From California, I returned to New Jersey. I received my new laptop from Dell but on opening the package, I found that it had a dent on the back of the body. So, Dhwani returned it and reordered it. Dell gave $100 credit for shipping me dented laptop and upgraded my configuration to 4GB from 2GB! This is why I like Dell.
I stayed at Mitulbhai;s place. Keeping awake till 2am was usual even though he had to go work in few hours.
An evening before, I had a dinner at Kukididi's place. We talked a lot and recollected some of old memories. Kukididi had prepared delicious Chhole for dinner. I asked her to pack it for my next day flight to India. Devalbhabhi packed thepalas for me.
I had two additional bags to carry with me. Lufthansa is an expensive airline as it charges $250 for an additional bag weighing upto 23 Kgs. For bag weighing more than 23 Kgs up to 32 Kgs, it charges $500! Air India charges $120 and $180 respectively. Brijesh was flying back by Air India and thus I asked him to carry one of my 32 Kg bag with him. Air India waived the charge for this bag as we have very good relations with it!
When I reached at Lufthansa counter for my check in, the girl at the counter warned me of charges for the third bag I was checking in. I was prepared. I handed her my passport and ticket and started weighing all my bags. All my check in bags were within limit. She asked me to weigh my handbag and it happened to be 14 Kgs - 6 Kgs more than allowed limit. So, she asked me to reduce it to 8 Kgs. I started to unpack my bag there at the counter. She asked me to go to a corner as I was blocking other passengers. When I returned at the counter, there was different girl. My passport, boarding cards and luggage tags were ready at the counter. She pasted luggage flaps on bags, gave me my boarding cards, luggage tags and passport and threw a nice smile and set me free!!! She saved my $250 :)
When I reached to my seat in the plane, a mother (reasonably healthy) and a father were busy in managing their crying infant. They requested me if I can relocate somewhere else that they can use third seat for their child. This created an opportunity for me to interact with one of the crews on board. I told her about Chhole I was carrying with me and if she could heat it up for my dinner :). During the dinner serving, she happily poured Chhole from plastic container to two aluminum ones. She heat up one and kept other one in cold compartment that I can use it on my second flight. I enjoyed Kukididi's chhole one more time.
I reached Frankfurt at 7:30am next day. It took a while for me to find a shower there. After shower, I came to the departure gate from where my New Delhi flight was to go. A coffee counter there brought a big relief to me! After puja, I had German cappuccino and theplas!
The flight brought me to New Delhi on time. An assistant of the airport authority came to escort me from the gate. At the immigration, there was a queue long enough for a wait time of at least an hour. The assistant put me to the diplomat counter and cleared me in a minute! My luggage arrived a little late. Customs officers were aware of my coming and thus I had no problems there too. Yogesh and Ambrish were waiting for me outside...
I stayed in New Delhi for few days before heading home. Life became pretty normal from next day.
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