3 Chapter 3- Request of leave

After having dinner she returned to her work. She leaves home around 8:30 catches a bus to airport. She arrived to the airport one hour earlier and sits outside for forty minutes. Meanwhile she messages her parents in India and listens music to relax. This was her daily routine since the last six months, she didn't like to alter her routine; little did she know that her routine was about to change within few weeks?

When her watch ticks 9:45pm she enters the airport, she goes to tower where all the airline signals are monitored. She worked as night duty Air Traffic Controller(ATC) officer. There are totally three shifts, morning shift (from 6am to 2pm), mid afternoon or evening shift (from 2pm to 10pm) and night shift (from 10pm to 6am). During night only certain planes with noise quota limits 5,100 were certified to fly in sky without disturbing citizens from their sleep after having a tired day. Since the number of planes active are less, the number of ATC officers were few in number, 5 in this case.

As the name indicates ATC's are to direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace . They are allowed to have 3 breaks of 15 minutes, during this break one had to make sure at least one of the officer is monitoring the plane, to sum up they cannot have all the officers cannot have break at once.

During her first break time at work she went to her higher officer requesting leave for a week. Daniel Wheeler was higher officer, he was british man in his mid 40's was a strict person who believd in his own principles; he was in his chamber busy with some paper work.

Kruthika knocked at the door," May I come in sir?"

"Yes, come in?", said Daniel still busy with his paper work without looking at her.

"Sir, the reason which brought me here is that actually I needed leave for a week "

"May I know the reason for your leave Ma'am"

" I've to go to my country to attend the wedding of my sister which is scheduled on 26th to 28th of this month and being bride's sister I must attend the wedding. Sir, this is my sincere request, please sanction my leave for a week"

"Hmm.. Wait outside my cabin for few minutes."

Krithika waited outside thinking "whether will he alot leave or not, what if he catches me telling lies and even when I would say truth he does not belive and grant her leave" these thoughts continued until her boss called her inside.

"After looking at your report of your work it seems that you haven't taken a single leave from the time you've joined which has been six months. I grant you leave for week please submit your request mail regarding the same within your working hours to consider your leave. Now you may resume your break"

"Thank you sir", she left the cabin, returned to her desk writes mail.

"Hey! To whom are you writing mail? Is it to Sachin, that handsome roomie of yours?", said a voice behind her. It was the voice of her colleague Emily Hannigan. Emily was 30 years old, blonde hair and brown eyed woman. Even though Kruthika knew Emily for few months they were close.

"Actually this mail is being written to your fiancee to warn him about how vulnerable you are!", replied Kruthika with a smile on her face which reflected her happiness that she would be attending her best friend's wedding.

"Really! I know you would never do that. Now say me what's the matter?", asked Emily peeping into her mobile, "So you are taking leave for a week! Hey are you going for Diwali festival?"

"Diwali! Oh no. It's April, and Diwali festival would be in late October. The matter is that, I'm going to attend my best friend's wedding.", she saw that Emily's mouth was slightly opened in amusement, "Isn't it exciting, attending your sister's marriage and having fun. I'm lucky that Daniel Sir accepted my appeal at once"

"Hey, can I accompany you? Please! I haven't been to India even once. I wanna see how Indian wedding in India. Here I don't think one can see all the rituals. "

"Ofcourse you can, but you have to take permission from boss. I don't have any objection though! Okay mine mail is done I'm gonna send it to boss", said Kruthika.

"Oh even I've to get permission from boss. I don't think he'll give me since I've taken leaves very frequently", said Emily.

"Oh dear! I think break time's up. We need to get back to work", said Kruthika grabbing her headphone set.