Act1: Near and Dear-ones
Having spent the New-Year's Eve in my bed(pillow and bedsheet included), I was all set to welcome the dawn of the New Year.
7.30 am: Got ready and headed to Sudheer's house before he could leave to office. He works all the time. His mom was unwell. Fever. She gave me a box of halwa and Kerala Banana chips(meant to be carried to Stockholm). I wouldn't be meeting them for a long time to come.
I returned home for my usual quota of Rava idlis and a New Year special Movie on Kairali channel. The usual Nayeende mone, Shit and Just Remember that dialogues by Suresh Gopi.
Day passed through and I finally finished packing my luggage(or so I felt). This feeling in my organ close to my wind-pipe that I am going to pass the bucks rather than earn on Day1 of the New Year haunted me daylong. I turned 27 last May and am still not used to spending money.
Act2: Unpacked packed
5 pm: I struck upon a wonderful idea. With a Latitude:Longitude of 59Deg 17Min N : 18Deg 3Min E, the city called Stockholm is not a place to show off my rippling muscles or my well-chiselled body or show off that I am a Gandhian (by dressing style). So I decided to pull out 2 of my Jockey muscle shirts, Provogue party-wear and a Kurta out of my luggage. I pulled out about 350 gms of material from an estimated 32.5 kgs of luggage. Mom intervened. She was frustrated with my last minute changes. She asked why? I said because the place is so high.
Took a bath and finished my SandhyaVandanam. Had applied the Gopi (the vermillion) and came down to watch TV with parents. It was boring.
Had BisiBhele Bath for dinner. It never tasted better.
11.30 pm: The Qualis supposed to pick me up promptly came. Praveen dropped by too. My father was still trying to figure out how to guarantee the "Name/Mobile No/Destination" Poster on my luggages from not falling-off. I asked him to give-up.
Byes all around. Asked mom to stay back, while Bro, dad and Praveen accompanied me to the airport.
Missed Sree Krishna Nilaya.
Act 3: Big Bang(Bag) Theory
At the Bang airport, it was crowded and there was a long queue at the international departure terminal. Put the luggages in the trolley. Praveen's nephew called him on his cellphone. Praveen did what I hate in him the most. Passes the active phone to me without checking with me whether I am comfortable talking to that person or not. I have reprimanded himin the past for doing this. This time around he was lucky. It was his sweet nephew who is studying in Class I but questions like my dad. He was not sleeping and was asking me menacingly tough questions. Where am I going? What time am I going? Why am I going? Why going this early?..... and that's when Anirban put his hand around my shoulder.
That was a surprise.
I guess Anirban had accompanied Venky and Pavithra from the Leela's. apparently, he had a Finance outing at the Amoeba's (Leela Kempinski). I was still having Praveen's handset in my ear. Questions continued. I could see my Dad visibly upset. I was simultaneously making conversation with 4 people. I finally had to ask Praveen to handle PremSwaroop's onslaught.
I was sorry.
I guess they dont call it Runway tickets but Dad bought some tickets for all. This was for the show inside.
I went inside. There was a lady (must be in her 26's), who had the same type of Americal Tourister Luggage that possess. She was unable to lift it and place it on the X-Ray conveyor belt. Her's was big. But mine was bigger. I helped her. She thanked me. I knew I will have to meet her on the other side to unload. I was more than happy to do so. She was going to Amsterdam and was working for a company called NXP Semiconductors.
I went to the Lufthansa Check-in Counter. I had 2 pieces of Luggage. One weighed 32 kgs and the other approx 17kgs. Total weight =49kgs.
I estimated 45kgs before leaving to the airport. This is after spending all those years (months) in the Gym, I was happy to know that my weight-estimating capability was still intact.
The lady at the counter said 20 kgs is the limit. I said OK. But I am relocating to Europe. Weather is harsh. Need supplies. She said I understand.
I do not know what she understood. What next?
She said, pay for the extra luggage. Iasked to ignore the smaller bag and just consider the bigger bag for excess baggage. She giggled; but I was serious.
I asked her how much?
She started calculating. I waited. She told excell weight is 29 kgs and I need to pay for that at the rate of 30 Euros/kg. Negotiations began. 4 kgs waived.
Card was swiped. At the end of confrontation, she wished me a Happy Journey. I wanted go to her side of the counter, turn her around and do waht I do the best->kick her @#$. But then, Revenues were going to a company belonging to a nation from where my company also makes a substantial topline. I left disappointed and headed to the first floor of the Terminal for Emmigration and Security Check.
Act 4: The Crevices of life
Venkys and Anirban also came to the top. We saw each other for the last time that day(night). Praveen took some last minute photographs. Dad used his Samsung X620 Slim too.
