The whole time at the airport, I felt okay. My fever miraculously went down for the first time in 5 days. Apart from a little cough with phlegm and the natural weakness of being sick, I felt good.

Boarding and take off went smooth. I was impressed with the cleanliness and modern feels of the Fly Dubai plane to Kathmandu.

2 hours into the flight I felt this familiar piercing pain in my ears, the one you feel when the cabin pressure gets too much as the plane gains altitude. I chewed and pinched my nose while swallowing, and waited it out. I knew the discomfort should eventually stop. But then the intensity of the knife-like pain inside my left ear kept going, and increasing, and at one point I started questioning all my life choices.

Just when I thought I was going to pass out, I heard a POP and the pressure was released. Instantly the pain was gone. I put my hands over my ear to check if it was still there. I felt warm liquid coming out. I looked at my hands and there was blood all over.

I immediately approached the cabin crew and asked for help. They assisted me to the best of their ability. I was advised to cancel my connecting flights as I may have ruptured my eardrum. Upon landing I was handed over to ground crew as a medical emergency.

Sadly, in this Nepal airport, if a person can still walk, there is no emergency.

To be continued…