A MEMORABLE FLIGHT

Sampat had been with an IT company for more than five years and had now come to the conclusion that his turn for on-site posting would never come. He recalled the time when as a college student he had so enthusiastically filled out his passport application and submitted it. After eagerly waiting for the interview call, he felt elated when he complied with all the formalities. His joy knew no bounds when the passport arrived by Speed Post and he kept showing it off to everyone. He felt as if he would soon be flying overseas.

As luck would have it, there were very limited openings for the preferred on-site postings and they were usually filled up by those close to the Management. His parents had floated his horoscope in the various matrimony sites, but girls seemed to be on the lookout for boys posted abroad. He had a very handsome take home salary, bought himself a Duster to travel long distances in comfort, booked a flat in the heart of the city and above all was kind, unassuming, friendly and good looking.

His batch had more girls and being a shy type, his circle of friends was made up of those senior to him. Most of them were married and he would often feel left out when they planned family outings and trips. One Sunday, he was all alone at home as his parents and sisters had gone to attend a wedding of his cousin. The groom was three years his junior, for which reason he shied away from participating in the celebrations. It also happened to be a long weekend. On an impulse, he downloaded a travel app and booked a return ticket on a flight to Chennai. It was the golden anniversary of that airline and the ticket was offered at a discount.

The flight was at 3 p.m, and Sampat sang his way through the bath and came out freshly shaven and quite handsome. His mother had made some idlis which he hurriedly gobbled up and went straight to the nearby mall to buy a decent suitcase. He had not spent any money since he started earning as his parents took care of everything. He would occasionally buy some gifts for his sisters, but that was not much. He had always scrimped and saved and opening his fist to spend, was truly a wonder. 

He was happy to pick up a lavender coloured stroller which he got checked a dozen times if the zips worked, if the pockets inside were enough, whether the lining material was good…… so much so that the sales girl lost interest in showing further pieces of luggage. Having got the message, he settled its bill and picked up a few Tee shirts for his maiden holiday.

This was the first time he had set out on his own as all these years, he preferred the cosy cocoon woven by his parents. Hailing from a typical orthodox family, it was only in the past five years that he was employed that he had even conversed with women. He felt as if he was now a free bird. Reaching home, he packed his things and made for the airport.

His ticket and the accompanying messages and e-mail said it was mandatory for him to reach the airport two hours prior to departure. There were three hours to go, but he got restless. Though the airport was very close to his house, he left immediately, lest he should get delayed. He hailed the first auto that came his way and made it to the airport in ten minutes.

At the airport, unaware of the procedure he started walking past the security who promptly stopped him and asked for his ticket and identity card. He fumbled as he had not taken a print of the ticket and his mobile had not been properly charged. The security guard made him step aside allowing others to go.

Sampat took out the power bank to realise that its battery had died. Not knowing what to do, he was trying to find if a charger was available close by. A girl, who was watching him from the queue called him and gave her power bank for him to retrieve the ticket. Somehow he managed to enter the airport and started strolling his bag towards the airline counter. It was the girl again who called him back and showed him where to get his baggage scanned. Once this was done, he walked up to the airlines counter to have his boarding pass issued. The girl asked him why he had not checked in through the web. He did not understand what she said, but replied that he did not have the time. 

She must be a frequent flyer, he thought to himself and was impressed with the ease that she sailed past the checks. From the boarding pass in her hand, he realised that she was to travel by the same airline as his. He hoped that she would travel in the same sector and on the same plane, but he was hesitant to ask her directly. Having checked in his bag, he went around the airport feeling as if he was in a wonderland! In his excitement he had walked very far from the gate where he had to go through.

The airport being a silent one, there were no announcements and in his childish curiosity, Sampat failed to see the announcements that appeared on the closed circuit television screens, nr did he keep track of the time. As he was looking at some craft items on display in a stall, he saw the girl come rushing towards him. “You are boarding the flight to Chennai, aren’t you?” she asked. He sheepishly grinned and she told him, that he had better walk fast as the boarding had started. Thanking her, he took rapid strides to reach the gate.

To his pleasant surprise, she too followed him. Once through the gate, both of them took the same bus to the aircraft. As luck would have it, both of them got adjacent seats. Sampat was delighted and tried to conceal his joy but through the corner of her eye, she knew what went in his mind. The flight from Bengaluru to Chennai was a short one and Charu could not resist striking a conversation with him. The chatterbox that she was, it was not long before both of them got to know each other. Charu was visiting her parents and would go back to Bengaluru after the weekend.

For the first time, Sampat felt very comfortable in her company. He pinched himself hard just to confirm that he was not dreaming. Time passed very swiftly and the plane landed in Chennai and both of them bade each other good-bye but not before taking their contact numbers.

