What all happened in a day!!!

It was the time for Dusshera holidays after our mid semester exams. Everybody was busy going home, even the far staying hostellers, to spend their 8 days comfortably in home. I stayed in hostel 2 more days, as I had to attend my cousin’s marriage in Gurgaon. On 4^th Oct, one of my friends, Garima had to leave for Patna. They were two girls, so we all friends were contented that they can reach the station themselves. Her train was scheduled at 5:30 pm from New Delhi station (I don’t remember exactly the train name). It takes approximately an hour to reach New Delhi station from Noida by an auto so I advised her to leave for station around 2 hrs before the scheduled time of the train. She called me in the afternoon and told that Achin sir (a senior friend) will drop them to the station as he had some work on the way and had asked them to reach college gate by 4:15 pm. I asked her to make it early because the traffic conditions are worse during that time. She tried to convince me that they will reach in time and I too relented.

At 4:15 pm, when I went to the gate of the college for the valedictory meeting, I saw Achin sir waiting there and Garima and her friend hurrying overloaded with the luggage. We talked for a short while, and then they started to leave. Achin sir asked me to accompany them to the station with the condition of dropping me back at the college. I being a complete vella, did accede to him as it was a good time pass. We 4 started at 4:20 pm and about 30 minutes later I confirmed (trying to recall) that we are close to Nizzamuddin station. Sir affirmed and said, just 1 mile ahead. “But we are going to New Delhi station na”, I said. Achin sir chortled at my question and said “No, to Nizzamuddim”. Then we 3 shouted at once in a single voice that we have to go to New Delhi station. Sir looked at Garima with a perplexed expression and then towards his watch. It was misconception as she didn’t specify the name of New Delhi station and sir assumed it to be Nizzamuddin. Only 35 minutes left and now what can be done? We were on the wrong way to Ashram and none of us knew the correct path from there leading to New Delhi station.

We thought to quickly ask the way from somebody and sir swerved his car from the main lane to side lane. During this, a Honda city coming from behind in a good speed hit our car with a loud bang. We got scared as this accident exacerbated the problem of time constraint. We got out of the car and saw the tail-light hanging. The man from Honda city also came forward furiously as the front number plate of his new car got damaged and as it was not totally one's fault, he said in a high pitch voice, “You guys are having a good time here”. We already engrossed in our own tension ended up the matter and by getting the information of the way started up hurriedly. Car was speeding up to 90-100 kmph in that busy road, we confirming the route at regular intervals reached from Ashram to India gate, then to CP and finally our station. It was the departure time for the train. Garima and her friend holding 1 bag in hand ran up to the platform no.12 and I after them carrying their large bag without the platform ticket. Sir went to park his car and we galloped up the over bridge just wanted to somehow catch the train.

On reaching platform no. 12, we felt very depressed as the platform was empty. It was worth noting Garima's face that time, she was about to cry. I put down the bag, panting heavily and just to my satisfaction asked a coolie, how much time before the train left. He said the train which you are asking is in platform no. 16 and might still be there. We revived our dissipated energy and rushed towards the platform. The train had just started and they somehow managed to board it. I threw their bag from the door, above the people without caring who it may hurt and finally they were on train. The train gained speed and I started back to the parking area. On reaching there, I felt much relaxed and told achin sir the platform thing. We started from the station back to our college and somehow failed to notice a red light and broke the signal. Policeman at once stopped us and asked to park the car on the side. We explained and pleaded before him but of no use. We didn't even have sufficient money for the challan. Sir went to the nearby ATM and came back in 15 minutes. After paying for the challan, we sat in the car and saw the tape recorder not working. Some battery problem was there but we didn’t pay much attention to it. That can be expected after such unfortunate incidents one after the other and then finally reached to our college laughing on all the things which we experienced in the last 3 hours.