Kolkata, Aug 31: Muscat-based marine engineer Amrit Sarkar who boarded Qatar Airways' flight No QR 294 will forever remember his flight from Doha to Kolkata all his life as you don't always have the privilege of being co-passenger of world's best footballer Lionel Messi.
However for Sarkar, it will be a regret all his life as he was late in taking his SLR camera out which could have given an opportunity to have a snap that will be forever etched in his memory.
The wildlife photographer and enthusiast, couldn't click a photograph Messi was surrounded by hordes of airport officials before being taken out of the airport discreetly.
"Oh My God, was my first reaction when I saw Messi just hands away from me. I was just completing my check-out formalities when a noise diverted my attention to short fellow.
"He was wearing a white T-shirt and a grey shorts with a pair of flip-flops. He was extremely casual. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the legend just near me. But by the time I could take out my SLR camera he had disappeared," Sarkar told PTI, at the airport lobby, waiting for his in-laws.
He said he will always regret this moment in life.
"Never had I thought I would land up in the same flight as Messi. At the Doha aiport though we felt that there was something. The aiport officials started the security check pretty early.