Kolkata to Phoenix on 80 Rupees
Yep, 8000 air miles on less than two dollars.
It was the morning I was to leave Kolkata, West Bengal, after 3½ weeks in North-east India. I took a rickshaw a few blocks to a bank for cash to pay hotel expenses and have a little for the taxi to the airport. I didn’t want to return with foreign currency, so I withdrew the minimum necessary.
After leaving the guarded self-service bank foyer, I stopped for a nice two-dollar haircut. But when it was time to pay, I realized that my one and only credit card was not in my wallet and that I had left it in the ATM. I returned to the bank, but since it was a Sunday there was no remedy. The guard, with a brilliant smile, offered very helpful suggestions, but none would be of any use 6 hours before flight time.
At the hotel I packed and paid up, hired a taxi prayed I had enough cash to get to the airport.
To continue the current streak of misfortune, a protest cut off the usual route to the airport, and we made a long detour to get there. Making matters worse, I realized that I had locked my bags with my keys inside and had a feeling that airport security would delay me even more unless I solved the problem.
I asked the driver to find a locksmith along the way, but the language barrier won. At arrival to the airport we pulled the bags from the back and I tried once again to explain my problem. He promptly walked a few steps away and returned with a sturdy rock, then with a couple well-practiced strokes, he broke my locks as if he had previous experience.
After a few hours wait for the flight to Mumbai, and a few hours wait for the flight to JFK, I was on the plane back to the US. Airline food never tasted so good, and with each welcome bite I could feel my stress level drop.
Some 13 hours later, our arrival at JFK seemed routine until I learned my connecting flight had been cancelled, and that they would do their best to find me a flight in the morning. I don’t know about you, but I was NOT feeling the love after 20 hours of international travel.
So I pushed back. And it worked! I was given transport to a very nice business suite in DC, a $35 dinner voucher (had a great steak), a $15 breakfast voucher, and my boarding pass for a morning flight.
The next morning, my previous bad luck seemed to loom when I was told that my direct flight to Phoenix had been cancelled. I thought, “Here we go again”. But within an hour I was issued a boarding pass for a flight with one stop in Atlanta, GA and no plane change.
Bad luck changed to good when I realized it was a first-class ticket all the way home. I recharged my batteries on the flight with a couple of nice meals, a touch of champagne, hot towels and nice company. My bags were even waiting for me on the carrousel.
I don’t know which Hindu God or Goddess supervised my return but I am grateful.
Maybe it’s just 80 Rupee Karma.
See a few more images from India in the album "India".
About the Author
Bob Miller lives in Scottsdale, AZ and has been working as a professional photographer for over 25 years.
Currently, Bob works with aerial photographer Jim Todd servicing corporate clients.
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