Prologue
A nice sunny beautiful Saturday morning, I opened my eyes in sub- consciousness of my sleep hearing some news which was not very pleasant. I got startled and sat up in a second and concentrated on the news. The reporter concluded, “Right now we are getting the images from the crash spot in Mangalore”. Some name... “For times now’”. I switched on the TV and put times now, and I could not believe the sight I saw. The morning had already become an unexpected one with the Plane crash news in Mangalore. The Air India flight from
Out of all the imaginations my mind just reminded me of my flight tickets and I was suppose to travel in 2 days to Mumbai then to Amsterdam via Dubai, and come to think of it, this would be my first flight of lifetime. Trying to be strong and unaffected by the news, I continued the day with usual chores and then the packing of the bags.
I left to Madikeri that evening to meet my parents and then plan for my onsite travel. It was decided that my parents would come with me to the airport to see me off. I called almost all the relatives and friends and informed about my travel, and everyone wished me luck and few advices too followed. I took them all locked it well in my head and then returned to my room in
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Chapter 1: My First Flight.
Date:
I am scheduled to leave to
My parents reached
At last after few hiccups and tense situations I and my parents left
I looked at the time, and it was exactly
I was looking around to see the people rushing to their seats one by one and was thinking how different things can be. The 2 seats next to me on the right was empty, and around I could find all kinds of people, a lady sitting diagonally in the front reading a book very seriously, few gentlemen behind speaking loudly about their trip, a young couple talking to each other who were sitting cozily diagonally behind me, few children running here and there blocking the path for others. And then I saw to my left, a man who looked uncomfortable but very stylish trying to push the seat backwards and seeing others very sheepishly. He was also holding a book, which was more for showing others that I have bought it for reading during the flight. After few tries he realized that the seat is not a push back and then he rested himself without much action and started looking around. That is when I realized that this guy was traveling for the first time as well. Another nice gentleman with a good smile on his face came near me and said that he was asked to take the seat in my row, I left him in.
Then there were few announcements in the flight, the air hostess showed some safety measures and asked us to tighten our seatbelts. Just when I was to tighten mine, an airhostess came near and said she would take the seat next to me. I allowed her in, the man on her right was very happy and so was I, she sat in the middle. Her name was priya. Just when the flight started to move, I looked at her, she smiled and I told her that this was my first flight. She was very kind, told me to relax and then started explaining each step. She told me exactly when the flight would move to the main runway, and then said relax now, the flight is about to take off. My first take off, the flight which was moving slowly suddenly gained speed and then a tilt up and then the take off, I felt a little dizzy and a swirl in my stomach and in sometime everything was normal. It was a successful takeoff. Priya left the place and went about her normal work.
I was just thinking of certain things which I had to do in Mumbai, realizing that I will be landing in Mumbai in an hour or so, then thought about my parents who might have reached my sisters place by that time and many such things. There was a round of refreshments on its way, and we had to pay for it. The gentleman next to me was furious; he was telling me that service is bad, as we had to pay for what we need! J I couldn’t reply anything but just replied with a smile. The rest of the journey was good, nothing special and I did not realize how fast the time passed by.
The time was
I collected my baggage and as I came out of the airport, I called my college friends, Amit prabhu and Vaman nayak; both had agreed to come to pick me up. Amit had already left office and said would reach in 20 mins time, and vaman would take around an hour. In sometime I saw amit coming near the airport, we were meeting after almost 3 years, and he had not changed much unlike me. We sat chatting until vaman nayak joined us and then we all left to my guest house.
Amit had taken leave the next day and vaman would meet us near his office. We planned where and how to meet and then both of them left to their place after having dinner in a near by restaurant.
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Chapter 2: Mumbai meri jaan.
Date:
I had to reach VISA office at
The real shocker was when the security told me that my name was not in the list for the day’s appointment. Somehow I convinced him to check once again. He spoke to the lady inside and said that I was not in the list. I asked him to allow me speak to the lady. She explained me that I had booked an appointment in another office and that issued only short term Visa. I then explained the situation; I had my flight to
Vaman had by then joined amit and after sometime, vaman left for his office. I and amit started for some shopping. Amit showed me some streets of Mumbai; I had to buy few things which I did on the way during our street visit. Vaman had promised us that he would join us for lunch and so we met and had a nice and heavy lunch. I went back and then got the Passport with the VISA stamped.
I had few formalities to be completed to get my flight tickets. I had called up my brother in law whose office was near and thus I was able to do the scanning and some e-mails to my HR. It would not have been an easy task if I had not gone to his office. All thanks to him, finally at around
We started from his office and then went to
And I need to describe this, Mumbai trains are crazy. It was an unbelievable experience and if I was alone I am sure it wouldn’t have been possible for me to get down in Kurla. Every person wants to reach his place as soon as possible. Each one is tired after his whole days’ work. Each one is tired, but gather strength to get into the train, travel with the crowd and reach their destination. I thought to myself that I would never ever travel in Mumbai trains in my life.
Once we reached near the guest house, vaman was kind enough to stay with me until my departure to the airport. I had my flight at
I saw Mumbai only for a day; and it was quite an experience. I am sure if I was alone I wouldn’t have completed all the formalities that day. Thanks to amit and Vaman who helped me and guided me throughout the day, took good care of me and made me remember some beautiful instances from our college days. It was a day well spent, though I felt I couldn’t do much because I had to finish my VISA formalities first. And just when I was wondering all these, I had reached the Mumbai international airport from where I would be moving out of the country. First time ever.J
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Chapter 3: Up in the Air!!
