Tuesday, August 21, 2007

train ticket and credit card cheque

The train was to depart at 6:15 AM. The railway station was about 10 Km away. The ATM was about 500 meters away. The last date of credit card payment was due.
The cheque was composed last evening and kept in the right pocket. The train ticket was secured in the left pocket.
The time was 5:30 AM. We had left the home locking it securing the key was safe in some pocket of luggage. We reached the ATM and I dropped the cheque in the ATM cheque drop box. I rushed out and called on to a Auto-Rickshaw. Fortunately the guy stopped.
My hands reached the pocket and the cheque came out. I searched for ticket and it was nowhere to be found. My face would have turned white then as my wife face gave a shocked look. I struggled with the drowsy security guard to open the cheque box but he said he did not have the keys and I had to wait till 10AM for the guys to come and open the cheque drop box. I shook the drop box and the guy warned that a police case would be filed against me.
With no ticket hand we were on unfamiliar grounds as we had no idea if train conductor would entertain our story but still we thought its better to risk rather than turn back home. It was 5:45 AM. We reached station at 6 AM and met station master and explained our story and he offered that he was helpless and we had to try our luck with train conductor only.
We found the train would be leaving from another platform that had to be reached using overbridge. As we were coming down the train started to move, we rushed and got into the first carriage that came beside us.
Our ticket was in air-conditioned coach so the second class TT was of no help. When we reached the end of second class compartment the entry to AC coach was locked and we banged the door but to no avail.
Fortunately the train slowed at a station and we thought we had our chance so I alighted and my wife too reached the second step of coach when the train started gaining speed and it struck to us that it was not a regular stop and the train was slowing for few railway staff.
Quickly we got back in. Did I say my wife was eight months pregnant?

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