Charu’s father had called to say that he was waiting to take her home. She picked up the bag from the conveyor belt and rushed to meet him. Sampat saw her going and spotting a lavender colour suitcase on the conveyor belt from a distance, picked it up and took a taxi to the hotel where he had booked a room. He had hardly settled down when his mobile rang.

It was Charu on the other side. Pleasantly surprised he did not know what to talk, but Charu did not give him any opportunity to speak. “Just check your bag, my dear Sir” she poured out. “You are having my bag I think”. Indeed. The bag was not his. Undoubtedly it was the same colour as his suitcase, but this was not his.

He then took down her address and promised to be there within an hour. Hating himself to have not seen the baggage tag, but seriously feeling happy that he had another opportunity of meeting her, he picked up the suitcase and went out of the hotel and took an auto to her house.

Clad in a dhoti and banian, Charu’s father was pacing up and down the verandah. As soon as the auto stopped outside his house, he rushed to meet Sampat who extended profuse apologies, but he would hear nothing of it. Shouting out to his wife to bring coffee and snacks, he led Sampat inside the house. Sampat followed him meekly all the time looking out for Charu. Once again apologising profusely, Sampat left Charu’s suitcase on one side. Charu’s father seemed to be more talkative than Charu herself, but he was very pleasant and Sampat took an instant liking to him.

When they had finished coffee and the snacks, Sampat was in for a very pleasant surprise. Charu’s father was interested in having him for a son-in-law! Though Sampat was inclined to agree to the proposal instantly, he politely told him to approach his parents. He also mustered the courage to ask where Charu was. He was told that she had gone to the temple with her sister and would be back soon. Sampat controlled his eagerness to see her and promising that he would come again, he picked up his suitcase and left.

That night Sampat was on cloud nine. He called his parents and told him all that had happened since morning. They too were beside themselves with joy. They were happy that a good alliance would now materialise. Charu kept coming in Sampat’s dreams and the next morning when he tried calling Charu, he was told that their whole family had gone to worship their family deity and would be back only after two days.

Sampat longed for Charu’s company, but made the best of his holiday in Chennai going on a city tour and visiting the several tourist spots there. As he had to get back to work, half-heartedly he left for Bengaluru. He kept looking out for a jeans clad bobbed hair bubbly girl, but could not see her anywhere.

In a couple of days, Charu’s father called Sampat and took their home address to meet his parents. The next day, when Sampat could not leave the office as there was an important delivery that he was handling, he got the news from his father that Charu’s parents had come home to finalise the wedding proposal. Sampat’s father had wanted to have his confirmation for proceeding further, which he conveyed instantly. The elders then discussed it and decided that the wedding would take place in a week’s time. Both parties agreed to holding a simple marriage ceremony and spend part of the wedding expenses thus saved, to charity and the rest to be invested in a house for the newly-weds.

Sampat’s mother and sister did all the shopping as Sampat could not free himself as he was tied down with audit and related work in the office. He tried calling Charu, but could not get through. Anyway, as the wedding was just a day away, Sampat remained cool and composed.

The D-day arrived. Charu’s parents and brother were at the gate to garland them and extend a very warm welcome. Sampat’s eyes were frantically searching for Charu and when he did spot her, she was just returning from the beauty parlour surrounded by a few more girls and he could not exchange any words with her. His parents then asked him to get into the traditional dhoti and be in readiness for the havan.

Sampat had no choice but to listen to his parents. A couple of his friends gave him company as he got dressed in the traditional attire and sat in the beautifully decorated mandap waiting for his would-be wife to arrive. The priests had started the proceedings by chanting the mantras and when they called for the “bride” to be brought, Sampat slowly raised his eyes in the direction from where a small procession was coming.

He could not believe his eyes! There was Charu with a kid tugging at her saree accompanying the bride! He felt cheated, but coming to think of it, there was no mention of Charu’s name anywhere at all. When they approached closer, Charu pointed out to her sister and said, “Sampat Sir! Here is my twin sister, Paru”. 

Sampat felt a lump in his throat. All his dreams had been shattered in a jiffy. Containing himself, he stole a glance at the “bride”. She was an exact replica of Charu, but appeared less talkative. After the wedding ceremonies were over, Sampat steeled himself to the stark reality, but he was somewhat consoled that looks-wise his wife was more than pretty.

Later, Sampat came to know that she was a ground staff in one of the international airlines and that their honeymoon had been planned in Switzerland! You had to see the joy writ all over Sampat’s face to fathom the extent of his happy surprise! He was now only too eager to apply for the visa for his first ever overseas trip.