When an airplane with a capacity of a hundred and fifty passengers, is filled with more than a hundred teen students, it is a rambunctious zone. It was total disarray of passengers with backpacks trying to stuff them into overhead bins, yelling to their friends on the other side of the aisle, walking around as if in a park. He had found his seat, by the window, after the air hostess ushered him quickly toward the general direction of economy class. He looked around as he sat down. He was excited and anxious at the same time, after all this was his first time traveling by air. This was the first time for a lot of things. The first time he was going to a different country all by himself, the first time away from home, the first time he would be learning a foreign language. He reminded himself, no room for fear or second thoughts. The plane began to taxi towards the runway for take-off and he felt extremely apprehensive. No turning back, he admonished himself for the umpteenth time. He closed his eyes as the engines started to roar and the plane picked up speed. He dozed off as the plane took off and woke up only when the air hostess came by with his special meal. He felt too shy to ask for another drink or even go to the restroom. After another 8 long hours of short naps, looking around at the interactions of the boisterous students returning back to their universities after the summer break, the plane touched down at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport.
After the immigration and customs, he collected his baggage and headed to the taxi stand. Kyiv was not his final destination. He checked for the instructions given to him by the agent who had arranged for his admission in the Zaporizhia State Medical University. He had to take a taxi to go to the train station. He showed the taxi driver the paper given to him by the agent and the driver nodded. In less than 30 mins, they reached the station. The taxi driver mumbled something foreign and when he met a confused, half-dazed passenger, he had pointed to the meter showing 250. He paid for the taxi and walked into the massive train station dragging his suitcases. At the counter, he purchased a one-way ticket to Zaporizhia. As he waited on the platform he noticed the impressive architecture of the grand terminal, its high arches, and tall ceilings in which nested dozens of pigeons. All the benches were occupied by the homeless and even though the station had an old musty smell, the overpowering odour from the homeless was greater.
The train pulled into the platform eventually, a dark black engine with gold trims towing the passenger cars behind it. It was as if watching a royal procession in motion. He got into the cabin fascinated by the interiors, slowly absorbing everything around him. From the time he left his home country, from the airplane to the train, every single thing has been a novel and unique experience. A total contrast to what he was accustomed to back home. He stowed away his luggage in the storage underneath the seat, sat down to eat his sandwich bought at the airport kiosk. An overnight journey lay ahead of him. As the train began to move, the cabin door opened and a young woman, around the same age as him, walked in with a backpack. Not to be too obvious, he looked up carefully and met her eyes. They were the color of the sea in the afternoon light. He had never seen such mesmerizing eyes ever before. She smiled at him and said something foreign pointing to the seat in front of him. He nodded timidly, embarrassed he could not respond back to her. She sat opposite him and asked, " You speak English? "in a heavy accent.
He felt relief that it was not going to be as awkward after all.
"Yes." He said urgently.
"Gut! I speak little. Very little." She gestured with her index finger and thumb pressing the air between them. It was charming how her eyes narrowed and widened as she spoke.
Involuntarily he brushed his hair back and looked down at his uneaten sandwich.
" Would you like to eat? " He offered.
She raised her left hand, waved it, and said something in her native tongue. He couldn't help but notice how gracefully she moved. He set the sandwich down on the table, even though he was hungry.
" You eat ", she commanded him smilingly.
Uncertainly he ate, sneaking quick glances at her. She started to read a book and had her head buried in it. After polishing off the last crumb, he stood up and stretched. He noticed she hadn't moved. He used the restroom and when he came out, she had hung her jacket on the hook and had her berth pulled out. He wondered if people here slept early. He wanted to talk to her. Learn more about her. Wished she was going to get off at the same station as he was going to. His mind raced with possibilities of the time he would be living in this country and that included her in them.
She interrupted his daydreaming "Turn light off?"
Disappointed, he did so and lay down on his berth. He had not realized how exhausted he was and soon drifted off into a heavy sleep.
Very abruptly he woke up to a sudden sensation of being gagged. Startled he realized he was not only gagged but also tied down. He couldn't move his arms or legs. Utterly confused he looked around and the light was turned on and the young woman was moving his bags to the door. He tried to shout but the gag choked him. She turned to him and started to pat him all over. She felt his wallet, pulled it out, and emptied its contents. Not satisfied with the loot in the wallet, she continued to pat him and finally found the secret inner pocket sewn inside of his pant seam. As she reached in to empty it, the train shook violently, with a thundering metal scraping loudness fell to its side and dragged on at rapid speed. The young lady got thrown mercilessly like a rag doll to the other end of the cabin along with the baggage. After several minutes of horrific tremors, the train came to a screeching halt. He watched it all helplessly as if he was witnessing an action movie in slow motion.
Four hours later, the rescue team found him gagged and tied down to his berth, still breathing.
Comments