Marriage, Expressway and Gift Envelope - sounds a bit like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but what a day I had yesterday - saturday the 21st November, 2009. It was my colleague's daugther's wedding reception at Hyderabad. Combining this with some work, the day began at 5.45 am when I woke up to get ready to take the early morning flight to Hyderabad. I hate getting up early mornings, but well, this had to be done. I had taken the precaution to do a webcheckin on the Jet Airways, but could not print the boarding pass. My flight was at 7.40 am and I reached the airport just after 7.10 am - officially the time when the checkin closes. I was late and should have given me a warning of how the day would unfold. I ran to the counter, was saved becaused I had already checked in and collected my boarding pass and after the two last and final calls, made it to the aircraft.
Once in the aircraft, the pilot announced that we were 22nd in the queue for liftoff and were on the tarmac for an hour. I dozed off mercifully. The flight was uneventful, had idli-pongal for breakfast on the flight. The pilot made good time and we landed in Hyderabad at 9.45 am.
The Hyderabad Airport, built and managed by the GVK group is an absolutely fantastic airport - great facilities and compares with some of the best airports around the world. It is far outside Hyderabad and thus far the commute from the airport to the city has always been a pain - driving through the Hyderabad traffic. Which is when I noticed that the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway (PVNR Expressway), as it is called, was now open. In the earlier visits, the flyover was being built and I had not realised that this has now been completed.
This is a 11.63 km flyover that goes from near the airport to Mehdipatnam. Mercifully, 2 & 3 wheelers and goods carriers have been banned from using this. The 12 km takes about 15 minutes to commute and apparently cuts down 40 minutes of commute time otherwise through the hyderabad traffic.
I spent the mornings in meetings and had lunch at Shreshta, a very nice vegetarian restaurant near our office followed by some great South Indian Filter Coffee.
The wedding reception was at 6.30 pm and I had planned to leave the office at 6 pm, spend about an hour at the reception and leave for the airport to catch my flight at 9.05 pm. What unfolded was completely different.
Not really knowing what to gift the bride, I had decided to take my chequebook along (and a couple of handmade envelopes, which I had) and thought that the best thing to do was to give the cheque so that the bride can decide what to do. I discussed options with a helpful staff at office, who helped me out with filling the cheque. She did not like the envelope and offered to buy a nice gift envelope. I agreed. I of course had not told her that I planned to leave office by 6 pm.
After my meetings ended at 4 pm, I stepped out to do a trade visit and visited a great supermarket called Balaji Grand Bazaar, which was just amazing - a store in Banjara Hills, open for little more than a year - great assorted, very well arranged - all at MRP prices (no discounts) and the store was packed with customers. Tried also to see SPAR the other store at Panchagutta, but the driver was not able to take me there. Was disappointed, but anyway wanted to reach office before 6. And I reached.
Looked for the staff member who had the cheque - she was not there. At 6.15 pm, reached her, who said that she is on her way back and said - 10 more minutes. At 6.40, I was panicking - no sign of her. I wanted to spend sometime at the wedding reception before heading out to the airport at 7.45 pm. I rang her up again - she said, still stuck in traffic - 10 more minutes. Which is when I decided to leave the office - wrote out another cheque and used on of the envelopes that I had brought along.
We left office at 6.45 pm - the drive to the marriage hall was to be 20 minutes. The traffic jam was just immense and we ultimately reached the place at 7.45 pm. I was really fidgety during this time and tried to switch flights to the next one. Could not succeed. I decided then and there that it was really important for me to spend some quality time at the wedding reception - having come all the way from Mumbai. I decided to stop worrying about my flight.
With that attitude, I reached the venue, spent some good time with my colleague and had my dinner and left the marriage hall at 8.30 pm - mind you , my flight was at 9.05 pm. I had no boarding pass and knew that I will miss the flight. There was another one at 9.50 pm - which I said I would try. Else, I was quite prepared to stay overnight at the Novotel and take an early morning flight back.
I reached the airport at 9.15 pm, well past my flight departure time. I just discovered that the aircraft was still at the airport and had been delayed. With adrenalin racing, I rushed to three Kingfisher counters, before being allowed to board the aircraft. One of the counter girls was asked to escort me and I had to rush through security. Rushed through and went to the gates. I had two bags with me - my backpack and the laptop bag. The time was 9.30 pm. At the gate, the security woman told me that my laptop bag had not been stamped by the security at the scanning machine and sent me back, saying that get it stamped. I spotted a kingfisher employee who offered to escort me back to to the security. The airline staff were now panicking - since I was now delaying the flight. One of the airline staff told me to put the laptop bag inside my backpack and I had to literally run to the aircraft.
Whew - what a day it had been. I finally reached home near midnight - had a bath and collapsed into a deep sleep.
What can I say ? Despite the adventure, at least I was able to attend the wedding.
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