The trauma of coping with a strange mental distress arising out of bidding adieu to Sarika and family coupled with the anxiety of expected solitary existence in new surroundings and amidst unknown people, was more than a handful for Sameer. He was writhing in a typical discomfort, hitherto unknown. Pramit called up in the morning on 10th Sept. to confirm that he would be at the Houston airport to receive Sameer and also take him to his studio. The Delta airlines flight from Minneapolis was at 2pm CST. Sarika, Sharat & Janki saw off Sameer near the check-in counter and promised to wait till he crossed the security check cordon.
At the check-in counter, Sameer's request for an aisle seat was turned down. The flight seemed to be overbooked and the ground staff exuded a strange hauteur. His backpack and carry-on were overflowing with homemade titbits given by Sarika, to last a couple of weeks without cooking. As he passed through the body scanner, a security staff signalled at Sameer to pause and step aside. Sameer could gauge that the steel bangle (kara) he was wearing, was the centerpoint of attention. After the usual frisking, the security personnel asked him about the kara. He wanted to know whether it could be discarded to which Sameer's reply was a firm 'no'. A little perplexed, the stout policeman pointed at a secluded corner for Sameer to go and stand while he went and fetched his superior. Most of the other passengers while completing their usual formalities, would gape at Sameer, some of which were more than a mere passing glance. Some looked aghast while some stared with a wilful frown. Although a routine security procedure at other places, a probable xenophobia for the stout policeman ensured a harrowing and embarassing experience for Sameer. To be finally done without having to open the kara and walk away waving to his loved ones who were all the while standing near the visitors lobby with bated breath, was like more than experiencing zephyr, for him.
The flight was on time and true to his words Pramit's was the first call, as soon as Sameer switched on his mobile phone at Houston. Pramit wanted to inform him that he would be there in 20minutes. As he waited for Pramit, Sameer could see many other new students, mostly international, making a beeline for the airport shuttle service for the complimentary drop to uptown, as arranged by the University.
Enroute to the studio at 3239 Proshop Av., Sameer & Pramit stopped by at Kroger to pick a 6-pack of Budweiser beer along with saltine pretzels. The apartment resembled a dungeon located at level 1 and overlooking the Burnet woods at the rear. A large sliding glass door was the only means of separation from the outer world. As soon as they entered the apartment, to his utter dismay, Sameer realized that the scheduled delivery from IKEA had gone astray. Pramit informed him that it was rescheduled for the next week. Fortunately, Pramit had brought along an air bag to suffice for the bed. As they rested themselves on the carpeted floor, uncorking their budweiser bottles and munching pretzels, Pramit shared a few interesting nuances of American life along with his and Priti's student life in Dakota. Life in US could be stereotype, especially if both the husband and wife were working. All they would get for themselves is Saturday & Sunday, most of which would be spent in unwinding, which meant doing household chores, catching up with friends or cooking for the ensuing week. Sameer realized that by spending almost the entire Saturday with him, Pramit was actually losing out on a big chunk of his routine family time. Pramit left at 7pm.
The eerie silence was more than a resounding shrill. Sameer was never used to this. The woods staring stark just beyond the glass pane did very little to soothe him. Luggage & other articles strewn all around, resembling his truncated life away from Mansi & Simba, added to the mayhem. Crouched on the airbed, Sameer seemed more than lost. He was too drained out mentally and the physical exhaustion urged him to skip dinner, the first of probably many such, in days to come. Soon enough he was lying on the airbed, in pitch dark with ocassional shrieks of his drunk neighbor from the adjoining apartment for company. However hard he tried, sleep was a distant proposition. Even Sameer didn't realize when he slipped into a deep slumber well past midnight. It was 8.30am when the ring on his mobile phone woke him up. Mansi was on the line to ask him to log into skype. There was so much to catch up on. Sameer was eager to see and hear from her and Simba. He would also get to chat with his parents. With utmost zeal, he pulled out his new laptop, gifted by Sarika, to log in. As he typed in his username and password, Sameer realized the solace and happiness he derived from even virtually connecting with his dearest ones, more so because he was unsure of how soon he could see them again in flesh and blood.
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