I never knew that one fine day my negligence could cost me my passport.
My flight to Bombay was scheduled to depart at 9 35 AM. I had reached airport at 8 itself. I spent some time having my breakfast outside followed by few phone calls. After the security check, I went inside the airport to locate the Air Sahara counter. Thanks but no thanks, I must say, to the crowd at Delhi Airport! There were some 500 odd people speaking in typical "chom" accent worried about their flights. "Bhaiyya, Laakhnaw ki flight ke liye kahan jana padega...mummy, I want that chocolate...Arre bhagwaan..tum bhi..." For a moment, I forgot that I was standing amidst these passengers and smiled - The airport of capital of India! Had a news reporter decided to take an audience poll, I am sure a significant number of people would have voted for a fish market over airport! Multiple flight announcements only confused people to locate their counters. The lucknow passengers looked worried to get their boarding passes for the flight that was scheduled to fly at 8 35 AM. It was already 9 15.
The hostess at the Air Sahara counter grabbed the mike and shouted - "Passengers for Lucknow flight are requested".... Requested what???? There was a power failure for a moment and the announcement continued "thank you"...The population density at the airport prevented me from rolling on the floor with laughter.
9 35 AM! I saw the digital clock at the airport. All of sudden, the computers refused to process the passenger boaring passes due to network failure at the airport. So "supposed" beautiful hands at the ticket counters started processing the boarding passes manually. Then came the announcement - "This is the last call for the passengers for Bombay flight number DA - 701 (Don't take the flight number seriously :P). Passengers are requested to proceed to Gate #2 immediately." My eyes grew wide...what???? when was the first call made??!?!? I said aloud. I started making my way myself at the front of the queue to get my boarding pass. Sinewy hands of hefty men tried to ensure that I do not succeed in violating the queue discipline. I puffed! And said to the presumably 45 year old hostess - "Here is my online ticket, Ma'am. And here is my passport. (My dear passport was still with me then). She looked at me, scribbled smthing in a register, quickly handed my boaring pass. Yawning security guards helped me to reach Gate #2. Surprisingly, there was no X-ray checking for the "late" passengers' luggages. :O
The Air Sahara mini-bus was waiting for passengers outside. I quickly got into the bus and so did my fellow passengers to Bombay. Air Sahara cared to check the boarding passes only before getting into the plane. My misconception of "so supposed" beautiful hands did not last long. The hands were indeed beautiful. :-) Good morning Sire, the thin, tall, fair, etc lady said. No wonder, Air Sahara under Aishwarya Rai and Amitabh Bachchan cared for customer satisfaction. I showed her the boarding pass and asked her if she could guide me to my seat! She said, you can sit anywhere you want. People already with their seat belts on, reminded me of "Fanklin Templeton Investment Ad" :-). I preferred the window seat made myself comfortable. I looked around. I saw girls adjusting their make-up. Yep there were handsome hands on the flight too! ;-)
The pilot announced. "Good Morning...Namshkar...I am ABC XYZ and have a good news and a bad news for all of you. The good news is our flight's token-number-to-take-off has been changed from 17 to 2. And the bad news is, some of the bombay passengers have boarded into Lucknow flight accidently. :-) I slipped hands into my jackets pocket and tuned to itunes! :-)
You must be wondering, I said nothing about the "lost" passport. Subsequent blogs will follow soon. Its just the beginning.....
