Monday, December 11, 2006

Where do they go?

Airport is a place where you can see lot love & happiness. People who are travelling for the first time, people who are
travelling on vacation, people who are travelling back after a successful business meet, people who come to see the loved
ones off and people who come to receive the loved ones are the few to quote for love & happiness. Leave out the frustration
that arises because of the flight delays.

I always enjoy my flight journeys. Every trip is a different experience. Sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes weird (such as the one that I am gonna talk about).
Couple of weeks ago, I was waiting for my delayed flight at Bangalore Airport almost close to mid night. I was sitting right in front of the booth where the airline staffs announce the status of each flight. I eagerly started observing the representatives (strictly not because that they were girls, please believe me) from each Airlines announcing the delays and departures of their flights.

At the time of departure of almost every delayed flight, representative of the airline was searching for at least a couple of 'missing' passengers. Jet Airway's representative howled over a million times about a missing couple and some Gupta. After a while she was searching for that Gupta guy by visiting each and every row of seating. I was seriously started thinking where do they go? To the rest room? Gone home of frustration after a long wait? To the books shop? I couldn't get the answer myself. While deeply thinking about these people, I dozed off for a while.

At last, my time of boarding arrived. I boarded the plane and sat on a seat next to a man aged in mid forties who was wearing a Gray coloured Italian Suit. He held a blackberry in his hand. I peeped eagerly to see what he was typing. I could only get to see '......close the deal'. Then he received a call. In a few seconds of listening he said
‘…When is the next available date?’
‘....then give appointment in August’
‘…bye’.
I thought he must be a well do to business man. The moment I saw his face I felt that he looked awfully familiar. He looked like my father when he was at that age. I observed that he had a scar on his face exactly like mine. He switched off his blackberry duly responding to the request
over PA by airline staff. He turned to me, smiled and said you look like me when I was at your age. I was surprised to hear that. I started probing about his background. He said he was a CEO of some company that I have never heard of. He originated from the same place as me and studied in the school where I did study. What a weird coincidence? I simply couldn’t believe that. He didn’t seem to be surprised when I said that we both had same background. I humbly asked for his good name. I felt like I was struck by a lightening on his reply. He said that his name was Seenivasan. While I was still in the high voltage shock, a person came to me and shook my shoulder
'…excuse me sir, are you the one travelling in the flight S2-0123 to Chennai?'
I nodded.
His face showed the irritation explicitly and his mouth said, 'Sir the plane is waiting for you as you are the last person to be boarded and we are looking all around for you'.
I came to reality, oh my god...all that was just a dream.

Well, it's not everyday you get to meet "you" after some 15 years, eh?

Now I know where do all those missing people go?

By the way, do you want to share some of your best/worst experience in Airport?