The whole thing started with the captivity of negativity,
somebody posted on Facebook about the bad weather conditions in Banihal and
Srinagar. Everybody started exploring the possibility of some other alternative
of Jammu, but there was no consensus about one place. Rishikesh was on the top
of their list though. But the effort made by the trip coordinators (the SOCE)
was admirable (NOT USING the names in the story as they are confidential). They
tried very hard in sticking with Jammu and succeeded eventually.. Although this was not the single problem they confronted. There were a
few more in taking permission from the department HOD. Only the coordinator and
HOD know that what happened in the close room between them, but what he told
everybody was that he was literally reprimanded. Then the process of taking
permissions from every professor whom quiz was expected was very tedious. One
of the professor declared that he will not recount that there will be a quiz or not
tomorrow because he respect the word surprise but he assured that he will take
care.
Coming to me, I had lots of assignments and other work to do before the outset of the trip. I completed 2 assignments, 2 lab reports, 1 presentation, a
passport problem (will draw your attention in one of the next blog). We had
bus at 5 AM for Railway Station. My stuff completed at 3 in the morning. I
packed my bag, reached the railway station. The train was late by
half an hour around. But something unusual happened in the train though. Something
like my most read blog asking for its part-2. This has been best train journey ever in my
life. Although the train reached Delhi 3 hours late from its scheduled time but
I guess it was due to my prayers only. I begged that the train takes more time
on the journey and it passed. Finally, we reached Delhi at 5 PM. We
deposited the luggage in the depository at the railway station. Then hustle
started about where to run for lunch as all of us were starving. 15 people so
many persuasions. Finally, all settled for Mc Donald at CP by overlooking 3 more
different choices. It took 15 more minutes to reach there. It is invariably a respectable site to watch - CP. Me and few more ate early and went to have a round of the
CP and the garden inside as I missed it the previous time I visited CP. Now,
starts the fake and the official story in short as made after serial troll blast.
After patrolling there we decided to go to a friend's house who is native of
Delhi as he had some work to do and it was near from there too. When we were
returning from there by taxi there was a huge mess due to an accident and we all ran out to reach the railway station on time and the train was started. But let me
tell you real story is much more exciting and full of challenges and
entertainment. To read the real story at your own risk click HERE .
Now, the true story of misery after missing the train
begins. So, all the dreams were lost, but everybody had some hope that we can
still made through. But worst luck had already something different for us that
day. We went to a private bus travels near Railway Station. The owner told that
the bus already left and he can arrange a different bus. But it will cost
around 25000 bucks. Everybody was like 'what the hell' then negating this
thought, other conjecture came in mind was going to Chandigarh by bus and then
taking the train for Jammu from Chandigarh. Someone charged that there are 28
trains from Chandigarh to Jammu by checking through the internet. I don't know
from where this data came out, but this was completely disastrous. Although
some of us had a problem with going by the bus, but still they got convinced
for going up to Chandigarh. Everything was set for going to the ISBT Kashmiri Gate. We
took the metro and it was around 10 pm. The tough luck came with us there as well,
and we found that next 4 buses for Chandigarh were already full and there were
still around 150 people in line for the bus ticket. After around 2 hours of
hustle with internet and possibility of bus tickets it came out that there is a
train at 4am in the morning from NDLS and the next plan was to take the ticket
of general of that train. We got out of the ISBT and found 2 auto standing
there as there was no metro after 12. They agreed to take us to NDLS but before
that they put an option before us. They said "Bhaiya hum log 1 agent ko
jante hai. wo aapko confirm ticket de dega next jammu ki train ki".
"shi me!!!! aisa kese ho sakta h. chart to ban gaya
hoga ab tak." Some asked in disguise.
"bhaiya wo hume pata nhi aap us agent se hi pooch
lena"
After discussing internally we decide to give a last shot to
this too as there was no other choice left and going in General compartment for 10-12 hours in India is like a new form of capital punishment. He led us to a frequented place to
a small shop, only shop open at that time in the night. The shop was not large
enough to accommodate 12 persons in there. I blended in along with 2 others. A
person with strange mustache was sitting there surrounded by the marks of
spitting all around. He said "Bhaiya don’t worry you all will get confirm
ticket of sleeper".
I asked “How you will do this, chart must have been prepared
by now".
"Tickets will be
of VIP quota and your names will be written on them. How many tickets you
want?"
"12" I said. As 3 of the 15 member enthusiasts
already strayed their hope and clutched the bus to home from ISBT.
He called someone
after this and asked "Who is the clerk at the desk now?".
After listening to his answer, he again asked "Is
there any possibility of 10-12 seats"
Then he cut the call after some ok and fine and told us that
your tickets will be available. It will cost Rs 700 per person. We were
surprised as it hardly costs Rs 300 per ticket and he is asking 700. We said ok
and left the room to discuss with others, whether it will be fine or not.
Someone said "I have a brother in railways and let me ask is such type of
thing possible or not?". Most of the phones were dead by then including
mine. After some 10 minutes of the call he told us that there is no such
possibility of VIP tickets now, he must be faking us".
After huge discussions and some weird arguments like giving
bribe to TT if he will catch us with the fraud ticket will be better than
spending some nights in jail and some other maneuvers that could be helpful in
escaping from the ticket checking process, we decided to drop the idea of
faking the ticket. And trust me, this was the best decision that we took during
the previous 20 hours. May be we could have taken the ticket and reached Jammu
safely without being noticed by TT or anyone else but this time we all
collectively survived from faking with the nation and I am proud of that.
The final stage was set for going back home. We reached NDLS
again and some of us decided to stay in Delhi, some decided to go home by the
very next train, some decided to go back to Kanpur and I decided to go back to
ISBT and take the next bus to Jaipur. It was 4 in the morning and the place
acted differently this time with very few people around, most of the shops
closed, only few buses, no sign of those 150 people who were in queue some 3
hours back. Yet, I pulled through, took the bus and reached Jaipur around 10 am in
the morning. Misery continued when someone stole my wallet at the bus stand
and left me in disguise. I lost my voter ID, D/L, I card. ATMs. Hopefully I had
the ticket of the next bus to Malpura in my hand. The Irony was that after
losing my own wallet someone approached me and asked "Bhaiya, can you lend
me 100 Rs?"
I faced towards him, I thought, which beggar demands 100 Rs
but he was looking decent wearing formal dress, clean shaved face with specs.
"Bhaiya, don’t see like this, I am not a beggar, I am
from Bhopal and I came here for a job interview, but somebody took my wallet
and my file which contained all my documents. Can you help me so that I could
go back home safely. Please borrow me some money, I will transfer into your
account when I will reach home." He said again.
I had a trolled face by then and cursed the thief’s a lot. I possessed no thought whether the story of that person was right or wrong, it could have
been a new way of begging or stealing. I had no choice left rather than suspecting that person, since the whole day we were played by the fate and
this could be some other way. By the way I told him that I lost my wallet too,
and there is no way by which I can help. He laughed at both of us and went to
someone else for help.
After that I reached home safely and got the news that due
to heavy rain and snowfall in Banihal region, roads are blocked and some people
died too, what consolation that I got from everyone is that “Whatever happens,
happens for a noble cause".
NOTICE : Planning of a trip to Jammu again is under process,
anybody still interested again after facing the serious trauma or anybody else
can contact the coordinators asap. :P
And, I hope that comments below will tell that how it was a perfect start for me. Anybody??
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