The middle seat...
I hate middle seats.
I know many do that. That's why I got an aisle booked specifically while flying to Delhi for the important meeting at IMA HQ. The rates were bit high for the Saturday noon flight. Yet I insisted on flying this as it was second Saturday, a local holiday and many patients book consultation much in advance. I wanted to see atleast few before flying off. Some colleagues went the previous day as the meet was to begin at noon. My plan was to join by early evening. The non stop flight at 12.30 would take just three hours to reach. I was sure I'd be on time for my presentation.
I'm never an early bird. Often I dash to the airport at the last minute and scrape through the closing boarding gates. Each time I vow to avoid the last minute butterflies, but the same drama keeps unfolding. However, this time I was determined . Appointments were restricted so that I could start at 11 and reach the airport an hour before the flight.
Everything was going on perfect until my phone beeped at quarter to 11. I glanced at the message from the airline. It said that the flight was delayed by half hour. I got a bit perturbed and reassessed the time lines. Maybe, I'll reach by four, an hour to the HQ, still I should be there before the meeting close, I hoped. I saw the rest at relative leisure and got out at 1130.
Reaching the airport on time was rare for me and I approached the counter with some pride. Phew.... The bubble of joy suddenly burst. The flight, I was told, was further delayed "due to delayed arrival of incoming flight from Chennai, because of poor visibility". What on earth was that?? Was that the pilot couldn't see the run way or did he miss seeing the aircraft. 'Fog in Chennai, that too at noon' - was beyond my comprehension. Whatever be the case I'd little choice but to wait. The time lines were narrowing and I didn't want to compute again. I just hoped against hope that I'll reach on time before the meeting end.
I grabbed my boarding card and grimly walked to the lounge. There was plenty of time left and I thought of catching up with FB and WhatsApp. Suddenly the announcement by the airline who keep maintaining that - 'samay per rehna mahatwapoorn he' came. The flight was delayed further and the passengers were asked to collect food packets. Many seemed happy and were rushing for food like flood victims gathering beneath rescue chopper. Was it attraction to food or free food, I wondered. They were all happily returning with packets in hand. I was absolutely dejected. By now it was almost certain that by the time I reach the meeting would be over. I'd to fly back the next morning and going to Delhi just for dinner seemed absurd. I was getting hungry too. Amma had packed my diet lunch. Still I reluctantly walked to their food counter when the crowd thinned out, to find what they were offering. Lays chips, biscuits, cashew nuts and water was the 'precious food' they were giving off. Absolute junk! I took the nuts and returned the rest, though protocol demanded that I recieve all the junk. I was already frustrated on the flight getting delayed and was in no mood to swallow the filth.
I settled back on my couch in the lounge and ate my packed lunch. There wasn't much to do. I'd carried some reading materials and was just hoping to read them in the comfort of my aisle seat. The travel agent knew my weakness and was very proud that she could manage one in second row itself. 2C was my seat. Boarding was announced in a little while. Maybe visibility improved in Chennai and they found the aircraft, right on time to ensure that I miss the meeting. I hoped to have some discussions at dinner and send message to the President. Boarding announcements too attract immediate crowd. They rush to probably get enough space to store their 'saaman in the over head compartment'. Personally I prefer to board last when the queue would vanish and one can walk straight into the aircraft. I grabbed my stuff and slowly walked to the plane with drooped shoulders. 'Wasted afternoon', I was sure. I really felt very sad.
Once inside the plane, I didn't have to walk much. 2C, my only good thing on the day would be at the front end itself.
Hey, is it 2c! I checked my boarding card again. Yes, it's printed 2C. But someone else was sitting there, a young mother. She was busy playing with her kids on the adjacent seats and hardly noticed me. I cleared my throat and she looked up. "Oh, is this your seat", she asked. I was relieved. It's just a mistake, I thought. She was sitting on the wrong seat and I'll soon get my 2C back. "Yes", I showed my boarding card. "Can you please exchange with mine" ,she pointed to her middle seat in the next row. She wanted to be next to her kids. I looked around. The guy on the other aisle seemed to be staring at another planet. No other aisle was available. I told her that I'd specifically booked the aisle seat paying Corporate rates. Actually I don't know what that means. That's what the travel agent told me. How can I compromise my corporate rate aisle. The lady got a bit disappointed. She told she'll shift to her middle seat if I insisted. I didn't know what to do. Saints like Buddha, Jesus and Gandhi had shown that 'Sacrifice is the path to ultimate bliss'. But I'm no Saint. How could I sacrifice my precious aisle, that too on such a long flight.
