(Blog Finale - Dedicated to my few sincere readers who persevered and reached till the end.)
The excitement to come back home was too much for me. I couldn’t sleep at night. Well, so couldn't Deepa. But, I found out later on, hers was a different reason.
There was a couple fighting at the restaurant, in the wee hours of the night and since Deepa's room was close by, she could hear everything.
Unfortunately, since they were fighting in Ukrainian, there was nothing interesting for Deepa to overhear. Hence, I don't have the details of the argument to update in my blog. Thankfully, since they were loud, Deepa couldn't ignore the noise and go to sleep either. With all the listening, all she could make out was the noise of bottles breaking. On close inspection, she found out a window was open in her room - apparently the cleaning staff forgot to seal it tight. Some realizations come very late and at a very high cost.
When morning came, there was an unusual spring in my step.
There was a couple fighting at the restaurant, in the wee hours of the night and since Deepa's room was close by, she could hear everything.
Unfortunately, since they were fighting in Ukrainian, there was nothing interesting for Deepa to overhear. Hence, I don't have the details of the argument to update in my blog. Thankfully, since they were loud, Deepa couldn't ignore the noise and go to sleep either. With all the listening, all she could make out was the noise of bottles breaking. On close inspection, she found out a window was open in her room - apparently the cleaning staff forgot to seal it tight. Some realizations come very late and at a very high cost.
When morning came, there was an unusual spring in my step.
The moment we walked out the doors, I could not contain my excitement. However, since Deepa was late, we could not leave yet.
The hotel cab driver came to help me with my backpack, to put it in the trunk of the car.
I said it was ok. He didn’t seem to understand.
He said, “Let me!”
I said it was ok. He didn’t seem to understand.
He said, “Let me!”
I was like, “No. It’s ok.”
He pulled one strap of my bag and I refused to let go. Apparently he was stronger than me. So, he pulled me up high and for a moment there I was in mid-air, frantically kicking and screaming, “AAAAAAAAaaaaH!”
Prabakar intervened and told him to put me down and that we were okay.
I decided to get in the car and wait for Deepa. Purathu athra safe alla.
When I got in the car, the driver ran towards me and rudely told me not to place the laptop bag on the seat. He was generous enough to let me put it on my lap.
When I got in the car, the driver ran towards me and rudely told me not to place the laptop bag on the seat. He was generous enough to let me put it on my lap.
And then it struck me, the guy was not trying to help, earlier. But instead, the scum was trying to save his precious seat. I looked around and all I could see was some scratched upholstery. Is this what he was trying to save?
I thought of placing my bag on the seat when he was not looking. Then, I dropped the idea. He could lift me up and throw me in a second. We don’t want that happening, do we.
Finally, Deepa came out! We set off to the airport.
On reaching the airport, we went to check in our luggage. The lady at the counter said there was no way to check in till the final destination.
This time, we were very confident that it could be done. We had proof. Well, at least we lived through one proper through check-in.
Finally, after some convincing, the lady managed to get 2 tags for each check-in bag inorder to enable a through check in for us. However, we had to clear the customs at Bombay.
She then checked the system for the seating arrangement.
Prabakar said it would be fine if we got different seats.
Deepa said she and I wanted to be together.
The lady finally threw her hands up in the air and said, “I have done what I can. You guys figure out for yourselves and exchange the seats.”
She then checked the system for the seating arrangement.
Prabakar said it would be fine if we got different seats.
Deepa said she and I wanted to be together.
The lady finally threw her hands up in the air and said, “I have done what I can. You guys figure out for yourselves and exchange the seats.”
We were like – "Er... yea, no problem."
And thus, we moved to the boarding point.
We reached Kiev. Since we were fed up of the regular restaurant, this time we chose another one in the airport. That was a good decision. For two reasons, mainly.
The food was much better and there was a cute guy - the only one who knew English.
The food was much better and there was a cute guy - the only one who knew English.
