Friday morning in Gurgoan, I tried to recover from jetlag as Mack ran around the apartment, late for work. I stayed in bed, listening to the stream of the shower and thinking about my day. I had a full schedule of tourist stops in South Delhi to make, along with a scheduled lunch break where I was instructed to eat a Dosa, a type of Keralan cuisine that I have never tried.
Despite my innate chaffing at being given a schedule on a vacation, I was looking forward to the day Mack had planned for me. Once she left for work with her roommate, I began to prep, sluffing off the debris of travel and scrubbing my teeth in order to face the day. I dressed, picking out a skirt that may or may not be see-through (I have not being able to determine whether it is or not, despite having owned it for years). Maybe not the best choice considering the culture, but I didn't have many wardrobe options for hot weather. I packed my purse with rupees, a water bottle, and a breakfast bar from the kitchen. One deep breath, and I head for the door.
I toggled the handle. The door didn't budge.
I toggled again. Then looked down.
The door had a key lock from the inside and the outside.
I had no key.
UH-oh....
Arms full, mind boggled with disbelief, I stood their stupidly toggling the door. Let me out...let me out...LET ME OUT!!
I can't believe this.
I made it all the way to India just to get locked inside of Mack's apartment.
Ok, don't panic.
First, I texted her. When she didn't respond, I called. No answer. I texted again, increasingly alarmed.
"Hey, I'm locked in! Help!"
Nothing.
Ok, time to think of other options. Option 1) pick the lock. Option 2) jump down from the balcony.
I ran to the balcony, threw back the curtain. Oh my goodness...I'm at least 5 floors up. And there is no convenient staircase or latter going down.
Okay...now, to find a hair pin.
I ran to Mack's room, searched through her jewelry and assorted knick knacks, but couldn't find one. I took an earring with a long backing and returned to the door. It was starting to get warm in the hallway, which didn't help my rising aggravation as I tried to gently trip the lock mechanism without destroying Mack's earring. Years of watching people bust out of impossible situations with hair pins and credit cards proved to be inadequate education;
the lock was good and stuck.
Darn it!
Think! I called the driver.
"I'm locked in! Can you ask the guards if they have a spare key?" I asked.
"Yes, I come, Ma'am. Come down."
Hmm...that is not at all related to what I said. I switched to "talk to Susan" mode.
"The door is locked."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I have no key."
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"I cannot leave."
Pause. "Ok, Ma'am. I will ask to the guards if they have a key."
Phew! Successful communication. I paced by the door waiting. In about 10 minutes, the bell rang.
"Hello?" I pressed my face against the door that blocked the way to freedom and my vacation. Let me out, let me out please!
"Ma'am? We checked and there is no spare key, Ma'am."
Well...so much for that.
"Ma'am? There's a paper here for you Ma'am." His footsteps walked away.
Great. Ten minutes wasted, and all he has to say is there is a paper, on the other side of the locked door. As if I had any way of getting it! As if being on the other side of that door wasn't the whole problem. Sheesh!
I paced, disgusted at my inability to break out of the room. It takes 21 steps to get from Mack's bedroom to the dining room phone. It's 15 steps to get from the balcony to the front door. It's 5 steps to cross the entrance hallway. Let me out, let me out, let me out!!
Finally, after about 20 more minutes, Mack picked up her phone.
"Hey Mishi, what's up? I was in a meeting." she sounded too darn chipper.
"Yeah..." my voice dragged over the phone, "I'm locked in."
Pause. "OH MY GOD I'm so stupid!!"
"Also, I'm really hot in here."
Once I got Mack on the case, things happened rather quickly. The housekeeper was called, the driver was called, someone else's driver was set in motion, all on operation "Let Mishi Out". Mack told me where the AC was, and I chilled out for about half an hour more, before being sprung free by the housekeeper. Key in hand, I found the car. We zipped off, heading to South Delhi.
Despite my innate chaffing at being given a schedule on a vacation, I was looking forward to the day Mack had planned for me. Once she left for work with her roommate, I began to prep, sluffing off the debris of travel and scrubbing my teeth in order to face the day. I dressed, picking out a skirt that may or may not be see-through (I have not being able to determine whether it is or not, despite having owned it for years). Maybe not the best choice considering the culture, but I didn't have many wardrobe options for hot weather. I packed my purse with rupees, a water bottle, and a breakfast bar from the kitchen. One deep breath, and I head for the door.
I toggled the handle. The door didn't budge.
I toggled again. Then looked down.
The door had a key lock from the inside and the outside.
I had no key.
UH-oh....
Arms full, mind boggled with disbelief, I stood their stupidly toggling the door. Let me out...let me out...LET ME OUT!!
I can't believe this.
I made it all the way to India just to get locked inside of Mack's apartment.
Ok, don't panic.
First, I texted her. When she didn't respond, I called. No answer. I texted again, increasingly alarmed.
"Hey, I'm locked in! Help!"
Nothing.
Ok, time to think of other options. Option 1) pick the lock. Option 2) jump down from the balcony.
I ran to the balcony, threw back the curtain. Oh my goodness...I'm at least 5 floors up. And there is no convenient staircase or latter going down.
Okay...now, to find a hair pin.
I ran to Mack's room, searched through her jewelry and assorted knick knacks, but couldn't find one. I took an earring with a long backing and returned to the door. It was starting to get warm in the hallway, which didn't help my rising aggravation as I tried to gently trip the lock mechanism without destroying Mack's earring. Years of watching people bust out of impossible situations with hair pins and credit cards proved to be inadequate education;
the lock was good and stuck.
Darn it!
Think! I called the driver.
"I'm locked in! Can you ask the guards if they have a spare key?" I asked.
"Yes, I come, Ma'am. Come down."
Hmm...that is not at all related to what I said. I switched to "talk to Susan" mode.
"The door is locked."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I have no key."
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"I cannot leave."
Pause. "Ok, Ma'am. I will ask to the guards if they have a key."
Phew! Successful communication. I paced by the door waiting. In about 10 minutes, the bell rang.
"Hello?" I pressed my face against the door that blocked the way to freedom and my vacation. Let me out, let me out please!
"Ma'am? We checked and there is no spare key, Ma'am."
Well...so much for that.
"Ma'am? There's a paper here for you Ma'am." His footsteps walked away.
Great. Ten minutes wasted, and all he has to say is there is a paper, on the other side of the locked door. As if I had any way of getting it! As if being on the other side of that door wasn't the whole problem. Sheesh!
I paced, disgusted at my inability to break out of the room. It takes 21 steps to get from Mack's bedroom to the dining room phone. It's 15 steps to get from the balcony to the front door. It's 5 steps to cross the entrance hallway. Let me out, let me out, let me out!!
Finally, after about 20 more minutes, Mack picked up her phone.
"Hey Mishi, what's up? I was in a meeting." she sounded too darn chipper.
"Yeah..." my voice dragged over the phone, "I'm locked in."
Pause. "OH MY GOD I'm so stupid!!"
"Also, I'm really hot in here."
Once I got Mack on the case, things happened rather quickly. The housekeeper was called, the driver was called, someone else's driver was set in motion, all on operation "Let Mishi Out". Mack told me where the AC was, and I chilled out for about half an hour more, before being sprung free by the housekeeper. Key in hand, I found the car. We zipped off, heading to South Delhi.
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