Being a frequent flyer has its perk’s! Discount’s on airfares, membership privileges and a hell lot of other goodies which the carriers can squeeze in; but for me the best deal is still the executive lounge. Comfy sofa’s and good beverages! While the crowd can struggle to grab a seat in case of a delayed flight, a rather petite host would be there to greet you with a charming smile, escorting you to a seat in the reserved lounge!
Expensive suits, executive treatment, fancy lifestyle..yup, does turn on the green in the eye; but the reality check is…I live outta suitcase! Between checking in to five star hotels, airline counters and board meetings I tend to forget I have an apartment! Well, doesn’t really bother me much, cause I have adapted well to this life pattern! I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this pattern! But, I was young then, and now its more of a routine than lifestyle!!
There’s practically a non significant queue in most of the check-in counters with a banner displaying “First Class” or “Executive” or such similar phrases. I waited for my turn as the lady in front of me checked her baggage! It took a little more than the usual time for the executive to get her boarding pass! I was growing a tad impatient, and was ploughing with the idea of checking in with the next counter, but the queue of three people deterred me!
“Excuse me, Hi! I’m Irina ; I got a little excess baggage and these guys are charging me way too much; I was thinking if u could help me…u know get a little of my baggage tagged with u. You don’t seem to carry a lot!” …she was young, probably under 22…and I’m quite certain that her travel was sponsored by some show, which she might have won! What else explains a lot of her blue bags printed “Guess n win!!”.
People travelling first class generally travel light; and if they don’t, they never have a qualm about paying for the excess baggage charges not covered under the already extended allowance!
I was a little caught by surprise, but I did help her! She thanked me and heading away, remarked “you are a nice guy, your girl friends quite lucky!” The last part just didn’t make sense! “Girl friend??” It’s been 3 years since I had been deserted in the aisle and since then not really have had any female companion!
I was uncomfortable with her remark, but before I could say something she had headed beyond audible distance! I collected my boarding pass and enroute to the security check- in, memories of the past flashed in my head! I was dumbstruck!
I Could feel the numbness climbing up my body…I froze! The same old questions and situations came haunting. I didn’t know what to do…I was over that episode. My CBST and other depression & behavioral therapies had made me fit to start my regular life! I was doing great, my professional graph steeped the All-Time-High mark and everything was at its best!
The present freeze baffled me! I wasn’t thinking about her or what she did…or about those moments we spent…the wrong she did…my turmoil…or even my battle for survival! It was a total black out!
If, you are a fan of ‘Star Wars’ or ‘ Star Trek’ you can visualize the scene where Cpt. James Kirk instructs Pavel Chekov about “black hole” and your TV screen, shows u the related creative visualizations of the same! Yes, it was pure darkness and there was no escape from being sucked in!!...i stood there motionless!
The announcements, passengers, security guards no one registered in my brain! I was in a diff. dimension! Time ported to a diff. sphere…
“Sir! I’m sorry your flight is on schedule and u need to board immediately after security check…kindly proceed”…the voice of the Airline ground attendant jolted me!
“Yes…thank you!”… a startled response; I moved to the security check point!
Good, that I never forget to keep my dosage of Prozac handy! Popped in a few pills and was ready!…. Ready? What was I ready for…or what was I doing? I motioned involuntarily to a very seemingly obvious course of action( boarding the flight!)…
I was feeling heavy,… weighed down; not under the influence of the sedatives,…. but reeling under the weight of this “ excess baggage” of emotions I have been carrying, I don’t recollect since when!
PS: It’s uncomforting to realize that people and memories who/which had been so imp. once are now merely tagged under ” excess baggage”! Travel light…it seriously costs less.
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