I said bye to Bro and Dad; through the glass crevices in between us. I hoped Praveen makes it to Brisbane or any place in Australia. I need a place to stay if I go there.
Headed towards the counters. Missed my Dad.
I wanted to declare by SLR. Customs guy was not at his desk; but had left his mobile number at the desk. I called him up. He came. He was a Mang. I spoke in Tulu. Job got done. I keep finding these gaps; put them to best use. But never see the large dark pits ahead and thus fall into them. All done. Got into the flight Aisle seat.
Act 5: Lufthansa-There's better way to fly
Yes, I know the meaning is opposite to the actual Luft punchline. But I had reasons. No space in cabin baggage space. Cramped leg space. Desis next to me(OK dont count that). Not enough Indina Cabin Crew. 2 hour wait inside the plane due to Foggy weather conditions(OK dont count that too) . AC Water seeping through the crevice above and ruining my neigbour's crouch area.. ... .... (this will be continued in another act)
My neighbour was offered an alternative seat. So I got to use his seat to keep my cabin bag. I moved it to the seat next to me from the space below my seat. I put the seat belt around it. Safety first. I got no sleep; but got some next pain and back spasm. Announcement from teh Pilot: One of the passengers has lost his passport in the plane. Please inform the flight attendant in case you find it. Then the German with her Pencil torch under my @#$ and every other guy's @#$. Finally it was found. By then, I pretended to fall asleep.
2 hours of delay in Bangalore meant, I have already missed my connecting flight in Frankfurt.
Act 6: Germany: We speak
At 10 am Frankfurt time (GMG+1.00) I landed. Rather, I was dropped. It was the worst landing I've ever experienced. BANG-THUD. Was it a Bridgestone tyre test?
I headed to the Lufthansa terminal straight away. I waited for an hour for my turn. Next connecting Flight to Stockholm was at 12.55 pm and it was fully booked. I had already paid Lufthansa enough from my pocket, so was unconfortable paying them anymore for an upgrade to Biz class. My only other option was to take the 4 pm flight. I took it. She gave me 15 Euros voucher for lunch valid at any restaurant within the FRA Airport.
What followed after that was a terribly long wait at the FRA Airport. I had 5 hours to kill(or use to help creat something). I took a leak at the Naziland. Barsoon ka tamanna types.
I was already short of sleep. Headed to a familiar place - McD. Stood in the Q for 1 hour. She was Asiatic. The supply of food can last for a day if you have 15 Euros. I just wanted to have a burger. But that cost only 2 Euros, so she said take more. I said it is OK, just keep it. I have been in one of those Philanthropic moods for a few weeks now. I cannot eat like a German; I cannot eat so much. I am Rajesh. She said she cannot do a cash reimbursement for the rest. She insisted. I liked it. I then ordered the following: 1 burger, 6 nuggets, French Fries, 1 Strawberry Milkshake (ardha litru=500 ml), a large box of Salad; another large burger and a Cappucino(300 ml).
I took my tray and took my seat facing the FRA runway. Good panaromic view. The announcement by the flight attendant at the tarmac was that the outside temperature is -3 degC. So, it was my first sub-Zero experience. Though not upclose. Saw all sort of flights taking off and landing. All makes. I did not see a A380. It would have been a perfect icing. I saw a Condor, Luft, Iberia, UA, Indian, Iranian, Luft, Singapore Airlines, Some Western China, Luft, Luft, Luft, more Lufts,
Did not count, but if I say I saw about 75 flights in all (taking off and landing) then I would not have deviated much from the actual figure.
It was one of the longest lunch sessions I've had on my own. 150 mins. I hope that record stands for life.
Checked into the other Luft flight. On time. flew over the German borders. Was getting dark outside every minute. At 5.40 pm the Captain announced: We are flying on top of the Stockholm City and have been instructed by Ground Staff not to land immediately. Reason cited: Shortage of support crew for handling landing. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We were going around and around. There was something brightly shining in the otherwise dark sky. I thought I was circling around some North Star, only to realise that it was another of those planes also on a Scandinavian tour, waiting for his fuel tank to get empty; I saw 2 other flights going around due to Christmas and Happy New Year.
Act 7: Marathon Completed
As we approached the Tarmac, I saw the colour white all around. We landed. Temperature outside was -1deg C. I waited for 45 minutes to get my luggage. I was like a spectator in a stadium waiting for my favourite Marathon runner to enter the stadium for his last leg of run. Luggage came. Minor damages only. The wheels of my smaller luggage were broken. So I carried the bag around. No pushing.
Got out. Was snowing moderately. Touched it. My first encounter with Snow.
From here on, the journey begins.
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