Day 7 - Aswin owns a Limousine!

Day 7

Aswin owns a Limousine!!

The day dawned. Nice bright sunny one! More because I need to go the nearest AVIS rent-a-car to get my own car for the week. Me and Sreeram went for our breakfast.
Well laid out with Cereals, French fries, scrambled egg, milk, juice, donuts, muffins, bread etc…So many. Had a grab of each one (Well Muffins, my favorite, grabbed many!). After my breakfast, I called on my friends in the Hotel (they have come here on work for 3 months) to take me in their car to the rental office.

Deepak agreed and I drove the car to the place which was around 8 miles. He had a Hyundai Elantra and a nice one to drive. Once I took the car out of the hotel, it started raining heavily, (deepak’s view “it has not rained like this till now during my stay. All the best”) I was slightly tensed as driving another car and rain through a very narrow lane.We drove slowly and finally reached the destination. It helped me a lot as I came to know about the traffic rules. I needed to as I’ll be driving back alone.

We reached the place where I showed my papers for the car. She checked the system and said “I have a very few middle sized cars. So I give you a free upgrade if you want a big car (SUV, something like the Sumo) or a free double upgrade if you take the Limousine. We went outside to see the cars. The available ones were a ford escort, Mercury Grand Marquis (Limousine) and the SUV (Subaru). Limousine was good, but very lengthy and broad, everyone insisted that I lent the limousine. Half hearted and with slight fear, I agreed for the Limousine and requested for GPS too. (GPS – Global Positioning System shows the complete route of America, where you can enter the destination address. It will calcalute the route and show it completely and will be moving along with us as we drive. Even if we take a wrong turn / route, it will re-calculate and bring us back to the correct route / destination.) I just don’t want to get lost in USA – there will be no-one on the road to help me with the route.

So, I took the limo and she explained me the gears, seat adjusters, wipers, lights etc. I was to drive back alone. With great confidence, I told that I can manage as I’ve the GPS.

So I took the car back to the hotel. The drive was neat and very quickly, I was able to adjust to the length of the car and angles of turn. But I took a wrong turn, GPS helped a lot on the way. Finally I reached the hotel and I sensed a joy for this big morale victory. Now I became confident with the car, but freeways (highways), hmm…lets see tomorrow.

We decided to go to a Indian Restaurant “Mysore Veggie” for lunch. There were 8 of us, so we decided to take only 2 cars. (Mine was not taken! Gladly..) It was a 20 min drive to the hotel. Nice clean place, where you get Bhajjis, Dosas, Idlis and Thali meals. Authentic South Indian style. I ordered for the thali where you get unlimited Masala Dosas too!

Food aah!! Very tasty, yummy crispy masala dosas served with hot sambar and thick chutney.. perfect! After the very sumptuous lunch, we decided to go the Nishant’s house to play Tennis. Fine, a game I’ve watched only on TV, but now I’m going to play. Is that fantastic?

Awesome apartments – Nishant’s. They even had a private pond for the residents with a lake where you go boating. I was surprised with the security at the entrance to the flats.
At the main entrance, the door remains locked. You need to press the apartment number you wish to enter. They will get a call and will call you back. If they think, they know you, they press a button and the door opens. Then you can go to the flat.

We got the rackets and went to the play arena. Nice 2 courts. We were 7 and had only 5 rackets. In one court, 4 of them started playing doubles and in the other, there was one gentleman, an Indian playing alone. He was kind enough to offer his extra racket but only singles against him. Better something than nothing.

Me and Sanjay waited for our turn. They played and whoever loses, will be out. The Indian played really well and bet Ajit by 6-0. It was my chance to play against him. I was sure to lose 6-0. For the first time in my life I got to hold a tennis racket. Dreamt of playing against Pete Sampras. First two games, I played badly but was building confidence as my cricket skills helped me with power strokes and got used to getting the right speed and height to put the ball in the court. I played well the next two games and narrowly lost in the deuce (40-40). He was leading 4-0. Then I got the right touch and started playing really well. I won the next three games and back 4-3. But overconfidence – started hitting the ball so hard that I lost the next two and 5-3. I won the next game to be @ 5-4. He was serving the next game and I was desparate to get this game to tie the set. The game went on for around 20 mins. 10 times deuce and finally he won. He came to me and congraluted me.

“You played really well. First time in US I’m getting such a tough opponent. I live at 23-D and you can come to our house anytime to get the rackets to play. Maybe we can get together once in a while too.” He said. Little did he know I was to go 10000 miles away from him in a week. He gave his rackets and we continued playing Again I lost to Nishant (he plays really well) narrowly 6-4. But everyone were very tired, I was still fresh. My cricket strength helped me a lot. All were surprised with me. So much weight and still so much stamina. Awesome! I felt great.

It started to rain and we decided to go back to the hotel. Around 8.45 PM, we reached the hotel. One of my colleagues had cooked dinner and I was very hungry that I devoured. Small menu. Rasam, Rice, Yogurt, Pickles and Chips. It was good enough for us.

I started to feel tired and sleepy. So went back to the room, checked my mails and wanted to sleep. But got a call. “Are you coming to play cards? “ a voice. It was Ajit.