I knew what I'd do. I can't refuse, somehow I can't. So even though I wanted the aisle, I reluctantly gave up. Dejectedly I got into the middle seat she pointed. The aisle guy came back to planet Earth. He offered to help me with my bag probably out of guilt. I refused to accept. I was furious. Why me, he too could have shifted. Not a good day, I was sure as I reclined to my hated middle seat. I was tired and sad and dozed off in the comfort of my neck rest.
Sometime later I was woken up by giggles. The mom and kids were playing. Infact they continued to play through out the three hour flight. I was reminded of my kids. How much I enjoyed playing with them when they were this age. How I relished travelling and sleeping with them. I took out my mobile and clicked few pictures. I felt light and happy at heart that I didn't insist on my aisle seat. I was happy to see them enjoy.
We landed at Delhi, right on time for my meeting to get over. My brother in law was at the airport and drove me straight to the headquarters. I walked into the President's cabin where he was holding informal talks with other important leaders. He, an ardent patron of the student wing which I head, was bit annoyed that I was late but offered an exclusive discussion on my wing over dinner. I got the office work done and was thrilled as the entire dinner session was devoted for student affairs and I got three hours flat rather than the fifteen minutes which I'd have otherwise had during the meeting. What a turn around! Many important decisions were made and to my absolute delight the President was very generous and gave sanction for lot of student programmes. The dinner was sumptuous too.
As I got into the cab heading to my sister's home to spend the night before I catch my early morning return flight, I counted that I've had one of the best deliberations ever at HQ. Was it the after effect of my little Sacrifice. I don't know. Apart from the immediate bliss maybe sacrifice brings in ultimate gains too. As I reclined off to sleep, the giggling kids and mom came to my mind. Happiness is certainly more worth than an Aisle seat. If occupying a middle seat could make someone else happy, isn't it worth.
The saints are probably right.
I hate middle seats.
I know many do that. That's why I got an aisle booked specifically while flying to Delhi for the important meeting at IMA HQ. The rates were bit high for the Saturday noon flight. Yet I insisted on flying this as it was second Saturday, a local holiday and many patients book consultation much in advance. I wanted to see atleast few before flying off. Some colleagues went the previous day as the meet was to begin at noon. My plan was to join by early evening. The non stop flight at 12.30 would take just three hours to reach. I was sure I'd be on time for my presentation.
I'm never an early bird. Often I dash to the airport at the last minute and scrape through the closing boarding gates. Each time I vow to avoid the last minute butterflies, but the same drama keeps unfolding. However, this time I was determined . Appointments were restricted so that I could start at 11 and reach the airport an hour before the flight.
Everything was going on perfect until my phone beeped at quarter to 11. I glanced at the message from the airline. It said that the flight was delayed by half hour. I got a bit perturbed and reassessed the time lines. Maybe, I'll reach by four, an hour to the HQ, still I should be there before the meeting close, I hoped. I saw the rest at relative leisure and got out at 1130.
Reaching the airport on time was rare for me and I approached the counter with some pride. Phew.... The bubble of joy suddenly burst. The flight, I was told, was further delayed "due to delayed arrival of incoming flight from Chennai, because of poor visibility". What on earth was that?? Was that the pilot couldn't see the run way or did he miss seeing the aircraft. 'Fog in Chennai, that too at noon' - was beyond my comprehension. Whatever be the case I'd little choice but to wait. The time lines were narrowing and I didn't want to compute again. I just hoped against hope that I'll reach on time before the meeting end.
