Falling In Place (How it started)

There must be at least one thing that works in your favour. No? You don't know how lucky I was until you read the rest of this post.

One hour before the scheduled departure from Bangalore to Pune, it started to pour. It was as if the roads would be washed away! that heavy. 60 minutes for the train to depart and I had not even packed my stuff for the backpacking at MP. The commute time to the railway station is 7 minutes from home so, I took all the time in the world to get ready. Mom made a cup of coffee which I happily sipped and started to pack. 30 minutes went by.

And then, as casually as it could get, I glanced at the ticket. A closer examination revealed that the scheduled departure was 20 minutes ahead of what I thought it to be! I realized there was exactly 10 minutes for the train to leave. Wasting no time, I rushed outside without properly saying my goodbyes.

Luckily for me, the first auto guy said yes. I must've asked with a face that had "please" written all over. Great. 8 more minutes to go by. I prayed all known Gods that there shouldn't be a traffic jam. I told the auto guy to go as quick as possible. He murmured something which I couldn't comprehend. The second signal was green. Second instance of luck favouring me. I called Ash, who was incidentally traveling in the same train as me to check the platform number. Ash wasn't aware of the departure time either! So I had to update her first. She was entering the station and she said she'll call back. The platform number would decide which gate of the railway station I should head to. I learnt from her it was Platform number 1. The very first one! Third instance of luck favouring me. I asked the auto guy to stop the auto at a particular angle so that I could not just get down and run, but avoid the traffic also. No traffic at the time I ran across the road. I later realised I paid ten bucks extra for the auto. At that time, it didn't matter at all!

Two minutes for the train to depart and I was at the gates of the railway station. Frisking, Ticket checking would follow as a norm. I began to lose hope. Lucky again. No frisking, no checking of ticket. I had to look for the coach B3 on platform 1. Turn left or right? Instincts said left. Legs turned left automatically. Ash called a minute later to inform I had to turn left! Lucky again.

It was now that the train started to move. I increased pace. Someone at the platform shouted "chad jao, yaheen chad jao". I jumped into S7 and was a much relieved man! I made it! I felt like high-fiveing someone.

Called Ash to break the good news. Called home to say proper goodbyes. Slowly found B3 and found Seat #8. I needed 15 minutes to compose myself.

All that was running in my mind was "What if the train was in any other platform other than 1..."