Rajasthan Calling (25 Dec 2015 - 01 Jan 2016)

Dedicated to my grandsons Ashwin, Rishi and Rohan 

RAJASTHAN CALLING 

25 Dec 2015 - 01 Jan 2016

The trigger

When Ashutosh and Ruchi, our neighbors, walked into our home one day three months ago, we guessed it was for an informal chat. No, they had come to tell us, “Uncle, Aunty, we have booked air tickets for end-Dec to Jaipur. We plan to visit places of interests in Rajasthan for a week. We would like you to join us.” We politely declined. We wanted them to enjoy with their kids and make the most of the vacation. But we found ourselves unable to stick to our stand. Finally, Thatha and Patty agreed to join the fun, and booked our tickets, before we changed our mind -  a norm with us.

On the go

Ashutosh and family left for Jaipur earlier so that they could meet a host of their relations. Two days later, on Christmas to be precise, we left. Ours was an early morning flight. So, to provide for the early-morning-syndrome of cab drivers to report later than instructed, we indicated 4.30 am so that after accounting for that delay we could leave home at 5 am. But lo, he was in our premises on the dot, and we were found wanting, giving finishing touches - close all windows, switch off electrical points, transfer the Hawaii chapels in legs to the plastic cover and shuffle them in the bag, keep the wet and dry trash cans outside lest the home welcomes us back with a stink; and above all, recheck if we have closed the gas burner. Often, instead of beginning our journey on a happy note, this has played a spoilsport in our travels from home to the airport or railway station. Ultimately, we left home at our marked time, viz., 5 am. Moral: Don’t always blame the drivers.

It was a treat to watch the Bangalore airport fully illuminated - not for us but for Christmas. The grandeur was no less than one had seen in any European airport for the occasion, re-establishing that  we in India are indeed secular, and we celebrate festivals of all religious faiths with equal enthusiasm. And the vacation rush? Well, you have to see to believe - it looked as though the airlines have announced a one-time free ride for all.

As we were sipping tea leisurely at the lounge to celebrate a trouble-free check-in and security-check, our particular flight details at the Arrival-Departure Board began  blinking, “Boarding”. Yes, twenty-five minutes before the indicated time. Good sign, we said to ourselves, and gulped the rest of the tea in one go, and hastened towards our gate, which had been changed at the last minute.  The captain of the aircraft, a lady, announced: “Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of myself and my second in command, Mr ………, I welcome you to this flight,” signaling the funeral of male chauvinism, in yet another field. One of the drawbacks of an early morning flight during Dec-Jan is that the timing tends to change because of fog - either at the starting point or the destination. Our flight too took off late, but thankfully we didn’t have a connecting flight to catch. 

A beautiful sunny morning   blended with a little chill welcomed us in Jaipur airport. Ashutosh gave us a call where we should head next to be at the Toyota Innova in which they were waiting. After an initial fiasco, we did spot them, and got into the vehicle to begin the first leg of our journey together to Ajmer.

(Next: Destination Ajmer)