Friday, January 12, 2007

The best place to work?


The hall was flooded with anxious people. Thousands of them. Desperate and impatient. All their attention focussed on the same place. A young pretty girl stood in the middle of the tall crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of the front. 'Thank god i wore heels today,' she thought. A bright red rose peeked out of the side of her black handbag. Beside her was a middle aged woman. She was carrying a 4 year old girl in her left hand, who was trying to free herself from her mother's hold. An 8 year old son stood holding the lady's right hand, desperate to know whats happening beyond the crowd. 'You shall see pretty soon, my dear,' she whispered, stroking his soft hair. An old couple stood in the front row, holding on to the rails. They glanced at each other for a moment. It mirrored an excitement that they had never experienced before. A tall guy stood behind the crowd of people, continuously adjusting his recently coloured hair. In a futile attempt to control his restlessnes, he kept juggling his car key. He had already dropped it thrice.


Finally, the long awaited moment arrived. The status on the display board changed. An unrehearsed, yet perfectly synchronised sigh echoed though the crowd. One-by-one, people walked in from inside, towards the crowd. Each one of them happy, excited and equally anxious. A young gentleman, dressed in casual jeans and t-shirt walked out in swift, long steps. His eyes immediately recognised the fair, tender hands that waved out to him. He dashed straight towards the young girl, gave her a warm, tight hug and slipped a bag labelled 'Swarovski' into her hands. He watched her cheeks turn pink and then kissed her gently. The young man then picked the bright red rose from her handbag and said, 'You forgot to give me this!' She blushed, once again. They melted into each other and forgot about the world around them. Another middle aged man walked out. The 4 year old kid waved out to her father and sprang from her mother's arms. The gentleman took her by his arms, and bent down to kiss the boy, who was still holding on to his mother, meddling her sari's end. The man then looked up at his wife and asked, 'How are you?' She was tongue tied with happiness and gave him a shy, relieved smile.


A couple walked out next, lead by their twin sons. The boys took no time in recognising their grandparents and raced towards them. They were not surprised to find grandpa confuse their names! A small tear of joy trickled down grandma's wrinkled face as she tried to lift one of the twins. Grandpa gave a welcome pat on his son's back and welcomed his daughter-in-law with a smile. Suddenly from behind them shouted a voice, 'Daaaaiiii machaaan!!' A dark and handsome young guy waved out to the tall man in the crowd. Soon they were punching into the other's tummy and teasing each other's new looks. And thus, the whole place was filled with greetings, smiles, hugs and kisses. A few metres away, stood a man in uniform. He was holding a mop in his hand and beside him was a bucket of soap water. He looked at the crowd of happy and satisfied people and said to himself, 'Mopping the arrival hall is so much more fun than the departure hall.' He smiled to himself, adjusted his 'international airport staff' tag and continued his work.

81 comments:

KK said...

Nene Firstu!!!

G3 said...

cute post :) Its always good to see happy faces around you :)

Subramanian Ramachandran said...

airport la utkarnthu ippadi nottam vittutu irunthiyaa....... :)

hehee just kidding......nice post sis..... nalla koornthu gavanichiruke.... i bet ya..you can write a story...have a very good observation :)

brute said...

// the arrival hall is so much more fun than the departure hall.//

thts very true.... and sweet post ponnu :)

Kavitha Jay said...

hey that was really sweet post..like the way u narrated it..keep smiling n keep writting :D

Unknown said...

Thats very nice write up. Curious to know were those observations or imaginations??

Liked your style. Keep going...:)

starry said...

I love your new layout .Nice post and very well written.true Arrivals are so much happier than departures.

KK said...

Hey! that was super kewl post man!! Awesome narration. I could actually visualize as I was reading the post.
When reading a post about the arrival hall can be so cute and create so much energy, I am sure the man mopping will surely be elated looking at these people around him :)

//He dashed straight towards the young girl, gave her a warm, tight hug and slipped a bag labelled 'Swarovski' into her hands. He watched her cheeks turn pink and then kissed her gently. The young man then picked the bright red rose from her handbag and said, 'You forgot to give me this!' She blushed, once again.//

This scene is the icing on the cake... I wud have put this in the end... because it creates a very light moment to everyone who's reading this... then I would have had a dialogues something like "Hey Gundu malli, is this for me? (showing the rose to her)" :)
Not correcting yours or nething... but just tried my imagination run free for this scene thats all :D

Arunkumar said...

our mood does change when there are smiling faces around...

very well written prithz... sema cute :)

பிரியமுடன்... said...

