Novel: AN UNWANTED FLIGHT
CH#17
Spring & love at Beijing
The flight from Islamabad to Beijing
takes almost 5 hour to cover the distance of 2451 miles above mighty Himalayas.
This was the first ever experience of those two birds to fly in airplane.
'I know Zain would soon purpose Yong during this trip to China. I felt love among them,' Houbara bustard was lost somewhere else.
is the best place to purpose someone. What do you suggest?’ Houbara felt keyed up to disclose this secret.
‘What? Are you leaving again?’ Yong’s mother yelled on observing them reserving train tickets to Nanchang railway station at Nanchang at Jiangxi province.
Link to first & all episodes: An unwanted flight: journey of two migratory birds
'I know Zain would soon purpose Yong during this trip to China. I felt love among them,' Houbara bustard was lost somewhere else.
‘Oh, I just don’t believe that I’m
crossing snowy, high and spiky Karakoram Range without fighting with the harsh
weather and cruel hunger. My wings are thankful too, for having a break. Now
you must admit that humans are genius creature on earth,’ Siberian crane lauded
the humans, slipped near the window and gazed down.
The view from airplane was not
different from such height for a migratory birds but experience was new indeed.
‘It must be Qarqan river…now see
Aoyiyayi Lakexiang…highway snake multicolor Chinese mountains, unbeatable glaciers
and here is my favorite Yellow River and Huni river…,’
‘Stop your commentary. I already
know about these places. Just let me have the pleasure peacefully. You know it
was wonderful to ride with Yong and Zain from Lahore to Islamabad. Their friendship has turned up to cozy feelings at this winter . I wish that their friendship and love blossom like this spring.
They really cared for me,’ Houbara bustard at last admit the human astuteness
FAMOUS PLACES AT BEIJING
‘Pakistan and China really have
tested and bonded friendship for any intricate time. Sweeter than honey, higher
than Himalaya…,’
‘You silly goose, I’m talking about
the friendship of Yong and Zain who took us to this plane. Their project on
bird’s migration is about to end. I know Zain would soon purpose Yong, may be
at Beijing…
at China wall…
summer palace or…
at temple of heaven..
no but I think Forbidden City
no but I think Forbidden City
is the best place to purpose someone. What do you suggest?’ Houbara felt keyed up to disclose this secret.
‘Why not? They’ll surely go with our
suggestions but I’m happy that Zain and Yong’s company have somehow twisted
your atrocious thought. Let’s just wish that at last I can see my mother and
sister at Lake Poyang,’ Siberian crane taunted.
BEIJING AIRPORT, BEIJING AND PAKISTAN
After flying for almost 5 hours the
plane landed on world’s 9th busiest airports; Beijing airport. The
paintings of fire exhaling dragons and of variant landscapes amid traditional
Chinese calligraphy on red silk accompany with red Chinese flags greeted them
on airport.
‘Beijing is one of the oldest cities
in the world which witnessed the evolution of souls on this land. Beijing had
been the capital of four Chinese densities for centuries. The first
international flight which landed on the Beijing airport amid historical and
most populated towns of Beijing was from Islamabad, Pakistan in 1950,’ Zain
read aloud from an informative board.
‘Oh, I didn’t know it before,’ he
turned to Yong who was checking her documents.
‘But I knew it and many of Chinese
admit that Pakistan has played significant role in development of our country
at nursery stage,’ Yong packed her bag.
‘That’s why we say ‘long live
Pakistan China friendship,’ Zain looked for cargo counter.
They approached the cargo side and collected
the cages of Houbara and Siberian crane.
WANGFUJING STREET,BEIJING
‘Then you’re not coming with me?’
Yong saw Zain waved for airport cab.
‘I told you…I just want to have some
rest…,’ Zain was staying at one of many hotels across famous wangfujing street.
‘It’s Ok but we’re meeting by tomorrow.
I’ll pick you from hotel.’ Yong turned back when Yong’s driver put the cages in
car.
Sky scrapers,
multinational franchise,
bird’s nest stadium,
grand Peking University,
chinese theater academy,
digital and electronic
giant size billboards glowing at every square, content and prosperous youth
were depicting the prosperity,
allegiance, dedication and homage of Chinese people at Beijing.
