I Happened to go to the railway station for a customary send off to a cousin who visited for pongal ( We slept through it ) and was suddenly struck by the name of the train that she was travelling in.
Reverse Gear put on:
About 9 months ago, I had once in a life time experience. Whatte journey was that!
We were holidaying in Bangalore and were due to leave on the 22 of April to Hyderabad, as I had to join my new job from the 25. Everything was fine until 4 in the evening ( I was in PVR watching Dum Maro Dum ). And the rain gods decided that it would pour enough to solve all the water problems that B'lore was facing that summer. We had a train at 9 in the evening and after continuous persistence by an Aunt my dad decided to leave by 5:30. He wouldn't budge easily. All he said was, we've seen worse rains in Bombay. And Arguing with him is like trying to convince a hard core math lover that Math is a no-brain-life-ruining-full-of-stupid-problems -******* subject. ( I hate MATHEMATICS )
After wasting half an hour in trying to get a cab, which was ready to come to the Airport but not Yeswanthpur we decided to take an auto. And to our shocking surprise we couldn't find any for half an hour. After which we got one and convinced him that yeswanthpur was just an hour away and he would be paid a handful sum.
There started our journey to the station through the horrendous Bangalore traffic which stopped moving ( It was moving at a snail's pace until then ) at the cubbon park road. The driver after a series of enquiry announced that the road is filled with rain water and the outlet for the water has been blocked. Which left us with practically no option.
Just when we got down from the auto with i-don't-know-what-to-do/what-is-happening expression on our face a passer by suggested that we take a bus to the Bangalore station as that is the only vehicle which is being allowed in the by-pass road. We agreed and got into an A/C bus. Which took about an hour and a half to reach some place that was close to majestic ( Bangalore railway station ) It was 8:15 by then. And the conductor looking all concerned, asked us to get down at some cross roads and take an auto to reach the destination. We exactly had 45 min to reach yeswanthpur. And there was not even a single auto to our rescue ( INSANE ). After about 25 min of getting completely drenched in the rain, we came to a conclusion that it is wise to go back home and book a morning flight.
And No, the auto wallah's did not budge this time either. We decided to walk in the rain till the nearby bus stop, which happened to be the bus depot. We walked for about 45 min with all our luggage ( 3 suitcases and 2 bags...Yes, I shopped like crazy ), and reached the stop. And we were at the cross roads.
Two roads diverged and I took the less travelled one, that made all the difference.* ( LOL )
One road led to the local city transport and the other to the inter city transport ( we came to know about this later ), we should have taken the local one but as destiny would have it, we took the inter city one.
Just when we stepped into the bus station, a guy was screaming at the top of his voice...3 seats available in APSRTC going to Hyderabad. And finally we LAUGHED at the entire journey that we just had.
Just about a day before the journey, I was having a discussion with an aunt about how inter city bus travel is the most tiresome and how I would never prefer one. And I had one, it was awful.
* A line from The poem " The road not taken" by Robert Frost.
Reverse Gear put on:
About 9 months ago, I had once in a life time experience. Whatte journey was that!
We were holidaying in Bangalore and were due to leave on the 22 of April to Hyderabad, as I had to join my new job from the 25. Everything was fine until 4 in the evening ( I was in PVR watching Dum Maro Dum ). And the rain gods decided that it would pour enough to solve all the water problems that B'lore was facing that summer. We had a train at 9 in the evening and after continuous persistence by an Aunt my dad decided to leave by 5:30. He wouldn't budge easily. All he said was, we've seen worse rains in Bombay. And Arguing with him is like trying to convince a hard core math lover that Math is a no-brain-life-ruining-full-of-stupid-problems -******* subject. ( I hate MATHEMATICS )
After wasting half an hour in trying to get a cab, which was ready to come to the Airport but not Yeswanthpur we decided to take an auto. And to our shocking surprise we couldn't find any for half an hour. After which we got one and convinced him that yeswanthpur was just an hour away and he would be paid a handful sum.
There started our journey to the station through the horrendous Bangalore traffic which stopped moving ( It was moving at a snail's pace until then ) at the cubbon park road. The driver after a series of enquiry announced that the road is filled with rain water and the outlet for the water has been blocked. Which left us with practically no option.
Just when we got down from the auto with i-don't-know-what-to-do/what-is-happening expression on our face a passer by suggested that we take a bus to the Bangalore station as that is the only vehicle which is being allowed in the by-pass road. We agreed and got into an A/C bus. Which took about an hour and a half to reach some place that was close to majestic ( Bangalore railway station ) It was 8:15 by then. And the conductor looking all concerned, asked us to get down at some cross roads and take an auto to reach the destination. We exactly had 45 min to reach yeswanthpur. And there was not even a single auto to our rescue ( INSANE ). After about 25 min of getting completely drenched in the rain, we came to a conclusion that it is wise to go back home and book a morning flight.
And No, the auto wallah's did not budge this time either. We decided to walk in the rain till the nearby bus stop, which happened to be the bus depot. We walked for about 45 min with all our luggage ( 3 suitcases and 2 bags...Yes, I shopped like crazy ), and reached the stop. And we were at the cross roads.
Two roads diverged and I took the less travelled one, that made all the difference.* ( LOL )
One road led to the local city transport and the other to the inter city transport ( we came to know about this later ), we should have taken the local one but as destiny would have it, we took the inter city one.
Just when we stepped into the bus station, a guy was screaming at the top of his voice...3 seats available in APSRTC going to Hyderabad. And finally we LAUGHED at the entire journey that we just had.
Just about a day before the journey, I was having a discussion with an aunt about how inter city bus travel is the most tiresome and how I would never prefer one. And I had one, it was awful.
* A line from The poem " The road not taken" by Robert Frost.
if you are stuck on a long bus ride, Get on the bus first, pick the seat right behind the bus driver, as everyone gets on, greet each one of them with a hug and a kiss.
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