Ok, so I had to go to Hyderabad ( This article comes to you from there by the way ) for some higher education stuff. My credit cards were cancelled ( or barred, whatever u call not paying the 40 grand I owed them ) and the new ones were just on their way. So anyway, kind dad was ready to shell for my air tickets from Bangalore to Hyderabad and back. He books me both ways on Spice Jet ( it’s a no frills flight ). He got a ‘great’ deal and was really happy about it.
“Great” turned out to be 2:45 Am on a cold winter night, or really really early in the morning if you prefer. There are many problems that can rise from traveling on such early flights.
1. No auto’s / cabs are willing to take you.
2. Everybody ( read as ‘mom’ ) who’s supposed to do your packing is already asleep.
3. There is no pick up at the destination.
4. Granny sleeps at night.
Since no one was ready to take me to the airport, I consulted dad’s help yet again.
His solution pretty simple, take the car, go to the airport.
Now, why didn’t I think of that? Only problem is they charge like 50 Rs per hour and 200 if the car’s parked overnight. So for a three day trip, any reason of buying those ‘cheap’ tickets is nullified.
Now that the option was withdrawn, alternative ways to reach the airport were being put forth on the table, by me and well wishers ( read ‘my sis’ ) who didn’t want to take me there themselves.
One point I strongly considered was taking the car to my friends house ( you know him as oxymoron, I don’t use the oxy bit ), and then walking to the airport which is a short 10 min walk from there ( or a really long 15 min walk if you carrying luggage and you are as lazy as me). Oxymoron offered to drop me at the airport in my car, but apparently he can’t park or drive. Later he offered to walk with me to the airport (initially I thought he was being really sweet, then I remembered the air hostesses), anyway he had an early morning picnic to attend so he couldn’t come either way.
As luck would have it, I found a taxi who was willing to take me to the airport, and the best part is, I didn’t have to sell any body parts so I could afford getting there. Thing about me is that luck doesn’t seem to stay with me for long. 1Am (1.45 min left for flight take off) taxi dude was lost, simple directions like come here, take the first left then right failed. So he parked his cab a few km’s from my house and I had to drive and fetch him.
Reached the airport in the nick of time (actually I reached quite comfortably, but if dad asks, I got there just before take off ).
Flight? Well bus on wheels should be more appropriate. After a turbulent flight without food I got to Hyderabad.
With my good luck charms back in Bangalore, I found that the pre-paid auto counter guy was sleeping, seeing his size I quickly judged that waking him up wasn’t a safe option. The only auto willing to come to my place said 'meter charges * 1.5' , sounded fair enough especially that early so I got on. The meter as I later found out was running (as my aunt put it ) “way too fast”.
In conclusion here’s the equation –
Total Money saved by dad because of the ‘great’ deal < Cab fare from Bangalore home to airport + Hyderabad airport to Granny’s place.
And if you think that is bad, imagine I still have to get back tomorrow night ( or day after really early in the morning if you prefer ).
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