How I almost F**ked it up

Can you believe what I did??? After all that enthu abt going back to India, I went to the airport without my passport???!!!!!!!!!!!

It all started with me taking out the passport to fill the VAT refund forms and I left it on the table.

I checked my travel pouch one final time. The passport section was a little raised. So I assumed the passport was there..

Had asked the Cab to come at 5.30. He came at 6 and after filling petrol and wading thru the London traffic, managed to reach the Airport at 7.15.

I felt something missing on the way and as soon as I got down from the cab, I opened the pouch again to confirm. Again I saw the raised passport section and was convinced everything was there... Went to the check-in desk at 7.30. The lady asked for my passport and I cool’ly opened my pouch and put my fingers inside the passport section and to my horror, just found a few sheets of papers.. I had folded my e-tickets and put it there...

Thank fully I had Mukul and Rahul with me and they immediately called up Dhiraj (I hadn’t bothered to recharge my mobile as I was leaving that day.. L )to check if the passport was at home. Of course it was there, lying on the table... They immediately called up Chaithu and he got his car and the three of them, including Ninad, started immediately(it was almost 7.45 by the time they started).

The desk closes at 9.05. The cab driver who knew the way to Terminal 4 took an hour to reach... Chaithu had taken the car just a couple of days back and had to rely on Tom Tom.. While we usually drive as per the speed limits. But Cab drivers give them a damn and they break just before the speed cameras. I was so scared if they could make it in time.

But thankfully they made good time

08:45 PM: They were within 3 miles. I went to the check-in desk and asked them if they can atleast weigh my stuff and keep everything ready so that as soon as I get my passport, they can gimme the boarding card. After some pleading they agreed and did it.

09:00 PM: My day wasn’t good... The TomTom directed them to Terminal 3 and it was quite some distance away from T4. And it was 9.

09:03 PM: Dhiraj ran to the underground and took the train to T4. The stupid train started only after 5 minutes. And it takes 3 minutes to reach T4

09:05 PM: The lady at the check-in counter wants to close the desk... I plead her to wait just for a few more minutes...

09:08 PM: The train starts.

09:10 PM: More pleading...

09:11 PM: The train reaches T4

09:13 PM: I get my passport and give it to them and get my boarding pass...

09:15 PM: Ran towards the security desk and on the way let my mobile flying... I collected it in 3 parts... thankfully it was just the frame... Vaalzhga Nokia...

09:18 PM: Reached the gate and found lot of people waiting to board... Ufff relief after a looong time... probably the longest hour and a half in my life

The story is not over...

They had given me 2 pieces of boarding pass... And in all the tension, I saw the 2 pieces and thot my seat number of 18H. I went there and sat. After some time another guy came and said “excuse me, this is my seat”. I was like oops... and I checked one of the pieces. It was 28H. I went there and found that that was already occupied and his BP also showed 28H. The airhostess came and checked. She said this 28H is not your seat number sir, your seat number will be in the other piece of Bp they gave you... I rummaged thru all the pockets of my Cargos and gave her that small piece of paper and it said 18K... I had mixed up 18F and 28H to arrive at 18H at the first instance... ufffffff.. so picked up my luggage and went to 18k again...

And another twist... there was this Firang who was in 18G... She was like “Excuse me... Can you do me a favour?? I know it’s asking for too much.. ” and I was thinking ...oh no, no more confusion... she continued.. “I have a friend of mine whose at 19B. If you don’t mind, can you please sit there??”.. 19B was an Aisle and there was another Firang at 19A. So instead of being sandwiched between 2 ppl in 18k, I happily went to 19B and still had got a Firang next to me ;) (She was too tired and slept thru most of the journey is another sad twist to the story... )

Rahul had asked me for a separate blog abt the Kingfisher experience... so more details in that.... J