We ate a sumptuous meal and set out to find a "magnaiit".
I selected one that I liked. The cost - 75 gryvnas.
Wow! That is expensive. I went to pay with my card, they said they wanted cash. Nice.
Till that moment, I had survived without touching the Ukrainian currency. They just didn't let me complete my journey and keep a record.
So, finally, I set out to take some Ukrainian currency. When we went downstairs, we saw some Indians. I must say, there is an excitement when we meet our fellow people in a foreign country.
When one Indian in front of me took a long time at the ATM, the excitement died down.
One another Indian guy cut me in line, I gave him a cold stare.
He politely stepped back and motioned with his hand for me to walk forward – “Please...”
You bet!
You bet!
I went ahead and put my card in the ATM. And there came the welcome message.
Everything was in Ukrainian.
Aah!
Everything was in Ukrainian.
Aah!
"DEEEPAAA-"
The Indian guy (who cut in line earlier) behind me, politely pointed to where the English option was.
How did he figure it out? Of course! It was in English.
How did he figure it out? Of course! It was in English.
I took my 100 gryvnas. Around 50 gryvnas would be charged for transaction. In short I spent 75+50 = 125 for my magnet, with 25 in my purse, which I would never use.
We ran back and bought the magnet.
Deepa said to keep my magnet in a sacred place at home and worship it.
After the security clearance, we came right in front of the beverages store. And then I remembered the requests from India. My friends Sarjith and Yakob (no! I don’t belong to any terrorist group… names have been changed to protect privacy) had asked me to buy some bottles. Well, actually... Yakob didn't ask but neatly slided in his request, at the last possible moment, via WhatsApp.
Sreejith – I mean, Sarjith especially had given me a list with the correct priority order. The first option was Glensfiddich.
I saw a Glenfiddich and there was no "S" in the name. I ignored it.
Prabakar pointed me towards there, again.
I said – "No, Sreejith’s" (dammit!) "Sarjith’s brand is GlenSSSSSfiddich – with an 'S'". Finally, I figured Sarjith got it misspelled.
Deepa said to keep my magnet in a sacred place at home and worship it.
 |
| The magnet safe at home. |
Sreejith – I mean, Sarjith especially had given me a list with the correct priority order. The first option was Glensfiddich.
I saw a Glenfiddich and there was no "S" in the name. I ignored it.
Prabakar pointed me towards there, again.
I said – "No, Sreejith’s" (dammit!) "Sarjith’s brand is GlenSSSSSfiddich – with an 'S'". Finally, I figured Sarjith got it misspelled.
Okay, okay! So it was Glenfiddich.
But there were many types of Glenfiddich. I was clueless. I looked up to Prabakar for guidance. He gave me a session on the different brands and levels. It was like a game, he explained. When you clear a brand level, you qualify for the next level.
At the end, I understood I had to contact Sarjith to get the right brand or to get his "level". I called him up and he said whichever was the cheapest was the best option for him. Yes, it was that simple.
But there were many types of Glenfiddich. I was clueless. I looked up to Prabakar for guidance. He gave me a session on the different brands and levels. It was like a game, he explained. When you clear a brand level, you qualify for the next level.
At the end, I understood I had to contact Sarjith to get the right brand or to get his "level". I called him up and he said whichever was the cheapest was the best option for him. Yes, it was that simple.
Since I wasn't sure if they would let me carry the bottles in hand from here till India, it was decided to buy the bottles from Dufai. Besides there would be more offers over there. The only concern was if the time would be sufficient.
Having nothing else to do and a lot of time to kill, we started thinking of options. God forbid we set foot in Boryspil Hotel again! So, this time we decided to check out the business lounge. That's when Deepa mentioned she had a Premier Customer card from Citibank - which would allow free entry for herself and 2 guests. We decided to try it out.