என் இனிய
பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!
இனிய தமிழர் திருநாளை
தமிழ் தெரிந்த நாம் அனைவரும்
வாழ்த்தி கொண்டாடுவோம்!
பொங்கலோ! பொங்கல்!

Krithika said...

Fabulous post!!true..i'v always wondered all this..
fab post,again

Unknown said...

nene seventhu? :(

Unknown said...

sooper postu. Very good flow you have preethi! Awesome narration. Keep it up.

BTW, this is very differnet kind of post from you. You always use to write "diary entry" kind of posts. What's the matter? ;)

Dwarak said...

wow, I loved your narration. it was really gripping, great work. keep writing. :)

prithz said...

@ kk:
Haiyaaa! Yuve firstu! :D Here's your chocolate icecream! :)

Glad i was able to make u visualize the whole scene! That's exactly wat i wanted. Airport arrival hall is one place where v are happy for strangers! That's the part i love. isnit?

And ur final climax scene, typical kk style! Chance eh illa.. semma cute dat wud have been! Unnume unga kitta proof reading koduthu, suggestions ketu, then posting! :D I guess v can start directing a movie soon. wat say?

@ g3:
Thnx g3! Yes, makes us feel happy to be amongst happy people :)

@ rsubras:
Hehe! Vera yeanna velai! Idha laam ketu public ah dunt cause damage plz :D

story ku laam innum konja naal aganum.. step by step poren :)

@ brute:
Thnx yaar! :)

@ mystery:
Thnx a lot! :) :) :) :)

U too keep smiling :D

@ durga prasad:
Thnx yaar! Glad u liked it :)

Those were party observations, partly imaginations, and partly inspirations from the movie 'Love always':)

@ starry nights:
Hey starry! Hope u r doing good :)

Glad u liked my blog's new look n the post! Very rightly said abt arrivals :)

@ arunkumar:
Thnx arun! Very true! :) :) :)

@ priyamudan prem:
Yen inniya Pongal vazhukal! :)

@ krithika:
Thnx krithi! One can never get bored in such a place :)

@ karthik b.s.:
Thnx da! :)

Life needs a change at times na. Diary entry posts are gettin too monotonous nowadays. Dats y the change :)

prithz said...

@ val:
Hey, thnx a lot da! Glad u liked it! Guess u too can relate a lot to this.

Kausikram Krishnasayee said...

departure hall.have you seen the face of those men leaving their wives to go abroad? they sure seem to look happy you know ;)

Unknown said...

wish u a very happy pongal!

Venkatesh said...

super post prithz.. I can totally visualize this reading your narration.. excellent work..

I have noticed this only when I was waiting for someone's arrival.. [this was long back].. When you are being received, you just spend your attention to the person(s) receiving you..

pesama nan departure pathi oru post pottudalamnu nena

Venkatesh said...

btw forgot to mention:

Wish you a very happy pongal...

Venkatesh said...

unga comment count increase panna oru commentu..

Idea Senator said...

Nice gripping narration. Enjoyed it. Thank you

Priya said...

You have a sooper layout pritz. Just fell in love with the template. Romance dhan varum. A lot of maturity in your writing and good one girl.

Bharani said...

Superbly written...good thought...i can feel the airport staff's feeling at that time....good one prithz :)

Bharani said...

And the template is super cool :)

Bharani said...

Happy Pongal :)

prithz said...

@ kausikram krishnasayee:
Hehe! I was expecting someone to ask that question. Very wise. Experience huh? :D

@ karthik b.s.:
Happy pongal to u too!

@ venkatesh:
Oyi! Happy Pongal to u too!

U said it perfectly. I too noticed it in the airport while i was waiting to receive someone. Also from the movie 'Love Actually'. Guess lots of us can relate to this well. :)

Btw, new post ku good luck! Potluck pongal nu oru post poota kooda oki. :D

@ idea senator:
Thnx a lot! :)

@ priya:
Hey! Thnx a ton! Me too in total loves wid ma template. :D

I am so happy to learn that matured thoughts are flowing into my post :)

Aconfusedsoul said...

hey cute post!! :) enjoyed reading.. n hey, u've been tagged!!

prithz said...

@ bharani:
Thnx Bharani. Glad u liked my template n the post :)

Happpy pongal to u too :)

@ fun2fun:
Thnx a lot!

Another tag ah? *phew*

Skeptic said...

avalo feelings a preethi..unna recieve panna naan varale nnu.. grr.. :P

Anonymous said...

