An encounter in DXB

"Are you from the Philippines?"

It was about 2 am. Dubai airport. I was startled out of my reverie by the man sitting next to me. I turned to him to see who he was talking to, and apparently it was me. I replied that I was from India. His response to that was quite startling. He said "India! Do you know Sushmita Sen?!"

That was the beginning of an interesting conversation about India, politics, modelling and of course Sush. My new friend had so many questions about India. For once I was glad I had the answers. Except for the time when he came up with a quirky question wondering how Indira Gandhi was related to Mahatma Gandhi. And he wanted to know if anybody in my family was into politics - I wonder why - did I look like a crook? Of course, he did also wonder if I was a model - but I attributed it to the bright lights, bad eye sight or perhaps jet lag. He was enroute to Manila from Italy where his wife and he showcased their business of fashion accessories at a trade fair. The conversation was interesting and fun.

One meets such different people while travelling, it almost makes up for all the tiredness and sore shoulders.