We went to an airline lounge and asked the rates. They said for 3 hrs 20$ each. We showed Deepa's card. The lady said this would give us 3 hours entry. After that, probably we could try another lounge for the next 3 hours.
We went out and tried the Ukrainian Airline lounge. Since our flight was UIA, we were allowed to stay for more than 3 hours with Deepa's card. The matter was settled and Ukraine International Airline lounge it is!
As Deepa swiped her card, the lady turned the machine towards her (Deepa).
Wondering if she had to enter the pin, which she couldn't remember, we saw the lounge option dissipate right in front of our eyes. Fortunately, the airline staff said she just wanted Deepa's sign and not the pin.
The lounge was luxurious and I will be indebted to Deepa for it, till the day I die.
The flight to Dubai started late. We couldn't hold our patience. Wondered why on earth the pilot took this long to start. When we did leave the runway, I slept off.
In the middle of the night, Deepa nudged me awake. I rubbed my eyes to see the air hostess coming with food. Seeing them collect money from afar, I had my doubts whether the food was free. Deepa said we can ask them when they came.
They came. They asked whether we wanted veg or non veg. We both said veg.
They handed us the sandwiches. Free? Nice.
We both unwrapped our sandwiches when the airhostess said, "And that would be 180 gryvnas."
Uhh... Not very hungry. I just unwrapped it and maybe the edge of my teeth lightly grazed it. Would you take this back?
Deepa did what she thought was the right thing. She paid.
Well, you can't blame her. 40,000 feet high in the air is not a good situation to be in to have an argument.
After we settled the bill, we both bit into our sandwiches.
Yikes! Some stale green leaves and cheese. God knows what! It tasted so strange.
90 gryvnas for this? Our cows get better leaves than this. (Not that I've tasted it.)
It struck me why the pilot took so long to fly the plane. They would have been pulling the weeds near to the runway to fill these sandwiches. Last minute supply, eh?
I had 4-5 bites and could not stand the torture. I wrapped the sandwich back. Deepa painfully continued to complete her sandwich. And that my friend, is willpower.
We reached Dubai. And we went to buy the bottles. Prabakar said he wanted to have coffee and we could meet later.
So, I went and bought Glenfiddich for Sarjith and Absolut Raspberii for Yak-ob.
When I went to pay for it, I asked the guy if he would bubble wrap it. He said no. All he did was put a net on it and put it in a plastic cover, sealed. He said that the skimpy net would keep the bottle safe.
Which law of Physics did I miss out on?
I expressed my concern.
He said it wouldn't break and he banged the Absolut bottle on the side of the counter.
I held my heart and screamed - YIII!
The guy casually said - "Don't worry... If it breaks, we will drink here and take another bottle."
Yea! You better get me another one if it breaks. Wait a minute...! Did you think the bottles were for me? Ohhh - no, no, no! No.
Sarjith and Jac - I mean - Yak would definitely pay for this.
However, truth be told, the cashier did prove his point that the bottles were solid.
After this, Deepa wanted to buy watches for her boys.
Watches from the airport? Uh, yea... She had to give the boys the idea that mummy dear bought gifts for darling boys from Ukraine. (Disclaimer: If you happen to be either of Deepa's sons reading this, this paragraph is just made up.)
We went to a watch store and got G-shock watches for a pretty good deal.
Now we had quite a load of packets with us. We definitely had to find Prabakar to watch our merchandize - in order to walk free and get some coffee.
We went to the gate mentioned in our boarding pass. Prabakar wasn't to be found. In fact, the place near the gate seemed desolate.
That's odd.
One of the staff walked towards us and said, "Madam are you waiting for the JET flight? They changed the gate at the last moment."
So, we set off to the new gate.
And yet, we still couldn't find Prabakar.
Deepa, the rational one among us, started panicking. She said to try calling Prabakar with my Skype credit.
I tried. Apparently, his phone was switched off.
