Home sweet home

Its been a busy week with all the last minute shopping and packing and all that jazz! Finally managed to scrunch all my belongings into the mammoth suitcases of mine. How I managed to lug them around, God only knows!

Flew business class this time back to India.. It was awesome! Slept peacefully for the first time .. Landed in Mumbai and suddenly felt so light.. Can't explain... there is just something about being baq in your own country.. a feeling of everything is fine.. there is nothing to worry about kinda feeling :))

But a few minutes later realized that everything was not well. I had really heavy luggage which cumulatively was almost double what I weigh probably !! Try lugging that around..
Not to mention these zillion security booths that have popped up in the mumbai airport now.. Whats up with that ?? I thought this kinda thing happened only in US where you were required to go thru scanners so stringently.. Believe me that is nothing compared to this. During departure I probably went thru security check probably twice. Get this, after arrival and clearing custom, I had to go thru security checks at least 4 times here in India!! Its amazing! And we blame the US airports!?
There was this guy who helped me at one of these security checkpoints with my luggage. Just as I was thanking my stars and saying to myself, o wow people are soooo friendly here. He whispers to me - Kuch deke jaiye na.. Translated that means, since I picked up your luggage to place it on that table, you need to pay me something!!
I am quite dazed an confused by now.. Wondering if I had any change, wondering how to tell him to go take a flying leap, wondering if anybody heard him, wondering where is all the indian currency i cleverly stashed away months ago!!? Finally found a 10 buck note and quite ruefully handed over to him!

Had to take a shuttle from international to domestic for onward journey to blore.. Had to check in bags again.. While I was checking those in, the counter guy called out my name from the ticket -
Him: Miss Radhika, there is a chance your luggage may not arrive in this flight.
Me: (Uh !!??, Is this some kind of a sic joke!!?) ) What?
Him: No, no. this is a very small aircraft so, sometimes we may not be able to fit in all the luggage especially ones like you have.
Me: (Glaring at him the best I could, despite being quite disoriented at that time). Ok, so ?
Him: So, nothing to worry about, it will come in the next flight.
Me: So am I supposed to wait for it at the airport ?? (Like hell I will)
Him: No no, we will send it to your house, you will just have to fill a form.
Me: (Quite disdained and tired by now) Ok fine, whatever, just check it in now..

After a few minutes, have checkied in bags, looking at the shuttle which is over flowing with people by now.. This counter guy is trying to ask everybody to board it. Walks near me..
Him: Go Radhika go, what are you waiting for ?? You will miss your flight!
Me: Huh! (staring in disbelief at having some random guy calling me by my first name like he knows me!)

Smiling despite myself thinking, all this happens only in India :)))))

Fortunately all luggage arrived promptly in blore and I was amazed to see that my stupid bro was also there well ahead of time.. Knowing him believe me thats quite amazing. He's the kind who will either land late or not at all. Last time he forgot that he had to pick me up and I had to take a cab!!! mmmppfft!
Anyways.. Home now.. Feels awesome.. Weather rocks..

Chatting with granny, lazying around in pajamas, fighting with bro for the remote (dunno why we do this inspite of the fact that we have 2 TV's !!), mum trying to feed me with upma for the billion and 27th time in vain..,
at home.. at peace..