Life is full of Surprises

We must have all experienced the sheer unpredictability of life. There are numerous instances in one’s life which make him realize that life is a journey full of unexpected events. Just when you are sitting on your laurels and feel everything is hunky-dory, something will happen that will take you out of your comfort zone. Similarly, just when you feel that life is going on in a pretty routine manner and you are quite happy with the situation, something will happen that will take you by surprise and bring even more joy and happiness to your life. Well, I was fortunate enough to experience the latter.

I am here at Patiala for my technical training. I have been quite lucky in the sense that I am able to live with my parents, while pursuing my training. Everything was going on fine. We were getting ready for attending a marriage party. There had been a meeting in the bank that day and hence top executives of State Bank of Patiala had come to the city. A close friend of my father Kazmi uncle (who had come from Delhi) was also to go with us for the party. We were about to leave. Just then, Kazmi uncle gave me his phone and said: Yeh lo beta Sarah se baat kar lo. I was taken aback for a second, not because I didn’t know who Sarah was but the fact that childhood memories suddenly came to life.

My father was posted at Bhopal some 18 years ago and so was Kazmi uncle. Both families visited each other very frequently and were like family friends. Their children Sarah and Amir were just about the same age as me (about 3) and my sister (about 8) respectively. As is so often the case, children of the same age group mingle well. So I used to play with Sarah and my sis with Amir bhaiya. We had a lot of fun moments together and were best friends. She used to call me Gyom (as she could not pronounce Vyom). As Mummy tells me, we used to hide behind the sofa and play together. We also never fought with each other and played peacefully.

Well, then my father got transferred to another city and never got the posting in the same city as him. Still, they remained the best of friends and met often in meetings etc. Mummy too remained in touch with Aunty. Mummy also used to tell me about Sarah and our bachpan often. Everything was still the same. But unfortunately, I had never talked to Sarah even once all these 18 years, let alone meeting her. Yes, that is quite bizarre and unimaginable but it is true. You can call it my fault, her fault, my stupidity, you can call it whatever you want. Or you can call it LIFE.

We were supposed to talk for the first time in 18 years on 13^th February, 2009. I am saying this because when uncle did give me the phone, it was not planned in advance. Uncle had met me many times before in all these years and even Papa and Mummy had talked to uncle and aunty on phone many times. The talk had just not happened. It was a sheer coincidence that uncle was talking to her at that moment and incidentally gave me the phone. We talked for some 10-15 minutes and could not believe that it had been such a long time.

After the talk, I was really excited and wanted to renew our childhood friendship (not that friendship had been broken, it had just been invisible). For the last 5 days, I have been talking to her on internet, by SMS and even phone. We are getting to know each other and just can not stop talking. We have found that we have a lot of similarities too. She says that I am her photocopy. Isnt it amazing? Well, I can not believe it. She still calls me Gyom (remembering moments from childhood). She is just as excited as I am and she has already informed friends in her college about this. While talking, it doesn’t seem that we have been out of touch for 18 years. I am very comfortable talking to her (those who know me can understand why I am saying this). Life has come up with such a pleasant surprise and has made my days so much happier.

Well, I have not been able to see her face yet. She has sent some photos but those are not the latest. Her webcam isn’t working properly either. Honestly, I really want to meet her in person. When that will happen, I have no idea. Well, I will try and ensure that it would not be long before that moment arrives.

Sometimes ‘No Planning’ works wonders…

The title may seem quite weird to most, but that is exactly what we found out one Sunday in our trip to Surat.

There was a wedding in Surat in Shaurya’s family about which he had told us long back. He wanted us to go along and give him company and we were quite game for it. After all, who would not want to have a day’s outing amidst a boring trimester in college, just to get the mind out of a tangle? Though we were more or less certain about going, we didn’t book tickets beforehand and thought of making a decision on the day itself.

And ‘It was a SUNDAY.’

We woke up at 12 pm (Sunday is one day which gives this luxury).We left the house at 12.45pm in hope of catching Suryanagiri Express which leaves Bandra at 1.30pm. Knowing we would struggle to get it from Bandra, we went to try our luck at Borivali. Utsav, leading the two of us (myself and Shaurya) bought 3 general tickets for Surat at Andheri and we were on our way to Borivali in the local. Having reached at 1.30, with time in hand for Suryanagiri, we were waiting at platform number 4 as we saw a train arriving on platform no 6. It was Bandra Jaipur Garib Rath Express. Suddenly, out of nowhere, something clicked in Utsav’s mind and he asked us ‘Isme try karma hai kya?’ That moment, we didn’t even know whether this train had a stop at Surat. I told Utsav that it was not possible to catch this train even if it did stop at Surat. Even as I was speaking, he was gone running over the stairs and on his way to platform no 6. Left with no other option, we followed him and somehow reached platform 6 where the train was still standing. Utsav had found the T.C and just started talking as the train began to move.

