Episode 1
shariq Ali
Valueversity
Mona and I sat together in our airplane seats, browsing through the breakfast menu. The menu was quite extensive, but most of it wasn’t to our taste. Finally, we agreed on the vegetarian meal deal. At 40,000 feet, this arrangement seemed like a reasonable compromise. The airplane was packed with passengers—people from different nationalities conversing in their respective languages. Some were lost in their books, others gazed at the endless blue sky outside the window, and a few were engrossed in conversations with their seatmates.
This flight had departed from London Stansted Airport and was scheduled to reach Vienna in an hour and fifty minutes. Vienna—the heart of Austria, globally renowned for its culture, history, and music. The melodies of Mozart and Beethoven, the golden-walled historical halls of Schönbrunn Palace, and the image of its ancient gardens all stirred visions in my mind.
At around 5:00 AM, when we reached Stansted Airport—just a ten-minute drive from our home—the airport lights were gleaming. It was school holiday season, and the airport was bustling. Parents could be seen scolding their children for lagging behind, while enthusiastic children were pushing their parents forward in excitement for the journey ahead.
The security check queue moved swiftly, thanks to British discipline. Passing through the duty-free shops, we ignored the glitter of expensive watches and the wafting scents of free perfumes, heading straight for the main waiting area. We were running a little late, and the plan to have a relaxed breakfast at the airport seemed unsuccessful. There were plenty of restaurants around, but the screen was already flashing our flight gate number. With a hint of longing, we glanced at the breakfast menu of a nearby halal Lebanese restaurant and briskly headed towards our designated gate.
The flight departed on time. Now, having finished our vegetarian breakfast with some effort, we lounged semi-reclined in our seats, speculating about Vienna in a “Sheikh Chilli” fashion.
Vienna—a city of grand Baroque architecture and UNESCO World Heritage café culture—made us wonder: what would this city be like? Would the delightful conversations of intellectuals still echo in the cafés and tea houses? Would the walls and gardens of Schönbrunn Palace still narrate the grandeur of the past? Soon, answers to such questions would transform into reality before us.
An announcement came through, and shortly after, the airplane began its approach to Vienna Airport. The views outside the window were enchanting: gentle hills blanketed by dense forests and vast fields where fresh green crops swayed in the breeze. At least from our window, there was no sign of towering urban buildings.
Gradually, the airplane descended and, after a smooth touchdown, taxied towards the main airport terminal.
We had stepped onto Austrian soil. Vienna, where music, history, and the soul of fine arts breathe… To be continued.