Once in a life time!

"Let’s go to sleep now" she said, "You have an early morning flight tomorrow". It was 3.30 a.m. She and I were enjoying the new relation that was built in the 3-day stay at Bloomington, IL. I had to board 6.00 am flight on the 2nd Jan 07. We lay down to sleep at 4.00. I knew I had to get up in 30 min to reach the airport on time, but I needed a power nap too. We set the alarm to 4.30 and went to sleep.......

The phone rang and both of us got up. "Did you reach Chicago?” asked Naveen assuming that I have. "I just got up", I said and looked at my watch. It was 7.30 am and I was still in bed. It took me a while to realize that I HAD MISSED MY FLIGHT’!!!

Pallavi and I drove to the airport to get the boarding pass for the immediate next flight. I was so sleepy that I did not think missing a flight was much of a deal. The next flight to Chicago was at 11.00. That’s ok I said to myself. We went home. I slept for half an hr more while she went to office. At 10.00 she came to pick me up and we went to the airport. 15 min to 11 and the lady at the United counter said that the flight was overweighed and that thay can’t put me on the flight. They will try to get me a seat on the next flight. I saw the flight..taking off...without me...The next flight to Chicago was at 3 pm~


4 hrs to go for the next flight. I started realizing that this was not going to be as simple as I had thought. Missing a flight can me messy. I tried to concentrate on the Alchemist. At that point I felt that my journey was like the boy
who did not know what he would be facing when he went to look out for the treasure. I made all my frnds in Bloomington to search for alternative commutation options. I even decided to catch the next day flight. I was really frus waiting on the airport. Naveen called me to check if I was doing fine. I was not, but had to give him an affirmative answer. This was not how I wanted my sweet trip to Bloomington to end.
Amol and Prasad also made sure that I was keeping ok in the situation. May be I was so much attached to my frnds that they did not want me to leave Bloomington :-). Just kidding ...

Finally, at 3 pm i was asked to board the flight. At least I am traveling towards my destination I thought.

4.00 pm
I was at the Chicago airport, waiting at the gate where I saw the Chicago-Minneapolis flight. I wanted to get on the plane. Desperately. I was totally exhausted. I was on a can of Fanta and potato chips for the whole day. To add to it, the lady over the counter said that I was on standby which means I had to wait for them to find a vacant seat for me. So I had to wait for someone not to turn up.

5.30 pm
The boarding began. All the confirmed seats were on. I was left out at the gate, with some more ppl of my kind. I called Pallavi and said "I am still not sure about my status. Will come to know soon". "Ask them to give you a first class or Business class seat" she said. I was even prepared to do that. I would end up paying extra money, but that was not important at that time. If this flight was full, I had to wait for 2 more hrs hoping that I would get on the next one. The game was of hope against truth.

'Kulkarni Sangeeta' she said and asked me to get aboard. I was relieved with a sigh. My heart was beating 5 times faster. I thanked God for not pulling it long. I sat on the designated window seat. I called Pallavi and said smiling "I am on". She was much relaxed on hearing that. I could make that from her voice. The flight took off and so did I.

Thanks to all my 'Bloomy' friends who were with me throughout. May be I will laugh at this incident 2-3 months down the line, but it made me place these charming friends in my garden.

More to come.... keep visiting...