Terminal

A conversation I had with an elderly man in july 2006 in an airport terminal.

All the passengers were sitting with the boarding pass waiting for the announcement.

Few weeks back there was a bomb blast at Mumbai’s railway stations so the security was tightened up.

The following is an excerpt from our long conversation,

Man: I hope u know about the bomb blast which took place in Mumbai

I : Yes

Man: you know there have been a series of delayed and cancelled flights coming from Delhi and Mumbai.

I : Yes, that’s because of the security I suppose.

Man: true. Don’t you think we are so lucky. Our flight is only 10 minutes late. Imagine

you were stranded in the Delhi airport for hours. What would you have done?

I : well, its certainly not a pleasant feeling to be stranded in a terminal. Especially if

you are not Tom Hanks. But, there is nothing much you can do about it. I would

have kept my nerves in check and kept looking at the display console for any

information.

Man: Hmmmmm. Would you have told other co-passengers at the airport to be calm as

well and not panic?

I : I don’t think so. Lets be real. I am not that strong nor do I have a panache to make

everyone understand in the airport. You just cant make people believe in you if you

don’t have the powers. The maximum that I could have done is, be composed and

and try to keep the person sitting on my right and on my left settled down and

explain it to them that there is nothing much that can be done.

Man: You are good. An abrupt question, do you mind joining politics?

I : Not at all. I don’t mind, as long as I have to talk with only the person on my right

and on my left.