Tashkent airport

it was probably the airport.......clean and pristine.........and it was november when i went......

i was 18......turbaned, bearded, bespectacled, and the world was more eaceful than it was today.......

i had never been outside india, never been on a plane, never been to russia, never known russian, and certainly didnt have a medical degree.....

but i was going to tashkent......ex soviet union.......not russia really......mum was in tears.....dad was okay..........so much uncertainty........and little bit of fear.......much more for them then for me........

its always easier for the one who is leaving...........adrenaline rush.......the 'what going to happen' happenning.........those who get left behind are the ones who suffer........

same old house......same old routine......only one person less.......one life less.....one worry more....that part of the deal really sucks........

oblivious to all that depression,......buzzing with ecitement.........was me at the airport......all set to go......i had too much luggage.......books......noodles.....soaps........for the whole year!!!.......and it was 1994.....

i dont remember anything special about the flight.........it was only 2 hours...........i loved it.......it was awsome ..........the only one thing that puzzelled me was the blue button.....

like all boys filled with intrigue when you see any panel of buttons......there was abundance os such oppotrtunities on the plane.......everywhere there were these clusters of lights and buttons.....and obviously.....they have signs on them...........global village.......languanges dont work......

so i went to the toilet.....and there was a button for everything......if i were from a backward village in orissa.....i would have been overwhelmed by the leap in technology.......but coming from an upwardly mobile class........the buttons/latches were fascinating........

so i got it all.......the latch to the door....connected to the toilet lights......the flush worked by vacuum only with the seat was down........the tap, soap towel etc........all good......

but then there was the blue button.......square......shiny.....translucent.....rich blue..........and it had the face of a girl on it.......

like......the profile of a girl......the hair face and neck.......embossed onto the switch.......in white.......

very interesting.........i didnt dare press it........i couldnt imagine what it was for........and where there is ignorance........myth takes over.......so it had something to do with girls.......so i thought maybe something to do with girlie stuff.........and my knowledge of the female species was at best = microscopic........so maybe connected to the providence of sanitary towels......or other such things.....which i didnt know there were......but maybe there were.......and i just didnt know......

so i just resigned the blue button to a function i presumed i didnt need to know.....so i went back to my seat..........and then all through the flight........i saw the blue button in many places.........some blatantly obviously placed......

only after 2-3 flights did i realise that the girl symbol meant a flight attendant......but anyhow.........we reached tashkent.......and with this mystery in my mind.........i stepped on the tarmac at tashkent airport......