We were on our way to Jodhpur. The chaos at New Delhi’s airport was worse than usual. We had arrived minutes before thousands of airport workers started a protest against the government’s decision to privatize the airports, a move intended to end such chaos.
Our first job was to muscle our hernia-inducing bags through the mobs to the x-ray check. A young man unexpectedly offered to help. He could have been anyone but turned out to be a low-level employee of the airline we were flying, Jet Airways. We didn’t argue. He wrestled the bags through the x-ray then led us to the appropriate counter. Bob handed him his tip, the equivalent of about $5, a princely sum for India but well worth it.
Check in was not easy. A problem developed that the agent seemed unable to fix. As we wondered if we would make our flight, our young friend the bag wallah appeared. He took our tickets from the agent, walked them to another agent with whom he exchanged a few words. We were checked in. Thank you again, we said.
The long line at security was next. Our bag wallah reappeared and suddenly our carry-on’s had priority and so did we. Again, thanks, and see you next time we’re in Delhi.
All we could do now was sit in the departure lounge and watch the TVs which were covering the demonstration outside. Flights scheduled to depart were being cancelled one after the other. We couldn’t believe our luck when ours was called to the departure gate, one of the last ones, it turned out, before the airport was shut down for days.
We were on the fringes of the mob when our bag wallah materialized. He took our carry-on’s and our boarding passes and led us to the gate, parting the mob as he went. At the gate we were ready to say a final goodbye, but he went on – through the gate, past the final security station and on to the airplane. Nods to the cabin crew as we were led directly to our seats. With our bags stowed, we exchanged names and would have exchanged cards, but our bag wallah had none. We promised we would look him up whenever we need help at Delhi airport. When we landed in Jodhpur, we half expected to see our bag wallah waiting for us on the apron. He wasn’t and that was a disappointment. But what incredible service that $5 bought us.
