Shaji and I had agreed to meet up at
5 pm on 12th from where we would go to his lovely home for drinks and dinner.
On the way we stopped at a supermarket for a couple of things I wanted to pick
up. Amaretto biscuits and soft jelly candies I had had at the B&B were on
my purchase list. Special goodies were on ample display for Xmas shoppers.
Shaji had prepared a whole lot of stuff for dinner. But generous helping of
artichokes in olive oil, steamed assorted seafood and fried chicken wings more
than stuffed me, besides the Glenfiddich. The lively conversation revolved
around life in the country, opportunities for new generation and work. Shaji is
an excellent conversationalist and I lost my sense of time. After 9pm I
suggested we leave as I had to pack up and get up early to go to the airport.
I had a 10 am flight out of Milan on
the 13th. This meant that I had to take a taxi to Centrale at 6.30am, from
where I could take a 7am, or thereabouts, bus to the Malpensa airport. Over breakfast
on the 12th Cinzia offered to get me a reliable taxi. When I didn't get her
confirmation till late evening I was a bit ruffled. But she sent me a message
in the night that Fluvio would be at the B&B to pick me up at 6.30. I was
more than a bit jittery knowing what happens in India about such promises. I
needn't have been. Fluvio was right on time and he dropped me off at
Milano Centrale after a wonderful conversation about the city, its growth and
his own personal experiences.
I was just in time for the bus that left a few minutes after 7 am. Having woken
up quite early I dozed for most part of the drive to the airport. When I
woke up I marveled at the amazing sight of snowcapped Alps that 'fenced' the
airport. It looked as if the airport and the surrounding region had been neatly
placed in a bowl with snowcapped sides. Despite having checked in online I had to wait an eternity to drop my bag; some
glitch with the software, I was informed. Two shots of Baccardi and coke,
snacks, breakfast and "Munna Micheal" helped me through to Abu Dhabi.
I wonder why we have to face
gargantuan and slow moving immigration counters in India. Of course, all the
paperwork has been done away with. Even then, I am sure, passengers need not
queue up for so long to secure immigration clearance. Even security check in
India is so cumbersome. Everywhere these days, security and immigration are a
simple walk through experience. But not so in our country. We have to stand,
shuffle, stand and suffer.
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