<p>On the night before we left for Biligirranga Hills, my husband and I placed our bags near the front door, ready to be carried to the car the next morning. We were less organised, on an earlier occasion, with tiresome consequences. </p>.<p>In February, 2020, we arrived at Tharangampadi (the former Danish colony of Tranquebar), in Tamil Nadu. Its blue skies were still undimmed by Covid-19 clouds, and we sauntered through the streets until darkness fell. We planned to visit the 17th-century Fort Dansborg, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the following day.</p>.<p>Checking into our hotel after a stroll on the beach, we found that we had not brought my husband’s suitcase from Bengaluru. Even Manju, who drives us around and looks out for our lapses, had not noticed its absence while loading the car.</p>.<p>After the inevitable recriminations, we went into town to buy some readymade clothes. The roads were unfamiliar but a young man, whom we asked for directions, kindly came to our rescue.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/want-to-fly-cheap-on-domestic-flights-carry-no-baggage-955546.html" target="_blank">Want to fly cheap on domestic flights? Carry no baggage</a></strong></p>.<p>Telling us to follow his bike, he led us to a store that had everything we needed. My husband acquired a holiday wardrobe, secure in the knowledge that his old belongings were safe at home.</p>.<p>There was no such assurance, 16 years ago, when one of his prized garments disappeared. We were flying from Milan to Mumbai, and my husband inadvertently left his knit jacket in the bus that took us from the airport terminal to the aircraft. We realised what had happened the moment we entered the cabin, and I requested a flight attendant to help us. She made a call to the ground staff, but they told her that the vehicle had been searched and there was no sign of the sweater.</p>.<p>Long before that unfortunate incident, we lost part of our luggage after a train journey. We squeezed into an auto-rickshaw at the station, with our boxes full of Delhi purchases. Uncomfortably cramped, we were relieved to reach our house. As we hurriedly alighted, we forgot our bedding that was stowed behind the seat. We were not worried. After all, we kept hearing stories of honest auto-drivers handing over briefcases crammed with cash to careless passengers.</p>.<p>Our pillows and sheets were commonplace in comparison, and we were sure that they would be returned. Over three decades later, we are still awaiting our missing baggage!</p>
<p>On the night before we left for Biligirranga Hills, my husband and I placed our bags near the front door, ready to be carried to the car the next morning. We were less organised, on an earlier occasion, with tiresome consequences. </p>.<p>In February, 2020, we arrived at Tharangampadi (the former Danish colony of Tranquebar), in Tamil Nadu. Its blue skies were still undimmed by Covid-19 clouds, and we sauntered through the streets until darkness fell. We planned to visit the 17th-century Fort Dansborg, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the following day.</p>.<p>Checking into our hotel after a stroll on the beach, we found that we had not brought my husband’s suitcase from Bengaluru. Even Manju, who drives us around and looks out for our lapses, had not noticed its absence while loading the car.</p>.<p>After the inevitable recriminations, we went into town to buy some readymade clothes. The roads were unfamiliar but a young man, whom we asked for directions, kindly came to our rescue.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/want-to-fly-cheap-on-domestic-flights-carry-no-baggage-955546.html" target="_blank">Want to fly cheap on domestic flights? Carry no baggage</a></strong></p>.<p>Telling us to follow his bike, he led us to a store that had everything we needed. My husband acquired a holiday wardrobe, secure in the knowledge that his old belongings were safe at home.</p>.<p>There was no such assurance, 16 years ago, when one of his prized garments disappeared. We were flying from Milan to Mumbai, and my husband inadvertently left his knit jacket in the bus that took us from the airport terminal to the aircraft. We realised what had happened the moment we entered the cabin, and I requested a flight attendant to help us. She made a call to the ground staff, but they told her that the vehicle had been searched and there was no sign of the sweater.</p>.<p>Long before that unfortunate incident, we lost part of our luggage after a train journey. We squeezed into an auto-rickshaw at the station, with our boxes full of Delhi purchases. Uncomfortably cramped, we were relieved to reach our house. As we hurriedly alighted, we forgot our bedding that was stowed behind the seat. We were not worried. After all, we kept hearing stories of honest auto-drivers handing over briefcases crammed with cash to careless passengers.</p>.<p>Our pillows and sheets were commonplace in comparison, and we were sure that they would be returned. Over three decades later, we are still awaiting our missing baggage!</p>