Ten minutes later, they call for boarding. The delay was a phantom. It’s Air India’s way of keeping you humble. You board the plane, find your seat, and immediately check the status for the arrival in Mumbai.
That’s when you realize the real game has just begun. The flight status for JFK to Mumbai is not a number. It’s a lifestyle.
It’s the story you’ll tell your auntie when she asks why you looked like a zombie at the wedding. It’s the shared look with the guy next to you when the pilot says we’ve entered a holding pattern over the Arabian Sea. You nod. You’ve been tracking this since Tuesday.
So next time you check that status, remember: you are not alone. There are hundreds of other souls, all refreshing the same page, all hoping for the same green checkmark. It’s a communal experience, like a very stressful, very caffeinated book club.
And when you finally land, 17 hours later, the status will update one last time: “Arrived.” You will smile. You have conquered the beast. You have refreshed the page into submission. Now, go get some vada pav.
