This is the travelogue details, when I was traveling to Chennai instead of watching the India v Pakistan clash in the Cricket World Cup 2011.
All this started on 28th March, when I got a call from a bank in Chennai asking me to attend a meeting on 30th March regarding a company, for which I was working a debt refinance scheme. I told them, the agenda of the meeting is very simple and there is nothing related to me, so I may be excused, but still my presence was insisted. I talked to my boss next day, who was also reluctant to send me because we were not paid the fee for long time and also because of the India v Pakistan clash. It is difficult for me to say, which was the primary reason and which was the secondary.
Any way, I booked both sides ticket and embarked on the journey next day.
0650 hrs. I woke up. Usual morning calmness. Prepared to leave for airport.
0720 hrs. Cab driver called up. at least half an hour early then I had asked him to report. I asked him to wait.
0740 hrs. Had two Gobhi paratha for breakfast.
0750 hrs. Left home for airport.
0845 hrs. Reached airport. I was told this is the international flight, so I have to go to the check in counter at international terminal. Luckily, Hyderabad airport do not have separate terminals for domestic and international operations, it is just that one side of the terminal is used for domestic operations and other side for the international operations. checked in at the counter, I asked for the seat near exit, thinking it would be the comfortable one with more leg space and would be convenient to exit, but I was given the seat near emergency exit in the middle of the aircraft. then I cleared the custom desk and moved near the scheduled departure gate. There were a couple of Muslim family perhaps traveling for Holy Haj, with males wrapped in a white towel or similar looking cloth. Everything except that was quite at the Terminal.
0910 hrs. I sat near the departure gate, where my flight was supposed to leave. I looked around if I could find some familiar face only to meet disappointment.
0945 hrs. Finally the boarding started. People at boarding desk checked my boarding pass, and tore off one portion of it. I moved to clear the CISF jawan and then in the aero bridge. I clicked a pic of the aircraft and posted to my facebook wall.
1015 hrs. Flight started moving. In another 5 minutes it was airborne. A few turbulence in the initial phase, which are quite uncommon for a bigger aircraft like A-319, in which I was flying. This reminded me of the fake pilot scam recently unearthed in India. However, realizing that since I am already airborne, there is nothing I can do now and I have good amount of insurance I relaxed back on my seat and took out the book 'Immortals of Meluha', which I have been reading on past 2-3 journeys.
1040 hrs. The flight stabilized at a height, and air hostess and stewards brought a small box containing so called breakfast. (A tip to all home sick people, that you should travel Air India, where you will feel like your mother and father are serving the food).
1110 hrs. Landed at Chennai airport. Came out of Chennai airport.
1115 hrs. Came outside of the Chennai airport, to find driver was not there. Made some quick calls to my office. After waiting for about 10 minutes, I found the driver. He was waiting for me at internal arrivals.
1225 hrs. Reached the bank. Bank officer asked me some help regarding the provisions he had to make in the account. I opened the RBI circular on my laptpo and convinced him that three different things he is inquiring with me are one and same; and whatever calculation has been done by him is correct and even if it is wrong let auditors point it out and also provide the correction. After that I made a reply, which the bank branch was supposed to provide to its corporate office.
So far, there was nothing related to India v Pakistan match.
1420 hrs. Left for lunch. Ordered Veg American Choupsey and shared with a bank person. The match started at 1430 hrs. The restaurant had an LCD TV, and while eating the Choupsey, we both enjoyed Sehwag hitting Umar Gul all around the park. After finishing the lunch, we both left the restaurant with about 6-7 overs match over and Sehwag returning to pavilion.
1600 hrs. Reached the meeting venue along with bank official. Wow! they had arranged a small TV in the meeting hall for match. We watched a few overs, while waiting for other participants to arrive. In the meanwhile, some old and not so young bankers exchanged a few expert comments about the match, regarding who will win/ loose, what should India do to win, and whether Sachin should score a century today or not. The meeting started in some time, with mute volume. Everybody excited with the match, kept the meeting very short and the official gup-shup was over in not more than 30 minutes. Bankers proceeded to sign documents one by one, waiters served some snacks and everyone enjoyed the match.
