*Long Post Alert*
“What will you do for so many hours, alone?”
“Why did you pick this set of flights?”
These questions made me go Aww and Argghh at the same time.
These questions were asked by KG and my parents for I was taking a connecting flight from Pune to Jaipur via Delhi. They were overly concerned as I was landing at Delhi airport at 1 am and taking the next flight at 5.15 am. So, that would mean, being at the airport for about 4 hours which are certainly unearthly hours. While they worried and fretted, I was cool. I had 2 paperbacks in my back, 3 ebooks on my phone, a laptop with datacard to keep me busy during the night and a warm stole in case tiredness and sleep engulfed me.
Having slept during the 2 hour flight from Pune to Delhi, I was fresh and alert as I walked on the long travellator at the swanky Indira Gandhi International Airport T3 Terminal. It was 1.30 am.
A ‘Aha’ escaped my lips and some invisible strings pulled me in its direction. I ditched the travellator and walked with a purpose. There were big brands all around! (What were you thinking?) When I see shopping stores, there’s no stopping me. No, I don’t buy anything and everything in sight, I like to call myself a sensible shopper. But what I enjoy the most about shopping is the looking at the display at the stores, checking out new items and chatting with sales people. Of course, this I can do only when I am alone. KG has no patience for all this admiring stuff and not buying it. Aah! But I digressed.
I checked out some dresses and tops at Marks & Spencer, looked at the phone and laptop accessories and grilled a sales guy about Windows phones at Chroma. I also browsed through the various books and products of The Art of Living- The Divine Shop. Was not aware of their ayurvedic cosmetics, food and wellness products and walked past a lot of eateries and bar lounges, prayer room and other shops.
The next stop was Costa Coffee. Handling coffee in one hand and a plate of date and fig cake on another, a big bag on one shoulder and a heavy laptop bag on another, I was a sight. I looked around and saw plush chairs outside Starbucks counter. I cursed myself for not seeing Starbucks a few minutes earlier. Would have loved to see how they’d misspell my name and would they write my name on the cup even if I was the only customer then? Anyways, as I was digging into my cake, the guy at the Starbucks counter told me, “Outside food is not allowed!”. I smiled and told him, just this time and he agreed.
I looked around and wondered about the sales guys and girls working during the night shift. Some were busy on phones, some working on the PCs, may be making sales or stock reports, some were sitting and chatting in groups of twos or threes and some were simply dozing off.
Sufficiently charged with a good dose of caffeine, I moved further ahead and yet another wonderful sight came in front of me. It was Relay, the book store. With a spring in my step, I walked towards this store. And my grey cells reminded me of a long pending dream.
I love doing book spine poetry, you must have seen a few of them on this blog. For the uninitiated, a book spine poetry is arranging book titles to make a poem or a story. Since I started doing the book spine poetry, I wished I could create one in a book store as the book titles there simply outnumber the ones in my library cupboard. (Oh, I do have a pretty decent collection of books, though!) But, this dream never materialized for (1) I usually go to a book store for buying a last minute gift for someone (2) It is a time consuming process and in a busy store during the day time, if I went about looking at the titles in all sections and made piles of books, I am sure the store guys would call the security to throw me out. Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but I am sure, they’d not appreciate it.
An empty book store with a sleepy sales guy was a perfect opportunity to make my dream come true. As I gathered books and arranged them in a pile, added or removed a book, the sales guy at the counter woke up from his slumber and looked at me curiously. I explained and he liked the idea and read my incomplete story with book spines aloud. He looked around to add his inputs but gave up after a minute and went back to fiddling with his phone.
After craning my neck at a weird angle to read the book titles for half an hour or so, I came up with this book spine poetry.
Did you like it?
With a dream fulfilled, it was time to buy a book from the store. After shopping online with decent discounts, buying a book at its MRP gave me heartburn. But had to buy something. So, I bought Mrs Funnybones by Twinkle Khanna.
It was 3.30 am! I had window shopped for about 2 hours! The boarding gates for my flight would have opened at 4. 30 am, so I thought of writing a blog post. But everything can’t go right, so neither the free wi-fi at the airport worked nor did my datacard. I had no other option but to read. Mrs Funnybones joined me and her company was fun and funny.
