Remembering the Forgotten things…

“A relation lives by giving and forgiving. Self lives by getting and forgetting.”

Forgetting things in day to day life is normal, is it not? The below mentioned things that happened in my 4 day (planned) sudden trip to India are testimony to my act of imbecility at times (I swear, it’s only at times and not always).

Incident 1: Friday 14^th early morning around 3’o clock, I was waiting at the Delhi domestic airport for my flight to Chennai. I have 2 more hours to go. Was just glancing through my mails and checking little stuff. The guy near me introduced himself as Girish and the conversation started. It seems he had a direct flight from Chicago and he doesn’t want to take a nap though he was terribly tired, as he is afraid he may miss the flight to Banglore. So he needed some companion to chit chat and I think he got the right person. Our conversation went through all topics covering flight industry to IT industry to all other things. This guy actually wants to go to the rest room but was hesitant for some reason. I told him “well it depends on how far you can trust a stranger.” He replied “I don’t trust anyone.” I replied “yes. You are right. Trusting everyone could be atrocious. But trusting none can be much more ravaging beyond the former” The guy said nothing. He just handed over his laptop bag and placed his luggages in my trolley and went to the rest room. When he came back he told that he lost many things like this and he don’t wanna risk. I agreed to his hard learned lessons after listening to him and told I have never lost things like that with a pride. Its 4’o clock and for me its time to make a move.I bid him “see u soon” and left for the check in. A warm smile and that too from a stranger always fascinates me. I showed my e-ticket number from my mobile and I checked in my baggages and went to security check. There was a long queue stretched like a serpent. But it moved fast and I pushed my hand baggage for screening and scanning. Once through the security guy called out. “Hey whats there in this”. I just opened. Now I remember there was a liter of single malt Chivas Regal sleeping silently which I bought for my brot’s friends. He told “you can’t carry liquids in cabin.” Oops I went all the way back to the counter explained things and got that also checked in. Took my passport holder for ticket and got the baggage sticker pasted and rushed back. Luckily the security guy allowed me directly so that I don’t have to go through the line again. All clear and was allowed to boarding terminal. My flight was at 4:45 and it’s already 4:30 by now and they are taking passengers to the bus which takes them to the flight. When I reached the bus something strikes me. “Where’s the passport?” For 10 seconds I don’t know in what state of mind I was. Then jus calmed down myself and told to myself “don’t worry at least u r in India”. With all these thoughts I ran towards the entry gate again. I saw another guy rushing towards me. He is the one who packed my baggages ad sealed for security. He said “sir u left ur passport in the counter.” Thank god.

Incident 2: I love to travel by train. Just sitting by the window side (esp opposite to trains direction) and looking into things passing thru. For me its like looking back into life’s journey where u see things going into past and creating a eagerness to look forward whats coming next. So I took Mysore Express to banglore. I was vainly attempting to make some calls and then switched on my maccy to have some fun. I felt bit sleepy by morning 4 and I dint remember when I slept after that. When I woke up train was in Banglore station. Just pulled on my laptop bag and got down from the coach. I just crossed my coach and I heard someone shouting at my back “sir sir.” I turned back and it was the guy who takes care of this coach. He said “I found this on your berth and hope it’s yours.” Oops that was my sweet P990i. Leaving aside the cost, if I have lost the phone I have no idea how much years it will take for me to get back all those contacts. May be that would have been the last thing i did to lose some relation itself. I thanked him and told “yes its mine and the lock code is 27774.” I unlocked it in front of him and he was also happy that he handed over to the right person.

Incident 3: I was on a 4 day trip and have been roaming around Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore as usual. If I am going to take train and reach chennai by tomorrow morning (Monday) for my brot betrothal, I know for sure my brot would klill me. So provocatively I have booked my flight to chennai. Sunday evening 5’o, Bangalore airport. Things were pretty neat. After having such a luxurious browsing experience with 10Mbps connectivity being without internet connection was a tuff task. I just found this Tata indicom pre-paid service and their welcome page read 30INR per hour. Filled in my details and other credit details. There was little child playing by my side that time. She came to me and I started playing pranks. She was imitating me and it is always to see little children smiling which is so innocent like them. Checked my mails and other stuffs. Okay all done. I was about to leave. Now what? I just turned around to see that child again. Now she was starring at me. Is that me or some thing else. Looking at her I started walking. She was still looking at something with her head at an angle. Whats that I was wondering and I too looked down. I told to my self “Arun what the hell happened to you?” There beneath the chair I sat was lying my wallet. It had some odd 400+Euro and all my credit and debit and other stuffs. I looked at the child and smiled thankfully.

