Sun Kissed

Chapter 2: Here we come!

It's 7:30 am and I'm at the boarding gates of Dulles International Airport. I'm right on time and fortunately so is my flight.

I show the staff my boarding pass, then take a deep breath and head towards the plane.

It was going to be a long flight. I was extremely lucky that I at least got a direct flight to Kolkata. In Kolkata, the squad gathers and from there we take our next flight to Port Blair (Andaman's capital).

The plane started rumbling signaling take off. So I leaned back and in no time we were among the clouds.

I selected a movie from the options and spent two and a half hours watching it. I have a feeling that I slept through some part of it but anyways...

So this time, I took off my headphones and purposely took a nap. I was awoken by a slight commotion. Wow... I slept for two hours straight. I look up to see that food was being served. My lips curled down in a grimace. I hated the food on the plane. It made my whole digestive track go queasy. But I still ate something.

Then went to sleep again and this time I was awoken by the captain's announcement. We were going to land in another fifteen minutes. So I packed my stuff, redid my hair and make-up that had messed up during the entirety of the flight. Then stretched my limbs trying my best not to accidentally hit the person on the side.

Once I achieved all of that, the excitement about the trip and meeting my friends bought a grin to my face. I must have looked like a nutcase, smiling for no reason, but I didn't care. I was going to meet my friends and I was happy.

Finally, I found myself in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. The familiarity struck me hard. Belonging from Kolkata, this airport was on my 'Visit once a year' list. Earlier it was in my 'Visit twice a year' list, then life struck and now you find it in the former list.

I find an empty spot to avoid getting bumped into in order to turn on my phone. As soon as that happens, I'm bombarded by notifications from my friends. Apparently, I was the last one to land. I send I quick text signifying my landing and ask them where they were waiting.

I head towards the direction mentioned. After just five minutes, I hear my name being called out. I frantically look for the source and then I spot them jumping and shouting like maniacs. I run towards them and without a warning, I am almost stumble backwards because of the hug. I don't even need to look at the person to know who it was and I wrap my arms around her. It was Divisha, her once curly hair now flattened pin-straight. After we pulled away from each other which seemed like an eternity later I bet my smile mirrored her Joker-kind of wide smile.

We then walk towards the boys who were watching our dramatic reunion from a distance.

Kaushal and Saahil were resting on a wall with stupid smirks on their faces that I gradually didn't mind anymore.

Kaushal's eyes were covered with a pair of sunglasses, most probably already in the beach mood. But who on earth wears sunglasses in an airport?!

Saahil was in one of his typical cotton Polo necks. He said he would grow taller and he was damn sure right. Complan did its magic. God! Now he was going to eat my head!! Uhhh!

And then finally, Varun. His hand now lazily draped over Divisha's shoulder. I gave him a knowing smirk.

I greet them and in no time boisterous laughs are heard from this group of friends. Friendly insults passed around. Memories reminisced. Futures planned. We were on cloud nine.

All of this was interrupted by an announcement warning us about the boarding gates opening for our flight to Port Blair.

Dammit...just 10 minutes left!!

So all of us started sprinting. Pushing our way through, receiving a lot of insults in the process, we reached with exactly a minute to spare.

All five of us were finally on the plane. Divisha was beside me and the boys sat together. We were buckled up and ready to go.

Once I boarded the plane and settled down near the window ( yup, I paid extra for the seat), I strained my neck in curiosity. There were lots of tourists, some even had prayer beads around their necks! Some were dressed as if the first thing they'll do after getting off this plane was going to the beach. But, who am I to judge?

It was a pretty short flight as per our expectations and even the time duration written on our boarding passes.

The view from above was beautiful. The sea had at least five shades of blue and green. I had never seen something so pretty. The scene was begging me to paint it but I knew that I would not be able to give justice to it. The afternoon sun made the multicoloured sea sparkle as if someone had sprinkled it with diamonds. I was in awe.

I was going to stay in this paradise for the next six days.

The Port Blair airport was the very definitely of cute. It was small and palm and coconut trees lined the boundaries.

We got off the plane, collected our luggage and we're out of the airport in thirty minutes flat.

We were waiting for the car we hired. I was thankful for the fact I was mindful enough to wear a light cotton shirt and a denim jacket that I had stuffed into my backpack before getting off the flight. It was hot and humid here and I could feel the drops of perspiration rolling down the side of my face. Bye-bye make-up!

Till the time we reached the hotel, I had not a bit of energy left in my body. As soon as I opened my hotel room's door, my body hit the bed.

Kaushal, Saahil and I had rooms of our own while Varun and Divisha shared a room. So nobody would disturb me.

I blacked out in no time.