As she regaled me with her stories, the travellator near me came to life. And with it came the clear, soft and smooth voice on the IVRS, which instructed repeatedly one and all to “Please hold the hand brake and mind your step. Kripya hand brake ko pakade hue savdhani se pair rakhiye.” This monologue played on a loop without a break and when it did stop after a while, seemed like an eternity though, I was chanting the same message in my head. Gosh!
But hey! Repeating things repeatedly though annoying but do register. So, I must carry on with my instructions to the 2 boys at home, “Wash your hands. Close the drawer. Don’t keep the wet towel on bed…”. Someday, it will register in their heads… yes, someday…
Soon, it was time to board the plane. And needless to say that I dozed off immediately after buckling my seat belt and woke up only when the aircraft landed with a thud at Jaipur airport.
That was indeed an eventful, exciting and an enjoyable experience of one night @ the airport!
56 Responses
Thoroughly enjoyed the book spine poem. You’ve done it beautifully. Quite a night,I guess 🙂
Yes, it was a fun night. Thanks a lot, Shailaja. Glad you liked the spine poetry 🙂
Ha that was some night. I enjoyed your spine poetry. It is something else to be up late at night and watch the world slowly come to life. You know even I hate buying books at MRP now. Enjoyed the post!
True, it is interesting to look at the world at that hour, all at different levels of alertness and activities! Oh, online shopping for books have done that. Now buying a book at MRP seems like a criminal waste of money 😐
Thanks, Rachna, glad you enjoyed the post and spine poetry too.
Shilpa this an interesting story of midnight encounters. It can be a story fit for comedy movie.
Spine poetry is excellent.
Thanks a lot, Ma’am. Glad you liked it! 🙂
You had quite an interesting night. I could totally visualize it. 🙂 Loved the book spine poem and the idea. 🙂
Thanks Shantala. So, when are you creating a story with your book spines?
Hopefully soon. You have inspired me. 🙂
Aha! That’s wonderful! Waiting… 🙂
Hi shilpa ,
It was as if , i was with u at the delhi airport . The spine poetry was nice . Enjoyed reading your post
Anupama
Good to see you here, Anupama and glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
Loved your spine poetry and enjoyed your night at the airport. I have spent many nights at many airports and I love browsing and hot chocolating and people watching and plane watching and shopping.
Oh, yes, watching people is a great way to pass time and is an enjoyable experience too. Thanks Suzy!
Made an enjoyable read, Shilpa! I wish i had been with you through the night, just visualized and yes, i would have done the same. Spine poetry is something long pending, i wanted to do this eversince i saw it in your space long back. This is a good one that you have tried.
Thanks a lot, Asha! Now you must try creating your spine poetry with books soon. Waiting… 🙂
you had one eventful night 🙂 and i loved that book spine poem 🙂
Glad you liked it, M 🙂
Wow that’s an adventure alright. Spline poetry in a bookstore is a challenging task you managed to complete, irrespective of the time 🙂 In a similar situation, I think I’d have put my earphones and listened to an eBook.
Destination Infinity
I am still not comfortable with an audio book. Well, have heard only one. Must explore this aspect of book reading! Thanks Rajesh!
That must have been such a night..I love being in airports alone at night…I don’t do so much window shopping but I read and observe people…A few years earlier it used to give me the notion that I was all grown up and strangely it even does now..I
Thankfully T3 had lots to shop and look around. Otherwise, in smaller airports, it is usually books and observing people for me too.
Shilpa, I loved your post.
I read it twice 😛 I would have enjoyed doing the same at the airport. 😆 😆 some very good me time for you.
I loved the spine poetry of course. The Delhi terminal is awesome and good you enjoyed yourself.
Thanks a lot, Inderpreet. So happy that you loved this post! 🙂
Dis you say Pune? Ek phone call toh banta tha. That spine poetry was smart.
Yes, definitely ek phone toh karna chahiye tha. But I didnt had your phone number. Of course, this is an excuse, I could have pinged you on FB 😛 But, honestly, was hard pressed for time and could just meet a friend for a few minutes! Next time, will come and meet you! Thanks Tulika, glad you liked the spine poetry! 🙂
you know I am weird, yes or maybe because for some reason the cheaper flights are always those which have long connecting times 🙂 but again it has worked in my favour, because coming to India I always had stay at dubai or abu dabhi and i have some lovely friends to visit 🙂
but you had a good REST 🙂 doing what you love doing.. and costa coffee is welcome anytime of the day ..
