The holiday ended perfectly. Cathay upgraded me to Business class, allowed me the excess baggage and even let me check in my 6-foot soft toy snake. I sashayed through securities with my terribly heavy backpack and then it snapped. Not a good sign. But hey! What could go wrong from here? I mean, all I need to do now is sit on the flight, right? So I heaved my super-big duty free bag and I found my seat up front. Only to realise I was flanked by a couple of ex-clients who recognised me soon enough and looked like a bunch of schoolboys with a new toy when one of them began wowing the others with his new pair of binoculars. (I really wonder what sights they saw and how far they could test it in the airplane.)

I managed to shift places and had a peaceful halfway journey till we reached Bangkok. And there began an interesting stopover and lesson in passenger discipline. Or then, was it crew inefficiency. Every 5 minutes, two crewmembers would go by with a little counting gadget and end up with different headcounts. They did this maybe 8 times. I don't know if they gave up trying to tell the passengers to be seated or just took an average of everyone's total count. But finally, we were ready to let Bangkok passengers board. Since the flight was packed, I was sent back to economy. Somewhere along that long and tiring journey from seat 16H to 60G, I meet an old man- a family friend from Lagos. I don't whether I should be more embarrassed moving down to economy or him about sitting there. This might sound pretentious but if you know a Lagos Sindhi's status phobia, you'd understand. Nonetheless, I heaved my bag to right at the end of the plane and settled down. When a security staff came to inform me that I was moved back to business. Here we go again.

The guy next to me on 18A introduced himself as Subramaniam from Sydney, working in a phosphorus fertiliser company. And immediately went on to offer me his leftover currency and flight pouch (he was a frequent frequent flier and had no use for these things). If anything, it opened a conversation that revealed that he used to be in Mumbai and went to IIM-A with my ex-boss. After which, he insisted on buying me a drink. (Not that he could have since it was free.) So technically, I couldn't feel offended that a stranger bought me a drink after offering me money. Yet, I was cautious.

So right now, it wasn't a bad option to go chat with old Lagos friend. While I am doing that, waving to me from the back of the flight is a an office colleague. Against my hopes that he was on a holiday, he informs me that there's a whole jingbang from office 'right there, see?' and this 'ex-boss' I mentioned earlier. I first fired all my colleges (seniors actually) for making me feel like Monday morning already and went back to my seat to Mr. S from S.

Me: So you know A (my ex-boss), huh?

Mr. S: Very well.

Me: Would you like to meet him? He's on this flight.

Mr. S: Uh! Why not

Me: There, see that bald man there?

I took him to the seat and left them to relive old college head-taps and handshakes- which had no nostalgic meaning to me ofcourse. I'm sure they were both grateful to me but I was only in a hurry to get out of the flight and then the airport.

It's sad that the Indian airport doesn't make your exit any easier or shorter. (I almost tore my fingers carrying my handbag since the trolley stand is just before the exit gate.)

So I exit, book my cab and turn to find an old flame (better burnt). Ofcourse he wasn't there to receive me but still has the cheek to check me out and ask if my phone numbers are the same.

At that point it would have been great to step into a chauffeur driven limo but I guess my battered old cab with a swarm of mosquitoes would do as my escape.