Note: All the characters in this story are factual. Any resemblance to a living person is purely intentional to make sure it is a first step to meet them again!
Wednesday, July 21st
I had planned the earlier day to wake up early to book my tatkal tickets in IRCTC. After snoozing my alarm for nearly 10 times (7:00,7:05,7:10,etc.,), got up at 7.52 sharp to prepare for the battle. Booking ur tickets in IRCTC website is like waiting for opening of Swarga Vasal in Perumal Temple. Till 7.59AM, the site traffic would be as low as and right @ 8AM(Perumal Sannidhi Opens!), it would throw you the most feared screen "SERVICE UNAVAILABLE". For more info on this, check Dummies Guide to IRCTC. The author is a very seasoned campaigner!
After a long struggle with all known browsers, finally booked a 3rd A/C ticket to CBE in Cheran by the mercy of a Firefox Session! There was nothing special in this trip till the date of Journey (Friday the 23rd!)
Friday, July 23rd
Booked my return ticket which would be an action replay of the paragraph above. As usual, like a perfect workaholic, started from office by 7PM to board my 10PM train. Though 3 hrs seems to be ample time, chennai traffic makes you realise it the other way. Everything went in my way and I was there at station by 9.15PM.
Then it happened! An incident which turned my journey to be a special one!
I found the coach B2. Placed my luggage in Seat 6 [UB]. The train was literally empty as there was more than half an hour for the departure. At that time, she entered. Tall, Fair, Beautiful and in addition to that, her seat no was 3[UB again!].
I immediately went out, checked the chart [Thanks to Indian Railways! But there are areas of improvement which I will tell later!] and found out her name as Archana. Cool! Got back and immediately texted some of my close friends about my surprise co-passenger.
One guy replied immediately,"Machi! Dont forget to get her mobile no!". I replied back with a smiley and started reading a book. She was busy in her phone talking to someone. The train started to slowly fill up as time progressed. My other co-passengers of Seat 1,2,5 occupied their respective places. The passenger of Seat 4 didnt turn up! Good bcoz if it was a guy, one competition less now and if it was a girl, one distraction less! Guitar was missing in my hands to sweep her off her feet! [My friend gave a different definition for this but it is marked "CLASSIFIED" as her comment will be a damage to my image!]
Like all stories, in this case too I had a villain. But a Villain completes a Hero! He was passenger of Seat no:5 [Didnt even mind to check out the guy's name in chart!] He had a laptop and was hearing music from his iPod and he initiated a conversation with all talking about Indian IT market, global recession,etc., in a flamboyant English. I could see Archana's expression like Yuck! for his blabbering and I was celebrating inside. Such an early defeat for the Villain boosts my morale!
Then, an elderly person [Seat no:2 whose name I did checked later in the chart for specific reason!] sitting next to Archana started talking about Chennai Climate, Traffic,etc., She was still silent. I just introduced myself to the elderly person and slowly, all started building the conversation. The elderly person was working in a Nationalised Bank as Manager who came to visit his daughter, the bizarre guy working in an MNC and most importantly Archana in an IT firm, Chennai.
After some fruitful data mining, got the info that Archana had her schooling in Avila [Ada CBE ponnu!] then in NIT, Trichy! Like "Michael Madhana Kamarajan" dialogue, I thought "Aiyo! Coimbatore-u upper berth-u! Catch my point-u! Semmaya work out aayuduchu!!" Then, she turned to the elderly person next to her and asked, "Thoonga pongo pa! Karthaala seekiram ezhundhirukkanum!"[Nammava!].
I felt like somebody has slapped hard on my face.[Adapavi! Appa va pakkathula vechukitte Kadala poda try pannirukkaye!!] I didnt utter a word and just went to check the chart again! She was Archana P and her father was Mr.D.Parameswaran [ Seat 2 & 3]. That set the record straight. All my plans came to a standstill. Silently, climbed to the upper berth and started my preparation for sleeping. She had already occupied the other upper berth and was having a word with her Dad in the middle berth before going to sleep. I also planned to sleep as there was no point to be awake.
Suddenly, I felt somebody shaking me and trying to wake me up. I opened my eyes and it was her. Like in movies, I felt Ilayaraja's set piece orchestra playing a melody[A bit of exagerration! Please dont mind!]. It was interrupted by her voice [Another melody! :)]saying "TTR is asking for ticket", then she continued her slumber. After all the formalities by TTR, I resumed my sleep. I kept reminding myself,"Dont forget to tell her a Bye tmrw! That would be ur last chance to talk to her in this journey!!"
Climax [or rather Anti-Climax]
Saturday, July 24th
I woke up at 6.20AM and to my disappointment, there was no one in the whole compartment. The train has reached CBE by 6 itself. Due to my Kumbhakaran's sleep, I missed bidding farewell to her [ Vada Poache!!] Came out and did a 360 degree check of CBE Rly Station, she was nowhere in sight [Aval parandhu ponaale!] This encounter turned out to be a passing cloud but a beautiful cloud!
As usual, got the comments from friends,"Nee Waste da". The height of all the comments was from my brother,"Nee avanga appava correct pannirundhenna veetuke oru visit adichirukkalaam"[Experience speaks!]
I consoled myself,"Trisha illati oru Divya!" :)
Sunday, July 25th
Cheran Express. Same B2 Coach. Return Journey.
If there is something called destiny, I was expecting Archana again. But luck knocks the door only once and the key of the door was with luck's father supported by some conspiracy from IRCTC Chart preparing personnel :)
Area of improvements for Indian Railways: Try to include Contact details in chart[Atleast mail id!]. It would be useful for many of us! I believe most of my friends will support me on this!
EPILOGUE:
This was my first attempt on "Based on True Story" kind of work. Hope I have done good for a starter!!
