The Bad Start of a Train Journey

It was a sudden decision to go to Kannivadi, the bride’s place a day before marriage, to attend one of our family friend Mr. Meenakshi Saundaram’s sister’s wedding. I and our mutual friend Rekha decided that we shall take a train to this place.

Bookings were done five days before for the same, online. When asked for the seat preference she said it would be better if we take the middle berths both the side in a compartment for having a comfortable sleep. After booking it I realized that it would be inconvenient to sit together also, as it would be numbered odd. Like in a compartment u have s1, s2, s3, s4, s5 & s6. If we book for two we get seats s2, and s5, which makes this troublesome for sitting together. The very moment I realized this I cancelled those tickets and booked the other one, for side upper and side lower.

I know these things might sound very simple and obvious to you people might be, but listen for me it was so exciting for the very moment we planned the trip. First thing was, without family I was going out with my friend for the first time. Next, I was doing the booking on my own by creating an IRCTC account and was using the online facilities of my Debit Card. For girls coming from a sophisticated family like mine, these small things are real exciting. Trust me! I was not so happy or excited even when I got my bike on my own, without anyone’s help.

Yes, now coming back to my journey’s story. The ticket was booked for 26th night for NAGARCOIL EXPRESS to reach DINDIGUL from where we had to take a bus to KANNIVADI the final destination. The train was to depart by 10.45 so we planned that if we left our house and reached the station by 9.30 it would be fine, rather waiting long time.

Rekha called me at around 9 saying that she would leave her residence by then. I asked her to delay it by few more minutes as I was in a shop buying some necessary stuffs for the journey. Later we both left our places by 9.30. I reached MAJESTIC, Bangalore’s major bus station opposite to the Railways station. To my surprise, her bus got relayed and though I reached there by 10 I’d to wait for her for another twenty minutes. She reached by 10.20 and nothing to talk, we ran to the Railway Station without any delay.

And here you listen, the time we reached the first platform; we saw the train to Tamil Nadu just getting ready to leave Bangalore. We ran and ran and ran with the Internet Booking’s Slip, but didn’t get our names in the Reservation List. Luckily after 2 minutes we got the compartment where my name was mentioned but Rekha’s was not. This was again a bad news. Now what to do?

I ran seeing the TT nearby, literally pulling him and showing him my ticket. First he helped us checking on the reservations. No, now he could not find her name too. On asking the reason, he questioned me back saying, how was the ticket booked. Reply was obvious through Internet. And to our nightmare, he says one ticket is cancelled and only I could travel with the ticket. Did you understand what he meant? Oh my goodness! I shouted at him and asked to re-check. He said the same again. Now finally he had a logical answer with the third check he did. In my broken Tamil I kept questioning him, and finally he said in damn angriness “AD VERE TRAIN PO MA”….grrrrr……(That’s a different train, go ma..)

Oh, nope… It was by now 10.40 and we only had 5 more minutes to check our exact train and get in. What to do? Wat.. Wat…..????

Went to the nearest counter to find some help, he said we had to run to the final platform from the number 1 to number 9 in the internal passage available. With the luggage in had, in despair we both girls ran and ran and ran again… I really didn’t know why all punishment when I realized the weight of my bags. Rekha was even ready to miss the train as she could not carry the luggage. Finally we reached the exact platform. And you know what I saw there, Rekha was 30 meters away from me, and the train was moving. I still ran, to get the train, shouting at Rekha to come fast. Then, to our surprise the train stopped, it was 10.50 and the train was to move now with 5 minutes delay as per the exact calculations. And ya, somehow Rekha managed and we both got in, took our seats, and relaxed for a while.

I called mom, to say my sad and stupid story expecting some convincible words. But, mom is always mom, she’s to scold every now and then. She started shouting at me as she’d asked me to reach the station an hour before. That’s again obvious…
And you know what the train left Bangalore only by 11.30…
Now laugh.. ha ha ha… laugh more longer….

Pity us….

रास्तो पे जाने का हमें यूँ गम नही होता,
अगर थोड़ा तो वक्त ने हमारा सात दिया होता !
इस वक्त को भी कैसे कोसे हम ??
काश हमने दिमाग का थोड़ा इस्तेमाल किया होता ;)

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