AT the Srinagar Airport, there were hordes of migrant workers from Bihar waiting to board the flight to Delhi. Some tourists sitting next to me were turning up their noses in disdain and I heard a lady sitting next to me, complain to her husband Now these people are also going to travel with us. Wonder who is sponsoring their tickets!
When I boarded the flight and asked the air hostess about my seat, she said that I could sit anywhere I felt like. I looked all around and my eyes fell on a huge group of those workers all gathered together. I decided to proceed towards them and finding a vacant seat next to one of them, I sat down on it. I knew these guys would be having lots of stories to tell and I was curious to know about it all. Turns out the poor lads had no money on them and had not even got paid for their labour of the last three months as all banks and ATM machines were lying defunct. They had to call up their families who got their tickets made and sent them the PNR numbers. They had no place to stay; no ration left to eat and had waded through neck deep water to get to the airport. However they were not bothered about their payments. Our employer is a good man. He will pay us once all this is over. We understand that right now he himself is helpless.
However all things aside, the amusing part starts when I ordered a sandwich for myself. Indigo had offered complimentary sandwiches to all the passengers but they were cheese sandwiches and since am not particularly fond of plain cheese sandwiches and was hungry since morning -only on a couple of Good Day biscuits purchased early morning from a shop in Sonwar, I wanted something else to eat. I was told that it would be chargeable. No issues! I will pay! I told them and ordered a vegetable sandwich and lemonade. The boy sitting next to me asks Yeh kitne ka hai? Mujhey bhi bhookh lagi hai ! Upar yeh button dabaaw I tell him. Woh aayegi aur free ka sandwich bhi degi! Yeh dabaane se woh aayegi? he asks me, indicating towards the air hostess. Haan aayegi. Dabaaw toh pehley, I reply. He presses the button and the air hostess appears. Yes Sir! Aap ko kuch chaahiye? she asks him. Bread laao!, he commands. Aaap ka matlab sandwich? Haan haan wahi jo ye kha rahi!, he points at my sandwich. Ji Sir! Magar inka waala charge huwa!. Muhko free waala do! Ji Sir!. Peene ko bhi do kuch!, he adds. Sir peene ke liye free me kuch nahi!. Paani laao phir!
I turn around and tell him “Pet bhar ke khaana. Jitna bhi khaane ka man ho.Sabko bol do -apne doston ko ki woh bhi maange”. I will never forget the chaos that followed soon after.
And thus began my journey to Delhi on this extremely hilarious and entertaining note. I had left all my woes behind and so had these boys.
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