Believe it or not, this is USA

Bus travel is an exciting mode of travel that throws up many an interesting social episode. But not so interesting was the conductor's command some years back, that the six passengers bound for Kollupitiya had to get down and take another bus. There was no need to buy tickets again as there happened to be only six passengers enroute to Kollupitiya from Borella.

A friend who was with me and who had been a globe-trotter for some time, almost swore that this type of event would never happen either in Europe or in the USA. Especially in the USA bus travel was so methodical and streamlined, she said.

This is what the officer announced as we were about to reach the US shores. "Passengers bound for Virginia, only one as our records show, get down at Baltimore. Take taxi at taxi stand, taxi fare paid". I got stranded in my home country in sizzling daylight. Here in a strange country I am getting stranded at stark midnight. So I was the only one heading to Virginia, a State tinged with romance and slaves after I had digested Gone with the Wind years back. Of course, I was not going pleasure-seeking or sight seeing but was due to attend a children's book conference. Soon I visualised my dead body on the streets of Maryland. But there was no alternative than to get down after taking charge of the luggage.

Taxi stand

I dragged the luggage and found the airport taxi stand. There was not a soul in sight. After some time a taxi arrived, checked my country and name and then the man drove me away with a loud bout of singing. The singing I felt was a ruse to prevent me asking any questions - Asian chatterboxes. Que serra serra. Let anything happen. The taxi drew past cities with strange names and raced so far that I wondered whether we were cutting across the USA and reaching the West coast. My geography had taught me that Virginia is close to the East coast. So, I wondered whether I was in for a round the world trip, from the East coast to Japan and inward to other Asian countries and back to Colombo. The driver's singing prevented me from checking up.

By the way,I later learnt from a professor attending the conference, (Prof. Mary Taylor, bless her soul if she is still alive) that drivers are banned from singing on the way. "You could have informed the police", she chided me. Better said than done. In fact to let you in for a secret I was shivering in my saree and sandals that midnight where everything was going wrong.

Huge building

Suddenly as the street lights grew brighter the taxi stopped before a huge building.

"Get down, madam and hurry up about it". The board gave a familiar name, one I had seen in my correspondence. So I was happily out of the carol service. Only one light shone in the building as the time was 3 o'clock after midnight. I tapped on the door.

"Come in", said a sleepy female voice, that sounded divine to me.

I introduced myself saying that I am due for the conference from Sri Lanka. The lion country, you know, home of the great Aryans, I gulped.

"Never heard of it. Anyway the country matters little", she drawled. Then a bombshell. "Madam, I am sorry to say that you are very late and that there are no rooms."

"But my ministry has paid for sharing accommodation".

'Could be but all the same that is the situation. I will give you addresses of nearby hostels that you may try".

"Now the devil, the Lankan devils, Reeri and Maha Sona just danced within me doing ferocious romps, red eyes rolling in fury, teteth gnashing.

No fault

"My getting late is no fault of mine", I explained the plane debacle briefly.

"All the same the situation does not change. How can I give non-existent rooms?"

"Then I am going to sit here till morning". I am not going to wander about looking for lodgings in a strange land". My corpse on a USA street, robbed and murdered, may adorn a sensational photo, but I am not going to oblige the media. The officer now felt that here was a stubborn adversary. She went through the documents and checking my name said in a bout of condescension," Yes. You have paid for sharing accommodation.

But there is no sharing accommodation nor non-sharing accommodation. "Sorry"

"Then I will sleep on that couch".

"No. That is against the regulations".

I could have wept at my situation. But miracles do occur perhaps propelled by the great mission in hand. Then I heard this as if in a dream. "Do you like the Empress Lounge?".

Issue

Like? I just loved it. Had never been in one before. Seen them only in films. The only issue was whether I was worth it? Why not? The topic I was about to present at the conference was "Carving Jathaka tales of Buddhist literature to suit children". That in itself ennobled my status. The Buddha, so serene and unflustered, I saw all over that room. I have come to tell all about Him to an International forum.

Soon I was deposited in all that luxury after some advice.

"Use the suite carefully. Don't covet exotic objects. Don't brag about your accommodation to others. Don't take in visitors. Just stay mum."

Later I learnt that a powerful female political figure who was invited to chair sessions had declined to attend at the last moment. I do get windfalls like this as when some 22 years later I was invited to dine at the Emirates Family lunch on the Rome - Dubai - Colombo route. (If I remember the middle name correct).

First I was invited to the Business class on the sight of my knee guards and then after I sat and was having a view of the Emirates royal family at lunch, the stewardess told me. "The captain says that you can join them. It is mostly royal kids today at lunch" Picking crumbs from royal families?.

"No. Thank you. I prefer my sandwiches".

But The Empress Lounge I did not refuse. I stuck to all the rules, making myself very uncomfortable that I finally entered it only to sleep late in the night that too almost on the border not daring to ensconce myself in all that comfort. Further I was bullied when it came to exit. This time due payment for the royal wing was demanded but I argued that I never asked for it and stuck to my guns.

Nothing drastic happens in USA? Everything drastic and unexpected things happen there. A long correspondence followed after I returned demanding fees for my stay at the Empress Lounge, but never did I oblige. Nor was I taken to courts over the matter. The USA vs poor me, with me winning.

Sometimes, now in my advanced age I wonder whether my theme powered it all.