Bangalore to Austin

The sun never used to set for the British but when I got a feel of it, my senses went for a toss. Staying awake till 2:00am was never so easy coz the opportunity waiting at the doorsteps of the huge Air France plane was indeed golden. The plane was huge, the seat was comfortable, the screen was small but the software running on it was stunning. Besides the expected movie, song, etctainment stuff there was a Geographical scanner on the screen. This section kept me busy for most of the time on the flight. It had 3 sections one of which showed the time details about the source and destination, altitude which was no less than 9km and speed which was 900kmph for the better part of the flight. The second section was a camera which I think was fitted just below the noose of the plane providing a live telecast of each passing landmark or watermark. The third was the most engrossing section which was a simulated map that showed the current location with respect to the source and destination. This map always kept me busy coz most of the time I was busy guessing the country based on city name.
Air hostess came clapping in the aisle to wake us up and the landing was announced. I was just reminded of the eunuchs who are part of celebrations in India, I guess she was no less. Out of the small window I saw a huge new world. We were about to land in heaven, which humans call Paris. A landmass surrounded with mountains which were beautifully encarved by clean sinuous roads that had small Porsches and Corvettes zooming on them. Though the clouds hazed the sight of Eiffel Tower but still I could make out that it is indeed tall. Plane landed and drove for around 2 kilometers post landing. Before reaching the airport it drove over few railway tracks and passed under a flyover as well. A state of the art Airport with 6 terminals and I had to stand in a constantly moving bus for 40 minutes to reach the second terminal. Though hanging in this bus was any day better than hanging out of the 207 in Bangalore. A series of security checks and I was ready for the next flight.
Again a jumbo plane, same facilities but this time it had newer movies. So in a flight duration of 10 hours from Paris to Atlanta I saw 4 movies, 3 of them being my all time fav Rocky.
Clearing the immigration check in Atlanta was a nightmare. I had to make an effort to stand in a kilometer long queue, with variety of languages penetrating the ears most of them being French and German. Achtung monsieur. The heaviest task was to keep the eyelids lifted and on top maintain the cool for the immigration interview. Finally cleared it easily and boarded the train to the destined terminal. Don’t be amazed to imagine that the port was big enough that stations were connected by an express train fast enough to make you feel 3 to 4 g.
I thank my seniors and my college who taught me to survive through night outs. With my brain dead body I was sitting at the terminal waiting for the final flight to Austin. The scene at the airport was no less than a Hollywood flick’s filler scene. An old fat lady sitting alone, white skin being exposed by all, few people in compromising positions, those yankee kids, huge darker guys and gals talking in their super distinguished style and amidst all this me sipping cold black coffee bought for $1.60.
Air Deccan operates bigger planes than the final flight from Atlanta to Austin but on Deccan we don’t find the type of gal that was sitting next to me. Why did destiny curse me? When my brain was already sleeping and body just waiting to get in a position to dose off this gal sparked a conversation. I was going to Austin for work and she was going to meet her mother’s fiancé and attend her brother’s marriage.Plz dont assume that I exchanged mother and brother in the former sentence. She dropped out of college and was working with her boy friend in a hotel as an aide. Now post break up she is looking forward to continue the finance studies from where she left. With a small smile on my face that was trying to hide the real amazement I didn’t realize when I dozed off. The plane landed with a jerk and the gal shrieked. I laughed, bided adieu and got in Uma’s Camry. The journey ended when the sun finally started to set for me. I was in no state to admire the cars and roads which I have always seen on the NFS screen. Just fell on the bed and I guess I didn’t even change position in night but had no idea that the next day is gonna be a hair raising one.