I have stopped observing people because it reminds me of WORK all the time and the whole idea of going away is to forget work 🙂 he he heh
I know what you mean. Actually, I chose this flight so that I could meet a friend. Your work entails dealing with people day in and day out, so it is understandable. When and where are you taking your next vacation? Coming to India?
hahahaha you made a spine poetry at the bookstore!! that’s cool … the sales person must be really sleepy 😛
I want to read Mrs Funnybones too. It’s on my list. Staying at the airport at night can be tiring but seems coffee did wonders to you 🙂
I empathize with the sales guys. Working in a graveyard shift can be challenging. Mrs Funnybones is interesting and light read. Check it out.
What a lovely account of your night at the airport. Reads like a lovely reality story.
And the spine poem….. Simply wonderful.
Thanks a lot, Ava! Glad you liked the post and spine poetry 🙂
I loved your book spine poetry. Amazing. It sounds like you made good use of the wait.
Yes, simply loved the experience. Thanks Kathy 🙂
Book spine poetry – what a great concept! That was well done. 😎
Sounds like the time passed quickly for you. Our airport stores don’t stay open during the night, so it would be a lot more boring to do that here. The free WiFi is pretty dependable, though
Thanks Debbie. Glad you liked the spine poetry. Most of our airports give a deserted look at night too. But this one at Delhi is an international airport so lots of flights are landing and taking off at night time so, it is a bit busy one. I later found out that it was my laptop that had trouble connecting to the free wifi. Other people enjoyed fast speed free internet! 🙄
Glad you had an enjoyable stay at the airport.
Yes, it was an enjoyable experience 🙂
Enjoyed your spine story, and airport night super…with your shopping and spine poetry i am sure such time is welcome to readers like us…
Thanks a lot Pracz. Glad you enjoyed reading this post! 🙂
It’s the first time I’m hearing about book spine poetry. And I got to read an amazing poem at just the minute I got acquainted to the concept 🙂
How I wish I could spend time like this at an airport. Must add this to my bucket list right now 😀
Looking forward to read your poetry with books, Mithila. Try one soon!
Hope you are able to tick off the latest in your bucket list real soon! 🙂
I always carry books with me while travelling and the books snap shot means I’d grab all..hehe I go crazy in bookshop. I had ma first Starbucks at Dubai terminal, standing in the queue for a good 30 minutes in transit to Mumbai. By the way, I loove the Dilli airport and first time was there, I was charmed..made me jealous since the swanky airport didn’t arrive in Mumbai:)
Mumbai airport is great too, though Delhi T3 is my absolute favorite.
Haha.. Looks like you had an amazing time. I loved the spine poetry Shilpa and you have given a new purpose to me.. I shall try it soon! 🙂
Enjoyed reading this long post! 🙂
Cheers
Looking forward read your spine poetry, Geetika 🙂 Thanks glad you enjoyed this post despite it being long 🙂
Ha ha! What a fun post! Sometimes I like the solace. I too took a flight alone couple of day back and reached airport some 3 hours before time. Luckily the Wi-Fi worked and I could publish a post 🙂
That book spine poem was awesome! 🙂
I can imagine the joy and satisfaction of posting a blog from the airport! I have done it too. Thanks Parul. Glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
I loved the title of your post shilpa..One Night @ the Airport, felt curious to know what happened and had a hearty laugh…your expressions are simply sweet.. .. some of things I can relate, specially going window shopping, checking the prices, but not buying and the spine poetry is something I am hearing for the first time… you are brilliant..and its a pleasure to read your posts.
Thank you for your kind words, Genevive. Glad you enjoyed reading this post 🙂
What a post and what a night. Charming 😀 Loved going along with you Shilpa from the word go and ending with the sage advice at the end of ur fun spine poetry 🙂
Thank you, Sunila 🙂
some night that was!! and your description, very novel-esque! and the spine poetry is too good!
Novel-esque!! You made my day, Shubhangi. Thanks 🙂
very nice poetry. really helpful for me and I really admire the way you are working… keep up the good work.