Sunday, December 21, 2008

Inane Exchange

Most fellow passengers usually do not impinge upon your consciousness for more than a brief moment. When there is some kind of interaction, the effect lasts longer. When the exchange is negative, it becomes hard to forget!
On our return from Delhi on the 8th morning, we were sitting in the aisle and middle seats of the ninth row. We had some cabin luggage stowed above in the locker. Once the plane landed, there was the usual rapid, almost instant filling of the aisle. The plane was going ahead to the Andamans.
When there seemed a large enough gap between my seat and the onslaught of passengers down the aisle, I stood up and retrieved my bag, and was making my way when a man in a cap, carrying two bags, rudely pushed past me. I refuse to be shoved around, and asked him why he was pushing me. He said that if you don't get off in sequence you should wait till all the other passengers get off. Which doesn't seem to be a valid reason to push anyone around.
What a moron. I cursed him under my breath, and moved ahead.
On our way to Delhi we were in the first row, and even then it's difficult to disembark in seat order- there are always people in a terrific hurry who will charge down the passage even before the ramp is near the plane.
Anyway- the SRE caught up with me and we reached the baggage claim belt. Even though it was a short, weekend trip, we had needed to check in one suitcase. The nasty man was on the opposite side. I looked daggers at him, and yet felt annoyed at this negative behaviour of mine.
I sincerely hoped that we would get our luggage before he did, and we actually did! A tiny little vengeance was mine. And it felt good.
(Cheap thrills, said the youngest kid, peering over my shoulder as I write. You bet!)

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, cheap thrills notwithstanding, you are entirely justified to enjoy them

How do we know said...

hmmm...maybe he didnt like the idea of having to wait in aisle, standing, while u retreived ur luggage?

dipali said...

@how do we know: Does that justify pushing?

Anonymous said...

Why was he in such a hurry to get off the plane if he was anyway going to wait at the carousel? He 's not alone, I've seen many people do that, and always wondered why.

Mampi said...

Cheap thrills???
No, I would label it as the little pleasures of life.
This was fun to read.

~nm said...

This can hardly be called cheap thrills.

I would have done and hoped just like you. :)

Mamma mia! Me a mamma? said...

I'mglad you enjoyed the moment! You deserved to.

SD said...

I know the feeling, cheap thrills and anger. I was out recently on a day trip, and we were at a museum, there was a family there clicking pics, and hogging the spot even after they had finished, while we silently waited. Finally when the moved and we posed, they managed to walk in at just the right moment between the camera and us.Got on my nerves, and I had to use all the patience I could muster, to stay shut.

Happy that you got the luggage before the moron! ;)

mummyjaan said...

Rude passengers are awful; rude staff are worse!!

My belief is that people who push and shove in public places have significantly low IQ.

DotThoughts said...

What a boor! cheap thrills zindabad. I revel in them :)

Anonymous said...

Very well deserved cheap thrills. What an ass!

Banno said...

And why not? I always feel the same, at traffic lights, in planes, or trains, if someone who's pushing gets delayed. They deserve it.

noon said...

Cheap thrill - totally worth it in this case! :) Annoying folks such people who push and shove to get ahead by a second. And these are the people who will make a person like me with two kids wait while they rush to the front! I have had this happen to me last year.

Choxbox said...

he must be one of those types who are in a rush to save the world. did you not notice the cape and the chuddies worn over the trousers?

Itchingtowrite said...

so right your son is- but i luv such cheap thrills...

Mandira said...

occasional cheap thrills are fine. i hate pushy impatient ppl..each time i meet one i throw him/her a dirty look...unfortunately i dont think anyone cares about the daggers i send their way..they continue being annoyingly pushy!!
mandira

noon said...

Awarded Dipali!

Anonymous said...

i wanted to say something, but i forgot chortling over choxbox' comment

Unknown said...

Yup yup morons all the time. The swamping of the gate to board like we're catching an ST bus, the rush to stand up and unload baggage before the plane even shudders to a halt, and the fight to get seats on the damn tarmac bus like its going to take us to a different village....sheesh.

Sue said...

It's the cheap thrills that make life more fun. Tell the youngest that. :)

Sue said...

I'm sure I'm only repeating this but, http://sunayanaroy.blogspot.com/2008/12/le-grande-finale.html

Anonymous said...

Seriously whats wrong with people.
Ha! Serves him right!
I am always last to get off my seat in the plane because with the gaggle of kids, I know people will get pissed.