Hubert and I - Episode Eight

The early morning sun peeped through the curtain that had blinded the balcony door while caressing the right hand side of my cheeks. Hubert lied on the coach with his head on my lap and while he faced the ceiling, he energetically narrated to me about his life experience living abroad.  Hubert had spent part of his life abroad, however; he was deeply rooted to his roots and culture. “I just love Kenya, don’t you?” he had said. I sat there smiling and thinking about how much he had loved life and appreciated every single bit.

Suddenly, there was a beep on his pager, a ring on his phone and I anticipated that the room would be invaded in no time. The phone had not stopped ringing until finally he answered and from the other end I could hear a male voice urging him to head back. Handing him his over coat, Hubert stood from the coach and as he wore his over coat, I walked him to the main door.  “You had said 2pm right? The time you are traveling back home.” Said he as he opened the main door that led to the corridor, we were met with his body guard who had stood right at the main entrance door waiting for him. Hubert turned towards me and before I could speak he had put his arms around me and whispered something in my ear making sure his body guard did not get a word. He then gently kissed the left hand side of my cheek and walked away followed by his body guard.

I watched him walk away and I realized how fond I had become of him. He was so simple and very easy to get along with that it felt like dealing with an ordinary citizen as opposed to dealing with one in power. He made me forget who he really was whenever I was with him. Walking back into my room, I heard Sam’s voice calling out my name. “Hanna! Hanna! Hanna! ‘I paused, then stepped back out again. Sam who was half running and half walking, appeared like she had seen a ghost. “Hanna! Guess who I just met walking down the corridor?” “Hubert” I said. “Yeah!, how did you know?” “Well, he was here.”  “Here! In your room!”  Surprised, Sam walked into my room and pleaded for details her face had this queer look. Closing the entrance door I walked in right behind her as I tried to fill her in on the previous night events. She was cutting me on every word I spoke making it very difficult for me to narrate the saga that had unfolded.  Shocked by the details, Sam picked the receiver and dialed Alana’s room and in no time Alana and Alex were tramping into my room giggling and all smiles. “Ladies, believe me nothing happened, we were consumed in our talks that we hardly realized it was getting late in to the night and finally it dawned” “Oh really!” teased Alex as they all giggled and laughed. It took several hours of narrating and re narrating as they all interrogated to check whether my story conformed to what I had said previously. “I actually heard commotions last night but I was too tired so I just slept “Actually it all started when I had assumed that it was you Sam knocking on my door, I didn’t know that I was letting Hubert in.” The sight of my friends smiling and giggling made me realize that trying to convince them that nothing happened was a waste of time.  

The cab driver arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the proposed time . We packed our stuff in a rush to avoid keeping him waiting. Lost in conversations, we had hardly checked the time. The drive to the airport took longer than normal as the traffic jam was heavier than usual. We arrived at the airport half an hour to departure. Successfully, we checked in, made through the waiting lounge and with sighs of relief we took to seat.  A lady’s voice could be heard projecting from the speakers announcing departure time, delayed flights and airport announcements. The normal busy announcements that goes on at the airport followed by people walking to board the plane or disappointed faces of those who had  delayed flights and from the glass view, were  those who had just landed walking in to the baggage area.

Suddenly, came the announcement we were waiting for, it was our time to board the flight. It was finally time to go back home to our normal routine. Carrying our luggage, we walked into the plane, placed our luggage in the compartments, buckled up and we were ready to go. Alex and I had occupied the same row seats while Sam was seated with Alana few rows behind us.  I felt a sudden feeling of sadness overcome me realizing that I was traveling away from the town that had held lovely memories.  Looking outside the window, I prepared myself for take-off. I had always feared the take-off and the landing part of the plane. I suddenly realized how much I had missed home and that gladdened my heart. 

Unexpectedly, there was an announcement and all were informed that there would be a slight delay. Agitated passengers were murmuring their disappointments and their discontentment in the airline service. Sounds of grumbling and clicking had filled the atmosphere. “Kenyans really love to complain” I said to Alex and with a smile I slide down on my seat and comfortably closed my eyes. Gently, five men dressed in casual wear walked in the plane, checked the baggage compartments, under the seat areas, the washrooms and walked away. They had gone round the plane inspecting and checking for what we all could not figure out. Everyone watched in fear not knowing what to expect next. Had someone boarded the plane with a bomb? Was it drugs? Everyone in the plane questioned. The flight attendants who had been summoned outside walked back in and came by each passenger to assure each one that all was well and that it was just one of those random called for inspections. Passengers were asked to settle down and buckle up. The announcement came on again and the voice apologized for the delay and that we would be taking off in five minutes time. The flight attendants gave the regular safety instructions for traveling and walked back to their cabin however, one approached our seat and spoke softly and gently to Alex. She then whispered something to the passenger who had occupied the seat adjacent to Alex. The two had walked as meek as lambs following the flight attendant. “Alex!” I called, when she signaled that all was well. Two airplane pilots walked in smartly dressed in their black pilot suit, pilot black hat and sliver reflecting sunglasses.  As everyone watched one took Alex’s seat and the other one took the seat adjacent to Alex.  Confused and rather irritated I was not able to understand why the flight attendant picked on my friend’s seat to give it to some strange pilot.  

