Maharani Of The Skies Chapter 4 ( Help Welcome)

After her graduation, Haya was accepted as a student pilot and was soon doing her basic military training at the Air Force Gymnasium at Valhalla, Pretoria. She attended the officer's training course in Pretoria, the pupil pilot's course, the ground school and her flying phases at Langebaan, near Cape Town.
After she had successfully completed the full student pilots course, she proudly received her wings. When the award ceremony was over, she was embraced by her father. When both had wiped away their tears of joy, they both burst out laughing. It was a great moment in both of their lives.

 Because of Haya's excellent scores during her training, she had received an invitation to join the elite Flying Eagles. The pilots in this squadron were highly skilled aerobatic pilots. They were among the best in the country and could be compared favourably with aerobatic pilots in other parts of the world. This unit flew the unique Czech built Z Lin 50's, which are capable of achieving some remarkable air manoeuvres.
Haya, of course, was delighted. She did not hesitate for a moment. She accepted the invitation immediately.

Her total joy was tempered by the fact that the one person that she had, in her heart, most wanted to impress, was nowhere to be seen. As Jason's absence continued, she became more and more upset. There had been that one very mysterious call when he had told her that due to the nature of his work his communication, with the outside world, had become more and more restricted. Before she had had any of her many questions answered, he had cut off.

That evening, on the night of her invitation to join the Flying Eagles, she sat alone in her room with her cell phone in her hand. She had been waiting for some time for the only call that really mattered to her. But, sadly, it never came.
She spoke softly to herself with a voice filled with utter despair.
"Damn you Jason. Damn damn you, you bastard. Why don't you phone? Would it be such a big deal to do so? Yes, damn you. If you don't damn well phone tonight, I'll promise you this. I'll fly as dangerously as I can. I'll fly higher than anyone else has ever done. I'll do reverse loops. I'll do manoeuvres that no-one else has ever dared to do before.
I'll take every risk that I can think of until you are forced to contact me. But even then, I won't stop until you say the words that I want to hear."

Jason did not phone. Not that night. Not on any other night for a long time.

Weeks later, almost by accident, the three friends met again. While they chatted and laughed it was as if they had never been separated. They were all in a happy mood as they sat in the Matador Coffee House in Durban's popular Musgrave Centre.

Somehow the subject got around to the essence of what bound the three friends together like the famous Three Musketeers.
Rakesh was the first to speak.
"You know what? We may be like the Three Musketeers but our interests are totally different. Look at us. One in the military. One in the air force and the other on a farm. It's crazy but something holds us together. What? What do you guys think?"

Jason smiled. "Well, it's not the love of flying. That applies only to Haya."
Haya turned quickly to look at him.
"But Jason, you fly around there with the eagles don't you?"
"Ah, only when I'm on special missions. When I'm asked to do it. And then it's only hang gliding."

He then turned to look at Rakesh.
"What about you, Rakesh. Don't you have a crop duster or two on the farm?"
"Yes, Jason, that's true. They were my father's treasured possessions and we look after them in his name. But I never fly them. If they are needed, my mother hires a professional to fly them. I'm too busy with other things. Farming is a full time business for me."
Jason put both of his hands firmly on the table. Jason put his hands on the table and looked at both of them.
"Well my friends. It may seem that we have nothing in common but the truth is that we certainly do. Something very important."
He turned and looked steadily into Haya's eyes.
"We certainly do have something in common and it's easy to explain. Haya, it's you."

Then he rose from his seat and told them that he had to go immediately. Haya looked devastated.
Jason turned to her and touched her cheek.
"It's going to be OK, Haya."
Then he turned on his heels and walked away. He did not look back.

It is a standard part of air force pilots' three-month Survival Training Course to spend four weeks learning the rudiments of self-defence.
The purpose of this was twofold. Firstly, to be able to defend oneself after one has made an emergency landing behind enemy lines. Secondly, should one have been captured but have an opportunity to escape, to be able to overcome any non-vigilant guard and then to find one's way safely home.
As a young Indian girl, Haya had not previously been exposed to any form of manual contact sport but had decided to grit her teeth and do what she had to do. She was a non-violent person at heart. Now she had been made aware of the fact that someday, with her newly acquired knowledge she could, possibly, avoid capture or even save a colleague's life.

When she entered the gymnasium for the first time, her jaw immediately dropped when she looked around and saw who the martial arts instructor was. It was none other than Jason. Jason of all people. She found out later that he was acting as a temporary coach due to an unexpected staff change. When she had first seen him him she had made an involuntary gesture. She could not help it. She instinctively held a hand to her heart, possibly in an attempt to control its sudden flutter.