Deepa suggested he might be online in Pidgin. So, I had to open my laptop, login and open my Pidgin. I was lazy and didn't want to do so but Deepa meant business. I didn't argue.
I complied and opened my laptop and logged into Pidgin only to find - he wasn't online.
Hmmm... Now what could be done. They opened the gate for boarding.
Err... I would like to get some coffee. And where is Prabakar?
We started worrying.
I suggested we board the plane and check if he is already in - not completely out of concern. Deepa didn't even want to hear the idea. Her expression made me regret even thinking about it.
As we stood wondering and worrying, there... from afar, we saw Prabakar smiling gleefully and coming down the escalator, with a backpack like a schoolkid.
Oh, yes - he was holding a cup of coffee!
Coffee? He got coffee?! Did he just get coffee? Bah! Humbug!
I was grumpy by now. Sulking, I stomped into the airside transfer bus and sat down. After we got in, the bus started moving in reverse. Deepa and I looked around only to realize the driver was sitting behind us. Apparently, we were sitting facing the back of the bus. Deepa laughed and since I had already started this blog, she mentioned this would give me something to put in it. Umm... I wasn't short of content anyway.
We boarded the flight. It was almost empty. We put the bottles in the overhead bin above my seat. I observed that only my luggage and the bottles were there. I voiced my fear to the airhostess asking whether the bottles will roll around the baggage cabin and break as the plane would fly. She didn't say anything at first. Maybe she thought I was paranoid or that I was too attached to the bottles. But she added as an afterthought that it would be more dangerous to keep it on the floor. So, I decided to leave the bottles up there and pray they would reach safe along with us.
We reached Bombay. We had to pick our bags and clear it in customs checking.
We headed towards the customs check. Seeing Deepa and me struggle to take the first trolley bag onto the conveyor belt, the assistant felt sorry for us and cleared us without making us unload further.
We got a clean chit because of our innocent faces.
But fate had it otherwise for us when we went to check the bags in. A staff caught us and said the bottles couldn't be taken in hand. We needed to check them in.
Luckily, Deepa had some space in her bag. We opened it.
Prabakar had earlier asked Deepa to keep his jacket in her bag, since his bag was already full with the goodies he bought from Ukraine.
So, we stuffed the bottles in and put Prabakar's jacket on top as a cushion. The bag became overweight a bit but since the airline staff didn't complain, we got it checked in.
After the bag went off, Prabakar mentioned that he stopped transferring bottles like this because once when they checked it in, the bottle reached him broken.
Thank you for the story at this appropriate time.
Deepa mentioned this bottle was becoming like Salsa in Kunjiramayanam.
We reached Trivandrum. As soon as the bag came on the conveyor belt, we started looking out to see if there was any leakage. There was none. What a relief!
We took the bag off the belt and opened it to confirm.
Prabakar came running and asked if the bottles were okay.
We said they were. And that even if the bottles had broken, his jacket would have absorbed the alcohol.
He was stunned.
However, he quickly recovered, saying that if at all the bottles had broken, he would have asked Sreejith to get him a new jacket. (Yea, I know I referred to him as Sarjith earlier. Oh, please! By now you would have understood it was Sreejith and Jacob. Who am I kidding!)
We teased Prabakar saying if at all the bottles had broken, we would have called his home and told that he was drinking throughout the travel.
For a moment, he shuddered. Mainly because he realized only now that he was travelling with two devils.
It was a loooong journey to and fro. And it was sooo good to be back home.
Relieved after completing a journey that we were worried about, we walked out of the airport as though we just received a bravery award.
When the taxi pulled away from the airport, the roads seemed narrower and more crowded than from what I could remember.
Sigh! It would take time for things to be the same again.
Well... it is my country and I was back home.
Having nothing else to do and a lot of time to kill, we started thinking of options. God forbid we set foot in Boryspil Hotel again! So, this time we decided to check out the business lounge. That's when Deepa mentioned she had a Premier Customer card from Citibank - which would allow free entry for herself and 2 guests. We decided to try it out.