Speeding through the runway ready for take-off , the plane wobbled due to the roughness of the terrain,    I could feel my heart sinking down to my stomach. I quickly closed my eyes and clasped my hands tightly together.  Where was Alex when I needed her to hold my hands? I had thought. “Don’t be scared, I got you!” whispered a male voice. The sound of the male voice made me feel at ease.  I felt a masculine hand gently placed onto my clasped hands as we suddenly went up horizontally then vertically to a stable position. Opening my eyes, I saw him leaning very close to me smiling. “At least now I know one of the things that terrify you,” he said smiling as he looked at me from the top part of his sun glasses Hubert had disguised himself as a pilot. I was filled with mixed emotions not knowing whether to be excited or frightened. “How do I look?” he teased. He asked that I should act composed and converse normally as not to attract attention. “You know that what you are doing is dangerous.” I said. He winked from the top part of his sunglasses picked a magazine from the seat pocket and began perusing through. I was very uncomfortable and I kept looking back and forth just to ascertain that nobody had noticed his presence. I was surprised to observe everyone busy with their own stuff.  “How did you manage to get in disguised? Do you want to tell me they all don’t know who you are?’ I asked in a low tone almost whispering. “Just the pilot and the head flight attendant know, the rest were told that I am a VIP pilot traveling in from South Africa” He said looking back at his magazine. It felt like he was enjoying torturing me. He was really feeling good in his disguised look to a point that he had assumed the role of a pilot. 

“Hanna, I would like to see you again but not this way, disguised and all” he had said. “Am traveling to China next week for a business trip and before I do I would like to see you” “Are you asking me out on a date?” I jokingly whispered back as I concentrated on the small screen that was ahead of me. “Uuum, if you call it so then yes, yes I am asking” He was leaning towards me adjusting his sunglasses to have a better look at me. I reminded him that he was traveling as a VIP pilot who did not know me. Smiling, because of the effect I had on him I agreed to see him again. Like a warrior who had worn a battle he reclined back to his seat wearing a victorious smile. There was an announcement that the flight would be landing in the next fifteen minutes. The flight had started descending causing my tummy to make knots on the inside. My heart started racing as I quickly shut my eyes and clasped my hands together. Hubert took my left hand in his and held it firmly as he rubbed it with the other hand. The plane tires hit the ground with a strong thud wheeling through the terrain to a sudden halt. “You are home” he said. 

Hubert had urged me to stay behind. I had sent a text message to Alex earlier and she was to make sure that Sam and Alana would not sell out Hubert’s disguise. The girls were better actors than I had thought.  Soon the plane had only three people in it. The other pilot Hubert and I. “Hanna, I will be flying back with Jerry, he is my trusted friend and bodyguard.”  Jerry had now become a familiar face. I could tell from the look on his face that Jerry did not like the risks that Hubert was taking.  I could now understand clearly why Jerry had been harsh and unfriendly.  Jerry had a big task of protecting Hubert in that if anything were to happen to him he would be held liable. “The plane will be traveling back with just the two of you?” I asked. “Yes that is what Jerry proposed he says he can’t guarantee my safety if we have to carry another lot of passengers” He said as he smiled. “It will cost you?’ I said to him and acting like it wasn’t a big deal he removed his hat and his sun glasses placed them on the adjacent seat. “The coast is clear I can now be myself” he said studying my face from my hairline down to my neck.  “Come let me see you off am sure your friends would be wondering where you are?” he joked as he led me by the hand to exit door with my luggage on his other hand. “Hanna, Jerry will look for you and bring you to where I will be on Friday 10am.” Without thinking clearly I had accepted his invite. “Sir, No going out of the plane.” Said Jerry as a reminder to his boss not to get carried away by being a gentleman. We both smiled and whispered to each other how strict we thought Jerry was. I took my trolley luggage from Hubert, hugged him and walked down the staircase.  “Hanna, don’t be scared I got you!” said he and I looked back up to face him as he waved.