I cannot be more (un)lucky

Adventure began. Unlike adventures of kings, dwarves, elves, wizards or hobbits my adventure was an adventure which a common man would love to avoid but there are certain groups in our species who may not love to be a part of this adventure but does this quite often. Well the adventure that I am talking about is travelling in a general compartment of an Indian train and in my case there was an added glamour of 2000 km of distance to cover.
Not that I loved travelling in a general compartment neither do I avoid booking resevration tickets. It all happeed suddenly and I had to make quick decisions. No there was not a matter of life and death neither there was ememrgency situation back home. The thing I wanted was a simple break from work and be with my old friends and families and beloved ones back home.
The routined life was going on as usual and probably i missed booking the ticket by a day or two. When I first booked the ticket it was 215 waiting list, two days before the journey it became 30 W/L, a day before journey it gave hopes, hopes that assure you that what you are hoping of will be reality, and I was hoping of my ticket getting confirmed before journey. My train was at 8.30 PM and I had enough time to wait and watch and I had no role to play to that particular conversion. The situation was very much similar to any intense thriller match, just waiting and watching. The only difference being mine was whole day drama- drama that was going on in my head and not many was aware of. Ocassionally i logged into irctc.co.in to check the status of my ticket. It remained 5 W/L for the first few hours of the day. Whether or not the ticket will get confirmed if not what will I do, a full on conversation and arguments were going on inside my head. I could barely concentrate on what I was working on (yes I was in office that day) and from time to time that conversation from my head came out and were spilled to my teammates. They would assure me that 5 W/L before a day of travel, u needn't even check it will surely get confirmed. Then at afternoon it became 3 W/L and as the progression suggested it became 1 W/L at 1.30 3 hours before the chart will be prepared. I can tell you that it was very interesting to check the status every half an hour, more interesting than any last over cricket match because it was happening directly to me and I couldn't do anything, just play the game waiting and watching.

But all the arithmetic progression failed, all my friends and teammates assurance went down the drain, my mom's prayer were not answered, the status of my ticket remained 1 W/L and the chart was prepared. That instance a realisation was renewed in me. It was like this - that whatever we plan, whatever we think of, whatever assurance we give, however close we are to our finishing mark nothing is possible against the will of Allah as HE is the best of planners, HE has something else planned out.
W/L 1 meant couldn't travel with that ticket now as it was automatically cancelled because it was booked online. But I know Allah has planned my journey, how? I don't know. Train would start at 7.30 from its first station and at 5.45 I was still in the Office. There I decided I will go, I will tell the TT that my ticket was W/L 1 even if it didn't serve the purpose or I will take the general ticket but the thought of suffocating in that crowd made me feel uneasy. What will I do? I didn't know while leaving my place for the station but I just left probably play my favorite game of waiting and watch but for me there is a plus point and that is wait and watch keeping full trust in Allah. And here I would like to mention that Allah has given everyone that particular friend who will always be ready to help and I am gratefull HE gave me Ibrahim (my office collegue), he acted as a catalyst in helping me make my decision and other things which we would later see.
I reached the train's first stop, I decided going to the starting station maybe because that was too far or the ticket counter will have large queues. This station where I reached was a small one and had few people at the counter and I felt glad that I will not have rush and push everyone to get inside. Bought the General ticket and hence began the waiting game but now we were discussing as well that how to talk to TT, what requests to make and how much money to give all in all it was like making the TT a rockstar after whom everyone runs around to get his autograph on their ticket.
Now the train comes, I was standing on the platform where general compartment will stand. There I could see through the window the place where a person can hardly stretch his legs in that place 5 persons were seated, squeezed as it looked to me. The floors were full of people and now the gate, the gate through which I would enter were totally crowded. I somehow put a foot on the footboard of the gate, a bag hanging behind my back and my suitcase holding it well above my head and others head as well. Not 10 seconds and I decided against going through this, again all plans went down the drain. I got down the coach and decided I will go back to my room and book ticket for another day. Just then when I moving towards exit I saw a TT outside AC compartment and a moment of awesomeness flashed into my mind. If I had earlier got through the super server website irtctc.co.in a day before I would have been seating in this AC coach but that was not how my Allah has planned for me. However I asked the TT can I get the seat? mine was W/L 1? he nodded his head...."No! AC is full, go to coach S7 probably you will get a seat there." Hearing this we started to run. S13 crossed us. 6 more coaches to go. Hufffing and puffing we reached towards my ray of hope. The coach was yet to be occupied by passengers, probably they will do it in the next station. I kept me luggage, made myself comfortable even though it was for sometime it didn't matter to me. And now again the waiting game began, this time I decided to write this so that I can share it to others who would find this story full of struggle or funny and amusing or lessons to be learnt or like what's new-this happens everyday. While I was writing the TT passed by me twice and each time he said he will be back. Then at 1.30 AM he came back. At that point I was barely in my control my head was falling over my shoulders while I was keeping an eye to my luggage I was arguing with myself as to why I shouldn't be sleeping on the floor and how that will make my clothes dirty. But then TT comes and takes me to the gate. He started to make a ticket for me so that I can travel in sleeper coach, he took extra 100 rupees from me and then gave me a berth to sleep. It was like I was drowning and then given a twig to save myself and indeed it was enough. It was 2 AM and there's no explanation I need to give to make you understand my situation. I decided to continue writing this the next day. As of now I would love to get as much sleep as I can.

