Chalo Hyderabad

“We forgot one bag !!” exclamation was heard as we entered home at H’bad. We had just experienced ‘Chalo Delhi’ movie in real life! The difference was: in place of Vinay Pathak & Lara Datta, 7 family members were involved. Luckily someone remembered that taxi could still be located while getting minor repair done at Chevrolet showroom. Finally bag could be recovered before taxi left for its original town, Nanded. Bag was at extreme corner under rear seat. This was sweet end of roller-coaster ride between Hyderabad and Nasik.

The exciting events of last 2 days were a result of money making scheme – ‘Tatkal’ of Indian Railways . Tickets were booked months in advance but they remained in ‘waiting list’. It was possibly because tatkal scheme bookings done on previous day of journey got confirmed. Railway had earned additional charges.

Actually it started like: We, group of 6 family members had booked tickets 2.5 months in advance. We had also planned to take Shirdi Sai Baba blessings before reaching to Nasik for marriage. Just 2 hours before boarding the train, it was noticed that tickets of 2 group members still remained in waiting list & they had to experience virtual Sai Baba blessings with packed tiffin & suitcases at respective homes itself.  Pandora’s box had just opened.

   We, the remaining 4 group members bravely boarded the train with RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation). Strategy was chalked out to kill night with 2 berths amongst 4 in the group. After few hours, Ticket Checker declared availability of required 2 additional berths. Big sigh of relief! Luckily our compartment was also free from other disturbances like snoring co-passengers or noisy children.

Group completed 1^st phase of journey & reached Manmad junction. Waiting room was occupied as there was time for connecting train. Announcements were going on in background: some were about delays of other trains too. Thankfully our train was not late. It was fun to explore various eating options at platform. There was lot of activity at junction: passenger train, parcel train, goods train, super fast non stopping train etc.  Hats off to railway network. In journey time was passed in overhearing discussion of co-passengers. Hit topic was about luggage lost from AC compartment near notorious Bhusawal station.

The group reached marriage hall & suddenly the group leader realized that his proud possession – return ticket - for return journey also, just connecting train was confirmed & main journey was in waiting list. Now there remained no option but to bow before tatkal scheme agent. Whopping distance of 575 km could not be covered by any other means. Buses would have been very tiring & facility of flights was not available.

Our perfect host understood our helpless situation. Contact to ‘tatkal agent’ was possible only through host in new city. Group went on worrying about return journey while enjoying marriage functions. The wedding eve musical night was about to start & it was realized that the anchor was running around for tickets with script in his pocket. The performers somehow covered up the situation & music program still went rocking with small hitches in between. Marriage is no fun without such tensed moments right?

Finally tatkal agent made tickets available for sleeper class instead of AC class in some other inaugural train & group which had current count of 5 instead of 4, reached junction to catch train for main journey. Again group had good time exploring various stalls at platform while waiting for train. Some time was spent in sorting clothes available in luggage to use as make shift bed rolls in sleeper class. Many stall owners were cautioning that our train had not still gone in upward direction so there was no question of its in-time return for our boarding. During journey, hawkers always give exact estimation of delay. The group had ignored these conversations as no one was ready to believe the worst news. Finally the news bomb exploded & railway authorities accepted the fact that train schedule was still out of control.

Luckily there was availability with some other train ‘Nandigram Express’ to reach Nanded. That means at least half the distance to H’bad would be covered.  There were many mobile call exchanges with family (who were sleeping at respective homes) & finally it was accepted that this was the best possible option. However, ticket checker told that our current berths would be occupied at Aurangabad in travel & he would give some other berths at that time. Since beggars are no choosers, everyone agreed & hit the berths to catch up on well deserved sleep to get over tiredness due to marriage. At god forsaken hours in midnight, berths had to be exchanged. The group somehow managed to do luggage & berth shifting after recovering from slumber. When we were arranging luggage in new compartment, some co-passenger who was possibly returning from washroom in half sleep thought we were fiddling with his luggage. He was deeply embaressed when he realized that it was a wrong (compartment) number. Journey can be really crazy sometimes. Once again everyone slept like logs on new berths & at sun godly hours at 5:30 am, train destination Nanded arrived.

Now it was time to shift in ‘Chevrolet Travera’ taxi & head towards H’bad.  The cab’s driver didn’t seem to respect any pot hole or speed breakers. The bumpy ride caused some health problems to the member who had volunteered for rear seat. At Nizamabad, group took small break to freshen up & seat exchange. Now, perfect highway (NH 44) was hit after Nizamabad & there was no stoppage except toll gate till H’bad traffic welcomed us at Medchal.

Finally the group happily reached home. Though the journey of ‘Chalo Hyderabad’ was completed with many modes of transport, group had finally reached without losing any luggage or any other major delay.

Such crazy experiences are part of life. The major lesson learnt this time was: do not to step out of house without confirmed train tickets!