Bombay to New York - Journey Unfolded

I was to reach the airport 3 hours before my flight. I was late already. I reached about 2 hours before. I hardly got any time to say goodbyes at the airport. I just rushed into the airport. I looked around and there was hardly anybody checking in. I was thinking to myself, ‘I must be really late for me to be seeing such a scene!’ The authorities had changed some procedures. I had to directly check in. I was praying that I wouldn’t have to pay extra for any extra luggage when my luggage was being weighed...Thankfully it was only about 1 kg more than the allowed weight. Then I went through the security and reached the gate from which my aircraft was going to depart. It was all over very quickly since I was the only one left to check in this late! What I saw at the waiting area shook me a little. The passengers were all men and not a single female passenger was to be found. I guess this is what happens when you book a flight at the last minute. You are left with little or no choice at all. But what could be done now – I was to just wait and board. After a while 2 girls one after the other, looking my age, walked in. That was a relief! An hour later, when we were standing in the queue for boarding the aircraft, another girl – A, got chatty. Both of us were going to New York. But we were going to be together only till Bahrain (first halt), because after that she was going to London and I was going to go to Paris (second halt). But both of us felt happy that at least for the long halt at Bahrain we had each other's company. Once we got inside the aircraft we even requested for seats beside each other. And the kind air hostess obliged!
We reached Bahrain before time, which only implied that we had to spend some more time at Bahrain. While we were walking out the other 2 girls whom I had seen earlier joined us. One of them was going to New York and the other was going to London. So now I was a part of 4-girl-gang going to be spending 6 hours at Bahrain! We looked around a bit and then we settled at a nice waiting lounge. There were wireless internet booths all over, at which we took turns to chat and send emails. Then we were just chit chatting. After a while we went to a lovely coffee shop, ordered some flavored coffee drinks and opened 2 big packets of theplas – an Indian delicacy! We clicked some photos of the new Jaguar XJ 2009 – o boy what a car that one is! Some more window shopping at the duty free shops and the time flied…That’s all, then I went to my departure gate to board a flight to Paris and the other three girls went to another gate to board a flight to London.Bahrain was unexpected fun :)
At the departure lounge I met a young Iranian girl who lived in Paris. She was going back home from a vacation to Iran. It was nice…for quite some time we were talking …and talking in which language but French. It was a well needed brush up on my French skills! Boarded the aircraft – it was 1 am – went off to sleep – I got 2 seats to myself :) – the guy beside me went to sit elsewhere because his TV screen was not working. I woke up to find myself witnessing a lovely Paris morning. Paris was fun. Did some shopping. Boarded the flight. The aircraft was almost full and yet no one had occupied the seat beside me. Finally someone came. As it turns out he too was going to be living in NY…! The flight was delayed because the authorities had to remove the luggage of a passenger who did not board the aircraft. That took quite some time. When that was done and the aircraft was ready to leave, the pilot announced that there was some another technical glitch that they had to sort before they took off. So that took some time. But finally the plane took off. The journey was long and boring and tiresome. I was really bored till we got talking about France, India and the US. I kept drinking orange juice throughout. The ride was a little bumpy due to some weather conditions. Rest was okay. Reached NY half an hour late. That’s all!