The outline of the international airport at Mumbai was slowly becoming visible in the first morning rays of the sun on that April morning. Somewhere inside that was my family who had come to say goodbye to me. With a pang it came to me that this was the last chance that I had of stopping the plane, getting off and joining my family once more. I had never ever stayed away from them in my life and the thought of leaving them to work and stay in a foreign country seemed nothing short of a mad idea in that wee hours of the morning.

To take my thoughts away from my family I turned my eyes to the inside of the plane. The sight was not very encouraging for they were giving instructions about emergency exits, floating bags and oxygen masks. Maybe rest of the travellers were all seasoned because none of them was paying much attention to the safety video. I tightened the seat belt as visions of planes crashed in mid-ocean came to my mind.

"I see that you are flying for the first time" smiled an elderly gentleman occupying the seat next to me.

"You are right.What about you?"

"I have flown quite a few times. I have some business in New York. Where will you be staying?"

"New Jersey"

"A Software Consultant?"

I nodded in agreement. I was afraid that at this rate the next question would be "Java or SAP?" but fortunately further conversation was suspended as the plane taxied on the runway. The pilot informed us that due to heavy traffic our plane was the fourth one on the tarmac.

I craned my neck for the last look at the airport. "Ready for take-off" this curt announcement was followed by a sudden increase in the speed of the plane. A roaring sound of the engines filled the plane and it started thundering across the runway. I am very scared of high speeds since I was a child and my first reaction was to grip the arms of the chair tightly. Then I realized that I was secured by a seat belt. Though I released my grip on the arms, I was still scared. 'What if this plane never stops and bangs against something at the end of the runway? What if the engines catch fire? What if there is a malfunction in one of the engines?' I was trying hard not to show any trace of fear on my face. What will my fellow traveler say? I looked at him. He was reading a magazine but seemed as comfortable as if he were at home.

After what seemed like an eternity - but in reality were a few minutes - the plane finally took off. I felt a sudden lightness in my head for a few moments and my head whirled. But I soon recovered from these first effects of flying and looked out of the window to catch the glimpse of the airport building receding in the distance.

Since the plane was at a relatively low altitude the whole Mumbai city was like a toy city with its tiny buildings, tiny roads and toy cars. Somewhere in that toy city was my home where the day before at the same time I had been fast asleep with my family. As the plane started gaining altitude the city below disappeared and white fluffy clouds was all that I could see. Finally the huge wings turned and the plane began its journey towards its first destination - Heathrow Airport, London.

Since then I have flown many times - within US, to India and back to US. Now I am as comfortable as my neighbor from the first journey. But I can still remember and feel the rainbow of emotions which filled me the instant I boarded the plane and never left me till I settled in my new surroundings - I was afraid of flying, anxious about what the future had in store for me in that unknown land where I knew no one except for a few friends and worried whether I will get a good job there or not. Time ultimately proved that some of these feelings were unfounded and some justified.