We went to an airline lounge and asked the rates. They said for 3 hrs 20$ each. We showed Deepa's card. The lady said this would give us 3 hours entry. After that, probably we could try another lounge for the next 3 hours.
We went out and tried the Ukrainian Airline lounge. Since our flight was UIA, we were allowed to stay for more than 3 hours with Deepa's card. The matter was settled and Ukraine International Airline lounge it is!
As Deepa swiped her card, the lady turned the machine towards her (Deepa).
Wondering if she had to enter the pin, which she couldn't remember, we saw the lounge option dissipate right in front of our eyes. Fortunately, the airline staff said she just wanted Deepa's sign and not the pin.
The lounge was luxurious and I will be indebted to Deepa for it, till the day I die.
The flight to Dubai started late. We couldn't hold our patience. Wondered why on earth the pilot took this long to start. When we did leave the runway, I slept off.
In the middle of the night, Deepa nudged me awake. I rubbed my eyes to see the air hostess coming with food. Seeing them collect money from afar, I had my doubts whether the food was free. Deepa said we can ask them when they came.
They came. They asked whether we wanted veg or non veg. We both said veg.
They handed us the sandwiches. Free? Nice.
We both unwrapped our sandwiches when the airhostess said, "And that would be 180 gryvnas."
Uhh... Not very hungry. I just unwrapped it and maybe the edge of my teeth lightly grazed it. Would you take this back?
Deepa did what she thought was the right thing. She paid.
Well, you can't blame her. 40,000 feet high in the air is not a good situation to be in to have an argument.
After we settled the bill, we both bit into our sandwiches.
Yikes! Some stale green leaves and cheese. God knows what! It tasted so strange.
90 gryvnas for this? Our cows get better leaves than this. (Not that I've tasted it.)
It struck me why the pilot took so long to fly the plane. They would have been pulling the weeds near to the runway to fill these sandwiches. Last minute supply, eh?
I had 4-5 bites and could not stand the torture. I wrapped the sandwich back. Deepa painfully continued to complete her sandwich. And that my friend, is willpower.
We reached Dubai. And we went to buy the bottles. Prabakar said he wanted to have coffee and we could meet later.
So, I went and bought Glenfiddich for Sarjith and Absolut Raspberii for Yak-ob.
When I went to pay for it, I asked the guy if he would bubble wrap it. He said no. All he did was put a net on it and put it in a plastic cover, sealed. He said that the skimpy net would keep the bottle safe.
Which law of Physics did I miss out on?
I expressed my concern.
He said it wouldn't break and he banged the Absolut bottle on the side of the counter.
I held my heart and screamed - YIII!
The guy casually said - "Don't worry... If it breaks, we will drink here and take another bottle."
Yea! You better get me another one if it breaks. Wait a minute...! Did you think the bottles were for me? Ohhh - no, no, no! No.
Sarjith and Jac - I mean - Yak would definitely pay for this.
However, truth be told, the cashier did prove his point that the bottles were solid.
After this, Deepa wanted to buy watches for her boys.
Watches from the airport? Uh, yea... She had to give the boys the idea that mummy dear bought gifts for darling boys from Ukraine. (Disclaimer: If you happen to be either of Deepa's sons reading this, this paragraph is just made up.)
We went to a watch store and got G-shock watches for a pretty good deal.
Now we had quite a load of packets with us. We definitely had to find Prabakar to watch our merchandize - in order to walk free and get some coffee.
We went to the gate mentioned in our boarding pass. Prabakar wasn't to be found. In fact, the place near the gate seemed desolate.
That's odd.
One of the staff walked towards us and said, "Madam are you waiting for the JET flight? They changed the gate at the last moment."
So, we set off to the new gate.
And yet, we still couldn't find Prabakar.
