"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. This is Captain Avinash speaking. We are going to face some turbulence. The seat belt sign is on for your safety. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. The lavatory use has been prohibited for the time being. I appreciate your patience. We will overcome it."
Saavi was on board UK 9XX to Mumbai from New Delhi for an effective presentation. Her team needed to perform better, which was also crucial for her. Saavi's immediate reaction was cynical at the announcement. After that, her thought shifted to "it's fine."
She would survive this, as she had already weathered numerous crises in her shaky life. However, she could not believe this had to occur that day. She was traveling alone for work. In addition, she had sleepless moments the previous night. Was everything put together to raise her stress level?
It was not new for her not to undergo flight turbulence during the rainy season. It is rather apparent, yet she could not keep calm. Her mind was spinning with uneasiness. Her stomach began to churn badly as she had finished the in-flight meal a few minutes ago. "God, help me in this condition," Saavi had the words playing in her mind in a loop, and she did not want to unsettle herself further.
"There is bound to be turbulence in the clouds of confusion before one can view the friendly skies, and an illuminated landing strip." -T.F. Hodge.
Life throws challenges every moment to be solved, not for the sake of it. So naturally, everyone tries to face their battles in their ordinary life. But unfortunately, it's not an easy task to survive in the world if you are a woman; Being single or married has no sense here. So why did this random idea cloud her mind?
The past week was challenging for her both at home and at work. Saavi could not find a minute's peace in those hours because of pressure. Being the team leader, she needed to keep the link between the members. Did she blow the candle of communion in the group?
Sometimes, unknowingly one gets tangled in another's messy affairs. It completely traps one inside it forever. Saavi never liked to get entangled in others' everyday matters. What's more, She even expected the same reciprocation from others. So, she always behaved nicely with her building mates. But, at the same time, society is full of intrusive neighbors, savage relatives, curious co-workers, etc. They often outperform or mess up the solved issues only for the sake of helping. Outrageous.
Our happiness lies within us all the while. Only we ought to locate the source of bliss. Everyone has difficulties in life. It depends upon the attitude of the person who faces it. We invariably run away from complications in our lives.
Moreover, we detour from complicated people. Instead, we make our situations filled with more hardships. We worry over petty issues and give stress to unimportant works or ideas.
"The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday's logic." -Peter Drucker.
Saavi felt she should connect with herself again instead of avoiding her tormented emotions. It was never too late to make amends for her mistakes. Who knows, it may be the leading cause of her unhappiness and misery? Society and people might have wronged her in multiple ways, but what has she done to herself? Instead of coming out strong after the tumultuous moments, she punished herself. Unknowingly, she had pushed herself away from herself.
After a while, saavi pushed her random thoughts backward. Then, lifting the cover that shaded the window, she peeked out of her window seat. She found clouds surrounding them from every direction.
The dark clouds appeared like demons that sprang to action from mythological tales. They tried their best to scare the viewers with their terrifying faces. First, the demon-looking clouds threw pails of water into the window with full force. Then, they attempted to pull the window apart and enter the airplane with wild power. Were they acting silly, according to Saavi's mind? She could not see the outside very clearly as moistness had covered the window. They were hitting the pane with water every second.
How foolish? It was rain and rain straight from the black, enraged clouds. The airplane was going through thunderstorms. It was calmness prevailing inside, yet so many upheavals were going on outside. Did it depict human behavior in the real sense?
"Lost my voice at someplace
Someday to someone
Amidst the chaos of life
Hard to fathom the depth
Of the ocean of turbulence,
That was brewing in my soul
Somewhere deep down
I had lost my mind."
Each moment in the air, the clouds changed their colors and speed—a variety of shades from black to dark black to white and then to semi-blue. Watching the clouds change their attires fast was fantastic, like Bollywood heroines.
"I could visualize models sashaying with their outfits on the ramp and hurrying back to transform into another avatar with so much ease. I adore the poker face of models as they walk with their chin up and a damn attitude—so much dreaming of clouds, heroines, and ramp models." Wow! the clouds have turned her into a poet; the words just flew out of Saavi's mind.
