A much awaited saturday evening and i was ready to drive to the Mumbai International Airport to receive my adorable girlfriend. That of course was the prime objective, little did i know that this evening was going to be quitedramatic and had lots of entertainment in store for me. A 45-min ride just to be able to get thru a 200-meter stretch, not to miss the music and grand carnival of ganesha visarjan. If that wasnt enough, rain gods were being particularly kind to an almost drought hit city on the verge of facing a water-cut. A 75-min drive later i was finally arrived within the confines of the brand new multi-level parking complex at the airport. I had around 2 hours before she would make it to the arrival lounge.
So here i was, waiting like many others and trying my best to kill time. Ever since i was a young kid i could never comprehend how the crowd at the mumbai international airport was worse than that at Borivali Railway Station. As i keep wondering, i cant help but observe other visitors waiting to receive their friends, relatives or guests and persons arriving at the arrival lounge. I find myself next to 2 lower middle class men in their late twenties making small talk on some on local politicians. Right then, there's a group of blonde american hostesses who walk past the lounge. Now, here's what the 2 men had to say;
Man 1: Wow, these are the real deal. That's what air hostesses have gotta be like
Man 2: I agree. Look at our aunts in Air India, we dont seem to get enough of their motherly love and care
Man 1: We can never improve. Have you heard that Air India doesnt even have enough dough to pay off salaries
They're talking of the loss-making indian national carrier, their employees dont care a damn about whether you live or die. Monopoly made them surivive so many years and a US$ 1 billion will see them thru for the next few years. With so many grand mothers and fathers as their cabin crew, the indian government has little choice but to be kind to the carrier.
I head to a swanky new food stall to buy a bottle of mineral water at 3 times its MRP.
As I look around and see multiple other standard variety of guests and visitors you can expect at the mumbai international airport;
(1) The classic American-born confused desi who's been received by his desi counter-parts who're struggling to interpret like accent
(2) The Indian-born confused desi with a stronger accent than most americans
(3) A big group of dehati men and women who're waiting to receive a relative who's possibly traveled abroad for the first time ever
(4) A classic business traveler looking for a driver with his name on the placard
(5) The typical metro family that arrives with loads and loads of luggage (cheap shopping and electronics)
Then of course there are many unusual sorts.
I spotted this couple, husband taking a dig at wife's sister arriving from london. He just cant understand what's taking her this long to get out when the plane's landed 20-mins back. Little does he know the struggle to get thru to the immigration, declarations required for a swine flu mumbai (we're possibly the one city/country that relies on visitors declaring whether they're infected or not apart from men/women dressed in aprons who stamp these declarations blindly. They're of course pretending to be doctors. Other countries however rely on machines that spot body temperature and capture travelers with any symptoms), struggle involved in collecting the luggage at the conveyer belt, baggage screening and finally a big welcome by crook taxi drivers, hotel agents and unusually humid temperature.
Then there are scared foreigners wearing masks, and carefree foreigners who were acclimatised to india. You cant help but notice the joy that indians experience when they receive their friends and relatives. Love, attachment, respect and emotions- intrinsic to relationships and culture in india. Something thats so very unique to this country. Gradually some of it, in some of us is getting eroded by the globalisation and competitive attitude where there's no room for life, love and emotions. To me, India still will be one of the warmest places to be.
Finally arrives a pretty girl looking for someone she cant spot. . .she spots me and smiles while she's a bit shy. Its amazing how we meet after 4-days and still get so overwhelmed, i guess the feeling of belonging-especially to someone you love and adore will always be special and unique. We drive home while my overwhelmed and adorable girl takes me thru pictures of her Italy trip. Some gifts and a 10-min drive later, i am home and call it a day.
Lovely post! Never knew the writer in you. Keep Blogging!
ReplyDeleteThe modern day Airports are defintely the crossroads of today and tomorrow. There is no better place in the whole world where you can experience the sight of the diversity of humanity. IF someone wanted to feel the pulse of all backgrounds, all communities, all age groups,all cultures standing at one place it has to be the Airport.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the people come their emotions. I personally believe that when someone is travelling alone he/she is like a cauldron of emotions. One is continously assessing, deconstructing and processing several informations and incidents at one time like a microprocessor. One is thinking about past, present and future; repenting or correcting himself if he has done any mistakes in his past, re-evaluating all present decisions and planning his future. Of course there are the lost ones who are philosophising about the world and its problems. There are romantics who areadoring the architecture of the Airport, the facilities and the progress of mankind. The core thing is that the wait makes one be with himself. Even the world’s biggest busybodies will agree to that.
Even though one has to go through the strenous protocol to have his baggage and himself screened, being careful not to put your lighter in your handbag or in your pocket, the fleeting glance and wry smile of the immigration counter personnel as he cross checks your photograph in the passport and tallies it with the present you (devoid of your Clark Gable moustache and the surplus weight that you have managed to put on because of infinite reasons) you have plenty to enjoy and admire.
The Airport is the source inspiration to any artist, writer, designer and film maker. This is a place where you can experience the excitement and curiosity of a toddler as he enjoys the ride of a lifetime on the baggage trolley and the amusement of the lecherous middle aged traveller as he oogles at the long legs of a sexy airhostess. The display of emotions are at its best when you witness the departure of the talented Indian son as he leaves his country for Uncle Sam and when the long lost Husband returns home in the arms of his loving wife. You are bound to reflect on the awkwardness of the newly wed couple as they try to act as if they had known each other for ages. You are bound to get captivated by the small boy who spreads his arms as he witnesses a flight take off and tries to fly like one. You can enjoy the most inhibited outburst of emotions in the form of smiles, hugs and tears from people you will never see again in your whole life. I am sure that all of you have seen more than one meets the eye once you are waiting for your flight or you are waiting near the arrival entrance with flowers in your hand for your loved ones. It is only because you are so used to doing something when you are awake and when you are waiting you have nothing to do but to observe and notice the small details that you have missed out in life.Welcome to the voyeur’s paradise.
I am yet to figure out that the Airport is an end to a journey or the beginning to a journey.If you have please enlighten and keep on blogging.