My best Christmas Ever!

I wanted to write this from the day it happened... It was truly the best Christmas of my life.

I always believed in Santa Claus, from the very first day I learnt about Christmas...

You may say, I was born and brought up in a set-up, where, as a kid.... all we had was a perfect family, not so perfect situations, a small TV,  and ample time to play and weave dreams...

I still remember how eagerly I used to wait for Christmas eve, watch all Christmas cartoons on Doordarshan before Disney took over and wait for Santaclaus with a list... in a hope... I was a born optimist! :P

Santa Claus never came; I never got any gifts near my pillow on any Christmas morning... I used to feel heart-broken... but, I changed that for my brothers, they always had a Santa to gift them whatever they wished for... For initial years... they didn’t know that there was no Santa in real and that was a true feeling of success for me :)

With time, I changed in size and looks but from inside I was always the same girl who wished for a miracle... till today... I believe in miracles and yes, I have witnessed many of them...

One such miracle was my last year’s Christmas!

It was my best Christmas ever... And it gave me an experience of a lifetime which I’ll never forget...

In December 2014, I planned a trip with a group of people who were travelling to south India. I am a travel freak, so, even though I didn’t know all of them I decided to join them.

Since my plan was finalised at the last moment... My flights were different from the rest of the group... 

A day before Christmas, All energized... I was at the airport to catch my flight for Chennai... 

Although I was alone, I felt like I belong to the airport... I was very happy and excited... Much before time, I was standing a queue for security check when I realised... I missed my flight... how... when... and why... were of no use... My flight was gone and I was standing there without luggage for a security check...

I was furious and upset... I complained.. requested.. argued.. shouted.. pleaded and tried everything to convince them to send me to Chennai... but all waste...

I decided to go to Chennai come what may... I was already separated from the group... And since they had to go to Pondicherry from Chennai they proceeded while was stuck at the airport in Delhi...

After 7 hours and all the efforts, they agreed to give me a seat in a connecting flight to Chennai... I was delighted... I left my home at 4 am and I reached Chennai at 8 pm...

Aahhhh... I can’t explain what a great feeling it was when I first came out of air-plane and inhaled the first gulp of air in that warm weather of Chennai, I was instantly in love... I stepped-in to Chennai airport... It was beautifully decorated for Christmas eve... My fone was dead... So, I first decided to charge my fone... I saw a socket and sat there on the airport floor while my fone was charging... Amazing feel... I dunno why I feel like home everywhere I go... As if I was born to travel.. :))

I charged my fone, called up home to inform I was safe, booked a hotel to stay.. took a cab and enjoyed the drive through the decorated Chennai on the Christmas eve... My hotel was brilliantly highlighted for Christmas... And that was the time... when I realized.. this was my true gift for Christmas which I always waited for... if I wouldn’t have missed my flight I would have been somewhere else, missing this beautiful experience... I thanked Santa and checked in...

I was planning solo travel from a very long time but never got permission from family... this one day in Chennai was my gift for a lifetime... I was all solo and decided to roam around in Chennai all alone... I had one day with me... Christmas day it was...

I got up early, checked the internet and penned down places I wanted to visit... I visited 3 churches on Christmas... blissful... bought homemade cakes... checked out serene beaches of Chennai... talked to strangers, clicked pictures and realised life couldn’t b better...

And again my fone was dead... So, I visited a mall there and bought a power bank for my fone, it was so like a mall in Delhi yet so different, finally... I decided to roam around in T-Nagar market to get the feel of being a local and try some authentic roadside south Indian food... And trust me that was the best part of my day... I loved the food sooooo much... I roamed in the market for around 2 hours... eating everything or rather say overeating everything... :P

Seriously, I felt 1 day was too short, and it was the best trip of my life... next day, I met the group and we proceeded for Coorg but in the entire trip the best was my one day in Chennai...

All my life I waited for Santa and He gave me all the gifts I could have asked for in just one day... Without even asking.. :-)

I love you, God... I know I am your favourite... bless my people and thank you for everything... muaah :)))