I had two important meetings lined up just before I took the flight from Taipei. And between 2 means and one changeover, I didnt realise when I hit Mumbai. I was still dressed in black business suit. The first thing that hit me was weather. Ok, I cant complain about mother nature but as I entered the closed premises of the airport, mother nature seem to carry her influence even inside because uncle AC wasnt powerful enough to stop her.
Then came the customs. I am not worried about getting across customs except in my own motherland. I had tonnes of electronics on me, although legit, I was worried that I may be their next victim to fund their bottle of scotch. Surprisingly, I came out clean, not before 1 hour of wait for the luggage.
Whoever opposed the renovation of the Mumbai airport, should be taken to Bangkok, Djkarta which have more corrupt officials, lazier denizens yet… run a contrastingly spectacular international airports. The workers there, in turn, make more money unlike what the red flag bearers in India claim.
As if this much of reality wasnt good enough for a day, the guy at the taxi stand asked me ‘Sir, America kya.. dus-bees dedo’ (Sir, are you returning from America, Give me some tip). As I entered the taxi, I asked what happened to the AC and was told that it broke down last week.
Just in the morning, I had got into a air-conditioned Merc in a black business suit to complete some business, and in the night, i was a completely ruffled dump, stuck in the mid-night Mumbai traffic without AC.
I dont want to sound like a snotty NRI but there are some things we take for granted and say with pride ‘of our rich culture’. I remember what SR Khan saying in ‘Swades’ humara desh mahaan nahi hain, mahaan banneka khabiliyat zaroor hain (Our country is not the greatest, but has full potential to become one). I dont like to attribute, the corruption in the airport, the unclean toilets, the robbers in guise of autorickshaws, to our rich culture. It is time to put our act together and poise for real greatness.
Anyways, dirty rickshaws, mindless traffic, hot weather, custom-thugs apart… I am finally back home.. my own home, where I really belong! Anywhere else in the world I am a ‘Alien Resident’ but this is one place I am myself.. as good or bad as I am.
I will be India for 10 days.
