See the way his devotees are behaving.”
The bhakts
were chanting the praises of the godman.
They had even refused to put on their seat belts saying, “Why do we need
seat belts when God himself is travelling with us?”
A little child
started crying somewhere in the seat behind Shiv Kumar. “It’s so bloody hot in here,” shouted a man
who must have been the father of the child.
The flight was already at the level height in the sky. Sitting in his aisle seat Shiv Kumar looked
at some of the passengers. An old man
got up from his seat on the other side of the aisle.
“Help me,
please,” shouted the old man. He had
pressed the call light but no one bothered to attend to him since all
attendants were apparently busy with Khushi Ram Baba and his bhakts.
One of the
cabin crew came to the old man as fast as she could walk in her tight miniskirt.
“I find it
difficult to breathe,” complained the old man through his wheezing. “Can you raise the air-conditioning, please?”
“I’m afraid it’s
not possible, sir. There’s a technical snag. Shall I find a doctor for you?”
The old man
nodded. The airhostess went to call a
doctor from among the passengers.
“It’s only
another half an hour to our destination,” came the announcement. “We thank you for your cooperation. The inconvenience is regretted.”
Children and
old people lay in their seats looking like withered stems of uprooted plants. Babies woke up occasionally and wailed.
Shiv Kumar
retched. He rose quickly and rushed to
the washroom.
“Nausea,” said
the feelow passenger when Shiv Kumar returned and occupied his seat having
relieved himself in the heavens. So to
say. “Nausea is the prerogative of the sane.”
The bhakts resumed
their chanting as the announcement about the imminent landing wafted through
the plane like a consoling breeze.
There was
another retinue of cops waiting at the Delhi airport when the flight
landed. Only Khushi Ram Baba and his
bhakts were allowed to deboard through the front exit which opened first.
“Jai Sri Ram,
Jai Khushi Ram, Jai Jai.” The chant drowned the mumbling and grumbling of the
passengers.
PS. This story
may sound impossible and most improbable. But it is inspired by the following report:
‘Asaram Bapu and his devotees create ruckus aboard Jet
Airways flight’
Read
more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/54409197.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/54409197.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
I like the way you bring your articles Sir !!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruchi.
DeleteIn situations like this, DGCA should suspend operations of the airlines for few days. They won't harras their passengers next time.
ReplyDeleteThe entire systems from cops to govts support the perverted and the corrupt. Why will DGCA be an exception?
DeleteYes there are a class of people who do all such gimmicks. God save our country from such Godmen. Amen.
ReplyDeleteAmen is what I say too to your prayer.
DeleteThis is ridiculous....!
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly. But if anyone thinks it is just one off case they are mistaken. I have had personal experience of another godman who was equally absurd in his greed for land.
DeleteThis country is full of such Godmen and their blind bhakts who are exploiting common people. I liked the way you narrated the story.
ReplyDeleteYes, Purba,these godmen and their devotees are a real menace and the govt should wake up to that reality.
DeleteI read the report. It is disgusting. But did the airline really switch off the air conditioner? They can be sued.
ReplyDeleteNo, the ac was not switched off but the temperature was far above the desired level. That's what I gather.
DeleteWho will dare to sue against a godman? I know a few individuals who did with another godman. The lawyers of the plaintiffs were bought off by the godman's men (and women!). The judges were bribed. Some plaintiffs were beaten up by the godman's goons. Such is our world.