Ready For Take-Off

"A pilot", Nitin proclaimed with some difficulty, with a proud smile on his face. A few of his classmates giggled, the others clapped, and one whistled his approval. Mrs. Kay made a stern face at the whistler and turned to look at Nitin. Eleven years old, quadriplegic and strapped to his wheelchair but always smiling, Nitin was one of the smartest students in the class. Never did the boy dissuade himself from trying. Be it answering a question, laughing with his fellow classmates or complaining about them, Nitin was a doer first, thinker later. This could not be said for all the students, even though they didn’t have cerebral palsy.

"A pilot!” he shouted this time. And Mrs. Kay saw the resolve in his eyes and his friends heard it. She beamed at him. "Okay Nitin," she thought to herself, "The world may not want to see you as a pilot, but we will make sure you get to fly."

A week later, when Nitin was strolled into the school gates by his caretaker who had a smile on his face since that morning (and had brushed away Nitin’s attempts to get an answer out of him), he was surprised to find his friends Vivek and Sharanya awaiting his arrival, both holding a big placard that said, ‘Captain Nitin Manek’. After saluting him, he was escorted to the school playground. Again, his questions were ignored. His entire class had assembled on the ground. Mrs. Kay stood next to a table that had three devices on it. She clapped twice, and the entire class chanted, "Morning Captain! Crew of Class Fourth ready for takeoff!"

Vivek picked up a device and walked towards Nitin while Sharanya walked with another to the end of the playground. Mrs. Kay Stood next to him with the third device. Nitin pointed at the thing in her hands and asked what it was. "These are a pair of virtual reality goggles Nitin. Sharanya has a drone in her hand which you will fly with the help of this controller - Vivek," she gestured. Vivek placed the controller in Nitin’s hand. ‘I will put these goggles over your eyes, and Sharanya will launch the drone into the sky. You will be able to see from the drone’s point of view through these goggles and you can control it using the controller.’ Nitin hadn’t fully comprehended the scenario yet, and as he was fighting back a tear, Mrs. Kay placed the goggles over his head. He was up in the air! He was over a hundred feet above the ground! He could see the whole playground, his classmates and the whole school! "Push a button on the controller Nitin." Mrs. Kay urged. He did so. It felt like he was flying a plane.

"I am a pilot!” he proclaimed!