Here I am again. The next day I woke up with chitting chatting of men's and womens' in the coach early in the morning. Obviously I wasn't expecting a sleep that I use to get back at my room. But I have a task to do. I have decided to finish this post and it will only be finished once I reach Kolkata. Now is the first day of my travel, the first night a day before was quite okay. Another half a day and a full night of waiting and watching and including writing this and reading the book The Hobbit is yet to come.

Day passed as if I was with a genuine reserved ticket. But the real tough task was to spend the night. I had a seat to myself till 11 PM until someone with a reserved ticket came and politely asked me to make way for him. Untill then sleep didn't come to me, I just kept moving my sides. Standing near the gate I looked at my watch, it was 11.30 PM. Only 8 hours to go, i know counting the numbers of hours left brought happiness in me but to spend those remaing hours was a tough job to do.
The game of wait and watch began again. I didn't know what I was waiting for. But I watched people just sitting on the floor some even sleeping on it. I was just standing and writing this post. Once I am done with writing this I will read another chapter of Hobbit (I was close to finishing that book). I was wishing that the train stops at more number of stations so that I may get a chance to divert my attention to something new. Standing near the gate I read all the texts that were written there and suddenly all of them seemed very interesting and important too. I got to know the number of seats in one coach and how it will be very irresponsible of one if he accepts any eatery from another and then he gets robbed and how an individual can serve Indian railways. I can say that the mirror at the washing basin needed some cleaning and I demanded to no one in proper. Everyone had their own style of sleeping which they do not know of. I know it is very innapropriate to look at passengers with so much attention but I was helpless. Some keep their mouth open as if he is sure to eat a rosugullah. Some even go to the extent of carrying a pillow so as to make themselves feel at home with pillow, lungi and what not. I have mastered the art of not sleeping with pillow even if I am at home I avoid that. I saw parents getting up late at night to nurse their young ones which reminded me of my childhood and also giving me heads up as to what awaits me in future. Whatever happens I will definitely not travel with my family like this.
Then I realised I had my earphone with me, why not listen to the saved Ted talks. Will be back after sometime.
Ted Talks was very difficult to listen to. It was very hard to grasp what they were saying when the only thing I wanted was to stretch myself and sleep for few moments. God granted me that wish and I sat down near the gate at around 1 AM. I had my share 10-15 minutes of sleep with a lot of breaks in the next 3 hours. At 4 AM we reached a station where it was announced that the train was running 2.30 hours late. I stood and tried to look out of the window. The outside was getting ready to welcome the Sun. The transition period was on. I was glad that now my time will pass soon as I will keep myself busy alongwith the twilight. Around 30-40 minutes must have passed, the process was still on as the Sun was still not out, then suddenly a kind hearted man tapped me on my head and asked me to get some sleep, he was offering me his seat. How could I refuse that offer which I was so despearately waiting to come my way. I had still some time before my destination would reach. I slept and slept like a child, I am sure it was like child because I woke every now and then. At 7.30 my head was feeling okay and I could now not feel that I was deprived of sleep. It rained outside so weather was cooler, I decided to enjoy the scenery, continue with this post and play the game of wait and watch untill my destination is reached.