Chapter-3
The Love Bond
Journey Begins
The wait for the day for the journey that Ayush was waiting to get abroad, find a job and earn which was throbbing in his heart was coming to an end. The flight he booked was with the Austrian Airlines to Vienna International airport in Austria. The city capital Bratislava of Slovakia resides 50 Kms from Vienna. Mr. James Ayush’s dad’s meat dealer and friend were assigned to pick the much anticipated young man Ayush to his apartment from the Vienna airport.
The Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport is huge and has most of the carriers in service but most of the outsiders land in Vienna to save a lot of money in their pockets.
And finally Ayush bid goodbye to his family and leaves for the beautiful European country Slovakia sandwiched between the other big and popular countries in the central Europe.
He walked along the Chatrapathi Shivaji terminal browsing through the bookstalls and antique stores which labeled the pricy tags to kill the waiting time for his flight.
He purchased a translator from the airport which would fit in his pocket.
The information board showed check in and the boarding procedures began.
With all the curiosities of a first time flyer Ayush walked along the aerobridge and boarded the aircraft.
The gorgeous Austrian flight attendants guided him to his seat numbered B-1 giving to a relief to his worries. The safety procedures were illustrated by one of the cabin crew, Ayush kept watching it with great concern, the entire procedure when frequent flyers would doze off during that time mostly, the engine sound kept rising and the aircraft was getting pushed for its final run before takeoff.
Anticipation grew in him. Butterflies filled in his stomach and final breach started slightly pushing the passengers to their seats the Austrian carrier gained its speed through the Mumbai runway and glided into the air bringing hope and wings to young man waiting for his new life abroad.
After approximately 11 hours duration of travel with a transit at Dubai finally the flight touched down at the Austrian land at the Vienna International airport. The passengers disembarked the flight.
They lined up in the queue at the immigration counters, it was Ayush’s turn the white pale fat man took his passport and rolled his eyeballs through the visa page, gave a serious look at him which caused Ayush a little bit of anxiety thinking that anything wrong possible has happened. But everything went right after all it is every travelers wish to get through the immigration process without any difficulties finally the man took a big stamp and punched the immigration stamp and smiled at Ayush and said “Welcome to Austria”.
This gave a much relief to Ayush and then he collected his bags from the baggage belts and walked outside the airport. The big clock at the airport showed 9 PM.
He decided to keep waiting for his father’s friend Mr. James in the blistering cold who was supposed to take him to Bratislava. The chill of the cold winter night was taking power; it was penetrating into his skin. He couldn’t hold take it anymore so he decided to unwrap his bag and get his leathered dark grey trench coat. And then of a sudden Ayush gets a text from James.
Mr James ford got its tire punctured on his way along the freeway, he texted about the unexpected and told him to catch a cab from the airport and messaged him the address of his apartment.
Stranded in the night in a foreign land Ayush kept walking to find a cab. He enquired the cab driver about the about the ride charge. Overhearing his conversation with the driver a person in his 30’s probably looked Asian walked towards Ayush and asked him “Are you travelling to Bratislava”.
“Yes, I am” replied Ayush.
“I am off to Bratislava too, I work there and I am from Bangalore, would you mind travelling with me because I think cab usually charge too much, we have rail services it’s cheap and safe. I can help you out probably if you don’t mind” he said.
“Oh! Thank you! I am glad” said Ayush.
“I am Mervin by the way, how about your good name sir?”
“I am Ayush, I am from Mumbai” smiled Ayush.
They walked towards the Hauptbahnhof Station in Vienna.
The European unions are well connected by EU rails which are easily accessible and incredibly cheap.
They pretty much have the world class trains and season tickets valid for a particular period time can be purchased. They purchased two tickets costing them Euro 15 each to the Bratislava Hlavna Stanica station with a travel time on the ticket which indicated one hour.
They waited at the terminal and finally a porche silver red lined Double Decker trained arrived and stop in front of them. The train actually fascinated him in its looks when Ayush thought and compared it to his homeland rail services.
They stepped into the warm luxury couch and settled down in their seats and felled a great relief from the husky cold outside.
The train began to move taking them Slovakian capital, Bratislava.
Thanks for reading,
Copyright by Gokul Vijayan
To be continued…….
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