Arrive in Delhi airport, at Immigration, give my passport, my immigration form and look up my visa for India!
He goes through my phone because” apparently” I did not get a visa, which I just gave on my phone…
He takes my passport out its cover, gives me my ticket and cover back and starts to look real constipated now…. Waits 5 min, yeah my backpack only weighs 10 kg but what the hell, then we wants my immigration paper which was in my passport?
I tell him that I only got my ticket and my cover back!
Thank G*d I did not put them back in my bag (not without my passport!)
“No, I want your Immigration paper!” Some stupid American woman thinks she should translate for me: he wants that form dear………
I tell her very arrogantly that: “thank you very much I apparently I speak the Queen’s English madam and so does this gentleman so we’ll need no further help from you! “
And of course in my poshest accent!
I empty my handbag at his insistence while smilingly telling him that I am quite happy to fill in the form once more!
The American scuttles away!
I step away and also inform him that it is neither in my bag nor on the floor on my side of the desk…
He seems to realise that perhaps it is on his side and than proceeds to show me extensively that he has made two bloody stamps in my passport!
My smile never fades, I have had kids and a brilliant but very unpracticable husband, travelled with people to Schiphol who told me during that ride that their passport was still in their house, a 100 km away, I am a trooper, I am right and do realise he is bureaucrat and I am on Holiday!
Meanwhile has his neighbour dealt with 3 passengers already…
You can pass now madam!!
Thank you very much sir!
I told Jai beforehand not too worry about me, but instead find the suitcases before someone might walk off with them!
He is a native of this country, so passes easily!
“How did it go?”he says
“Wonderful” I say “and you have the cases already!”
“Uhuh, I can see that” he says, “lets have a coffee first!”
I love that man, he can read me like a book!!