1830 hrs. The Indian inning was over they made 260 runs (a not so good score but still fairly defend-able) and we left the meeting premises. Some bankers had came in my cab, so I had to drop them back. On the way, they asked me for some documents, which I told I had already e-mailed a few days back. Banker asked me to wait till he checks his e-mail. Holy shit! I am not going to wait for you , I told in my mind. I made a nice excuse and started back for airport immediately after dropping the bankers at their branch.
1930 hrs. So many people mushroomed beside road, affecting the traffic flow. I though it might be some fight or an accident. But it was an electronic showroom, who had installed a giant TV, in which India v Pakistan match was being played.
1945 hrs. Reached Chennai airport. showed my e-ticket to CISF people, who were discussing that if Pakistan loose two more wickets they are in trouble. I moved inside the terminal, took my boarding pass and cleared the security. Airport had a small TV in the boarding area showing the match, the score was 2 wickets down. I watched the match for a few minutes and then moved near my boarding gate. After a little while, the terminal building was filled with huge roar of people, which indicated that Pakistan had lost its 3rd wicket. Another applause followed a little later, indicate 4th wicket. I checked the internet on my cell phone to confirm the same.
2050 hrs. Boarding for my flight started. The flight was delayed by about 5 minutes or so. Some passengers suggested the Jet airways staff that they can delay the flight by two hours if they wish to, which was obviously ignored.
2120 hrs. The flight was airborne, and I took out 'Immortals of Meluha'.
2200 hrs. Flight attendant announced the score. 40 overs 180 runs 6 wicket down. Every one in the flight was excited, India has a chance.
2220 hrs. Another announcement. 45 overs 199 runs 8 wickets. Yes! India can do it.
2245 hrs. Flight landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. I switched on my cell phone immediately and logged on to cricinfo.com. 5 balls remaining 30 runs required. India has almost done it, and then after a few minutes, India has won and entered in the Cricket World Cup 2011 Finals.
2330 hrs. Moving towards home, I observed mad rush of people waving Indian Tricolor on bikes and cars.
India had finally beaten arch rival Pakistan.
Before the match Prasoon Joshi had written a wonderful poem on the match, which was telecast on Headlines Today. Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yLQK317Vbs
All this started on 28th March, when I got a call from a bank in Chennai asking me to attend a meeting on 30th March regarding a company, for which I was working a debt refinance scheme. I told them, the agenda of the meeting is very simple and there is nothing related to me, so I may be excused, but still my presence was insisted. I talked to my boss next day, who was also reluctant to send me because we were not paid the fee for long time and also because of the India v Pakistan clash. It is difficult for me to say, which was the primary reason and which was the secondary.
Any way, I booked both sides ticket and embarked on the journey next day.
0650 hrs. I woke up. Usual morning calmness. Prepared to leave for airport.
0720 hrs. Cab driver called up. at least half an hour early then I had asked him to report. I asked him to wait.
0740 hrs. Had two Gobhi paratha for breakfast.
0750 hrs. Left home for airport.
0845 hrs. Reached airport. I was told this is the international flight, so I have to go to the check in counter at international terminal. Luckily, Hyderabad airport do not have separate terminals for domestic and international operations, it is just that one side of the terminal is used for domestic operations and other side for the international operations. checked in at the counter, I asked for the seat near exit, thinking it would be the comfortable one with more leg space and would be convenient to exit, but I was given the seat near emergency exit in the middle of the aircraft. then I cleared the custom desk and moved near the scheduled departure gate. There were a couple of Muslim family perhaps traveling for Holy Haj, with males wrapped in a white towel or similar looking cloth. Everything except that was quite at the Terminal.
0910 hrs. I sat near the departure gate, where my flight was supposed to leave. I looked around if I could find some familiar face only to meet disappointment.
0945 hrs. Finally the boarding started. People at boarding desk checked my boarding pass, and tore off one portion of it. I moved to clear the CISF jawan and then in the aero bridge. I clicked a pic of the aircraft and posted to my facebook wall.
1015 hrs. Flight started moving. In another 5 minutes it was airborne. A few turbulence in the initial phase, which are quite uncommon for a bigger aircraft like A-319, in which I was flying. This reminded me of the fake pilot scam recently unearthed in India. However, realizing that since I am already airborne, there is nothing I can do now and I have good amount of insurance I relaxed back on my seat and took out the book 'Immortals of Meluha', which I have been reading on past 2-3 journeys.