Was it an exotic voyage with hues of clouds? She felt strange with her fantasy yet delighted with the change of reflections. Saavi chuckled after a long and sat relaxed in her seat with her seat belt held tight. A tiny smile formed on her face as if she had just discovered a candy shop nearby her house. Thankfully her mask covered her face; Otherwise, the man on the aisle seat would have guessed her to be a crazy woman.
After her long-forgotten Chai was served, she relaxed a bit. She knew in her heart that this restless moment would also pass like fleeting clouds. She would land safely at her destination in a few minutes. But, no, her fate again tossed her silly tantrums at her.
" Our life is not about
Living in perfect Moments
Because
There will always be ripples
In our still waters.
It's about learning
How to steer the boat
When the ripples
Cause big waves
and
turbulence."
-Jacqueline Oby
Another turbulence approaching their way announced the captain through his system. What is it, God? The clouds were again coming from every direction at lightning speed. Were they heading and ready to attack, or was our aircraft cruising through them? A helpless feeling overpowered Saavi at the sight of the fast-paced clouds. She was a little distressed at the uncertainty life was throwing at her though she was sitting safely inside the cabin.
The white clouds looked like white cotton balls in the light greyish sky. The airplane wobbled a bit, shaking the passengers from within. She could hear murmurs from her side and back seats. A toddler wailed that drilled through the quiet environment. Thank God the clouds could not hear; Otherwise, they would have attacked them without a second's delay.
The toddler's mother should have stuffed the baby's ears with cotton. A young mom is inexperienced in parenting, which is not her fault. The cabin crew could not help as they were not allowed to get up from her seats. Saavi had experienced multiple happenings similar to this inside the aircraft before.
" Peace and Turbulence
Can they co-exist?"
Did Abhimanyu feel the same helplessness when trapped inside the Chakravyuha in the Kurukshetra war? Could she understand the mental state of the other one sailing in the same boat? She had always asked this question a hundred times to herself earlier. Abhimanyu was a young and fearless warrior, without a doubt and beyond questions. But, cannot a brave person feel vulnerable at times?
Life never ceased to annoy and astonish her at times. It throws challenges daily, out of habit. Maybe life liked us to play every ball he pitched in our direction to make our lives more seasoned. Saavi also got immersed in her philosophic reviews.
"Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevent all men, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature of spirit. Yoga cannot know a barrier of East and West any more than does the healing and equitable light of the sun."
- Paramahansa Yogananda
At a time of turbulence, calmness helps to stay put, or maybe it is an indication to accept the future changes. God might want her to discard yesteryear's toxic stuff from her mind and hang on to the future longing. Saavi attempted to do breathing exercises to slacken her rigid body and mind. Then, she repeated the mantras, which are her best buddies lately.
The turbulent mind cannot even detect a needle. Saavi felt she needed to hold on to a stable belt in the stormy weather to survive the roughness. She clung to the ray of hope shining at the horizon's end. Saavi's life might be stuck in a muddy puddle, yet she had to overcome this obstacle at any cost.
" Stormy minds
Bereft of emotions
Shaking of beliefs
Staying sleepless
Even at nights."
" Where to find respite
When all storms
Rising from within
Shakes her violently
Every moment in life?"
" Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will land at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Terminal in 35 minutes. The temperature at the airport is 35 degrees Celsius, the humidity is 85%, and the sky looks a bit hazy. Thank you for flying with us today. We hope you have a safe stay in Mumbai. Cabin crew, prepare for landing. Thank you."
With the captain's announcement, Saavi came back from her dreamland. She should learn to fly above her problems like an eagle to reach great heights. Saavi was hesitant initially, yet she decided to forgive others. It would heal her wounds fast if she could forgive herself first. She felt fresh and delighted at her clarity of thoughts. Well, no sad thoughts clouded her mind any longer. Did you mention clouds here?
"One who has never known the turbulence of life, in whom the petals of the mysterious flower within have never opened; such a one may seem happy, may seem a saint, his single track mind may impress the multitude with its power - but he is ill equipped for life's true adventure into the infinite."
-Rabindranath Tagore
After a smooth landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Saavi unfastened her seatbelt. What a ride it was, she screamed in her mind! Well, she is unscathed, sitting in one piece. But, she could not get past the unruly behavior of the clouds and rain. Will Saavi encounter another disturbance in the future? Another turbulent situation might be lingering eagerly for her appearance outside the arrival gate.