Incident 4: you can call this is the height of all the things. Attended my brots betrothal. It went fine and everyone was happy in a way and angry that I couldn’t spend much time with them (I know but they also know this is me :-)) Before I get on to that funny incident I would like to tell this. Chennai airport, all clear and I dint lose my passport, phone or wallet. I have an hour and half left to board the Delhi flight. As usual searched for Wi-Fi. There it is Tata-Indicom again. Same procedure but made sure the wallet is back in its position. After finishing all the formalities, a page flashed on screen. “Your serial number and password has been mailed to your e-mail id” WTF is that. I want internet connection. That’s why I filled up all these and now they are asking me to check my mail. Is it so that the software guys consider user case scenario’s only for foreign clients? Anyway I called back my friend asked him to login into my id and got the password. Landed in Delhi by 8:30 and I am out. Met Raj, Divya had a nice time and it was time to leave now to international terminal. Raj told “Abhey international mei parking nahi hey.” I asked so what? Raj said “So what means we will come drop you and have to move immd or else they will pull down our car” I said “that’s ok. U jus drop me” Reached the airport in 15 minutes and when I got down Raj asked “konsa terminal?” I said I don’t know and have to check the counter. Raj started laughing and told “man this is India. Here you need to have the paper ticket/e-ticket and passport to enter first.” Ok screwed again. I told I have the e-ticket. But when I took the mobile its already dead. Alas! By this time Divya also reached and asked whats the problem. Situation explained. I took it cool and told them to access my mail as they know my password. (Yes most of my friends know my password bcos I trust. May be when some one says that they are open book next time, shoot the question “how many know your password?” I have handful of them :-)) Raj said “I will ask someone to get the printout and will collect en-route and come. You wait here” ok done. I told “In the mean time I will check the finnair office” and left. Went to finnair office and explained my situation. The guy there said “no problem sir. I will issue one immd. U come in, keep ur baggages and relax.” He asked for my first name and last name and in few minutes I got my ticket. I left the office with gratitude to the officer. Came out begged and borrowed a cell phone from a girl (:-P) and inserted my sim, called back Raj to tell things went smooth, no issues and asked him to carry on. I cleared all the initial security check and came to the check in counter of finnair. I saw the same officer who helped me in the ticket sitting there. When it was my turn I went with a smile and kept my check in baggage. Oops it weighed 40kgs. It was double the times of allowed weight. He dint said anything and passed on the baggage. Wow I am lucky. Th officer asked how about cabin bag. Now after hearing the question and looking into my trolley I told myself “Holy shit…this cant happen…not with me…Where’s my laptop bag.” The officer smilingly got my reaction and took the laptop bag from his table. He told “you left it when u collected ur ticket in the office.” Now I understood. He came all the way to hand over to me in person. May be he allowed me the 40kg bcos he thought I would hav forget to weigh b4 I start and which is true else I would hav ended up paying 800Euro since I cant miss anything in tht.

Finally I made it to the terminal and went to take a sip of coffee and to make a call. The coffee cup read

“Everything is OKAY at the end, if not then it’s not the END” I felt everything is OKAY and this is the end of the 4 day trip.

Well you may not believe this. But believe me unbelievable things happen more easily and let me tell u one more thing. In the entire above incident’s I took the contact details of those who helped me and sure will thank them in my way when I meet them again, except for the child and coffee cup, I have only the snaps of them. I just looked back the first meeting with Girish when I told with pride that I haven’t lost anything. Now I hav a reason to keep my mouth shut and not to be pride over silly things. I told to myself “come on Arun get matured.” Till then……

Adieu