Now I know why u weren't replying when I pinged u when u were at the terminal ! :D :D

prithz said...

@ rithika:
Hehe! if u had come to airport i wudnt hv met ur exectations :D then u pour feelings :P

prithz said...

@ ramya:
Hehe!! :D :D

Kausikram Krishnasayee said...

experience? illa ..veryum paaraku pakaradhu dhaan

KC! said...

Ippadi oru angle-la no one would have seen an arrival lounge :)) Nice one!

prithz said...

@ kausikram krishnasayee:
U too paraaku case huh? y dunt u post a sequel on departure hall environment?

@ usha:
:D Thnx Usha!

Unknown said...

Happy maatu pongal Preethi!

Ganesh Ranganathan said...

yamma...orey senti post...nenja thottatey...

prithz said...

@ karthik b.s.:
Wrong No. :)

@ ganesh:
:D

Ganesh Ranganathan said...

HAPPY PRITHZ PONGAL tomorrow

prithz said...

@ ganesh ranganathan:
This is gettin so boring nowadays!

Anyways, happy ganesh pongal 2moro! :D

gils said...

wow...thisisan ulti cool post...ur own?

prithz said...

@ gils:
copyrights owned by me :D

golmaalgopal said...

hiya prithz...hmmm seems dat i'm a bit too late....
cool post gal....nice narration indeed... :)

Kausikram Krishnasayee said...

ok the sequel is up ;)

prithz said...

@ golmaalgopal:
Hiya! How r u? Hope settled in new job :D

@ kausikram krishnasayee:
Cool! The humourous side to the story :)

KK said...

When the producer is ready we can start directing...are you ready??? :)

Unknown said...

Inniki Wednesday'ngradhala oru commentu!

Unknown said...

naalaiku thursday'ngradahala onnour commentu!

Unknown said...

naalnaaliki friday'ngradahala onnour commentu!

Unknown said...

comment count increase panlamenu oru nalla ennam dhaan! :D

prithz said...

@ kk:
Producer ku syam brether ah kelunga :D
Dialog ku gils ah sethukalaam :D

@ karthik b.s.:
comment count increase ah spamming ah? :D anyways romba tks :)

My days(Gops) said...

first time here...thru thru thru.......

cool post...
( recently airport poi irrundheengala? :))

//'Mopping the arrival hall is so much more fun than the departure hall.' He smiled to himself, //
unless his supervisor finds out ..
:))

Sat said...

loved your new blog template....the header was royally cute :D
post innum padikala...be right back

Sat said...

aaaaawww!...i loved this post!...i got tears in my eyes! (well almost!)
It's amazing...the coming-home feeling...
When it's time to leave for a longtime, it's mostly a sad scene with people giving out those long hugs and turning back to see their loved ones waving at them. I hate it...everytime I have to leave India...I envy all those people who don't have to leave their families and beloved city behind. But I can do it for the sheer joy of coming back :D
It's the most out of the world experience you can ever get...I can't sleep from almost a week before the journey home...If the flight takes off 5 minutes late, the captain would've earned all the hatred in the world...And when it's finally landed back home, i can hardly wait to get past customs :)
I almost jump at that first sight of my parents...and god, that's the only time my dad's glad to see me..hehehe
And the city(ies) i missed...god knows that i even love those horrible traffic jams in b'lore!!!
As much as i hate staying away from home, i can do it to live through that incredible joy, however short lived, that one gets when they re-unite with their loved ones...which they obviously can't get when at home (duh!)...and of course that long vacation and royal treatment that follows...mmmm!

P.S: There's this amazing song by A.R. 'God' Rahman on the soundtrack of Bombay dreams, not too well known, but absolutely lovely. it goes something like 'the journey home is never too long, your heart arrives before (you're there??!)'

Syam said...

@KK,

nene lastu :-)

Syam said...

prithz, meethi tomorrow :-)

Keshi said...

neat template Prithz!


I hate departure terminals...

Keshi.

Syam said...

wot prithz...singapore pora time vandhaacha...arriving hall and departure hall pathi oru sooober post pottu irukeenga.. :-)

Anonymous said...

wowww pri!! look at this post.. showcases a brand new pri in 2007.. i didnt miss any of the details.. and this is a really well written post..love love love it! sorry i've been out of touch will tell u my saga one day or better still whine on my blog abt it.. lol.. u bk in spore? started class yet?
take care kutty ponnu,
p.

prithz said...

