It was just two exams away and one more lurking in the evening of the 28th, the stage was set for a classic college cramming scenario. Not even has the haze after the examination settled; I have to ready myself for a showdown with ESC201 at 8 in the morning. Of course, staying true to the plight of a student, I was unprepared, which meant that the inevitable “all-nighter” session was going to be on the cards.
I had made all the plans chalked out for my pilgrimage, right from Kanpur to Puri for darshan of Lord Jagannath and visit to Deepak Uncle and then by train to Visakhapatnam. The supposed to be very simple mission: board, switch, and then deboard, according to plan. Straightforward or not, but luck would have it—simplicity wasn’t part of the plan.
Post all-nighter, I gathered my belongings in MPR and tackled the rebate form. However, the mental fatigue had me confident about the sharpness of my mind. The train was supposed to take off at 13:20, something that my mind was confidently misreading as 3:20 PM. And there I was, enjoying the watermelon with the juniors who had helped in packing; then, an alert from IRCTC pinged at 12:40. Yes, truly, my quota of mistakes was not full yet.
I downed my melon mid-bite (a decision mourned to this day) and sprang into action. Grabbing my gear, I bolted for the gate. The security guard turned hero, who nabbed me an e-rickshaw to the main gate, where I jumped into an auto to urge the driver to run against time. My mind buzzed with the second plan B’s to chase the train.
Two minutes from the station, and I was hopeful with the delayed train; hope would be in sight. Until, without due notice, there broke loose a political rally, and that cost me my ride. Not giving up and with some brainstorming, I managed to get another train that would connect me on the route at Deen Dayalu Junction or Prayagraj Junction.
Well after I boarded the new train a TC showed up and asked me for tickets. I explained my situation and showed him my ticket and told him that I am from IITK, and that I would be getting down at the next stop. (I didn’t plan to, but hey, it worked.) But there it was, my train stopping just shy of Deen Dayalu, while my original train sailed past. But then, The train I was on the way to Guwahati, so I just got off. Stranded at Deen Dayalu, I plotted my next move and hopped onto Netaji’s Express, bound for Howrah with a close 9:55 connection to Falaknuma.
I tried settling in a 3AC, even willing to pay the difference, but the TT nudged me into the overcrowded sleeper class, thanks to a route through Bihar—it was chaos incarnate. I finally found a spot to crash at 4 am.
As we were approaching Howrah, another TT was threatening to find me. I ducked and again had to re-board to escape his hawked stare. By some queer coincidence, I missed my connection, but found that very evening a special train to Chennai. I dived into Howrah, almost just in time and with time to spare. I binged on tokri chaat from the IRCTC food court and savored misti doi while refueling from a 30-hour fast.
After leaving the luggage at a facility in the station, I set out for the Birla Planetarium, Victoria Memorial, Durga Mata Mandir, the Howrah Bridge, and took to the street shopping for souvenirs and sweets for Mom.
This CCD was much better and cheaper as compared to IITK's CCD
I was back at the station by 4 PM, I secured a 3AC ticket and boarded the train, drifting off for a solid five to six hours. Awake by 2 AM, I settled by the open door, losing myself in a novel and the southern landscapes whisking by at dawn. At 7 AM, Visakhapatnam welcomed me, where my driver uncle was patiently waiting, and I finally made it home.
I thought it was time for some well-earned rest, but was that just wishful thinking? Stay tuned for the tales of my time in Visakhapatnam – that’s a story for another day.
PS: I got an A in ESC201! Ending the blog with a peaceful video captured in Victoria Memorial and my sleep-deprived face. 😉
