Across the Palk Strait!

The early morning wake up call was, is, and will always remain a tough proposition. However, my predicament was of my own making as I woke up early thinking I was boarding an international fight and soon realized my folly. Nonetheless, I proceeded towards the Airport in high spirit to be greeted by a bright and beautiful morning sky. Meeta’s presence was comforting and reassuring as we sped towards the airport and reached in no time. It was time to say good bye and exchange hugs & kisses, these are truly poignant moments of life and distinctly uncomfortable to most of us. With heavy heart and moist eyes we bid good bye with a promise to meet soon.
The powerful jet roared and powered us to the skies with unbelievable ease and strength. I wonder at this engineering marvel every time I am airborne and this time it was no different not withstanding that I am a shaky flyer! The flight was designated to be an International type but it turned out to be a domestic ferry till Chennai and the thoughts of enjoying chilled beer melted in the searing heat over much of the northern plains of India. My partner in crime, Mithun, incidentally too is a shaky flyer and admitted to the same when I caught him saying prayers when the jet soared vertically. We could not sleep much as the air hostesses kept distracting us with their sashays (cat walks) down the aisles dazzling us with their beauty and ofcourse the customary Lunch.
Before we could say cheese and doze off, the pilot, a Yankee of Indian origin, crackled on the radio about our impending descent into Chennai. Both of us sighed with relief as the jet touched down and swayed wildly much to our discomfort and came to a grinding halt. We dutifully bid good bye to the lovely staff on board who must be complimented for taking great care to make flying an experience worth remembering.
Chennai International departure terminal is a big disappointment and it is not worthy of a city as eminent as it is. It was already noon when we did the immigration stuff and I had terrible pangs of hunger all this while. I rushed to the food counter and ate whatever I could get hold off. The departure though was a smooth process with everything meticulously handled by the airport staff. As the time came to take up to the skies again, we both waited with nervous anticipation. I gazed around and saw completely new set of people talking in a completely different lingua and felt uncomfortable for a second just like a fish out of water. I would be away from my home for quite a bit and I would be all alone in a different land. Now, this reality started to sink- in. I was for a moment like a baby who doesn’t want to leave her mom’s lap. Realization dawned upon me that I am on a critical assignment and would do well to devoid myself of emotions as they distract one from their mission! Come on Sri Lanka take me!

The jet roared again and took up to the skies with an effortless ease and with it withered away all my anxieties as I moved into an alien airspace away from my homeland. The landing was smooth this time around and we were welcomed at the tarmac by a warm group of people. I felt goose bumps as we briskly walked towards the immigration desk. The clerk at the desk was efficient at his job and he duly stamped the visa with arrived status.

We have arrived in the beautiful country known as the “Emerald Isles”