Well I’ve made several train journeys in 23 years of life. However the journey I made on the fateful day, 25th May, 2010 had a special significance. For the first time in life I had a broken bone, had a cast placed from my thigh to ankle on my right leg and had boarded a train for home with a wait listed ticket in the midst of night.
I think most of you would agree when I say that train journeys provide one of the most comfortable means of travelling as they give you the comfort required and are one of the safest means of journeying. All this holds good only if you travel with a confirmed ticket in your hand. If you happen to be a frequent traveller, you would be wise enough to make sure of that but if not then there are good chances that you need to travel urgently and you board a train with an RAC or a WL ticket. In an ordinary situation you could conveniently convince the TTE by talking with him or by letting Gandhiji on paper do his work. But my case was different. I had a WL 4 ticket for 2AC and considering the fact that I cannot move, I’ve been literally thrown at the mercy of the TTE. I wish I had boarded the train at the starting destination where I would have been able to arrange something for myself by talking with the Station Master. However my boarding point was one station after the source station, so hard luck.
No sooner had I reached the station, than the train arrived and I had spotted the TTE alighting the train. I was limping with my walking aid while my friends hurried forth to him to enquire about any available seats. I vividly remember as if it were just yesterday. Everyone there were requesting the TTE with the best of their hearts, but alas he wouldn’t budge. I had no choice but to stay put in the Pantry car compartment where I had boarded the train. Fortunately for me, I had one friend travelling in the same train. I should be really thankful to him as he did all the talking with the TTE going after him letting me have rest. He exemplified the famous proverb, “ A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Although I had utter disappointment from some of my close quarters, some unexpected friends turned up. How mysterious and wonderful life is! I couldn’t have made the journey without my friend. He made sure I got a berth and only then returned back to his seat. It was not just friends who were so empathetic to my condition but there was that 2nd AC attendant, a guy from Srikakulam who did his best to ensure I got a berth. He himself requested the TTE’s for a berth for me and had also offered his own berth to me in case of the worst. At the eleventh hour when I was all set to make my strenuous journey to my friend’s compartment which was 10 compartments away, the TTE had allotted me a berth in 3AC. That berth just averted the most painful night journey of my life. I had a peaceful sleep and woke up at 9! There were also these sensible co-passengers who had even offered me to rest and have a peaceful sleep all way along when they could simply demand for their seat. I was really surprised to see that people still do care. Times have changed, cultures have undergone drastic metamorphosis but yet there is that small thread of humanity connecting everyone.
Travelling by train wasn’t such a bad option after all, I had the experiences which I would’ve never got and most importantly I got to travel in my comfort without any problem whatsoever. I would be ever grateful to everyone who made my journey a pleasant and splendid one. This piece of my life had given me a chance to understand humanity better and become a better person. That’s enough of my bore, have fun and take care and do remember to help others.
Ciao !
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