13 June 2008, Monoo is hitting hard the buttons of his laptop and trying to find the lowest air fare available. He has to fly to Mumbai on 17th Morning and he is looking for the the cheapest possible flight he has ever taken. So the question was why now? And the reason is “The new Bangalore airport” which is closer to other states than Bangalore and a Non AC cab costs you minimum of INR 700. For a change he wished Bangalore would have had the Bullock Cart service which his grandfather availed to visit the next village but the very next moment his imagination irked him.
Offlate he hates taking flight to Mumbai/Chennai/Hyderabad looking at the hiked air prices and at the same time the service that they offer. He still remembered the stoned face Air Hostesses of Spice Jet who hand over cookies and if you pick more than two they give you a dirty look. They don’t smile at all and monoo doesn’t want to ask them why, because he is aware that he has paid less and “Itne paise mai itna hi milega”. Especially with recent acquisition of two big Air Lines “Air Deccan” and “Air Sahara” he has completely lost hope and wondered if after acquisition they would atleast maintain the same service level. That is the reason that he was a little apprehensive while booking Jet Lite airways (Formerly known as Air Sahara) which offered the lowest price of INR 3800.
Monoo hates last minute running around job and rush things, so he ensured to reach at least by 7:00 AM for the Jet Light Flight which was scheduled to depart at 8:30 AM. He couldn’t work the whole of 16th night and waited to hear the Cab honk. Before he left office to board the cab he printed the e-ticket and also checked if he is carrying the Credit card which was used to book the ticket, as he was well aware the hassle that happens at airport offlate. It was still 4:40 am and the cab started running the marathon on over-night built road to the new airport. It is just one day trip so he is only carrying his new laptop bag which can accommodate a set of cloth and his needful belongings. He was holding his ticket in his right hand for convenience. He wanted a Nap as he heard his friends telling reaching the new airport is like reaching another city. “Bheegi huyi koii shaam ho…” his caller tune wakes him up:
His Brother: Hello, I hope you aren’t still sleeping in office
Monoo: Naah, I am already in cab will reach in two hours
Cab Driver : Sir we have already reached, you can get down.
Monoo: Bhai will call you back, what’s the time
Cab Driver : 5:15 AM sir.
Monoo: What ??? so soon, are you sure this is the new airport.
Cab Driver: Giggles .. Yes sir I drop people almost everyday.
Monoo got down from the car and counted those seven 100 rupee note with an expression as if that’s the only inheritance which is left from his forefathers and with meek hope that the driver might say “Sir, you can pay me only half the money and you don’t have more”. But driver is busy looking at the note with his all possible “Gutka chewing teeth” shining wide.
Monoo pauses for a moment to take a quick yawn and then heads to explore the new airport of Bangalore for which he has been cribbing for quite sometime. He walks around looks at all the eat out places and needless to say that he is three hour early to the airport so the only useful thing he can think of is “Eating” … he eats at all possible outlet and head towards the main entrance of the domestic airport its still 6:05 AM. He frisks himself to check where is the print out of the ticket and soon realizes that when he pulled out the phone he kept the e-ticket on the seat and forgot to collect. Now the security police is no more interested in him when he realizes that he is not carrying any e ticket and pushed him on one side like a unwanted bag. Monoo panics and wonder what to do as he hasn’t even noted the PNR number of the ticket. Now his over eaten body has a brain which has stopped working. But the GOD fearing creature that he is, he doesn’t recollect from which side he finds a sweet looking female from none other than Jet Lite airlines asking him what the matter is. He explains the situation and within fraction of seconds her first question is “Is this the laptop you are carrying?” , Monoo nods in yes.
She continues “Sir I am sure you would have saved it somewhere on your laptop”, “Eureka” – Monoo remembered and nodded more than required and she smiled “Sir let me help you with a print out”.
Monoo is through with the security check and still his watch is stuck at 7:15 AM. He does the most unlike thing, thanks to his new writer friends at MS who are into Books that he enters a nice posh book shop near the waiting area. He glances through numerous books and still doesn’t know which is the thinnest and the best that he can pick. He finally finds one.
Monoo sat next to the Jet lite counter to avoid “any last minute running around”
It is 8:10 Am and he realizes that no one is around the Jet Lite counter , he get up and reaches the counter:
Executive: Yes Sir
Monoo: When will the Boarding start
Executive: What time is the flight sir
Monoo : 8:30 AM
Executive : Sir by 8:25 for sure.
Within few more minutes he can hear a familiar name in the back ground.
“This is the last and final call for Mr. Gautam Manjit Travelling on Jet Lite Flight so & so to Mumbai”
Monoo turns back to the executive. “They are calling my name”
Exe: which flight sir
Monoo: I told you one to Mumbai
Exe : Oops sir it’s the other counter
Monoo : Grrrr what the Hell
Monoo starts running towards the other gate and he slips …
Another Gal “Good Morning Sir, This way”
Monoo is out of the final door but he doesn’t know which way to head as he can see no one around. He chooses right way and starts running .. the whole ground crew of Jet Lite starts running behind him “Sir Sir Sir … this way”. He turns back and takes the one which leads him into the cave like entrance. The Air Hostess at the entrance of the Flight Claps to ensure there is no one else and immediately she sees monoo running desperately towards her .. with one hand holding the bag and the other hand holding his low waist jeans that is falling below the objectionable areas of human Body (This is what Fashion means). She notices few things which she can’t avoid and still manages to smile at him and say “Don’t worry sir we will not fly without you”. Monoo has no time to even respond to the beauty and he enters the flight to acknowledge the eyes with “pathetic looks” which said “Ohh so he is the culprit” .. He quietly sneaked in to his seat and the Jet Lite Babe apologized the delay of ten minutes and promised to reach Mumbai on time.
Probably a management course refresher is required to board the flight.
Maybe he should have asked the name of the one who helped her print-out? Her phone number?
The cushioned seats of Jet-lite find him in deep slumber with a half-smile on his face!