Happiness

Dated: July 29, 2007.

I Reported in my Aunts Home at around 9 a.m. in Chennai, been there to visit my friends. :).
Had a quick breakfast, by thinking about booking a ticket to Mumbai in the evening flight.

Took bike from my Cousin - Visited my friends - Booked a ticket for 6.15pm flight.

The Reached my aunts home at around 5pm after visiting my friends. My aunt had cooked varieties of delicious Non-Veg Food, and she is busy in Apartment meeting in her home. So, I myself had that food as quick as possible and left the home with my cousin who came with me to drop.

At this point of time, I am not aware that I am gng to have the second toughest day of my life (of course, the first toughest days are the Semesters? )

Started to Airport @ 5.15 pm, I need to be in airport before 5.45pm. Airport is in 15 minutes driving distance. The traffic was moderate.

Reached Airport @ 5.25 pm. I was so happy that I reached so soon and this happiness was no longer when I realized that I forgot to take/note the printout of my E-Ticket. Drove Back in search of Internet Cafe, Now, I started fearing that I am gng to miss my flight.

@ 5.30 pm, I Thanked god for showing me a small CAFE in the 3rd km, again to my surprise it has only four PC's- all are engaged. I requested one guy for his system for 2 minutes and I took printout.

@ 5.35 pm- I paid and left the cafe. Started back to the airport. To my unfortunate, this time traffic was very heavy. I decided that I am not gng to get the flight. I made a decision of rash driving. Did that.

@ 5.48 pm, after 2-3 near-to-death experiences, I reached airport. Thank god the counter was not yet closed. Got the boarding pass. Ran into the airport like how "Jack and his friend run to catch Titanic". (Even I was having the same kinda bag J ).

Baggage Check - Security Check - Announcements.

@ 6 pm. I was sitting inside the flight by hearing my rhythmic “heart beats” of an hour long tension.

The flight departed 30 minutes late Becoz of some internal issues - Slept completely on the Travel - Arrival was delayed for more than 30 minutes becoz of bad weather - Finally got down @ Mumbai airport @ 9.15 pm.


If you think it’s the happy ending, then u r wrong,


Now I need to go to Pune by Volvo Bus, The ticket is around Rs. 180/-
I was hungry, I have Rs.300 in hand. Went to ATM counter to take some money, to my surprise, it was showing me I have only Rs.93 in my account. After enquiring I found that Rs.3500 was debited from my account for my Mobile bill on that day, whereas I scheduled that payment a week before. Now, I started believing Fate.

I went to auto stand, he asked me Rs.100 for the nearest Travel agency. Somehow he agreed for Rs.50. He took a U-Turn and a L-turn, he stopped in front of a travels in 2 minutes which is not even 500 meters. I fought with him and gave him Rs.20. I was so happy that I saved some money, again this happiness dint last longer when I heard the ticket cost is Rs.250/- in Sunday evenings. I booked ticket. I was so hungry but I left with Rs.30 in hand, so I drank water-a great weapon to postpone hunger.

Now, the travel agent called me and returned me the amount back saying the 'Last bus for the day' was cancelled due to insufficient passengers, and he claimed Rs.10 as a booking charge. After fighting with him, he returned me Rs.10 back with some Hindi slang’s (Thank god, I dint understand).

One PAN mouthed fellow with a Dirty clothes came to me and asked me whether I need some place to stay, he also told me it will be very cheap and he can also arrange 'ANYTHING' if needed.( I had a tuff time in understanding him, as he spoke in Drunken-Hinglish ). Somehow escaped from him and was standing in front of Travels by wondering wats waiting for me next.

Some minutes after, a bunch of 5 guys came to the travel agency and enquired about travel to Pune. They also had the same problem of Delayed flight. After hearing about the cancellation of the bus 2 guys left to their friends home, and we are four there.

We decided to hire a cab to Pune. I was so happy now that I got a company who can speak native Hindi, again my happiness dint last longer when I heard the charge per person was Rs.300 in cab. I have only Rs.280 with me, and I was so embarrassed to tell this to those guys, as I introduced myself as a "Software Engineer".

And somehow we four argued/fight with those cab drivers and out of competition, we got a cab for Rs.275 per person, I am having Rs. 280 :) in hand. I was so happy that I made it at the end, even this happiness dint lasts longer when I heard a sound from my Stomach asking me for some food. Again I used the s[h]ame weapon-H2O-for hunger. I had some chocolates for Rs.5 when we stopped on the way for refreshment.

I took my cell out to call my friend in Pune, now I realized the battery was very low. Somehow managed to exchange batteries from my co-travelers and called him and told him to pick me up from the specified place where I am supposed to get dropped in Pune.

I forgot every event of the past 6 hours by seeing huge mists hiding the curves of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the "Night view - Beauty" of the lonavala hill region and tunnels relaxed my beats and breaths. I slept.

@ 2.40a.m - Pune aagayaaaa -. I called up my friend, and started waiting. To pass time I started segregating the unwanted chits and tickets in my purse, I found some coins summed to Rs.1.50. I put them back in my purse. It’s started drizzling. I went into a nearest bus stop shelter, and sat in the chair. I felt tired.

I saw a small boy sleeping in the chairs, I observed him, and he is so skinny with less and dirty dress, partly drenched in rain. He opened his eyes; His eyes revealed me that he is tired and empty stomach. A moment I thot "we both are sailing in the s[h]ame boat".

I felt like, his eyes were asking me something, of which I don’t have anything. I took out my purse; I gave the coins to him. He got that, looked at me, smiled at me and started sleeping.
And now, he became richer than me. :).

After some time, my friend came, took me to the nearest bakery and had EGG Burgers. We drove back.
We crossed the same bus stop; The "Rich" boy was still sleeping. "I was so happy to see him smiling at me even in sleep, when I gave him the coins", and undoubtedly this happiness did lasts long.