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::The Journey::
8 years ago
It’s Four forty A.M. by my watch on the second most significant day in the context of India’s existence – Republic Day! And what could be better than sitting at the airport of the National Capital, awaiting the rest of the nation to awaken to the celebrations that would begin in a couple of hours from now.
26th January, atleast for the last two years has meant me being at the IIT Madras for their annual cultural festival, SAARANG. But today, after just two hours of sleep, I await in the lobby of “Indian” (formerly Indian Airlines), even as patriotic songs reverberate on the mounted television screens around me. It’s kind of a co-incidence that I would be flying the official national carrier after almost ten years ( and no, neither am I a privileged club class member, nor do I hold an exclusive frequent flier pass), but yes, in the era of the Kingfisher and other premium airlines, INDIAN does face challenges in innovative branding.
The lady at the baggage check in counter seems to be in her late 40’s with a smile that best suits the one Inzamam-ul-Haq has when Shoaib Akhtar is walloped by Sehwag. She examines the ticket with the least of interest even as a co-worker interrupts her frequently seeking clarifications. It’s almost as if the lady has been in the system for so long that she knows all procedures by rote. Her identity card is so worn out that it resembles my grandmom’s ration card rather than an employee ID. Talk about long lasting durability.
Not very excited about her expected response, I still ask her, “ Kya aap mujhe ek window seat de sak te hai?” She looks up to me like “ Kid! You are not going on an amusement ride. And nothing’s visible other than the clouds, and for GOD's sake, it’s INDIAN, which may not even fly. So how does it matter?” All this, even as smartly attired personnel of other airlines whizzed around with the much desired enthusiasm.
The scene around me is pretty lazy. A middle aged “ Gentleman” has just taken off his shoes and has made himself comfortable on the seats, a couple of foreigners are curiously looking at the pigeons (the winged birds with a disturbed body clock thanks to the bright lights) flying over them in the lounge, and it’s almost day break but chilly winds are making their way through the wide doors that have just been thrown open to passengers of another airline that is due to fly shortly.
Yawns interrupt my otherwise peaceful existence and like a sleep deficient Vietnamese solider, my fingers have almost been mechanically programmed to type away at the laptop.
Time to catch some news folks. They’ve just loaded the complimentary newspaper stand and there’s already a beeline to grab the freebie. Lemme join the bandwagon too.
Can’t wait to be pampered by the “motherly” treatment of the air hostesses of the Indian flight like one of those Mother's Recepie advertisement . After all, Mother India is calling!
More on Mumbai , the city which never sleeps, once I reach there!
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9 Responses
hey ashu
how long r u gonna be in bombay? gimme a call at 9821234852
Deepak
I have flown Indian thrice and it has always been a very "Homely" experience. All the airhostesses look like my MOM to me :-D
Girish
@deepak: am back D but will be in your city soon shall giv u a call
@girish: roger that buddy *wink*
"the second most significant day in the context of India’s existence – Republic Day!"
how so? it is as significant or insignificant as any other day. well yes,definitely less significant than the day Tata acquired Corus! talk of hackneyed patriotic jingoism! significant, indeed!!
"And what could be better than sitting at the airport of the National Capital, awaiting the rest of the nation to awaken to the celebrations that would begin in a couple of hours from now."
hmmm... sleeping?? at least, i'll know i wont sleep-starved when its time to go to work...
oh, 26th is a holiday, isn't it? then sleep DEFINITELY!!
(what kind of a loser are you to wait for the nation to celebrate republic day?!?)
"like a SLEEP DEFICIENT Vietnamese solider, my fingers have almost been MECHANICALLY PROGRAMMED to type away at the laptop."
this is what happens if you stay up nights waiting for the nation to "celebrate" "significant" days. do some constructive work or sleep. at least you'll be fit enough not to get bootless ideas like the staying up one in your head!!
"Can’t wait to be pampered by the “motherly” treatment of the air hostesses of the Indian flight like one of those Mother's Recepie advertisement."
like one of those Mother's Recipe (yes, not Recepie!) ads? do the ads pamper one? do the ads mete out motherly treatment? or are the air hostesses themselves like the ads?? (wow!! add that to your list of bizarre ideas... coming from a sleep-deficient, mechanically programmed vietnamese zombie, i should not really be surpised, should i?)
@hm: H.M. for Head master I presume? coz you definitely sounded like one. pardon me for the spell error but that issue is of the least importance as evident from the comments.
I shall take them as those from a constructive critic and thus would not enter the space of defending why patriotism to me is as important as sleep to hm. But then yes, we all have our priorities and we are entitled to the same.
Coming to think of this maybe they should feature you on the "India Poised" campaign - One India that is looking up to the skies and ready to take off while the other that is staring at the abyss of the valley.
Talking of who is the loser in the above said context, I shall let you be the best judge.
Thanks for writing in.
Cheers. Let's make India proud
heh. 'Anonymity' and 'spineless' are synonyms, don't you think, Ashu? :P
Belated Happy Republic Day! I wud've tried to catch the parade than fly out of Delhi, though...