Thursday, June 2, 2011

Airport

Have you ever been to an airport in India? If you have not, trust me, it will be one of the most unique experiences in your life. I love going to the airport.

I was at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport last night to receive someone and the flight was delayed by a couple of hours. Well, this article is all about the wait at the airport.

First things first, it was crowded! There were people waiting with name cards. They were getting impatient and so was I. Every now and then the eye would scan the terminal gate for the concerned people expected and the mind would be disappointed.

Yet, the disappointment would be contained by joys of the others. The embraces, the kisses and the smiles. Oh what smiles!

I was at the 'Arrivals' gate. It was difficult to think how the 'Departures' gate would look like. Or was it? Of course there would be families going for vacations, Corporate biggies in their stylish suits with hardly any luggage, hurrying by the gates while giving a short glance to their INR 500,000 wrist watches. And yes, the long embraces that the mothers would have with their not-kids-any-longer children who would be going to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies. How did I forget to mention honeymoon couples?

So much of emotion, all at one place. A place where people exit from one gate and enter from the other. Upset, happiness, disappointment, love, worry and teary-eyed joy. At the airport. Just like how it is in life.

The next time you feel cold, lonely and that you have a mechanical life, go to an airport in India.

2 comments:

Prateeksha said...

Interesting observations. Airport being my second home, I definitely agree.

Departure section feels like a nicer version of a graveyard. Goodbyes are never good.

RohiniDG said...

watch the movie 'Love Actually', the beginning and end are both at the airport and they capture exactly the emotions you've talked about :)