04 December 2009
One of those odd days this may happen. I got into train with a ticket in hand. Looking for my seat no. 6 & found my place. One more family, a guy and his grandma was there. The guy was telling to his grandma that No. 6 and 8 are their seats. When he said 6, I started enquiring him since that was my seat no. Then I immediately went to see the chart, pasted in the train compartment, outside. Well my name was not there.
Hurried up to the TTE, who is standing nearby surrounded with passenger, to check it. He told me he is not the TTE for this coach. I searched around to find TTE for my coach. Train started moving…
I got in.
Seat no. 7 was marked for TTE. So I settled down there for time being.
I went to look out for my TTE in other coaches. I found him two coaches away from mine. I told him the situation. He checked his chart and told me my name is not there.
So now I’m in train without a valid ticked to travel. I was seeking him for alternatives.
He said I need to get a ticket to continue and the payment includes penalty or need to get down at next station. I asked him whether he can guarantee me a berth if I make the pay. He said “Not sure”.
I told him that I will be in my coach. We will decide on it once he gets there. I came back to my coach.
Meantime I kept myself cool to tackle it better and I told my co passenger, who is occupying my seat, about the situation. I checked my PNR status through mobile which still says my seat no. as 6.
Well… I asked him to check his status as well. He also got seat no.6 allotted to him.
Both were little confused. I know I’m in trouble more that him as both of us know I was put in a bad situation out of someone else fault.
I told him I have to get a ticket. It is costing Rs.500. I checked my purse and pockets and managed to found to Rs.450. Now I know it all happening for me. I asked him can he afford Rs.100 if in case I have to get a ticket.
Well… he said that’s not a problem. He asked me negotiate with the TTE. Yes, I agreed to it. Meantime we were sharing good rapport.
Cool breeze was flowing through window. It’s chill outside. I was getting cough when I talk. His grandma asked me to have the shutter put down for window.
She got hold of our situation, felt for me, wished me to get a berth in sleeper class.
TTE arrived…
I told him I have already paid for my ticket online and that is why I’m holding this ticket. He told me your amount has not been transferred to railway account and that is why I’m put in this situation.
He added that if I don’t wish to buy a ticket, I can get down at the next station. (Getting down at the next station is like asking for more trouble. Place is new also I’m not familiar with the local language). Immediately I asked him to issue the ticket.
He put fair as Rs. 275, Excess fare as Rs.250, my penalty, total of Rs. 525.
I paid him Rs.530 and got a new ticket. Of course I got Rs.100 from my co passenger promising him to return back.
TTE was about to move. I asked for remaining amount.
He said “I don’t have Rs.5 to pay you”.
“Ok. I have. Give me back my Rs.10”.
It’s done.
I checked him for whether I can get a berth. He told me I can be here till next TTE comes in. That would be around 1:30 AM. Now, it’s 8:20 PM.
“What after that?” I asked.
“Only the other TTE can decide” said he.
Once he left, all passengers getting ready for dinner. Grandma looked happy since I managed to get a seat for time being. She also offered me to share their dinner. I thanked her for that and greeted for requesting.
I took my dinner pack and they were surprised to see. I told them actually it was my planned travel and right now I’m put in a bad situation.
They acknowledged with a nod.
After dinner grandma and his grandson were having a casual discussion among them. I joined in occasionally.
It’s 9:20 PM. Everyone started getting ready to sleep. I told them I get a chance to sleep till 1 - 1:30 AM.
Around 10:15 PM…
A man came in and placed a bag near me. He said TTE asked him to share the seat.
I’m in side lower berth. It’s actually 2 seats when unfolded, it becomes a berth.
He said he paid Rs.100 (un-billed). He told me he is having a back pain which he got in the morning while bending to take something.
I got up from bed. I told him we can share the berth. I shifted to sitting posture occupying half of the berth. I was relaxing.
He occupied the other half. He called up someone in his family and had a chat with them for a while. He asked me for some water which I offered.
After done, he slides to a sleeping posture, his legs finding some place back to my back. Of course he is conquering my area. While doing so, he was again complaining about his back problem and the tablets he had in the morning for it.
He took his bed sheet. He covered himself and told me his back pain may aggravate due to cold.
He asked me I can occupy the remaining place to slide myself to a sleeping posture which was practically impossible. I replied I would wish to do so but not now.
In short while he went to a deep sleep. I tried my best to get some sleep within the left out place. It all turned out to be some yoga postures.
After a while I decided to at-least sit comfortably. What one can do sitting at the night. I took a book to read. It’s Sydney Sheldon “Nothing last forever”.
Reading, looking my watch, relaxing a bit happened in rotation also wondering why I’m put in this situation.
It’s 1:20 AM. Grandma woke up when we reached Vijayawada.
She turned to me, "The station has come. New TTE will arrive now."
