A few days back I was flying to Calcutta, and as usual after reaching the airport I came to know that the flight was delayed by 2 hrs. I had plenty of time to kill and armed with a book, I thought time will fly soon. There was a lot of activity going on, in the airport, people coming and going, kids running round, air hostess and other airport officials busy with their work, Delhi airport was buzzing with all kinds of activities. It was then I decided to discard my book and observe the people around me. After I had I boarded the flight I realized that you can come up with many stories from an airport just by observing the people there closely. Let me tell you its very interesting.......
Sitting right next to me was a guy, late forties wearing branded jeans, shirt and big shades (those corporate types who have everything and anything in this world) He was talking on the phone and some of his one-liners were 'haan' ,'theek hai, tum uske school chale jao', 'wapas ane par dekh lunga' and the regular 'mere paas time nahi hai, tum bhi to kuch kar liya karo kabhi kabhi' and ended the phone call muttering his displeasure(please excuse my Hindi and the spellings!!!)
After about 2-3 mins there was another call ,this time he sounded happy and the conversation was in English. 'Ya I understand how difficult things are', 'I really like the way you go about organizing things' 'Don't worry things will fall in place once I reach there'. Need I still elaborate who are the two people, this guy was talking to? Actually its surprising to see how things change so easily and without any effort.
A seat just opposite to mine was vacant, one Auntyji came and sat there armed with two samosas and a sandwich. She was wearing a salwar kameez and bursting at the seams (thanks to samosas and sandwiches) Again she was one the phone probabaly with a friend......'there is a power cut at my place since 8 in the morning, so I came to the airport 4 hours early'. Now I kno why airports are crowded most of the times, except perhaps when it is really late at night. Probably it is difficult to arrange transport at that hour!!!
Another couple were busy with their respective laptops (taking care of last minute office work may be) and their kid was trying her best to draw their attention. First she tried to pull her father's shirt, then her mothers laptop with no result. So she decided that it was safe for her to wander off, just like that. She looked around and the magazine vending machine caught her attention. She started walking towards that which was opposite to where her parents were sitting. The kid was too cute and sweet.......and after reaching there positioned herself just next to the machine.
After a good 10 mins the mother suddenly looks up from her laptop, looks around for her daughter, then calls her husband when she cannot see her anywhere nearby. Now both of them are looking for the kid and I point out to them where she is. The father goes and collects his daughter and thanks me and this time it is the daughter that the parents are concentrating on and not their laptops!!
Another newly wedded couple seem oblivious to everything that is happening around them, except of course each other. The girl was wearing a red saree, she was wearing chura and had amazing mehendi patterns on her hand. Probably they were headed for a honeymoon somewhere, whispering God knows what to each other......probably sweet nothings. Weddings and honeymoon they say are special, so the couple were probably overwhelmed by the whole thing!!!!
I had done my share of eavesdropping and adamsdropping too!!! Btw, adamsdropping is a new term coined by Ranjini, my colleague. She says when we hear the conversation of a girl it is eavesdropping and when we hear a guy's conversation its adamsdropping and I heard that guy talking on the phone to you know whom.....It felt that I was sitting there for about half an hour, but one look at my watch told me that it has been more then 2 hrs. Phew.....that was really fast!!!
Sitting right next to me was a guy, late forties wearing branded jeans, shirt and big shades (those corporate types who have everything and anything in this world) He was talking on the phone and some of his one-liners were 'haan' ,'theek hai, tum uske school chale jao', 'wapas ane par dekh lunga' and the regular 'mere paas time nahi hai, tum bhi to kuch kar liya karo kabhi kabhi' and ended the phone call muttering his displeasure(please excuse my Hindi and the spellings!!!)
After about 2-3 mins there was another call ,this time he sounded happy and the conversation was in English. 'Ya I understand how difficult things are', 'I really like the way you go about organizing things' 'Don't worry things will fall in place once I reach there'. Need I still elaborate who are the two people, this guy was talking to? Actually its surprising to see how things change so easily and without any effort.
A seat just opposite to mine was vacant, one Auntyji came and sat there armed with two samosas and a sandwich. She was wearing a salwar kameez and bursting at the seams (thanks to samosas and sandwiches) Again she was one the phone probabaly with a friend......'there is a power cut at my place since 8 in the morning, so I came to the airport 4 hours early'. Now I kno why airports are crowded most of the times, except perhaps when it is really late at night. Probably it is difficult to arrange transport at that hour!!!
Another couple were busy with their respective laptops (taking care of last minute office work may be) and their kid was trying her best to draw their attention. First she tried to pull her father's shirt, then her mothers laptop with no result. So she decided that it was safe for her to wander off, just like that. She looked around and the magazine vending machine caught her attention. She started walking towards that which was opposite to where her parents were sitting. The kid was too cute and sweet.......and after reaching there positioned herself just next to the machine.
After a good 10 mins the mother suddenly looks up from her laptop, looks around for her daughter, then calls her husband when she cannot see her anywhere nearby. Now both of them are looking for the kid and I point out to them where she is. The father goes and collects his daughter and thanks me and this time it is the daughter that the parents are concentrating on and not their laptops!!
Another newly wedded couple seem oblivious to everything that is happening around them, except of course each other. The girl was wearing a red saree, she was wearing chura and had amazing mehendi patterns on her hand. Probably they were headed for a honeymoon somewhere, whispering God knows what to each other......probably sweet nothings. Weddings and honeymoon they say are special, so the couple were probably overwhelmed by the whole thing!!!!
I had done my share of eavesdropping and adamsdropping too!!! Btw, adamsdropping is a new term coined by Ranjini, my colleague. She says when we hear the conversation of a girl it is eavesdropping and when we hear a guy's conversation its adamsdropping and I heard that guy talking on the phone to you know whom.....It felt that I was sitting there for about half an hour, but one look at my watch told me that it has been more then 2 hrs. Phew.....that was really fast!!!
3 comments:
You are right.Sometimes I also find it quite interestnig to just observe the things going around. The kind of diversity that makes us rapt in these observations can eventually result in great ideas for a perfect documentary, short film or a hit muliplex movie also... :P
excellent power of observation i must say. and lady, the way you make mundane things sound interesting...i can bet you have the makings of a novelist hiding inside you. maybe its time for you to try your luck at writing a book??? and when you become a successful author i hope you remember my inspirational words... :-)
Brilliant Ayesha!!!!!
After quite sometime I got some time and came to see what u r doing at blogspot now a days ..and what I see here at the top is amazing...u have proved here that nothing is boring if u see things with different angle, also ppl can utilize every moment if they are as creative as u ... I really became ur fan today .. keep it up!! We have a great author in making!!!!!!!!!
hmmmmmm..."Adamsdropping" and "Eavesdropping" two new words in my small dictionary now ... I will try
to do eavesdropping .. :)
Post a Comment