Dialogbazee at the Vienna airport!

On way to India after a span of 10 months and few odd days, I was booked to take 3 flights from Amsterdam to Hubli. Austrian airlines operated by some carrier(I do not the spelling),was a nightmare one sees onself walking through unknowingly. After embarking on a carrier like this, there is not way back. For the reason that, a way back would mean, doing a "pilotless" debut sky diving.

As I settled at seat 5A, window(which I had regretted earlier), A puzzle maniac gentleman was seated at the aisle seat. Not once did his gaze avert from the book that he was scribbling away to glory.

I was ravenous and could eat an entire elephant alive. All that I could think of was food!! The lady in red came walking the aisle holding the I-dont-know-what-you-call-that! As she handed over the hot-something to me, I felt like seeing an oasis in a desert after a week in the of treading the arid sands!! It was hot and scent was appetising. I carefully drew the silver foil away from the edges. My patience was wearing thin.

As I finally managed to get a view of the contents, I felt like a knife piercing through my gut. I could see myself crying at the visceral remains of myself strewn all around me. A pancake shaped some-dead-animal waited in the "sunrise" breakfast pack. It was sunrise for me... the sun had long set for the once-living thing, now lying in the tray. My appetite went down like Alice sliding down the rabbit hole. A cruel joke played by I-dont-know-whom. To confirm my sight, I asked the lady in red, if the stuff was vegetarian. She answered me coldly , "No". I stashed in the farthest corner of the tray. I continued to gaze into the skies. The pilot announced that the flight will be late by 30 minutes. My connecting flight to India was scheduled at 11.15 am. I hardly had the time to breathe. Landing at 10.30, I hurried away from my terminal and searching for gate B10.

I had anticipated some problems at the Vienna airport. The NL govt issues residence cards to the long term migrants. If one is leaving Holland forever and does not have any plans of returning, then he needs to surrender the card. After the visa expires, the residense card serves the purpose of the same. I was told by the lady in blue while I was being issued my boarding pass in the schipol airport, Amsterdam, that the Vienna govt does not like this. They may even prevent me from boarding and I may have to pay a hefty fine before they can debate of letting me free.

Now, I am no exception and I had followed the rules to the letter. However the folks at the Vienna passport check counter did not agree with this(visibly, as told). The guy at the board, had a look at my passport. I handed him the acknowledgement letter from the Amstelveen population office in lieu of the card that I had rightly surrendered. I could see his facial muscles tighten by a some millimetres.

Before he could search his limited vocab to say something (in)appropriate, I started. "I understand that this is not a on-off event that you are witnessing. Most of my colleagues have been in such a uncomfortable position before. We stay in the Netherlands and have to abide by the rules laid for the civilians. As per the rule, I have returned the residence card. What do you want me to do? Comply to the rules of the country where I lived for 10 months or the rules of the country where I find myself only because I am in transit and my connecting flight is from here?".

He had not yet looked up from the letter, but my sixth sense (called non-sense) very well knew he was listening to me. He looked up at me, abruptly, gave me a dirty look and handed the passport along with the letter and wished me a good journey! phew... Raj(my co-passenger from Amsterdam) said, " Oh.. What dialogbazee? I wonder how much he understood! He definitely hates you. Hope he does not remember you. Go on, See you at the gate B 10! ".

Selling Nescafe on the runway

After 24 hours of landing in Mumbai airport, I was thinking of checking n for my flight to Hubli. I spotted a Nescafe stall. I asked for a coffee and paid 10 bucks. Hurriedly finishing the cup, I walked towards the checkin and cleared it in less than 10 minutes.

After a brief walk to the gate 10, I sat down facing the electronic board that announced the flight for which the boarding was in progress. I had more than 2.30 hours for mine. As my eyes started to feel heavy, I was in need for another coffee!! Hmmm, another Nescafe stall. I dragged myself to the box.

A man, in a well cut suit, was looking into this wallet to pay for the big Ferroro rochter gold rimmed box that he had bought. He had atleast 20 cards in there. (debit/credit). The card holder was huge, in brown leather. He made no attempt to be discreet about the contents. Even a guy standing 10 feet away could have noticed it. I exclaimed under my breath, "You must have paid a bomb for the handsome card holder!". The Nescafe guy pulled me out , "Yes Maam".

"One coffee pls" and held out a 10 rupees note. Well, I had just had a coffee at a distance less than 50 feet.

He said, "20 rupees, Madam!".

Me -- "I had a coffee before coming here. It is inside the airport. Why does the price double every 40 feet and a floor?"

He -- "As you come closer to the flight you board, the more expensive eveything is".

Me -- All smiles, sipping the coffee, I burst out into laughter. The black suit, million-dotted-tie clad guy had stopped rummaging through his huge wallet and was gawking at me. I said, aloud, "I am glad you do not sell coffee on the runaway".

As I walked away, I had to make a huge attempt to hold the coffee cup steady. I was laughing aloud. All eyes were staring at me. The Nescafe boy looked at me sheepishly. I could hear the suit clad guy laughing uproariously. Seems like it took him some few extra seconds to understand what I had said.

Later, as we again crossed paths, a more sober me saw the guy burst into laughter. I wonder what he had found so funny, My face or then-made my remark, "Selling coffee on the runway". As I walked past him, I noticed him settleling down at the far end of the room, with bunch of some more well-cut suits. He was talking to them, and they were smiling at me. All I did was acknowledge with a faint forced smile!