There and back again..By A.W.Hamsa

The title was inspired by J.R.R.Tolkien. I thought that it would be almost apt to put into words my trip to India and back under the title Bilbo Baggins chose for his Odyssey.

I was very apprehensive about my trip to India akin to Bilbo. I chewed at my hand kerchief..Lamented that I did not want to leave Lexington. Beautiful city that it is. It was a fear of what I would find when I returned home : partly. For amma and appa had been speaking in muted tones about their deteriorating health and my impending wedding. I was totally taken in by their alloyed tones : to the extent of purchasing the return ticket without even getting my onward confirmed till 2 hours before the flight!!!!

The trip home by itself proved to be a superb experience...

I had not a confirmed onward ticket till I got to Chicago. I had to take the AI flight which by itself was overbooked for that day!!! My ticket was an open ticket: I could fly on any date I chose provided the service could find me a seat. The AI Airport manager was mom's friend and I hoped to cajole him into giving me a passage.

My itienery by itself was really funny.
Lexington - Louisville - Chicago --Frankfurt--Bombay--Madras

I travelled the first leg of the journey with a friend from Lex. It was a hot hot summer afternoon with "monsoon" clouds breaking over the top..Lightening and thunder flashed; only to create an impression of delivering succour. We drove to the airport and the trip was quietly pleasant and uneventful..

It was raining gently in Louisville when we stepped into the airport. The weather had taken a pleasanter turn. I took leave of the last familiar soul and stepped into the terminal with high expectations of Chicago.

There was a 24 hour halt at Chicago due to my "last minute planning"..This was definitely something I could have done without. But I euphemised my transit as a pretext to visit UIC to meet "Professors".

Chicago...a bachelor's experience..

Wait for it...