After about 2 months of internship and all the uncertainty I could not wait to get back home... if only I could snap my fingers and land up at the doorsteps of my parents and not go through the agony of travelling in a dirty train (the AC compartment was pathetic, I can only dread the condition in the sleeper bogies!). The only hitch was that my tickets were yet not confirmed! Two tickets were booked in two different trains and both were on the waiting list till about 10:30 am and my train left from Panvel at 12:30 pm.
After that it was a mad rush to catch the local to Panvel... which fortunately was not jam-packed due to the time. As my luck would have it, the local came in by 11:10 and was running dead slow and stopping after almost every station.
As the train enters Panvel, what do I see? My train to Kochi was also entering the station on the opposite platform at the same time... my heart was in my mouth!! I did not want to miss that train...It was on the last platform and I would have to hurry like hell if I was to make it within the five minutes scheduled stop time.
I ran... ran like crazy! With my suitcase and bags... people were staring at me as if I am mad! I ran up the stairs (yes.. up the stairs!!!) and down...and finally got into my compartment and was getting settled into my allotted seat! Then I reach for my mobile in the front pocket of my jeans...its not there!! I was shocked... searched all my other pockets, my laptop bag...then it clicked me..it must have fallen down while I was dashing to board the train. What I do next is crazy... I run back the same way I came all the way to the platform.. looking for my mobile...but to no avail... I run back the whole distance looking around for my fallen mobile... it was of no use... who would let an abandoned expensive mobile lie on the floor for long.. So then I run back, dejected...
Sitting on my seat thinking what to do now... how to call my parents and confirm that I have boarded my train safely...all the numbers lost... and more than that my 'kaala Jamun'!! Not even in my dreams would I be able to buy such a mobile at least for another year!! Oh God!!
Thats when I hear it...
'One two three four! Uno-do-tres-quatro... I know you want me....'
I could hear my ringtone, but not find where it was coming from...it rang again... I looked around to see if someone was just playing that song... No, it was definitely coming from my luggage.. I rummaged through my bags... it wasn't there...I requested my co passenger to kindly give my number a ring...
And where do you think I found it??
There is a space between the handle of the suitcase ( which can be pulled up and rolled) and the suitcase which has a cloth cover for protection... and it was here that my mobile was lying snuggled in between. I can only wonder how it landed up there when the mobile fell out of my pocket during the dash to board the train...
Anyway so finally I was in the train.. safe and sound... no loss of property either...