Deepa, the rational one among us, started panicking. She said to try calling Prabakar with my Skype credit.
I tried. Apparently, his phone was switched off.
Deepa suggested he might be online in Pidgin. So, I had to open my laptop, login and open my Pidgin. I was lazy and didn't want to do so but Deepa meant business. I didn't argue.
I complied and opened my laptop and logged into Pidgin only to find - he wasn't online.
Hmmm... Now what could be done. They opened the gate for boarding.
Err... I would like to get some coffee. And where is Prabakar?
We started worrying.
I suggested we board the plane and check if he is already in - not completely out of concern. Deepa didn't even want to hear the idea. Her expression made me regret even thinking about it.
As we stood wondering and worrying, there... from afar, we saw Prabakar smiling gleefully and coming down the escalator, with a backpack like a schoolkid.
Coffee? He got coffee?! Did he just get coffee? Bah! Humbug!
I was grumpy by now. Sulking, I stomped into the airside transfer bus and sat down. After we got in, the bus started moving in reverse. Deepa and I looked around only to realize the driver was sitting behind us. Apparently, we were sitting facing the back of the bus. Deepa laughed and since I had already started this blog, she mentioned this would give me something to put in it. Umm... I wasn't short of content anyway.
We boarded the flight. It was almost empty. We put the bottles in the overhead bin above my seat. I observed that only my luggage and the bottles were there. I voiced my fear to the airhostess asking whether the bottles will roll around the baggage cabin and break as the plane would fly. She didn't say anything at first. Maybe she thought I was paranoid or that I was too attached to the bottles. But she added as an afterthought that it would be more dangerous to keep it on the floor. So, I decided to leave the bottles up there and pray they would reach safe along with us.
We reached Bombay. We had to pick our bags and clear it in customs checking.
We headed towards the customs check. Seeing Deepa and me struggle to take the first trolley bag onto the conveyor belt, the assistant felt sorry for us and cleared us without making us unload further.
We got a clean chit because of our innocent faces.
But fate had it otherwise for us when we went to check the bags in. A staff caught us and said the bottles couldn't be taken in hand. We needed to check them in.
Luckily, Deepa had some space in her bag. We opened it.
Prabakar had earlier asked Deepa to keep his jacket in her bag, since his bag was already full with the goodies he bought from Ukraine.
So, we stuffed the bottles in and put Prabakar's jacket on top as a cushion. The bag became overweight a bit but since the airline staff didn't complain, we got it checked in.
After the bag went off, Prabakar mentioned that he stopped transferring bottles like this because once when they checked it in, the bottle reached him broken.
 |
| Durantham Express: Enthu cheyaana njan veliya duranthan aayi poyi... |
Deepa mentioned this bottle was becoming like Salsa in Kunjiramayanam.
 |
Thirichettumo Valsa naam Kothicheeduma Salsa
Pidakunnori vazhikannumaayi kaanje pookeaaaa naaam |
We took the bag off the belt and opened it to confirm.
Prabakar came running and asked if the bottles were okay.
We said they were. And that even if the bottles had broken, his jacket would have absorbed the alcohol.
He was stunned.
However, he quickly recovered, saying that if at all the bottles had broken, he would have asked Sreejith to get him a new jacket. (Yea, I know I referred to him as Sarjith earlier. Oh, please! By now you would have understood it was Sreejith and Jacob. Who am I kidding!)
We teased Prabakar saying if at all the bottles had broken, we would have called his home and told that he was drinking throughout the travel.
For a moment, he shuddered. Mainly because he realized only now that he was travelling with two devils.
It was a loooong journey to and fro. And it was sooo good to be back home.
Relieved after completing a journey that we were worried about, we walked out of the airport as though we just received a bravery award.
When the taxi pulled away from the airport, the roads seemed narrower and more crowded than from what I could remember.
Sigh! It would take time for things to be the same again.
Well... it is my country and I was back home.
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