A lost bag full of love
by Siripathy Jayamaha
1981: I was on my way to Lagos - Nigeria. An unscheduled stopover in
Nairobi, Kenya was due to a cancelled flight. Lagos passengers were put
on board a PanAm flight to New York via Lagos. A pleasant flight,
magnificent Murthala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
 The best in Africa. Alas! my bag which was interlined from Colombo to
Lagos had not accompanied me. Frustration. The airline personnel were
very concerned, when I told them that I was in Nigeria on a long
assignment with the Federal Government. Could I check with them the
following morning? My evening flight to a state capital was cancelled.
An angry stopover this time at my personal expense.
Morning, back at the airport. “Sorry” they said. “We checked with
Colombo, Bombay, Nairobi and Kennedy Airport New York”. There was no bag
in keeping with my description. I was requested to re-check with the
left luggage-office. Checked. Plenty of bags. Most in tatter with
embarrassing items of clothing exposed. Mine was not there. A thousand
apologies.
A lost baggage claim to be completed. Many questions/descriptions and
values. I answered them with a heavy heart. Clothing, books, cassettes
with songs and small talk of my children, toiletries, footwear, alarm
clock, family album (copies), condiments, sweets prepared by the wife. A
few religious pictures, filled the form diligently, indicating the cost.
When it came to condiments and sweetmeats.
I wrote “cannot be valued. Raw materials cost very little, but they
were prepared, packeted and packed by my good wife with lots of love and
tears”. The officer at the counter perused my forms. Smiled, stood up.
Took up hand and said. “Sir, I am moved, glancing at your form.” And
with a lovely African smile said “I am so sorry, I will jot in my
comments and dispatch it to New York.”
Exactly three weeks later I received a cheque (draft) from PanAm New
York. The covering letter said in brief “We are pleased to enclose a
‘cheque’ for US$ 680/00 the highest or maximum paid on an normal lost
luggage claim. In computing your claim, we took, into account `love and
tears’ as the most valuable items in your lost bag. Therefore do please
accept our `cheque’, because it is also sent by us with lots of love. We
are sorry for the sad experience. However, do fly with ‘PanAm’.
How I loved that airline, not for the cheque, but for their beautiful
gesture in understanding human beings. |
