IITF Diary 2: Rush for tickets, Gumshuda ki Talash and Geographic Confusion

The last weekend of IITF witnessed a huge rush for tickets. As online tickets and those at metro station counters got sold out, scores of people were standing outside Gate No. 10, desperately looking for some means to enter. An officer of our pavilion was saying that random people was stopping him, pointing to his exhibitor pass and asking where did he get it. It reminded me of last year when I was standing at the Gate to assist media entry for a press meet and people were coming up and offering Rs 500 for the complimentary passes I was carrying. This time, while entering through Gate 10, I heard a man telling his wife, "bachhon ka school ID se entry karwa do, phir dekhte hai." I was wondering what if the kids end up like Abhimanyu, entering the Chakravyuh but never coming out.

Along with the rush, started continuous announcements for lost companions and items. One stood out, as a high-pitched note was heard in the public address system, "Bina jee, Bina jee", followed by the announcer's voice, "Binajee, jo CR Park se ayi hai, aapke liye --jee yahan intezar kar rahi hai. Aapke god mein unka baby bhi hai". I understood that the shrill voice represented a mother's panic-stricken state. Hope they were reunited. As for lost goods, people were as hopeful as "kisi bhi sajjan ko ek 1plus5T mobile phone mila ho toh yahan jama karwaye" (I don't think such a sajjan exists) and as specific as "ek safed rang ki thaila mein ek maroon rang ki suit agar kisiko mila ho to..."

With all the states bundled up in Hall 12-12A, people were running from one to another in a frenzy. "Arre Bangal chal lo, saree dekhna hai"; "Kerala hogaya"? It can lead to odd geographical statements such as "Haan main Rajasthan mein hoon...arre Chhattigarh se left lekar Andaman Nicobar ke pass".

The best statement I overheard today was by a man who was telling his wife "mujhe toh aaj 10,000 rupaye kharch karna hai." The woman said "kuchh dhang ka na mile, toh bhi"? I was thinking why then in WhatsApp jokes it is always the woman who spends unwisely?