@ mydays(gops):
Welcome! Thnx for coming thru thru thru. Hope the journey was worth it :D

I was at the airport recently. And well, so the thot flow :)

@ sat:
Hey! thnx a lot! Glad u like the post and the new look of my blog page :)

Ur feelings totally go with mine. Same to same :D If the flight takes off a minute later than schedule, oh man, i cud get so irritated. More than that, i would be waiting to jump out of the craft once it lands.. i hate those slow rollings into the bay n the immigration queue. God dammit!

And abt that ARR song, well, i guess i have heard it, but cant quite recollect which song.

@ syam:
Hi syam brether! S'pore laam appo ve vandhachu.. illa effect um senthu oru feelings post ah poochu.. :P

@ keshi
Thnx Keshi! Glad u liked the new template :)

Departure terminals are one of the most depressing places i hv been in.

prithz said...

@ purnima:
Purniiiiiiii!!! No wat? Am so glad to see u!!!! Missed u tons girl! how have u been? very busy i guess...

Glad u liked my post.. n yes, the brand new pri.. :D Hope the changes this year are for the good :)

Classes began 2 weeks ago.. n guess wat, this week sucked big time. I am resisting myself from cribbing :) Hope to catch up wid u soon.. take care.. huggzzzzzz!!!

Ganesh Ranganathan said...

You have been tagged...

prithz said...

@ ganesh ranganathan:
I wud rather wish my name to top the dean's list rather than tag list :D Damnit!

AJ ! Serendipity !!! said...

WOW WOW WOW. new look , new story . . . its d season of change.

is dat lil girl near d title u ? ;)
heya

Unknown said...

66th commentu! :)

gils said...

// 'the journey home is never too long, your heart arrives before (you're there??!)//

cudnt agree more with sat on this...localla chn-blore travelukay i feel like this :D night trainla ukkantha udanay manasu chn poidum :)

Priyankari said...

Nice thoughts and nice template too!

barbi bharadwaj said...

first time visitor here.

oh i should have guessed when u dropped in to blog. i thought you were somebody who wouldn understand tamil. but when i saw this

Suddenly from behind them shouted a voice, 'Daaaaiiii machaaan!!'

lovely. keep going!

blogrolled you!

Unknown said...

new post madam! :)

My days(Gops) said...

//Hope the journey was worth it :D//
ya ya...oru special Tea kidaikuma?

Harish said...

Loved the whole post and the new appearance. The feel good thing was ultimate. Way to go prithz....

Venkatesh said...

where is da new post?????

prithz said...

@ ajay:
Thnx a lot! How hav u been? Long time! N yeah, the lil girl.. me me.. if u may :D

@ karthik b.s.:
Danks! :D Dunt ask me abt new post :)

@ gils:
Very true :)

@ priyankari:
Thnx :)

@ barbi:
Hey, thnx for dropping by! Welcome! :) Me the total tamil girl only :)

@ mydays(gops):
Here is ur masala tea :D

@ harish:
Hey, thnx a ton :) Glad u liked it.

@ venkatesh:
Kaka thoongindu poochu :D

Venkatesh said...

s'pore la than kakka ve ellaye, then kakka epdi thoongintu pogum??

Unknown said...

oyiii.. nee sonnalum sollalanum i am going to ask "when is the next post??? " :)

Marutham said...

Hello pritz,
:) ungala pathruken munadi..but idhu dhaan first time here!
Lovely blog...lovely template... & to top it all
lovely POST!!
// 'Mopping the arrival hall is so much more fun than the departure hall.' // Sem sweet post!! :)
Cheers!!
Again, template is really COOL!! :D

KK said...

Where is the old post???

(Chumma oru vilambarathukku maathi ketan :))

Subramanian Ramachandran said...

hello enna intha time 100 comments ku waiting ah for the next post???

prithz said...

@ venkatesh:
chennai kaaka s'pore vandhu thookindu poochu :D

@ karthik b.s.:
nee kaetalum kekatalum, new post venumgra moodhu varum :)

@ marutham:
Thx a ton! Really glad that u liked everything :) Hope to see u arnd :)

@ kk:
Gud try, but mokkai! :D

@ rsubras:
Hehe... not really :)

Unknown said...

@ Venkatesh

S'pore'la kaaka illaya? Inna solreenga? Idhu unmaya?

@ Prithz

nee new postu poatalum poadatiyum, naan "new postu yeppo"nu kaetutu dhaan iruppen! :P