Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Why me lord...........

Another day at the office. As usual there is no work, for the time being.

Got a subject to start with……….

Train trip from Kerala to Chennai. Yes, it will be the perfect subject for this time.

The train was on Monday evening, 22nd of Jan.

From morning onwards I was really busy inviting friends and their family for the marriage. Was driving for the entire day and also had to go for marriage shopping. I haven’t faced such a busy day in my life.

I reached home after the shopping by 4.45 pm. The train is by 5.55pm from Aluva, 45 minute drive from my place. I planned of going by Scooter as there is no one to get the car back to house. Then my father and I left the house by 5:10. I was really rushing through the road. I couldn’t check the speed pf the scooter as the Speedo meter was down. I remember that we had over taken one of the toddy cabs, which is been famous in Kerala for the speed and careless driving. So I guess I had reached the speed of 90 km/hr that too in an Activa. With god’s grace we reached the station with out any scratch.

Now the time is 5.45, I have to rush to the platform as I heard the announcement of the train to be reaching shortly. I told bye to my father and ran to the Platform number three.

Usually we used to cross the rail to get to the next platform, even I tried the same. But this time a police man caught me. I don’t know how he chose me so perfectly. I told him that my train is on the way I have to cross and he never heard me. As the there is no time for argument I opted to take the fly over for pedestrians. Literally I have to run through all the steps. By the time I reached there I could see the train coming.

I was standing some where in the middle of the platform because I didn’t know where my coach S1 will be coming. The train passed in front of me for a halt, and I could see only the coach starting with S2. No S1 board before that. Now I have to run to the back of the train searching for the S1 coach.

As per logic the S1 should come before S2, but my logic didn’t work at that time.

Cursing the railways I ran towards the end of the train. And this is the first time in my life I felt the length of the train. This bugging train had coaches till S12 including 4 A/C coach. But for me the S1, no way I could find that. Then I got into the last coach S12, fortunately I saw a TT in that coach and I asked him for S1. He replied as I expected, “Haven’t you seen that, it is just near to the engine”.

@#$%#@$$%^ such a perfect day.

I waited for the next station. Then Angamaly (next station) came. I was ready for the next marathon. I started running towards the front of the train, only 2 min halt is there at this station. Some how I managed to get in the correct coach.

I reached my destination at last, I found my seat SU40 (side upper 40). The seat was already occupied. With all the politeness and respect which I could gather after these all things, I requested his to give the seat. Suddenly for my surprise he asked me to show the ticket. This was the limit of my patience.

The volcano of anger and frustration inside me was looking for a crack to burst out and eventually the crack had formed now. I don’t know from where, I shouted at him “Get off my seat” (in Malayalam followed by some Sanskrit). I am not a person who used to shout as people like that, that too in a public place. But is not feeling any guilty over that.

At last I got my seat, one great thing which had happened for me on that entire day.

But the Almighty was not satisfied with what ever I have gone through; he was ready with lot more surprises for me.

By the time train reached Trichur a group entered the coach. Three ladies and one guy with two children, a good recipe for the headache for a lonely commuter like me.

First I thought I will have a good time in the train as the two of the ladies among them are 23-24 yrs old and really energetic, will get some company. Even one of the girls started chatting with me after 10-20 mins. I didn’t know that I have to pay a big price for that company.

When the train reached near to Palakkad the man in the group came to me and asked about myself and where am from and he didn’t show any problem in chatting with the ladies in his group. Thought like global warming had got effect not only on climate but also in people.

Then the real thing came to light, guess what?

They were having five seats and only one was confirmed when they took the ticket. The rest was in waiting list. Now they have got the berth and the seat confirmed and that is near to my seat.

He asked me “Are you alone?” the most dangerous question which a Bachelor commuter can face in his journey. This question will be followed usually by questions like “Can we have your lower berth, as there is ladies and children with us?” or the worst of all “If you don’t mind, can we swap your seat with ours, as we got one seat in another coach?”

Guess, what question would have they asked me?

Ya Ya the same, the second question………..Grrrrrrrr

Now one song came to my mind, sung by Shaggy: Why me lord

Why me lord situation looking kinda bad
Why me lord I lost the best seat I ever had
Why me lord I'm homeless and I'm feeling kinda sad
Why me why me why me why me

Then I thought, even am going to be a family man very soon and these situation might come form me, so I have to be little considerable to them.

With a non willing mind I told him yes, and asked him the seat and the coach number.

He showed me the ticket, and then suddenly I heard the song again. This time little more louder. Want to know the reason:

So where is the confirmed seat which they have got at the first time?

BINGO..... S12 COACH..... SEAT NO 64.

The same old coach which I have entered at the first time when I didn’t find my coach. The coach which is at the end of the world as for me.

A big sigh came out of me. The other guy asked whether there is any problem. I told him the entire thing which happened before this. He said sorry for that, but again he wanted me to go to the S12.

What to do, as I have given a word had to keep it.

Then when Palakad came I again started the journey toward the old S12 coach, thinking of the good time I lost, having the company of those girls (I can flirt till 7th Feb, no offence). Then I got into the coach and found that that berth again is occupied by another person. I went there and told him,

“Sir, I am really tired and this is the seat which I have got as a last option and I don’t have a ticket for this seat. Please let be crash on this berth and no questions please?”

At last I got my berth and before anyone else come and ask for a favor, I took my MP3 player and plugged it into my ears, and played the first song on the list………

Guess which song:

The same Shaggy: Why me why me why me why me LORD…………………………

2 comments:

Abru said...

Awesome machu....
Really cool narration...
Sorry to know the things happend during ur trip... I can understand ur situation, as I was ur co-traveller for the last two days and I know how tired u'll be....
For me, the journey was awesome... Reached the travels office by 6:15, got the Airbus by 6:30. (Normally, it'll be late and will arrive only by 7, 7:15...). Got into the bus went to my seat and found the adjuscent seat is empty... so had a good sleep without the disturbance of the co traveller.... Lol.... Feeling jealous???? :p

Bachan said...

Hey thank Dude...........
You are always the lucky guy...........