Honoured kid gushes about ride of a lifetime
LUCKNOW: Prashant Samadhiya, a native of Baruasagar town near Jhansi, never knew that flying could be such fun. The wonder and pleasure of air travel, that too on a chopper, with none other than the chief minister of the state as companion, have made the experience an all-time best moment of his life. Small wonder he cannot stop talking about it.
The one-and-a-half hour journey was sheer bliss for Prashant, a meritorious student of Class 12, as he sat munching chips, chocolates and dry fruits. Tips on career and studies from his elite companion were an added bonanza.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had felicitated Prashant in Lucknow on Wednesday along with other meritorious students. While collecting the award, Prashant had told Yadav that his sister was also to be felicitated in Jhansi later in the day.
The boy was still to get over the euphoria about his brief conversation with the CM when a call from the district inspector of schools (DIOS) told him that he had been summoned to the chief minister’s residence.
“The call was a surprise in itself. I had not imagined that I was about to get another gift soon. I went to 5, Kalidas Marg, where officials told me I would accompany the chief minister to Jhansi,” said the proud boy, who was treated as a VIP.
“I was offered snacks and even lunch. I had the snacks but refused to take the lunch,” he said.
At the airport, Prashant’s elite companion asked him if he was scared of an air journey. “I said that I had never had the experience of flying before. But when the CM was next to me, how could I be afraid?” a beaming Prashant told HT on phone.
On the way, Yadav continued to guide Prashant who enjoyed the aerial view. “He asked me about my career and talked about his student life as well. I asked him about his first air journey and he told me that it was with his father,” said Prashant.
While at the function in Jhansi, the CM said he especially brought Prashant with him so that a brother could attend the felicitation function of his sister.
For Nisha, Prashant’s sister, it was a pleasant surprise to see her brother on the stage.
I SAID THAT I HAD NEVER HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF FLYING BEFORE. BUT WHEN THE CM WAS NEXT TO ME, HOW COULD I BE AFRAID?
PRASHANT SAMADHIYA