I acknowledged.
New TTE arrived.
He came flushing to my seat and asked to show the ticket saying its TTE berth. I was explaining him what has happened. I asked him in a meek voice that it will be great if I’m offered with a berth somewhere. He assured me to do so. The other man also woke up. He told his back pain problem to him and started following him.
Well I too moved the direction where both went. In short while, he was returning back with a smile saying he got a berth. I gave a smile back saying to myself “I know you would”.
TTE checked up his list one after other and told me that Seat no. 12 in the next coach would be free at Nellore and told me I can occupy it. I thanked him.
I asked him the approx time the train will reach that place. He said it would be in 2 and a half hour from now.
So I came to conclusion that I will get a berth by around 4 – 4:30 AM.
I came to my place. I found grandma sitting in her seat. I updated her. She felt for it. I found her grandson asleep. I asked her his mobile number. She was not aware of it. I took a small paper and wrote my name and number in it. She asked for address also. I gave that too.
Thanked her for everything & left to my coach. (i.e. My new coach) with luggage.
I found Mr. Back pain getting ready to sleep. Yes his berth is in top and mine in bottom. Only difference is he found it empty mine not yet. I went to the doors to find a place to stand. TTE asked me to sit in the side lower berth nearby. A person was sleeping in it. In the corner (near to his legs), I found some place and managed to sit there.
TTE told me not to open the locked doors in between. I acknowledged.
I continued my reading.
The man who is sleeping turned towards me on couple of occasions and one time he asked why I’m here not by words but by shaking his head. I told him I have my berth nearby which will become empty at Nellore. After hearing he went back to sleep.
It’s almost 4:40 AM. Nellore not arrived yet. I saw the person in my berth getting ready.
He refreshed himself and started to pack up everything. I got out of my seat and opened the doors to see whether station is arriving.
When I came back, I found my seating place occupied. Yes the guy who is sleeping has covered up the place with both legs. I felt sorry to make him not able to sleep comfortably this far.
I found the person who has to get down at Nellore sitting with his bags. When the middle berth is on, it’s difficult to sit in lower berth as you have to bend your neck little down while sitting.
He offered me place to sit. I was sitting bending to my knees. In fact I fall asleep. It’s around 5:15 AM, the station arrived. He moved slowly with his bags. I got up.
At last I got a berth to sleep in early morning. Should I have to say what next? Immediately zzzz….
Around 7 AM I opened my eyes a bit to find people in their seats. Since I’m in lower berth, I found little uncomfortable to sleep that time. So I woke up with drowsy eyes.
I refreshed myself. I found Mr. BP got up around 8 AM and asked me whether I had a chance to sleep. I told I had my berth around 5. He gave a guilty expression.
Chennai is arriving. I went near the door step with my bag. I found our friend Mr. BP speaking to someone in mobile. He saw me and gave a warm smile. I know what it means. I returned a smile back.
Station arrived. Train was late by 45 minutes.
I got out of it and immediately rushed to get the local train to reach home.
When I arrived home, I found it locked. I tried calling up my dad to know where the key is. Before it could ring, my neighbour came out with the key.
My dad, mom and sis all have gone out. I was relaxing in chair half sleep.
I refreshed myself to have my breakfast. I took my mobile. It was out of network. I have not changed it to local network since I reached Chennai. Damm...
The moment I changed, I got a call from dad. He has been trying to reach me for an hour. I told him I didn’t change the network. He has waited almost till 10. Since I didn't turn up that time, he has given the key to neighbour.
Now everything is fine and settled. I had my breakfast and what next.. go to bed... zzzz….
I slept till evening and woke up completely fresh to find everyone in home.
Well.. This is what makes "Home Sweet Home"
The only time I have to wake up in the middle is to open doors to let my mom in.
The next day I was looking at what went wrong?
You know what... I was travelling frequently to and from Hyderabad and Chennai in recent times. I normally book Charminar express. That day I have booked Chennai express. That's not a problem here. But I went to catch Charminar express which I do normally. I admit I have made a blunder.
Well... I also need to say I enjoyed the thrill I had that day so as you by reading this whole story.
Moral: (if you are not interested, please skip it from reading)
I know I was in unexpected trouble. Also there were positives.
- My seat was next to TTE. So I had opportunity to have a seat till midnight to relax and also have my dinner (else I would have left standing or wandering around or troubling others)
- I was short of money. I had a guy nearby (along with caring Grandma) who helped me genuinely. (You think it's easy to get money even from known ones. Also he didn't call me up to ask for it. Nice guy!!!)
- I had a book in hand to spend the night without much worry.
So this is what keeps us in drive. We know we have to face troubles..
But still note down there will be positives waiting for you to tackle it down. One hundred percent sure. It will always keep you motivated and help you move ahead.
...