Again enthu started to flow through my veins. Went to his room and we started to play rummy. After 1.5 hours I was so sleepy that I quit the game and dozed off..

What a day! Even Pete Sampras would have loved to play against me… Let alone Sania Mirza…. Good Night…

Watch out for Day 8 – “A rest day on the cards!!”

Day 6 - Aswin, the terror epidemic spreads.

Day 6

Aswin – the terror epidemic spreads

It was the last day for me in New Jersey. Today we have a visit to Dunkin Donuts ( a very large and famous fast food chains) Warehouse, but this time as customers!

We got up late as the visit was planned at 1.30 PM. After I woke up, I booked my taxi to the airport and also asked the Sterling office in Lowell to rent me a self driven car for the next week.

We were invited for a lunch at a nearby Thai cuisine by the Voxware Director which we gladly accepted. By 1200,we were ready but we are never on time. We had one parcel to be shipped to Lowell office for which we had to go to the nearest UPS office (USA Postal Service). By the time we reached the place, it was 12.30. Alas, we were in middle of a huge mall and we didn’t know where exactly PENANG (restaurant) is! We searched and found it but by the time we met the director, it was 1.20 PM. We didn’t want to get late for the Warehouse visit, so half heartedly, we proceeded to Dunkin Donuts. It was for the first time, I’m visiting a warehouse. 300,000 Sq. Feet, a medium sized one, while we entered, I was in for a shock. I was expecting muffins, cakes, bagels and coffees, but this is the place where they store the raw material to be shipped. Withstanding yet another disappointment, we had a visit of the complete warehouse. After that, the aroma of the place was having a cruel, hungry impact on us. We decided to find a nearest Dunkin Donuts store to fill our stomachs.

It was just 4 miles away. I had a ICED Coffee (French Vanilla flavor) and a chocolate chip muffin. It was so tasty that I had a Honey dew muffin for take away. It was time for my taxi to arrive to go to the airport. My flight was at 8.30 PM.

It was a nice black limousine and by 5.15 PM, I was at the airport. I went directly for the check in where I was surprised not to find my name. The attendant told me that I was on wait list.

“What the heck? I booked this flight 1 month and you say I’m on waitlist!” I nearly yelled.

“Sorry Sir, two flights to Boston were cancelled and they were moved to the next two flights.” She said.

“Do I have any other options, any other flight, any other airline?” – This was a pleading.

“No sir. You need to be in the waitlist or accept monetary benefit if you wish to take the flight tomorrow” Her voice was stern.

“Please check again, there will be some.” I pleaded.

“Wait a minute, there is one seat available in 5.45 PM flight and I can put you into that!” She sounded confident.

“But the time is already 5.40 PM. Security check and boarding , I wont be able to make it! Also, my baggage wont get into the flight!” My sound was almost breaking.

“Ok, you better wait. There are great chances of people coming from Atlanta missing the Boston flight as their flight is already late. You are just 3rd in the list” She sounded more orderish.

Left with no other option, I took the pass and proceeded to the security check. There was a lady at the entrance who was checking our tickets and marked it. I wont forget her. You’ll come to know why!

I proceeded into the lane. Bah! Removed my shoes, belt, literally everything except my attire. I proceeded through the passage where one gentleman glanced at my ticked and told “Special Screening!” What? Everyone else went through, I was moved aside.

Another guy came and took me to his cabin and told me to cooperate for the screening.
I was shocked. Almost felt I was eating Chappati and chutney in US Jail! (Dunno reason why I dreamt chappati and chutney, but it was natural) Treatment was professional. As if I had done something great wrong or maybe NOT!

“Why me?” I asked.

“Chances are that you are going one way or traveling for the first time or any other reason” He replied.

They checked me and took everything, literally everything from my cabin baggage to check. Then after intriguing 25 minutes, I was allowed to proceed with sincere apologies from them. Oh! A sigh of relief. It was 6.15 PM and I reached my terminal.

There was one lady attendant standing there. I asked her whether there are any chances for me to get my ticket confirmed.

She told me “I still have one ticket with me for 5.45 PM flight, which apparently has not left. You leave the checked in baggage and it will be delivered to you if it is late and take the flight” I agreed and got into the flight. After an hour I was there.

“Welcome to Boston Logan Airport” I went to the baggage place to check my baggage, but as she promised it had not arrived. I stood for an hour in the queue for Baggage claim where I gave my address to which I wanted my baggage to be delivered.

I came to know that the 8.30 PM flight had got delayed by 4 hours and will reach by only 3.00 AM. Lucky fellow! I thought.

As I was early, there was no chances for my taxi to come at that time. I took a taxi driven by a handsom American whom I suppose didn’t know the place. He took me through very deserted streets which were very lonely and at 10.00 PM at night. Imagine me! I was scared out of wits. I was even ready to give him all the money if he tries to loot me. But wanted him to drop me at the hotel after the loot!

But everything went fine and I reached the hotel by 11.00 PM in one piece. I checked into the hotel and was given a neat room with kitchen. After a small check of mails, I was ready for my sleep after yet another eventful evening. Next day! I was despo to get my rented car!


Watch out for Day 6 – “Aswin's Own Mercury Limousine!!!!”