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Saved by the nick of time
11:35am
As a loaded my five huge suitcases behind and inside the cab, the driver whistled. ’Going away for good?" she asked. “Yes," I replied as a got into the cab without bothering to look back at the godforsaken place which I had till now called my college. So long, I thought.
11:50pm
The bus was nowhere in sight when I arrived at the bus stop. My heart skipped a beat I couldn't afford to miss this one. It would mean that I would miss my... I refused to go there. A quick question to the stop manager assured me that the bus hadn't arrived yet. Gathering my baggage I settled down on a bench outside and began to read one of the books I had bought at the town thrift shop while my headphones blared in my ears. Finally when the bus arrived, I
was on my feet instantly and waited as the driver got down. I asked which baggage box belonged to Albany and was about to tow everything in when he said," Fm sorry but your only allowed to put two in baggage and one inside." The world came crashing down. I was about to beg, plead, do anything when the driver said, "The rest will have to be weighed and paid for." Thank God, I thought. I went into the stop officer to ask the manager how I should weigh and pay when a lady with a backpack ingeniously volunteered to "pretend" that two of the suitcases were hers. When she approached the bus driver the only thing he asked was whether we were both headed to New York, luckily we were. We loaded the bags and got on to the bus. I sat down and said a little prayerto god in gratitude.
2:30pm
I got down at Albany with Marilyn. That was her name. From here it was a one-hour wait till the New York bound bus arrived. We parked the luggage right next to the gate at which the bus would arrive and went in. I told her that I would sit near the door so that I could watch the luggage. I told her to go and freshen up. The time ticked by and this thought that I had forgotten to do something kept nagging me. Suddenly it hit me! I had forgotten to endorse my 1-20. This time I felt like the world had really come crashing down on me. I mean without an endorsed I-20 how would I re-enter the country? The luggage forgotten, I ran to a pay phone and called up the International Student Office. They quickly asked me when was the last time I had gotten it endorsed. November, I told them. They assured me that that signature was valid for three months, so I was ok to leave. The palpitation subsided as I staggered back to where I was sitting. Thank you God, I said once again. Soon the bus arrived and Marilyn and I boarded.
7:00pm
As the bus pulled into Port Authority I made a mental calculation. We were exactly forty-five minutes late. Technically I should have been at JFK by now reporting for my flight. Instead I ushered a Red Cap who loaded my luggage and took me to the Cab Queue. I waited and waited and waited. The line ahead of me was long. Finally at seven thirty I got into a cab and headed to Jamaica.
8:30pm
We finally arrived at my Grand-Uncle’s house and I ran out and knocked frantically on their door. They opened and were surprised that I had
been so late. I quickly paid the driver and unloaded the luggage. We then loaded the suitcases I was going to fly with and started towards JFK.
8:50pm
When I got down from the car and tried to put dollar bills into the machine for a cart, my hands shook. Finally I managed to get one and as my Grand-Uncle urged me to go in and get check in. He'd bring the luggage. I ran in looking frantically for the Kuwait Airways check-in counter. Don't let it be closed, I prayed. When I finally located it my Grand-Aunt was right behind me with the luggage. The baggage suitcases were weighed in and fit the bill. It was the hand suitcase that gave us all trouble. It was way over-weight. I blindly started removing items from it and stuffed them into the grocery bags I had instructed my Grand-Aunt to bring with us. That being done, I grabbed the cany-on while she trailed with cart and urged me to run. She'd see to my luggage and make sure it got on to the plane she assured me.
9:15pm
I was panting for breath when I finally got to gate Al. I prayed frantically that the plane was still here. After all 9:15 was when it was supposed to take of. Check in security saw me on the verge of breakdown and asked which flight I was supposed to be on. They calmly told me the flight had been delayed... 9:30pm
As I settled into my seat, I prayed for a long while in gratitude to God. I had been saved by the nick of time.
ByTahiat-e-Mahboob