What’s the biggest fear you’ve overcome? Changing a stable job? Getting out of a toxic relationship? Travelling solo? Moving to a new city? Well… whatever it maybe, my 85-year-old grandma will beat you to it, because at this age she overcame her fear of air travel.
My Nani had been looking forward to meet my mom, who was in Lucknow with my dad. I was planning to visit them for the weekend and suggested if I should get her along with me. After all, it was only a 45-minute flight. I am sure, she could be a kick-ass solo traveller too, but we decided to take one step at a time. Surprisingly, it didn’t need much convincing. However, there were certain rules to follow:
The Rules
1. No window seat: Unlike me, who would still not swap her window seat with a 3-year-old; she was more convinced about taking the aisle or the middle seat. She didn’t want to look outside the window.
2. Ear plugs: She was worried about having pain in her ears. Even though her hearing ability is slightly impaired, I assured her that her hearing aid, would serve the purpose.
3. Washroom break before take-off: Now that is something that I follow too. There is something claustrophobic about washrooms on airplanes. She was worried about not wanting to walk around during the flight.
4. Once buckled, the seat belt will come off only post touchdown: She was worried about not being able to maintain her balance or if there was any turbulence during the flight, she would want to be well settled.
5. No sleeping during flight: She wanted to be well aware of what was going on, so that she could tell me and we would have enough time to respond to the situation.
Here is something you need to know about my grandma. She refuses to accept her age. She still thinks that she can walk around on her own, manoeuvre through crowd without anyone’s help. I admire her for that (and don’t doubt that either). She is like one of those awesome grandmas that you see in Pixar films, who beat the burglars, and rule the neighbourhood. Convincing someone like that to take the help of a wheel-chair assistant is a bit tough. But I am her favourite grandchild, so she agreed to it quite easily.
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Check-In
We entered Terminal 3 at IGIA, she walked right up to the airline counter, and told me, “that was quite a walk..”, to which reassured her that she wouldn’t have to anymore. We got her to sit on the wheelchair, while I checked in. As she saw the luggage being checked-in, she asked me if we were going to get it directly at Lucknow? And once I confirmed the same, she seemed a little uncomfortable, because she was used to carrying her bag with her, but I told her not to worry about anything.
Post the security check, we made our way to the gate. The wheel chair assistant thankfully wasn’t inspired by Dhoom or Fast and Furious, so he maintained an easy pace and a straight line. Once we started to board, she told me, ‘That was quite a walk. Are you tired? Do you want to sit on the wheelchair instead of me?’ I just hugged her and told her that I was fine.
As we boarded the flight, the cabin crew was extremely helpful. What we don’t realise at times is that a simple gesture makes a world of a difference. As the cabin crew greeted her with a smile, she was ecstatic about how nice people were to her. We found our seat and made her comfortable. I requested for a blanket and a pillow to make her comfortable and she was all set for her first air travel.
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In Flight
As the plane took off, she couldn’t help but peep out and after a while when we were at the cruising altitude of 30,000ft, she says, ‘we are quite high up,’ and leans back in her chair.
Once the meals were done, I was reading my book. She saw one of the passengers open the overhead cabin to take out his bag. She tapped on my hand and said, ‘I believe his stop might have come, that’s why he is taking his luggage out’. I honestly didn’t know how to respond to that, but it was one of the best things that I heard in the longest time. ‘There is only one stop Nani. The flight wouldn’t make any halts, any where else.’
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Touchdown
The flight landed in Lucknow, and she let out a sigh of relief. The moment we walked out of the aircraft, she gave every person of the cabin crew her blessings and asked me, if we were going to get a wheelchair assistant here too. I told her not to worry and made her sit in the one that was waiting for us at the gate, as we deboarded the plane. We met my mom at the arrival gate, and as we sat in the car, she was astonished. Said, ‘I never even came to know how I reached from Delhi to Lucknow. I am not feeling tired at all.’ To which, I then let out a sigh of relief, and wondered if I will be that cool and calm, when I choose to do something that I have never done in my life!