The Dubai-Fort Worth leg of the Emirates flight had its share of adventure.
I had chosen Seat 25D because this was closer to the bulkhead and I could stretch my legs.Little did I realize that this was also the row where women with toddlers were given preference because they could hang a bassinet up front to make the babies sleep there.
Mine was aisle and next to me was this young mother with a 7 month old kid----- travelling alone to boot.Next to her was another young mother with a 1 year old kid---- also travelling alone.What had I gotten into, I wondered? I was soon to find out.
Since I'd just had dinner on the Chennai-Dubai leg, I declined dinner again and settled down to sleep.I slept quite well---- so well, in fact, that I skipped breakfast as it was being handed out.I woke up famished and asked the stewardess for breakfast.She asked " One more?". I said no, I'd missed the first one.She said to wait for an hour and they'd come around with lunch.So I settled for an orange juice and went to the pantry to fetch an apple to munch.Meanwhile, the baby next to me was in a playful mood and was gurgling happily.I made faces at it and it broke into smiles.
I asked the girl about herself.She was from Irving, Texas and had gone to Hyderabad to visit her parents.She had arrived in India in March 2013 and was now getting back.The baby started crying and she asked me to hold the kid while she was getting the formula from her bag.The baby became quiet as soon as I held him and the girl was quite happy. I told her that I was about to become a grandfather in Aug 2013 and my daughter-in-law was also travelling to India in Jan 2014 with a 5 month old kid ( but with her parents) and so I was watching how she was managing.
Soon lunch came around.( Ranjita-- that was the name of the girl) said that she would have her lunch when the baby slept. Oh God, I thought----- was this going to be a repeat of the Chennai-Delhi flight in Jan 2001 all over again? Anyway, I finished my lunch and then offered to hold the baby while Ranjita had her lunch.She gave me a grateful look and promptly ordered her lunch.I held the baby to my shoulder and had to keep asking Ranjita for tissues whenever the baby drooled on to my jacket.I also heard suspicious sounds from the baby's stomach and wondered what else the baby was doing.
Sure enough, Ranjita changed the baby's diaper after she finished lunch and I surreptiously checked my jacket for any tell-tale marks.
There was still another 7 hours to go. So I settled down to watch Elvis Presley's "Jail House Rock" ( in preparation for my visit to Graceland,Memphis in Jul 2013 ), "The Desert Fox" ( James Mason as Rommel was terrific) and "Letters from Iwo Jima" ( a poignant story about WWII-- told from the Japanese side).
The plane was coming in the Polar Route over New Foundland and Canada and then straight down to the South.We were served Pizzas for breakfast and then preparations for landing began. Ranjita asked me if I could help her with her hand baggage and I readily agreed since I had only a strolley. The flight landed on time in Dallas at 9.30 AM in bright sunshine.We came out of the aircraft and headed to Immigration.There was no stroller outside the aircraft door ( as is normally the case) and the walk to Immigration was quite long.There was a huge queue and just 4 counters open.The queue hardly moved.The baby was fidgeting and Ranjita found it quite difficult to manage him. So I offered to hold the baby and she took care of my strolley and her bags.
Then the baby again started crying and I asked Ranjita to sit on a bench and feed the baby and to join the queue as it approached the counter.It took another hour to get to the counter.Meantime, I used her phone to speak to Sachin and Sandeep and let them know that I'd already arrived.
I finally got out of Immigration and was heading to the Exit when I told that I would have to put my bags through the scanner again to check for "Agriculture". Oh God, I thought---- have they found out about the karvensoppu that I was carrying for Madhura and Greeshma? Fortunately, I was not asked to open my bags and I was waved through.
I came outside and was delighted to find Sachin, Sudha and Greeshma waiting for me.Sudha had thinned down, Greeshma was looking radiant with her baby bump and Sachin was his usual self. The time was 11.30 AM.
We drove down to Sandeep's house in Plano.I had a shave and a hot shower and felt rejuvenated.Sandeep came home for lunch and then Greeshma and I dropped him back. at his Office.The onion and potato sambar tasted heavenly and I had a good afternoon nap.In the evening, we went to the tennis court and were watching some matches being played there.Madhura rang up to say that she,Sachin and Geetha and Malathesh were coming over.We quickly went to Indian Flavours and picked up some hot samosas.
It was nice to see Madhura and her parents .Greeshma and Sudha had also prepared Bhel Puri and we enjoyed a pleasant evening together.
Had a light dinner and then slept.
End of day 1.
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