When he turned and saw her, Jason showed only the slightest sign of recognition. Perhaps there had been a flicker of an eyelid. Perhaps not. The moment had passed so quickly that Haya could not be sure. He walked briskly to the front of the class as if nothing had happened.

"Welcome class. You'll be here every afternoon at 15 hundred hours. What you'll learn here may save a life. Perhaps even your own. So pay attention and remember my words to you and every lesson that I will teach you."

It was when the first hour-and-a-half was over and Haya had turned away to walk to the shower room that she heard Jason called out after her:
"Officer Sankaree. Welcome to the class. I believe that this is your first experience of man-to-man, or should I say man-to-woman combat."
"Yes Sir."
She felt a sudden strangeness. Had she just called him "Sir"! Was he then no longer her "Jason"?
As he began to speak again, she thought that she had seen something fleetingly in his eyes. Was it compassion? She was not totally sure but she thought that there may been something. A passing shadow.
"You understand, of course, that if I ‘m in any way considerate of your gender or even of you as a person, in these classes, it may be of disadvantage to you one day."
"I do, Sir. I ask for no special treatment."
"Very well then Officer. Go and shower now, please."

During the very strenuous course, Haya experienced physical hardship, even bruises, but never complained. She had over time become highly motivated by the thought that she may, someday, be able to handle any emergency better with her newly won skills. But there was also that underlying determination not to show Jason that he could do anything to hurt her. At least not in the gym.

When the four-week period was over, and the last combat exercises had been done, Jason called her aside. It was only the second time that he had done so.
"Well done, Officer Sankaree. I always knew that you could do it."
"How did you know, Sir?"
"Some people have a special quality. You certainly have it."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Officer, you're not finished with me yet."
Her heart skipped a beat. Was he about to say something special to her? Perhaps an invitation to go somewhere? She looked at him curiously.
"I'll be leading the next course, as well. Special equipment. I'll see you there in two weeks time. Go and shower now, Officer."
"Yes Sir."
The emptiness that she felt, as she walked away, was not caused by anything that he had said. She realised with an infinite sadness in her heart that she had had expectations from a relationship with him that obviously he was not aware of.

The next course was on special equipment and special procedures. During it, the class was taught how to board or leave a helicopter, how to control and repair a mountain motorcycle and how to handle certain weapons including grenades and flares.
Throughout the months that followed, Rakesh was always the one who regularly phoned her. He also had some sort of contact with Jason. Through him, all three kept in touch.
It was a period during which Haya earned her wings
Then, when it was over, it was Rakesh who suggested that the friends should all go together to the University ex-students dance to celebrate Haya's wings.

Haya had decided to wear her most beautiful red long evening dress to the dance. As she dressed her mind was on Jason. She was certain that this dress would make him sit up and take notice. She spent time selecting her bangles, a suitable necklace and applying a discreet amount of make-up, especially under her eyes.
When she arrived ant the dance hall, she was rewarded by the way the other girls looked at her. Their open admiration made Haya feel wonderful.
Soon after arriving at the hall, Haya heard someone behind her call her name. It was Rakesh.
"Hello Haya. Wait for us. Here's someone that I'd like you to meet."
Even before turning to look at that someone, she intuitively knew who it was.
"You remember Jason. He used to swing from branch to branch single handed."

She looked straight into Jason's eyes.
"Of course, I remember Jason. I mean Officer Mittal."
When Jason heard that he gave a soft laugh.
"It's OK, Haya. I'm just plain Jason now. Yes, I'm Jason, your friend once again."
He turned towards Rakesh. "Since my monkey days, Haya and I have managed to meet again. We were both in the military survival course, at different times, but were together in the martial arts class."
"Well then, Jason. Why don't you dance this dance with Haya? Show her that you are not just a Ninja assassin."
He smiled as he patted Jason on his shoulder.

Jason looked at Haya. He was once again struck by her wonderfully expressive eyes and the perfect shape of her lips. She was wearing a dress that matched her smouldering sensuality. He pursed his lips as he sucked in a little air. He stood still as his glance covered her whole body admiringly.
"Jason you're just standing there. Is this a pose from some army manual?"
"No, Haya. This is a pose of a friend who would love to dance with you. It's taken from my how-to-win-friends manual."
Impulsively, she lifted her hands to hold his. They were both laughing. As they walked away, Rakesh called after them. "Haya, don't forget. The next dance is with me!"
On the way to the dance floor, Jason looked at Haya. "You look stunning. What type of dancing would you prefer to do here? Ballroom or just easy?"
As she spoke she looked away as if she was about to reveal a personal secret. "Jason, let's just dance. Just hold me. Is that OK with you?"
"Yes of course. Don't you know that's what I've been waiting for?"