a flavour unfolded.. 'India'

15th August, sparks celebrations nationwide...and worldwide (Independence Day). The day India liberated the British. I had least expected myself to be in India on 15th August; but life as always delivered the unexpected. Marked on the globe with a significant shape, known to millions as a centre for tourism, and a millions others due to the issue on kashmir, and still a home to a billion. Yet many facets of this country remains unknown, and many secrets untold. As always there are two sides to a coin. Life and death go hand in hand,and so does joy and fury.

From the deserts of rajasthan to the tea plantations of Munnar there exists a diversity in urban and rural life. Moments of joy are unbound as the first few drops fall from heaven.

Wilting in the summer, prancing in the rain
A motherland, for you and me

Blend of nature, blend of colors
Diwali, for you and me

Dense are the cities with people and vehicles sharing the same narrow streets, and traffic is controlled by police for making a few extra bucks. Crime is as common as a road fatality. Politicians thrive by creating a turmoil. A peaceful day might see a night in flames.

Traffic at its prime, streets filled with crime
A sinister land, for you and me

Population on the rise, prices await a reprise
A crisis, for you and me

Scare Tactics at the Airport

I don’t have even a week left before i spend 27 hours in flight, towards my destination - India! Guess what? I will be older by ten hours on reaching India. Talk of time travel heh....?? My worst come worst fears though is not 'age'; but airport delays causing missed connections, missed baggage etc. Having already faced ridiculous situation before I certainly am not keen on traveling via Chicago nor take an Air India flight (They are on time, especially when you dont want them to be).

Airport Security is traumatizing in itself. I had dwelled on the security measures in an earlier post.
The security personnel tend to ask questions which really test one's IQ. Tackling a GMAT examination question would be comparatively easier. Some of those questions are real tricky!! You need to keep a straight face while answering them plus an IQ level of atleast a 100.

For instance, you are standing in line to check in baggage. Obviously you have to screen it first, and just when you start loading your bag back in the cart; your worst fears come true, decibels bouncing of the ear drums - HE SPEAKS!! HE IN THE UNIFORM....!!!
"Sir, Is this your baggage?"

We tend to look down and around, the heart beats starts to flutter, followed by a stutter of gibberish...even though it’s obvious that we would be taking our bag!! Any particular reason why you would choose to load someone else's? But you still tend to make sure; the name tags are right. The BLUE band right across the handle bars. Ah. Confirmation; "Yes it is mine". Before you know it, the next sets of questions drop even a bigger bombshell.

"Sir, did you pack this bag yourself?"
"Do you know what the contents of your baggage are?"

At the point of time nervousness starts to show and a flurry of thoughts mix with the slurry in the brain, left brain starts accusing the right. It’s not like as though your neighbor’s servant packed your bag! Or did he/she?? It’s not wrong to cross out possibilities. This is about the only point of time when our ego doesn't come in the way and we tend to question our own actions. 'Did we pack right? Was there something inappropriate?.......?........?'

Fear Factor hence: I-ntelligent Q-uestions....Scare tactics employed at the Airport.