As the lockdown was relaxed and travel resumed, flying back home, to Kolkata, was an eerie experience for Soumya. A tongue-in-cheek account, exclusively for Different Truths.

I had been cooped up in Delhi alone post-retirement, thanks to the lockdown. Although life was comfortable, I was impatient to return to Kolkata and join my wife, who is working there.

At last, when flights restarted I was eager to leave. Didi kept the suspense on a little longer by not allowing flights for another week. But finally, I had got my tickets and prepared for the ordeal with everyone telling me to wait and watch.

I was told that if everything was okay then I would be stamped on the wrist telling me that I’m to be in self-quarantine for a week or two. This stamping seemed to be like what kids get when entering dance clubs and which we got when entering discotheques in our youth.

I was told that if everything was okay then I would be stamped on the wrist telling me that I’m to be in self-quarantine for a week or two. This stamping seemed to be like what kids get when entering dance clubs and which we got when entering discotheques in our youth. I was prepared to go down the memory lane.

There was little clarity and much confusion with gloomy predictions of being put in quarantine on landing. The unpredictable nature of my home states government added to the uncertainty.

The first step was filling an online declaration that I’m healthy and had no contact with any suspected carriers. My PA filed that for me and the trusting government issued me a boarding pass.

I was allowed only one piece of baggage weighing 30 kgs or less and it was a tough call as I was shifting my home and my belongings wouldn’t reach for ages as non-essential goods were prevented entry to my home state. What was essential for me wasn’t essential for the state.

Anyway, I reached hours in advance heeding the advice and found things wonderfully efficient with full safety measures.

I was allowed only one piece of baggage weighing 30 kgs or less and it was a tough call as I was shifting my home and my belongings wouldn’t reach for ages as non-essential goods were prevented entry to my home state. What was essential for me wasn’t essential for the state.

Thanks to our protocol guys at the airport I could jump the queue and enter through the VIP

entrance and had to fill out another declaration that I’m not a risk. They also checked my Arogya app, which was also based on self-declaration.

The security check through a long pole was a bit funny and we were asked to turn around and finally prodded with a stick to indicate that we are through.

Having arrived very early and lounges being shut, I prepared for a long wait. People sitting apart and silent in their masks looked eerie. I suddenly realised that I wasn’t wearing gloves like the others and felt rather exposed.

Normally, whenever flights were unexpectedly delayed I utilised the time in the lounge reading or writing or chatting with co-passengers with a couple of beers but now that was ruled out. As food wasn’t to be served I was carrying some and now I finished it. Finally, the call came for boarding. But before that, we had to fill yet another self-declaration that we were hale and hearty. We were also issued fresh masks, sanitisers and face shields like bikers helmets.

Normally, whenever flights were unexpectedly delayed I utilised the time in the lounge reading or writing or chatting with co-passengers with a couple of beers but now that was ruled out. As food wasn’t to be served I was carrying some and now I finished it. Finally, the call came for boarding. But before that, we had to fill yet another self-declaration that we were hale and hearty. We were also issued fresh masks, sanitisers and face shields like bikers helmets. The unfortunates, who had middle seats were issued bodysuits like guys exploring the moon.

With social distancing, the boarding took a long time. One could not see more than one passenger at a time in the tunnel. There were many first time travellers totally unnerved by the protocol and unable to talk through the protective gear. The big difference was that no one rushed as if the flight would leave without them as they usually do. There were no priority passengers for business class or platinum cards and not one of us were clamouring for the privilege. An orderly boarding took place with the ones at the rear boarding first and everything went smoothly and efficiently. Fear teaches us good manners, I guess.

Onboard, we were greeted somberly by the crew in ghost suites, who maintained both distance and silence. An announcement warned potential flirts that there will be no communication with the ghostesses except announcements over the PA. Water bottles were kept in the front seats and passengers had to help themselves one by one and dispose of them on disembarking. The toilet could be used but no waiting outside.

There was an eerie silence as masked people found their seats avoiding each other. The middle seat guys and some extra careful people in their spacesuits were adding to the Stephen King-like atmosphere. There was very little accompanied baggage and no in-flight entertainment. Everyone just sat silently like zombies wearing masks and protective gear looking straight ahead.

There was an eerie silence as masked people found their seats avoiding each other. The middle seat guys and some extra careful people in their spacesuits was adding to the Stephen King-like atmosphere. There was very little accompanied baggage and no in-flight entertainment. Everyone just sat silently like zombies wearing masks and protective gear looking straight ahead.

The flight reached Kolkata in time and there was no usual rush to get your hand baggage and dash for the exit as if the plane would leave with you onboard unless you jumped off. People disembarked slowly with social distancing like civilised people without jostling. I wondered why it took an epidemic to teach us manners and discipline.

The baggage took a long time to come as it was to be sanitised. It had been sanitised already before boarding and had been stored in sub-zero temperatures but it’s better to be doubly sure I guess. So we passed the time by filling up yet another form again providing a self-declaration of fitness and our whereabouts in the city. This was the fourth time this information was being provided

The baggage took a long time to come as it was to be sanitised. It had been sanitised already before boarding and had been stored in sub-zero temperatures but it’s better to be doubly sure I guess. So we passed the time by filling up yet another form again providing a self-declaration of fitness and our whereabouts in the city. This was the fourth time this information was being provided but to different agencies, I guess.

Finally, as I was walking out someone yelled at me and told me to return and stand in a box. Nonplussed I came and peered at a cardboard box but the voice from a spacesuit asked me to drop my form folded into that box and stand in a painted red square. This I did thinking that no one would be the wiser if I had dropped some tissue paper in the box. And anyway everything was self-declared and the government trusted us and I hoped that we kept the trust.

There was a contraption in front of the red square and someone peered in it and declared me fit to enter Bengal. I thought it was some kind of con like you get in country fairs where computers tell your future. But I learnt that it was a thermal imaging device to check temperature to counter check what those thermometer guns were checking out half a dozen times already.

There was a contraption in front of the red square and someone peered in it and declared me fit to enter Bengal. I thought it was some kind of con like you get in country fairs where computers tell your future. But I learnt that it was a thermal imaging device to check temperature to counter check what those thermometer guns were checking out half a dozen times already.

Anyway, I was glad to be home without the stamp on my hand declaring home quarantine that people had warned me about.

I had safely and successfully escaped the lockdown. It was great to be at home.

Photos shared by the author