அன்னை

முதன்முதலில் நான் அழுகையில்

அவள் சிரித்தாள்,

என் வாழ்வில் நான் அழுகையில்

அவள் சிரித்த ஒரே நாள்!

அன்று நான் பிறந்தநாள் ! ! !

My first flight to a foreign country

Though it was a dream that I had for many days, it was not so exiting when I am starting from home. The preparation begins just this way. I was given just 8 days prior information (which was not confirmed as well) and the confirmation came just some four days before my travel.

With all these situations, going home and my desire to stay with dad and mom at least for a day after I received the plan happened but in very different way. It was all purCHASING. Yes that was really a hectic chasing for things to buy by dad, mom and myself. With this schedule coming in, the idea to search a bride for anna took backseat. Finally I just assumed that the travel would be there on that week for sure and so as we normally do in our home before any special moment, I took the blessing from elders and started from there.

After some tough days, I started to office from home and then confirmed them that I am travelling on that Saturday for sure. Then as the advices and suggestions from many of my friends and relatives the list items keeps on increasing. By that time I was in office to get all the needed documents from travel department, Finance department, Immigration, CCD and following up all those stuffs makes a complete day. Though it was not my intention, I could not able to contribute to the issues that were faced by the ETL team by that time.

If I am not saying anything about the rain that week at Chennai and most parts to Tamil Nadu, really the situation can’t be fully understood. There was a cyclone called NISHA in the Bay of Bengal, which causes floods in many parts of the state. The schools and colleges are closed for that complete week (Announcement of the holiday came daily on every morning for that day.) Even Infosys announces a holiday finally on Friday. With this natural intervention, shopping at Chennai is not an easy task to do. S o better to avoid any health issues at the eleventh hour, I just tried to stay away from rain as much as I can. Also, one important evening, got the blessing from other two most important persons of my life.

T ime went very fast in the last one week. Friday came. Dad and Mom arrived when chennai is mostly flooded. Infosys holiday announced. Packing started. Weighed and packet and then packet and weighed. By that time her presence in the sent off seems uncertain. Many thoughts in mind, but with only smiles on my face the night came and the time was getting closer and closer. She conveyed an interesting hint that time. That really relieves much of our pain.

Then the final countdown for the journey is about to begin. This is my first trip away from my home country. But that’s not the big deal that time. With the entire checklist and by the time of verifying all at home, I hadn’t spoke with her as I normally do. She felt very upset, who won’t. Though I understood, I can only understand, can’t do much on that time.

The travel started in car, with Mom, dad and anna with me. We went some 4.5 hours before the schedule. Though it looks too overcautious, by the kind of rain that we had for the past one week, that’s the right decision I would say.
Reached air port, spoke with all those to whom I should inform. Check in of bags was completed. Then the weight issue. The weight was bit more than it should be. It makes the last minute reduction of weight; this makes few of the vessels missing the chance to be with me in US.

After check in, I went and left some more shirts to mom. That time mom told me to take the sweater with me, but went replying that I will get that once immigration is completed. Only after that I get to know that once immigration is completed, passengers will not be allowed to go back again. POINT TO BE NOTED for any first time travelers.

Missed the sweater with mom and thank god I had phone with me that time. I just conveyed them this. Finally dad asked someone to give the sweater to me and the second mediator, who gets me that, asks for money. (No comments) since I have no Indian rupee other than 100/- which Anna gave, I gave that too. Then after the security check I was asked to wait till the boarding call comes. Spoke with all the four of my family members at that last few minutes before my flight. Though it is a travel to different continent, Anna still feels that Gowsik is still a kid. He just gave me some advices and dad and mom added to it. Finally I boarded the flight to DOHA, QUATAR AIRWAYS started. My first flight to a foreign country begins there….