We have been through experiences where inspite of making all the necessary arrangements, we end up screwing things and ruin the trip. Sometimes, we are at fault while other times, it’s just Mother Nature trying to meddle in our matters. I faced a similar situation where I completely messed up while planning my travel and fortunately didn’t end up losing much.
In the summer of 2013, I had planned a trip to Vasad, a village near Vadodara, Gujrat. Within Vasad was a very famous Ashram (resort) built by the Art of Living NGO which also was a centerpoint for many AOL courses and events. I had planned to participate in one such course. With me were around 10 people, planning for the same course. This course involved a 4-day stay at the before mentioned place and would be carried along throughout the day. So, we hadn’t booked tickets in advance as many of the people interested weren’t sure of their availability on those days. This made IRCTC’s tatkal service the only resort.
We booked all the tickets in tatkal. The allocation of tickets was such that I had to travel with three other girls while the rest will be coming in a different train. Both these trains had only an hour between them. So, we were supposed to wait for the rest of the gang arriving in the train. This would make us reach Vadodara at 4 in the morning having left Mumbai at 10pm and from there, we were supposed to reach the venue before 6am.
Thus, the plan was perfectly in place waiting to be executed. Too bad, I wasn’t sticking to the timeline. It so happened that I was delaying packing and making a very risky schedule to catch the train. This schedule involved my pre-determined assumption that all the vehicles that I will take to reach the final train will be on time. What followed was an unforgettable journey as to my disbelief, I couldn’t catch a single cab to get to the railway station. Absolutely none! The words of my parents were ringing in my ears “Leave early”. Finally, I got a cab which agreed to drop me to the railway station. I got in the train which would take me to Bandra Terminus from where I had to board the final train.
Half way through that train ride, I realized that I hadn’t carried my identity proof to show to the TTC. For some stupid reason, I climbed down the train and made my way back to my house calling my brother to meet me halfway and deliver the PAN Card. My brother begrudgingly accepted to help out and was on his way. When I was about to reach the same station where I had boarded the local train beforehand, I realized that I was too late to wait for my brother.
Now, not only was I not getting the PAN card but I was pretty much going to miss my final train too. I was waiting for any fast train that would carry me to Bandra Terminus but unfortunately, none were on schedule at that time. I called all of the three girls (I know atleast one of the three would be reading this) and explained my situation. They suggested alternative methods to reach that boarding point but ultimately they had to accept the fact that I was not travelling with them. Two of those girls had lied about me not being in the train to their family so that they don’t have to get an earful from their parents (Indian parents, Ladies & gentleman) but the third told the truth. Her parents were yelling at her to get down from the train or to ask me to hurry along and reach before the train leaves. I explained to her that both the options were stupid and that she should board the train and just ask one of the girls to talk to her parents.
All wasn’t lost for me though as I was planning to travel ticketless on the subsequent train the rest of the gang was taking. But while I was happy to have an alternate plan, I felt guilty throughout the journey to have left those girls to travel alone on an overnight train. I promised myself to never be so lackadaisical ever and to be more responsible in the foreseeable future as I reached Vadodara and duly apologized to all the three ladies.
Although this journey was a learning experience, the trip on our way back from Vadodara to Mumbai was a bad one for many reasons. And this time, I wasn’t to blame! :D
More on that next time!
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