India trip

Dude, next trip pe mera laptop leke aana. Dekh, I told u first.

I haven't booked my tickets yet. I am not even sure when I am coming. 

Are jabhi bhi ayega, leke aaja. Koi jaldi nahi. 

And thus the first laptop gets booked. Way before my journey to India begins. The second one is usually my work laptop. Then starts my hunt for the cheapest flight to India.

Wait, this isn't just my story, this is the story of every Indian/ Chinese student who has come to the USA. Trust me, there is no exaggeration!

One fine day you get that flight ticket deal to India which is a 'super steal' according to you. The excitement levels are to a maximum, you have started counting the days remaining. You call your parents and inform them. The happiest day of your life!

Your cousin brother/sister comes to know about your 'surprise visit'. And yes, they want a laptop from you. Macbook air US mein sasta hai na. Now you have the bad task of informing the first guy that you can't bring him a laptop.

In the meanwhile, you think you should probably buy your sister/brother a Tablet. She would feel nice. So you order that thing online while the deals are still there.

Then one fine day called thanksgiving day comes, the shopping festival of the US. You shop the whole night. Gifts for every family member and friends. The day when the world calls broke and you call your friend and ask, do you have 500 dollars, I'll give you from my next paycheck.

In the meantime, some well wisher(idiot) posts that you are going to India on Facebook. Your surprises that you planned (if any) are put to dust. You bring the post down, but it's too late till then. Now comes the most important part, Mobile phones.

I am not kidding, but this is a conversation that happened between me and a friend.

Dude, can you do me a favour? Can you bring the new Galaxy S3 for me. I'll pay you the money. 

You will not save more than 5k on Unlocked Galaxy S3. Are you sure you want me to do that. 

Then this guy sends me a link which has Thanksgiving day ad about Galaxy S3 for 99 bucks. He asks, what about this??

I roll on the floor on seeing that. Show a few of my friends that message, they roll on the floor (I'm a bad guy! Plus, I have every right to share a joke!). I reply to him, it's At&t phone with two years contract.

"So what, I can unlock it here", he replies. Anyways, you have At&t, you can have the contract for two years.

I am still on 'rofl' mode. While, I still keep receiving messages from friends who haven't been in touch for years, to bring in a mobile phone.

Meanwhile, the people who you really care about and actually want to bring something and help out, never really reply. When they reply, it's either too late to order or your bag is packed with every pound of weight allowed on the plane.

Then the last thing, two bottles of Chivas Regal which we carry for our friend at the airport duty free.  India trip is incomplete without it.  

Somehow, I've always liked a different picture. A picture in which I carry a single backpack and board the flight. I can buy things for the people I really care in India itself. Even if it's a little more expensive. Someday, I'm sure I'll be able to travel like this. 

Someday, surprises will be pleasant!