The Countdown journey

It was one of the day that I was waiting for a nearly a month. That’s the day that I am starting home. As usual the travel tickets were not available for the train that I indented board. So, I booked for an express that starts at 6:00 PM (that’s what I initially thought) from central station. This is one of the rare occasions that I start home on Friday evening after coming to project. So, planned and packed well before. The day starts well in office. As usual in the project there is very less task to be handled.

So, I planned to leave office at 2:40 PM, so that I get the complete time cushion. As usual with some last minute books from lib started sharp at 2:50. There starts the surprise, when I saw the train time; it was at 5:00 PM. I kicked my self though I have reasons to that confusion. How do I miss that one? (Its bcos I have booked one another ticket for my friend on the same day for 6:00 PM train). Then when I am on my way to the gate, I felt thank god, I had enough buffer time to manage this crisis, so this mistake wont be much costly. But the surprise doesn’t end there... There are just two options left for us here. People who are here in this office can only know how inflexible is to leave out of office in these unusual hours.

1. Need to walk with that luggage for nearly 5 KM to the railway station
2. Wait for the shuttle service provided every 40 min

To my bad luck, I just saw the cab moving out when I was nearing the gate. So I need to wait for another 30 minutes or so. If we think of the first option, that too won’t be a wise since there won’t be any train from that station even if we reach earlier. So, I just stick to the II nd option. Urging the people around there and reached the station to board the 3:30 local train to central. With 90 minutes in hand it looks as an easy task, but remember, I need to cross 24 local stations to reach central railway station. Here are the station names in their order: Paranur, SP Kovil, MM nagar, Kattankulathur, Potheri, Guduvanchery, Urrapakkam, Vandalur, Perungalathur, Tambaram, Sanatorium, Chrompet, Pallavaram, Trisulam, Meenambakam, Palavanthangal, St. Thomas Mount, Guindy, Saidapet, Mambalam, Kodambakkam, Nungambakkam, Chetpet, Egmore and next comes PARK. After some long time, I am just doing the mathematics in my mind without any aid:

24 * 3 = 72
24 * 3.5 = 84
24 * 4 = 96

One more thing to be noted, even after reaching 'park' station (local railway station nearer to Chennai central station) I need minimum of 4 min to reach central and find my train. Anyways, the calculation works only if the train crosses every station in less than 3.5 min. This is really a tough ask. To my luck or surprise some stations are crossed in 2 minutes and some in 2.5 minutes and so, that gains me some time, but at Tambaram the train is taking some breathe it seems. I am just counting every minute of its stay. At that time, I just thought of the other alternatives if I miss this one. But, since it’s the start of the weekend it won’t be that simple for me to travel in general compartment with such a huge luggage.

Finally with some additions and subtractions, I reached the park stations at 4:50 PM and rushed to my train 3 min in advance of its scheduled time. I haven’t even bought the water while boarding. After boarding, I just felt as if I have achieved some thing great... As in films; irrespective of all troubles and hurdles, the hero wins atlast. But this count down story winds up with a comedy at the end, the train started late of 25 minutes than its scheduled departure. :)

SUBAM!!!