100 Rays Of Son - 36

When I summoned The Mother Of All Patience

Rayyan has a tiny request for me regarding his posts. He wants me to share all his negative stories along with the positive ones. I need help from everyone who knows Rayyan to share with me any negative or evil stories they know of Rayyan because I am honestly unable to recall anything much.

Rayyan’s and Farheena’s first flight experience was from Mumbai to New York. Naturally Rayyan was excited and he wanted to know every do and don’ts on the way. I gave him a checklist of what he can do and what he cannot. One of them was about not using the SIM during the taking off and landing of flights.

We travelled to Mumbai via train and then got on the flight. 

We would be landing in Dubai and would be connected to different flight from there. As we boarded the plane, Rayyan was very excited about clicking pictures of almost everything. The flight, the food, the airport and many others but not the people. Somehow, people never attract his attention. Sigh!

When the plane was ready for take-off, the Air-hostess politely reminded him to switch off his mobile. Rayyan remembered the check-list and followed by advice literally that he will not use the SIM. So, instead of putting the mobile on the flight mode, he removed the SIM chip and placed on the rack in front of him and remained in awe of the airport, plane taking off and his new experience. The food was served. Farheena started throwing up everything and I had tough time dealing with her. We finished our dinner and the dishes were taken off by the grumbling staff who were upset that Farheena had thrown up, though I managed to contain it well. Some of the vomit had directly landed in the bowl and they treated that bowl like Nuke.

Finally we settled down and I hear a meek “Maa” from Rayyan. I wonder what happened to this guy, because he sounded like a lamb in distress. I throw him the ‘?’ look and he says, “I had removed the SIM from the mobile and looks like it went with the dishes. I cannot find it anywhere”. “And, why did you remove the SIM in the first place?” I ask, anger surging through me. He honestly answered, “I following your advice maa. You asked me not to use the SIM. If it is in mobile it is used when the mobile is used, so I removed it”.

I was a bit panicky at this because I had no way to get in touch with Paula who was supposed to pick us up in Tampa airport. I had no clue how to get to her home. I was angry but got control over myself before I said anything and summoned the mother of all patience to hold myself back from saying anything that would hurt Rayyan. I told myself, “Calm down Farida. He is excited and nervous with his new experience. Please do not spoil the memories of his first flight by being angry or scolding him”, and believe me I said, “Let me see what I can do about this”.

I tried contacting the crew and requesting them to find the SIM and they gave me a “You are Crazy woman” look. I decided to calm down and do whatever I had to do when the time comes. We finally landed in Tampa and I was quite worried as to what to do now. I knew it would terrify the kids if they knew I was worried, so I had to be the jolly mom on tour of USA and that I was.

Once in Tampa we just went with the person who pushed Farheena’s wheel chair and he left us near the airport door where people were picking up their friends or relatives and asked for a tip of 3$ . I had some change with me and so paid him and he went away. This is when the feeling of being lost in an unknown land came over me. Now I had no connection with anyone. We waited there for 20 minutes or so and then Rayyan suggested for me to get inside and look for Paula as we were sure she would not be late to come to the airport. She must have gone in to search for us. So, after ensuring that Rayyan and Farheena would not wander anywhere or go with anyone, I went looking for her. It was getting late and the airport wore a deserted look. A lady was sweeping the floor and I asked her how to use the telephone which looked tricky to me. Luckily this was the time when my good memory was a boon because I could recollect Paula’s number. I asked for change but she paid for the call and told me it is OK. I think she realized there was a messy situation with me and I was new to the place. But the call from the payphone wouldn’t connect. She gave me her mobile and asked me to call again. I got connected to Paula, and she wanted to know where the hell I was. As I was talking to Paula and explaining the hell with its description which included the cleaning lady,  I was surprised to hear her voice so clear. I was amazed how different phones are in USA as I could hear her as though she was talking to me standing right there in front of me, but in front of me was a woman wearing purple dress talking in her phone. As I was talking to Paula I could see the woman’s lips move to the words being said in the phone and I realized I was hearing Paula directly and not over the phone. I told the woman who was cleaning that may be I had found my friend as I think it is the woman talking into the phone right there in front of me was actually the person talking to me over the phone and handed over the phone to her. She threw an amusing smile at me and said, “If that is your friend, then you better find her because she has looked past you four times and I don’t think she is ever going to find you”. So I shouted “Pee, here I am”. The rest you can watch on the video. Rayyan got away way too easily for the mess he created. Looks like a negative post about him, right?

The placard Paula was supposed to hold to greet us was brought out after she met us. It did not serve the purpose it was meant for, but was beautiful...