Bangalore International Airport

There was a French person sitting next to me in a volvo bus when I was going to International Airport from Belandur-Cross in Bangalore. His name was Bruno. While I was getting to know about his visit to India, I found him answering little reluctantly. "This is called as cultural Difference. We Indians don't do this" I spoke to myself. I thought better not to talk to him. While I was watching Hebbal bridge on the way, I got a message from SpiceJet. My flight was delayed by 1 hr and 40 minutes. I had to catch a train from Hyderabad to Nanded and for sure, there was no way to catch it with that delay. Going to be a hard day ahead! I thought.

Bruno broke the silence after a long time. He was working as an employee (temporary) in some research orgnization in Pune. He had got this job as a scholarship from his university in France. He was actually doing a project and which he got paid for as scholarship. He would work there for a year and go back to France. Then I had learned that there are such scholarships too! We reached the airport. He was seeing the Bangalore International Airport for the first time! And this was my fourth visit to this place.

Soon after getting of the bus, Bruno wanted to see the washroom. We searched for the direction boards but our glimpse couldn't find any nearby.The bus was stopped just too far away from the boards. It was my suggestion to cross the road and go towards security check. That was closer than reaching the direction boards. Also, it was obvious to have toilets on that side.

We went on and crossed a few direction boards but none of the boards was directing towards the toilet. I was wondering whether we had to pass through the security check to see any toilet! "What about those who simply come to see off" I murmured. Finally We were happy (Bruno was happier :)) to find the one and only toilet that too at exit! The guard sitting at it's enrty took two ruppes (one each) and let us get in. After all this, it was not at all surprising to see a few pots blocked and half filled with dark yellow urine! All this while I was trying to catch every expression on Bruno's face. But he was calm. He had been living in India for quite some time now.

I was half finished. But there was more to be seen.

Some how now I was not willing to be with him anymore though he had not said a single word about our so far experience! To get rid of him I said I was hungry and would prefer waiting outside. And he might get in a queue to approach the security check. BUT he accompanied me.

There is a small restaurant (I wouldn't name it, though I will never forget it) right at the entrance. There are a few small round tables kept near the restraunt. And yes there are two dustbins. I shouldn't have taken him there.

We took Upama (Bruno wanted to take some sandwiches. But I forced him to taste Upama). We took the plates and went to the tables. All the tables were full. Full of leftovers, empty plates, empty mugs, tea/ coffee stains, though there were people trying to somehow make some space for their plates/ mugs. I took him to a cleaner place where we could sit and eat. He liked Upama very much and finished it before I did. I was happy. There was something we could talk about now and forget those half filled urine pots and the dirty tables.

We went to the restraunt again. This time, to buy tea. Both the dustbins were full. No! they were overflowing by now. The wind (its always there at this airport) was carrying the empty plates, tea/ coffe mugs from the tables and the dustbins to all over the places. When I approached the restaurent owner, he said "sorry sir. A (To one of his boys), bahar jaakar dekh. Saaf kar le thoda." and turned his back on me to attend customers. The boy never came to the tables.

All the while in our bus journey, I was telling Bruno the Great Indian Stories, Common Wealth Games, Nuclear Power, The Greatest Culture, IT hub, The Largest Democracy, etc. He was smiling.