Date:
Totally unknown place, crowded with people holding huge baggages and I was one of them. I was feeling lost, not knowing what was the formalities. I managed to get into the airport. I had to go to some remote terminal where the Emirates flight check- in was placed. Somehow got there and then went along the queue to get my boarding pass. The person in the counter handed me 2 boarding passes, one Mumbai-Dubai and another Dubai-Amsterdam. I checked-in the luggage and was left with one small hand baggage. I was told to fill an immigration form and then head towards the counter for the immigration check.
I filled the form and then went along others to reach the counter. My turn came and I was in front of a guy who saw me and then the passport some 2 times, then checked my boarding pass and then handed it back to me after clearing my passport back after a immigration stamp on it. I wasn’t sure if that was all, so I was looking at him unconvincingly and then I smiled to go ahead. At that moment he stopped me again, asked me to hand over the passport again and then looked at it in detail. He then started asking me questions. He asked me from where I came, where I actually live, why I was traveling to
Somehow the time passed and it was time for us to board the flight. I entered the flight and again I had not got the window seats, the emirates flight was huge and I mean really huge, one row had some 11 seats. The flight was full and the journey began. J The flight was really posh and well maintained. There was a monitor in front of me; it had games, TV series, movies, tour guide etc. I was just settling down looking at everything. The flight was about to take off and I remembered the flight take of experience again. It was a similar experience this time as well, I felt a little dizzy and then everything was normal. Then the breakfast arrived. I had it and then dozed of for the rest of the flight. We were landing in
The Airport is well maintained and very very huge. I was very sleepy and was feeling a bit tired as well. I was still trying to roam around a bit and then checked out a nice rest room. I went in to wash my face, was looking around and then thought why not take a shower itself. I did exactly that, took a nice hot water shower and then changed into some washed clothes. It made me fresh and I got my energy back. JIn sometime the terminal was opened and we all went in. we could see the flights and this was the first time I was looking at a flight so closely. The flight was I guess double the size of the normal domestic flight which I had traveled. I went into the flight and sat on my seat. I was very sleepy and was waiting for the flight to take off. By now I was experienced enough and this time the take off was good. I was anyways feeling sleepy, so I just made myself comfortable and then slept for a good 3 hours time. At around
We took a taxi to reach his place and the “taxi” was a Benz S-class and was so comfortable that I was already feeling thrilled. The car was speeding at 140 kms per hour and we never felt that it was as fast. Like all the bollywood movie scenes when the hero lands to the new country and sees around with great astonishment, I felt the same and was looking out and enjoying the beauty of the place and the nice ride. Both ended as we stopped near suraj’s place and got the taxi receipt. It read 30 euros, which is like 1800 for the 10 kms we traveled, but believe me it was all worth the money and in any case who cares, I was to get it reimbursed.J
The journey actually ended after I updated the facebook with my new status “Landed in
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Epilogue
Some dreams are seen in the sleep and some when you are awake. In those, some dreams get realized and some remain as a dream unrealized. But sometimes there are realities which feel like dream, but they are not meant to be... And I was living one of those unseen dreams.
It’s been 3 months already since I landed in this beautiful place,
The journey has just begun and it feels great,
Targets are yet to be reached and I am confident about it,
Expectations are high and I am sure I will meet,
With this, a new journey has begun and I am up for it…
The Poem was not meant to be a poem, it just came with the flow and now, I love it
Nice one devi .. epilouge is the best :)
ReplyDeleteWow bro we have a writer in the family. Proud of u.
ReplyDeletehey niceee.. dil-se writing :) and hey,, mumbai trains arent all tat bad.. :P
ReplyDeletevery nice... its too good:):)
ReplyDeleteThanks all.. Hope to continue writing :P
ReplyDeletevery nice.Devi, I really felt very happy about my little brother.We didn't imagine all this in our dreams.We never knew all this.Its really thrilled.But Iam very proud of you. All the Best again for a wonderful future.
ReplyDeleteGreat writing Devi. I never traveled by flight. But I could see everything as if I am actually in there :) No wonder it is a great experience. Everyone won't get to see such things, that way the whole journey, your stay, the work you have done - is an achievement. You deserve this. And I must say this Devi, I am very happy for you :)
ReplyDeleteKeep writing and Keep rocking Devi... As you have done always..
Take care.
- Pady.
And BTW, my blog URL is changed. I noticed that its showing some old post in your blog list. (There is nothing great I have written though ;) ) anyways, http://sunilpadiyar.blogspot.com/ is the new link - in case you are following :)
ReplyDeleteThanks
-Pady.
@Vasudhakka - These are all written for memories.. :)just to make me remind again how it all happened..
ReplyDelete@Sunil - Thanks for the feedback sir.. Hope to write more....
And updated the blog link and following you :P
Next Chetan Bhagat in the making.. very well written, takes us with you through your journey... Bravo!
ReplyDelete@Vj - Too much!! :P Thanks anyways...
ReplyDeletevery very nice :) was just imagining when reading it :) gret!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
ReplyDeleteDevi dude, YOU'RE THE MAN!!! :D
ReplyDeleteThe 'first flight' story was hilarious!!! lol...
And what a poem! :)
More power to you!!
Cheers!
Thanks buddy :)
ReplyDelete:) superbly written.... proud of u .. i m proud of myself to have u as ma frnd
ReplyDeleteHey Devi, that was a nice one! Had a similar kind of experience but unfortunately no air hostess was sitting next to me!! Hope my wife will not read this comment :P
ReplyDelete@Nandu.. thanks...
ReplyDelete@pradeep - haha... :) :)Thanks..