A FLIGHT TO ADEN
-
Sagar Mal Gupta
(India)
I was very
happy when I was appointed assistant professor of English at the University of
Aden. I was looking forward to going there. At last, my air ticket and the visa
arrived; I left Hyderabad for Mumbai to catch Alyemda flight on Wednesday. I
travelled by Indian Airlines from Hyderabad to Mumbai. At the end of the Indian
Airline flight, when I reached the baggage claim area to claim my baggage, my
surprise knew no bounds when I saw that my suitcase, the only suitcase that I
was carrying in addition to the handbag, of course, was ripped open and the
things inside were peeping to escape. I reported the matter to the Indian
Airlines who refused to entertain any claim on the ground how I could prove
that the suitcase was not already torn when I checked in. Anyway, virtually carrying
the torn suitcase like a baby on my arms, I came out of the airport and called
a taxi. I decided to go to my brother-in-law’s, who luckily happened to be in
Mumbai. Without asking how much the taxi was going to cost me, I asked the
cabman to take me to one of localities of Dadar. Reaching my brother-in-law’s
house, I had to pay Rs 1000/- to the driver. My brother-in-law’s apartment was
on the fifth floor and there was no lift. It was almost impossible for my frail
body to carry the contents of my suitcase onto the fifth floor on my arms. I
didn’t know where the physical strength came from, puffing and panting and
picking up falling things and halting at several places, at last I reached the
fifth floor and pressed the call bell. But there was no response. It seemed he
had not come back yet from his work. I had no alternative but to wait. Hardly
had I worked for 15 minutes, to my great relief,when he came rushing to the
door and welcomed me. I made myself comfortable in the apartment and tried to
forget the tearing of the suitcase. To celebrate the occasion of my going on
the foreign assignment, I bought a bottle of whisky for Rs 3000/- and had the
most enjoyable evening at his place. In the morning, I went to a shopping
centre and bought a suitcase for 2000 rupees in which I put my things and felt
relieved.
I had to catch
the morning flight by Alyemda the next day. As I had nothing else to do, we
went to see a movie and like a generous person. I paid for the tickets and
refreshments, which came to Rs1 500/-.
The Next timing
at 7 a.m., I left my brother-in-law’s place for the airport. As soon as I
entered the airport, I paid Rs 1000/- as airport tax and paid Rs 2000/- in
exchange of 21 dollars. Now the total money left with me was Rs 500/-. I went
to the Alymeda counter for checking in my baggage. The secretary there weighed
it and asked me to pay Rs 1000/- for excess baggage of 20kg. I felt
embarrassed. I didn’t have the money. I said to him,” Look, I am going as
assistant professor to your country. Can’t you just waive it.” He said,
“Nothing doing, You’ll have to pay.” I said,” Look gentleman, under the
circumstances, there are only two alternatives.” He looked interested and asked
me what they were. I said,” Either you take whatever money I have as a token
payment of one kilo excess baggage or you lend me the money which I honesty
promise to send you back.”
He gave a wry
smile, and let me carry the excess baggage without paying a farthing. I was
aboard the plane and we reached Sharjah airport, where we had a halt of 40
minutes.
I had a nice
time at Sharjah airport. I also ran into two Indiansthere. One of them was a
member of the crew on the ship. He received a cable in India saying that he had to join the ship that day in the
evening because the ship was to sail off the next day. The other was a business
man dealing in Usha fans and sewing
machines. People went on a shopping spree at Sharjah airport. They were buying
watches, tape recorders, bags, suitcases, lollipops, chocolate, cigarettes,
whiskey and perfumes. I too, bought three bottles of whiskey out of my meagre
money of 21 dollars; thereby reducing it to 12 dollars. I also felt thirsty and
bought two cans of beer for 2 dollars. At last the time to leave drew closer
and we made a move toward the aircraft. In about 15 minutes, we were in the air
again. The air hostess came and gave us drinks. Then they laid the folding
table to serve us lunch. Immediately after laying the table, the captain of the
craft said something in Arabic and our tables were folded back. Everybody was
wondering what was happening. Then came the belated information. The captain’s
message was relayed in English. The engine had developed some trouble, so we
would have to go back to Sharjah. The captain wouldn’t like to take the risk of
flying the plane all the way to Aden. As
soon as people heard this amendment irrespective of religious belief people
started praying. At last in about half an hour our plane touched the Sharjah
airport. We landed safely. We thanked God for saving us. It was almost three
hours but the plane wouldn’t leave. Everybody was impatient. The Indian guy who
had to catch the ship was most jittery. He almost lost his temper; because if
he didn’t reach that day he would have to catch the ship at the next harbour, God
knows how many days later. After three to four hour’s hectic repairs, the
aircraft couldn’t be corrected fully. The captain announced that the aircraft
couldn’t leave that day. We would be lodged in hotels for the night. They
secured rooms for us in a posh hotel at Dubai. They put all three Indians in a
room. The captain told us that the bus for Sharjah airport would leave at 8
a.m. the next day. As there was no alternative, we couldn’t do anything else
but rest for the night. We had a beer each and slept.
Next day by
eight o’ clock we were ready. We waited for the buzzer, but no buzzer came. So
we took the elevator and came to the lobby. We were told that the bus for
Sharjah had already left. This really made us angry. How could the captain
leave without us”, we said to ourselves? At last the receptionist hired a taxi
for us. The Cab driver said that he would charge 25 dollars from us, we agreed
to pay. He drove very fast on the beautiful metalled road and took us to the
international departure area. As soon as we got out of the cab, we saw a
beautiful sign saving Dubai Airport. He brought us to the wrong airport. We
told him that he was to take us to Sharjah. He told us he would change another
15 dollars for this. I was left only with 2 dollars. We had no alternative but
engage the taxi and leave immediately. In another halt an hour, we were at
Sharjah Airport. I had to borrow 3 dollars from the Indian businessman to pay
the cab driver. As soon as we reached the airport, we were told that the plane
was about to take off. We were mad with anger. As soon as we saw the captain,
we bombarded him with protests. He tried to pacify us assuring us that he
didn’t do it knowingly. At last the plane took off and we reached Aden and we
reached Aden in 2.5 hours and landed safely.
The
administrate officer in P.D.R.Y. embassy Delhi told me that he had already sent
a cable to the university. So there would be somebody to receive me at the
airport. I came out of the airport and looked around but there was none to
receive me. I felt tired and lonely. I waited there for about 1 hour but none
came. I grew restless. At last, I went to an Indian looking airport cargo
manager and said to him,” I have come as professor in the university. I am a
stranger to the place, could you fix me some hotel accommodation etc.” He
said,” Don’t you worry. I will take you to a hotel.” After waiting for about 2
hours, he drove me in a shabby car to Crater. There he took me to a hotel but
the manager said that there was no vacancy. He took me to another one, we
received the same answer. By this time, I felt like fainting. This kind person
talked on the phone and told me that at last he had succeeded in fixing me in a
hotel. He called a taxi, dumped my baggage in the taxi and asked the cabman to
drive me to Crescent hotel in Steaming Point. He didn’t forget to tell me that
I had to give the cabman 10 dollars. I didn’t have any money. I reached the
hotel and the hotel manager gave me a room in the hotel on the condition that I
would have to pay at least for a day in dollars. I said, “Yes.” The taxi was
waiting to be paid. I was waiting for luck. I looked around and to my great
relief spotted the same businessman who was with me on the plane. I borrowed 10
dollars from him and paid the taxi driver. I was told I was cheated because the
maximum fare from Crater to Tawahii couldn’t be more than a dinar. I was
wondering whether I was cheated or the businessman was cheated.