March 2014

I missed my connecting flight from Amsterdam to Delhi because the Seattle Amsterdam flight was delayed. 

The next one was after 16 hours

I was given meal coupons and a fake apology. 

I chose not to accept it. Asked for a 24hr visa instead to step out. 

It was 7pm when I got the visa. My flight was at 6am. 

I was dead tired. My mind told me to crash at a hotel. I chose to walk the streets of Amsterdam, clicking. 

Went straight to the airport. My camera some 350 photos heavy. 

June 2016

Jet Airways morning flight to Mumbai. Sleep was the easy option. I chose to read the inflight magazine instead. 

Came across a photo contest that asked for pictures of Amsterdam. I have never reacted to these. But the images from that Amsterdam night had remained in my head. I chose to take a camera shot of the contest page. 

July 2016

Was clearing my phone images. Came across the contest page image. Chose not to ignore it any further and submitted 2 of my favorite pics from that night. 

October 2016

Jet Airways wrote in. I had won first prize. 

I won. 

And understood life yet again

Your choices are not driven by the result you want 

Rather, you are the result of the choices you make