My trip from Male’ to Kochi on INS Jalashwa

Yes. I finally got the mail. I am leaving in a few days from Maldives back to home. India. Slight catch though, I am travelling on a ship. It is a trip that takes roughly two hours on a commercial flight. This would take me nearly two days, with a side of misery.

It is 2020, the year of COVID. I am one of the nearly half million Indian citizens stranded abroad without a way out. I was desperate for any transport back. A Navy ship did not seem to be a bad option at first glance. I got my Itinerary, guidelines, Dos and Don’ts, you know, the complete package. Cannot blame the Indian High Commission of Maldives for the issues I faced till I got onboard; they were as new to this Navy ship thing as I was. I read “No Smartphones allowed onboard”. That makes sense. It is a Navy ship. Was banking on them allowing my Tablet and PC abroad. Downloaded everything I can to both. Eve of departure, I received a call from the High Commission inquiring my readiness for the journey. I had to confirm If my assumptions were true, only to be shot down. Tablets were no go. Laptop it is then. It has a screen – that would do. Packed up everything.

Come morning of the said evacuation. There was an ugly truth waiting for me. I cannot blame anyone but myself on believing that Indian Navy would be stupid enough to let in any kind of Wireless device on board. Off goes the laptop into the Check-in luggage. The prospect of spending two whole days on a ship without any form of entertainment dawned on me. Hard. I have never spent that long without any of my devices in the last 10 years or so. I have grown so dependent on them. I digress – this is not a luxury liner and I am not going on a cruise. I am being evacuated here – a bit more dignified way of saying that they are saving my ass.

This was not the only hurdle I had to face. There were forms to be printed, filled, scanned and Passport photos that were mandatory – I went to great lengths to make some, but were ultimately not needed in the end. I will take that over continue my stay there though. It is not like I was not comfortable there, but I did not belong there. I have not visited India in almost a year. Last time I did was for 5 days for a friend’s wedding. I barely spent 2 days at home. My last real vacation was over 21 months ago. I was ready to face whatever they had to throw at me.