We were confused as what to do as Utsav asked us to get into the train quickly. We entered and Utsav and T.C followed. Utsav got the tickets converted from general to Third AC and we got our berths on the spot. Wow what a way to get a train!!! It was surely the first time I got a train this way.

As we settled down, we got to know that the train would take just 2 and half hours for Surat. Suryanagiri would have got us to Surat at 5.30 pm and now we would be in Surat at 4 pm, traveling in one of India’s fastest trains. We were amazed at our luck. 5-10 minutes had past when I thought of calling Papa (in Patiala) just to ask him whether some car could be arranged in Surat for us. Papa said that it was a Sunday and I should have told him earlier. Still, he said he will try and let me know in a few minutes. 10 minutes later, Papa called back to inform that the car had been arranged for us and it will get us to the wedding place after a brief tour of Surat. The car would also drop us back at station while returning. I told this thing to Utsav and Shaurya and we were all happy.

Really, when things are going right for you, everything seems so easy and comfortable.

So, we were at Surat at 3.50 pm and were received by the driver outside the station. And we were having a short round of Surat in an Indica, in which we saw Raj Empire (a multiplex), had something at McDonalds, had a round of Big Bazar, saw some malls buildings, ate Kulfi and finally reached the wedding place at around 6.30 pm.

We enjoyed the wedding, had a lot of food, especially deserts. Chene ki mithai, tawa sweets, jalebi, icecream, icecream filled pan were my pics. We finished having all this at about 10.30 and then went to the room with Shaurya’s parents. We all talked about the college, our faculty and lectures and all and laughed aloud while saying the truth in front of Uncle Aunty. We had a fun conversation for an hour or so before leaving for station again.

We reached station at 12.15 am and bought 3 general tickets again. In a similar situation as in the afternoon, we waited for any train to come and trying out our luck again. The first train came at 1.15 am: Saurashtra Janta Express and we ran towards T.C’s. We ran from one end to another, only to hear one big NO from each T.C. Even offers of bribing them couldn’t work. There wasn’t a single seat available. The train left and we sat again, feeling a bit disappointed. Still we knew there were more trains to follow. Soon after, Lokshakti Express came and we ran again and we got the same response again. NO NO and NO were the only responses coming from them. When Utsav asked one T.C “Uncle koi doosra rasta nahi hai?” he replied angrily “Teri keemat meri seat nahi hai”. We were beginning to feel that luck was probably not on our side now. Having said that, there was a sense of comfort, being in the company of Utsav and not for one moment did I feel any panic. I knew very well that we would somehow reach Mumbai. Being alone at 2 am at an unknown station running around wouldn’t have been a very encouraging situation.

So, we sat again waiting for more trains. Next was Golden Temple Mail. But the name of the train was the only difference. The train was again packed to the rafters and rest was same as before. Another train left the scene. We were feeling tired as we had already ran so much but that was a thrill in itself. The next one on the list was Gujarat Mail. We counted the number of A.C coaches in the train and the number was stunning. There were 11 AC coaches (more than half the train). More importantly, it was another attempt which didn’t bear any fruit. Another interesting response came from a T.C when Shaurya got frustrated and asked a bit harshly “Kuch to kar do hum student hain, kal college hai.’ T.C replied “Meri upar late ke jayega kya”.

We realized that: When things are not going for you, there is nothing much you can do about it.

Some thoughts had started to arise in the mind about taking a bus or waiting till morning etc when another train arrived. The time read 2.30 am. It was Avantika Express. We ran one way, Utsav the other, asked all the T.C’s one by one. And surprise surprise, we got a negative reply again. Then, Utsav asked one police officer for any option available. He said that we could try in the handicap. We ran the entire length again and reached the handicap compartment. Alas, the officer there closed the door saying that no more could come in that. Well what more we had to do to get into a train! Then the officer came out and we pleaded to him again. The general compartment was next to handicap and he asked us to go inside that. The train had begun to move and we went inside. We were now in a crowded second class compartment trying to find a small place to sit. We somehow found small places for ourselves and reached Borivali at 5.30 am. We were back home at 6.15 am.

What a turn around it was: We boarded a moving train on both occasions, the difference being the Third AC in one of the best trains on one occasion and Second class in a good train on the other occasion. Would we have got these experiences if the trip was planned in advance? Definitely not. We would never have experienced the extreme feelings of joy and agony. Sometimes, too much of planning takes away the charm of a trip and we miss the unique circumstances which arise otherwise. Only when we go though these situations do we get stronger and understand how to react and take decisions on the spot.

These were our 17 hours and 30 minutes of fun filled unique experiences. I would conclude by saying this: If you don’t want your journey to be prosaic and want some thrill and adventure, then

DO NOT PLAN, GO BY YOUR INSTINCTS