I grabbed my boarding card and grimly walked to the lounge. There was plenty of time left and I thought of catching up with FB and WhatsApp. Suddenly the announcement by the airline who keep maintaining that - 'samay per rehna mahatwapoorn he' came. The flight was delayed further and the passengers were asked to collect food packets. Many seemed happy and were rushing for food like flood victims gathering beneath rescue chopper. Was it attraction to food or free food, I wondered. They were all happily returning with packets in hand. I was absolutely dejected. By now it was almost certain that by the time I reach the meeting would be over. I'd to fly back the next morning and going to Delhi just for dinner seemed absurd. I was getting hungry too. Amma had packed my diet lunch. Still I reluctantly walked to their food counter when the crowd thinned out, to find what they were offering. Lays chips, biscuits, cashew nuts and water was the 'precious food' they were giving off. Absolute junk! I took the nuts and returned the rest, though protocol demanded that I recieve all the junk. I was already frustrated on the flight getting delayed and was in no mood to swallow the filth.
I settled back on my couch in the lounge and ate my packed lunch. There wasn't much to do. I'd carried some reading materials and was just hoping to read them in the comfort of my aisle seat. The travel agent knew my weakness and was very proud that she could manage one in second row itself. 2C was my seat. Boarding was announced in a little while. Maybe visibility improved in Chennai and they found the aircraft, right on time to ensure that I miss the meeting. I hoped to have some discussions at dinner and send message to the President. Boarding announcements too attract immediate crowd. They rush to probably get enough space to store their 'saaman in the over head compartment'. Personally I prefer to board last when the queue would vanish and one can walk straight into the aircraft. I grabbed my stuff and slowly walked to the plane with drooped shoulders. 'Wasted afternoon', I was sure. I really felt very sad.
Once inside the plane, I didn't have to walk much. 2C, my only good thing on the day would be at the front end itself.
Hey, is it 2c! I checked my boarding card again. Yes, it's printed 2C. But someone else was sitting there, a young mother. She was busy playing with her kids on the adjacent seats and hardly noticed me. I cleared my throat and she looked up. "Oh, is this your seat", she asked. I was relieved. It's just a mistake, I thought. She was sitting on the wrong seat and I'll soon get my 2C back. "Yes", I showed my boarding card. "Can you please exchange with mine" ,she pointed to her middle seat in the next row. She wanted to be next to her kids. I looked around. The guy on the other aisle seemed to be staring at another planet. No other aisle was available. I told her that I'd specifically booked the aisle seat paying Corporate rates. Actually I don't know what that means. That's what the travel agent told me. How can I compromise my corporate rate aisle. The lady got a bit disappointed. She told she'll shift to her middle seat if I insisted. I didn't know what to do. Saints like Buddha, Jesus and Gandhi had shown that 'Sacrifice is the path to ultimate bliss'. But I'm no Saint. How could I sacrifice my precious aisle, that too on such a long flight.
I knew what I'd do. I can't refuse, somehow I can't. So even though I wanted the aisle, I reluctantly gave up. Dejectedly I got into the middle seat she pointed. The aisle guy came back to planet Earth. He offered to help me with my bag probably out of guilt. I refused to accept. I was furious. Why me, he too could have shifted. Not a good day, I was sure as I reclined to my hated middle seat. I was tired and sad and dozed off in the comfort of my neck rest.
Sometime later I was woken up by giggles. The mom and kids were playing. Infact they continued to play through out the three hour flight. I was reminded of my kids. How much I enjoyed playing with them when they were this age. How I relished travelling and sleeping with them. I took out my mobile and clicked few pictures. I felt light and happy at heart that I didn't insist on my aisle seat. I was happy to see them enjoy.
We landed at Delhi, right on time for my meeting to get over. My brother in law was at the airport and drove me straight to the headquarters. I walked into the President's cabin where he was holding informal talks with other important leaders. He, an ardent patron of the student wing which I head, was bit annoyed that I was late but offered an exclusive discussion on my wing over dinner. I got the office work done and was thrilled as the entire dinner session was devoted for student affairs and I got three hours flat rather than the fifteen minutes which I'd have otherwise had during the meeting. What a turn around! Many important decisions were made and to my absolute delight the President was very generous and gave sanction for lot of student programmes. The dinner was sumptuous too.
As I got into the cab heading to my sister's home to spend the night before I catch my early morning return flight, I counted that I've had one of the best deliberations ever at HQ. Was it the after effect of my little Sacrifice. I don't know. Apart from the immediate bliss maybe sacrifice brings in ultimate gains too. As I reclined off to sleep, the giggling kids and mom came to my mind. Happiness is certainly more worth than an Aisle seat. If occupying a middle seat could make someone else happy, isn't it worth.
The saints are probably right.
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