1040 hrs. The flight stabilized at a height, and air hostess and stewards brought a small box containing so called breakfast. (A tip to all home sick people, that you should travel Air India, where you will feel like your mother and father are serving the food).
1110 hrs. Landed at Chennai airport. Came out of Chennai airport.
1115 hrs. Came outside of the Chennai airport, to find driver was not there. Made some quick calls to my office. After waiting for about 10 minutes, I found the driver. He was waiting for me at internal arrivals.
1225 hrs. Reached the bank. Bank officer asked me some help regarding the provisions he had to make in the account. I opened the RBI circular on my laptpo and convinced him that three different things he is inquiring with me are one and same; and whatever calculation has been done by him is correct and even if it is wrong let auditors point it out and also provide the correction. After that I made a reply, which the bank branch was supposed to provide to its corporate office.
So far, there was nothing related to India v Pakistan match.
1420 hrs. Left for lunch. Ordered Veg American Choupsey and shared with a bank person. The match started at 1430 hrs. The restaurant had an LCD TV, and while eating the Choupsey, we both enjoyed Sehwag hitting Umar Gul all around the park. After finishing the lunch, we both left the restaurant with about 6-7 overs match over and Sehwag returning to pavilion.
1600 hrs. Reached the meeting venue along with bank official. Wow! they had arranged a small TV in the meeting hall for match. We watched a few overs, while waiting for other participants to arrive. In the meanwhile, some old and not so young bankers exchanged a few expert comments about the match, regarding who will win/ loose, what should India do to win, and whether Sachin should score a century today or not. The meeting started in some time, with mute volume. Everybody excited with the match, kept the meeting very short and the official gup-shup was over in not more than 30 minutes. Bankers proceeded to sign documents one by one, waiters served some snacks and everyone enjoyed the match.
1830 hrs. The Indian inning was over they made 260 runs (a not so good score but still fairly defend-able) and we left the meeting premises. Some bankers had came in my cab, so I had to drop them back. On the way, they asked me for some documents, which I told I had already e-mailed a few days back. Banker asked me to wait till he checks his e-mail. Holy shit! I am not going to wait for you , I told in my mind. I made a nice excuse and started back for airport immediately after dropping the bankers at their branch.
1930 hrs. So many people mushroomed beside road, affecting the traffic flow. I though it might be some fight or an accident. But it was an electronic showroom, who had installed a giant TV, in which India v Pakistan match was being played.
1945 hrs. Reached Chennai airport. showed my e-ticket to CISF people, who were discussing that if Pakistan loose two more wickets they are in trouble. I moved inside the terminal, took my boarding pass and cleared the security. Airport had a small TV in the boarding area showing the match, the score was 2 wickets down. I watched the match for a few minutes and then moved near my boarding gate. After a little while, the terminal building was filled with huge roar of people, which indicated that Pakistan had lost its 3rd wicket. Another applause followed a little later, indicate 4th wicket. I checked the internet on my cell phone to confirm the same.
2050 hrs. Boarding for my flight started. The flight was delayed by about 5 minutes or so. Some passengers suggested the Jet airways staff that they can delay the flight by two hours if they wish to, which was obviously ignored.
2120 hrs. The flight was airborne, and I took out 'Immortals of Meluha'.
2200 hrs. Flight attendant announced the score. 40 overs 180 runs 6 wicket down. Every one in the flight was excited, India has a chance.
2220 hrs. Another announcement. 45 overs 199 runs 8 wickets. Yes! India can do it.
2245 hrs. Flight landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. I switched on my cell phone immediately and logged on to cricinfo.com. 5 balls remaining 30 runs required. India has almost done it, and then after a few minutes, India has won and entered in the Cricket World Cup 2011 Finals.
2330 hrs. Moving towards home, I observed mad rush of people waving Indian Tricolor on bikes and cars.
India had finally beaten arch rival Pakistan.
Before the match Prasoon Joshi had written a wonderful poem on the match, which was telecast on Headlines Today. Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yLQK317Vbs