Car stopped by
an ancient style build beautiful large house at Wangfujing Street among eventful
markets and time-honored temples. Yong’s parents were waiting for their only
daughter anxiously.
‘Where is your friend?’ her mother
looked behind her.
‘At hotel…he’ll come by tomorrow,’
Yong put her bag at one side, took off her shirt from jeans and set herself on
couch which was needle crafted with a vessel; a description of Chinese ancient
art.
Siberian crane was set free at a big
swimming pool at her home and Houbara bustard rested on a big tree at her
garden.
Next day Zain came to visit Yong.
Her parents warmly greeted him.
‘What? Are you leaving again?’ Yong’s mother yelled on observing them reserving train tickets to Nanchang railway station at Nanchang at Jiangxi province.
‘Mom, we just have to deliver this
Siberian crane there. After that I’ll hung with you that you’ll get annoyed,’
Yong got up hurried and cuddled her mother smelling the upcoming situation.
BIRDS HAVE TO LEAVE CHINA NOW
‘I really thought that these birds
can fly their own to Lake Poyang without any human aid,’ her mother acted
angry.
‘Spring is about to cherish. It’s
time for these migrant fowls from south to go back to Siberia. By the way why
don’t you lug them back there but ride all birds from the lake on plane,’ she
continued in anger.
‘Great idea, Mom. I like Lake Baikal
at Siberia but the hushed track ways around Lake Poyang also adores me. What do
you say, Zain? Where we should leave?’ Yong cackled that her herbal tea
splashed around from her traditional Chinese tea mug.
‘I don’t know,’ Zain didn’t want to
indulge in their emotional conversation.
‘But I know…You’re staying here and
finishing your project and then you both decide…,’ her mother had empty cups
and turned to kitchen.
‘But…,’ Yong tried to protest.
‘I’ll go…we’ve reserved our seats,’
she yelled facing at kitchen, got up and came out the street.
LOVE AND SPRING AT BEIJING,CHINA FROM ISLAMABAD, APRICOT FLOWERS
The chill air restrained her to stop
for while but then she continued to walk towards a brown grassed garden at end
of street.
‘Hey, Yong…listen,’ Zain followed
him tighten his scarf around his neck.
‘I know you were really excited to visit Lake
Poyang but sometimes things twist opposite to our plans. May be nature want us
to visit there together at next autumn?’
‘But…don’t you think spring would be
too tender at green woods around there,’ she grumbled by looking in his eyes.
‘Ann…definitely it would be but you
know what…,'Zain looked around.
The pinkish white flowers on barren branches of apricot trees were depicting the first sign of spring all over the garden.
'The spring is already here, my dear. Look at this apricot tree loaded with flowers without any leaves, the first sign of spring at many countries. Be
fore shifting to Lahore, at Islamabad, I used to wait for first the week of March throughout winter just to watch these beautiful panorama of nature. Just in one week, these sign of spring will fall to ripe fruits under dense green leaves and I don't want to miss this chance,' he stopped for while.
fore shifting to Lahore, at Islamabad, I used to wait for first the week of March throughout winter just to watch these beautiful panorama of nature. Just in one week, these sign of spring will fall to ripe fruits under dense green leaves and I don't want to miss this chance,' he stopped for while.
Yong gazed at him amazed but she could smell the love blossoming in air. Zain jumped up and held a branch with apricot flowers and bowed down.
‘Will you marry me?’ he bowed down.
spring and love under apricot flowers,Beijing |
‘Ann…I’ll think…please leave this branch now,’ Yong’s smile waved
the leaves twirl and hop with a fresh air gulp.
'Actually I didn't want to kill these baby apricots,' he left the branch.
'But we'll visit lake poyang next autumn and think of some plan for our bird buddies,' she said.
‘Oh it was so simple but cute,’
Siberian crane and Houbara seated themselves on top branch of tree in garden.
TIME TO GO BACK,TOWARDS LAKE POYANG
‘So buddy, it’s time to leave from
here too before they plan something more for us,’ Houbara bustard turned to Siberian
crane.
‘May be after flying on plane, we
also forgot that we’re fowls and can fly by our own. Sometime forcefully and
most of the time by patting these humans seize our instincts and we remain
unaware.’ Siberian crane gulped high in sky and Houbara bustard followed him
and their destination was Lake Poyang 1200 miles away from Beijing. To be continued