Migrant Tales


18th March, 2023 

8:45 AM, IGI-T2 Airport, Delhi.

Waiting in the lounge for a Patna bound Indigo flight 6E 2954. Fearful what if the flight gets delayed due to bad weather? And my fear turns out real. It was delayed by 1:30 hr. Every passing minute was like hours. The fellow passengers started yelling at the Indigo staff after it stopped raining. Hopeful to board soon, i stood in the queue, impatient to land at JPN Patna and reach home, but delayed by half an hour again. 

I cursed my fate, resentment took over and tears rolled down. Went to the staff and pleaded him to clear the air about the boarding. When you are in grief, you become more humble and polite. He honestly briefed me on the situation and advised me to rush to Gate no. 22 for another Indigo flight ready to take off in next 5 mins. I ran towards gate No.22. 

That 2 mins sprint pinned all the memories of my deceased father in a flashback. That run for flight was a triangular fight. Fight between a son who was dying to reach home for his father's funeral, a migrant who was cursing his homestate for migration, and the nature which held him hijacked for 2 hours at the airport. 

Finally, a new boarding pass was issued by the ground staff at gate no. 22. I boarded the plane. And it took off in the next 10 mins. I couldn't even thank those staff enough who helped me in the time of distress. (Manish and Kratika Tyagi). 

Though it reached on scheduled time, it was my 'longest' Delhi-Patna flight. I made my father wait for 17 long hours for the last rites, courtesy migration. 

Now after just one month, my mother has started deteriorating to Alzheimer's from Psychosis. And this time, I would not wait for boarding. I won't plead any airlines. This time I won't make her wait! 

#BackToHomeland #ReverseMigration


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