Of all the innumerable cliches...this is the one i have come real close to today...so here it goes..
PS: **Mumbai Local jargon alert**
It was a routine day...I was up at 5.30...had my engineering viva..wasn't prepared and had chalked out a "schedule" mentally (things to be learnt/read last minute, and revised in the last one hour) . So, i got into my regular train at around 7 in the morning, took my regular seat and started chanting engineering mantras...n oh yeah, today i was also carrying my younger sister's portfolio..she had an *imp* interview in my college and she asked me to carry some of her *imp* stuff and i obliged!
i reach andheri exactly after an hour (throught the journey i have been reading about type of computer memories)...i get off the train..andheri is the last stop...n i move to the opposite platform to catch a slow train to churchgate ( i study at santacruz) .
As i stand there waiting for the train...my phone beeps...its my mom calling...i am annoyed...cuz i assume she has some trivia to update me with...i answer....she has apparently called to check if i am still carrying the portfolio along... i scream Noooooooooooooo in reflex n tell her ill call her back...! she calls back in 5 seconds and starts yelling her guts out + the usual Oh my god!!!!
i run to the platform where i left the train...n to my dismal see it leaving....i catch my breathe n run to the station master...he turns out to be a pan chewing lethargic guy...his first statement... "hum kare bhi toh kya abhi" i panic after listening to that tone...but calmly explain the urgency of the situation to him...its 8 in the morning..my sisters interview is at 11 ( reporting time 10.30)
he chks the borivali extension code n tries calling...223341...says its busy after 4 attempts...den another pan chewing gentleman points out that he is dialing his own number...the look on my face would have definitely fetched a couple of bucks!!! he laughs at his mistake,spits and dials the correct extension...informs the borivali guy n i rush to get a virar fast train..so i could reach borivali as fast as possible! its 8.15 now...i have my viva at 9!
my heart is pounding ...i gulp in some water...n wait for borivali to come..after 10 minutes i see borivali passing by....its apparently a "double fast" train..doesnt halt at borivali...arggggggghhhhh!!!
i alight at dahisar...now people who are aware of the combination called virar train+rush hour can relate to my plight...its 8.35 and i am at dahisar station...the trains are jam-packed...i see four trains pass by....finallyyyyy a borivali train arrives...i hop into it....i rush to the station masters office as soon as m off the train...he checks a few details n informs me that the bag with the portfolio has been found at naigoan station!
i am glad its found..at the same time..i turn to the antique clock in the room..its 9.11.....
i get into a virar bound train from borivali...i reach naigoan in 20 min...now this place has two offices...one at the east and the other at the west...i go the west only to find the bag is in the east office.......time..9.40...
i reach the office to find a "me marathi" clan...i am relieved to see the bag n also the marathi crowd..because the marathi connection ALWAYS helps in mumbai......but things weren't exactly working for me today...so it wouldn't be easy...
the guy starts by saying...get your sister and i will give the file to her! ( now all this time my sister isn't aware about my adventure...she is waiting for me in college...she scares easy n starts hyperventilating..so i chose to not inform her) when i explain the situation and my urgency he says...."theekh hai...main police station me deta hun phir...aap waha se le jaana" i stare at him in horror...!! his other alternative...equally ridiculous...get me a copy of your ration card and pan card! and then says "bag madhe kay aahe? dakhwaa"(he wants to check my bag!!!).... i am at my wits end!!!
At that moment comes into picture...Mr.sharma....a sophisticated gentleman as apposed to our "maniac" ...he asks me to write an undertaking and take the stuff...but the "manooos" threatens him and says he is solely responsible if i turn out to be a crook! ( apparently someone who steals portfolios)
i am fed up with this drama and i call my father...my dad calls some of his "contacts" and i get my stuff...but before that our manoos wants to verify again..so he makes Mr.sharma call my sister n ask questions like..when is your birthday? what is Ur SSC/HSC seat number? what is your sisters name? after being convinced i am her sister he hands me over the things...! i throw him a disgusting look and thank Mr.Sharma...!
i jump into a dadar bound 10.11 train...reach andheri at 10.30..santacuz at 10.50....college 11.05...!
i give my sisters *imp* stuff to her n rush for my viva...turns out...the prof is stuck in an accident...will be there by 12...its 11.10...i splash some water...n get back to my "schedule" i kick some microprocessor ass in the viva and my sister nails the interview.........!
all this while...while i was jumping in and out of trains...i constantly received messages from dad asking me to keep my cool and relax...and he just said..."hota hai yaar" n don't worry "i am always there"
and i wasn't worried anymore...at times like this...all one needs to hear is something my father kept repeating throught...if it wasn't for him i wouldn't be able to keep my cool!
so this blog is for u dad...i love you! :)
PS: **Mumbai Local jargon alert**
It was a routine day...I was up at 5.30...had my engineering viva..wasn't prepared and had chalked out a "schedule" mentally (things to be learnt/read last minute, and revised in the last one hour) . So, i got into my regular train at around 7 in the morning, took my regular seat and started chanting engineering mantras...n oh yeah, today i was also carrying my younger sister's portfolio..she had an *imp* interview in my college and she asked me to carry some of her *imp* stuff and i obliged!
i reach andheri exactly after an hour (throught the journey i have been reading about type of computer memories)...i get off the train..andheri is the last stop...n i move to the opposite platform to catch a slow train to churchgate ( i study at santacruz) .
As i stand there waiting for the train...my phone beeps...its my mom calling...i am annoyed...cuz i assume she has some trivia to update me with...i answer....she has apparently called to check if i am still carrying the portfolio along... i scream Noooooooooooooo in reflex n tell her ill call her back...! she calls back in 5 seconds and starts yelling her guts out + the usual Oh my god!!!!
i run to the platform where i left the train...n to my dismal see it leaving....i catch my breathe n run to the station master...he turns out to be a pan chewing lethargic guy...his first statement... "hum kare bhi toh kya abhi" i panic after listening to that tone...but calmly explain the urgency of the situation to him...its 8 in the morning..my sisters interview is at 11 ( reporting time 10.30)
he chks the borivali extension code n tries calling...223341...says its busy after 4 attempts...den another pan chewing gentleman points out that he is dialing his own number...the look on my face would have definitely fetched a couple of bucks!!! he laughs at his mistake,spits and dials the correct extension...informs the borivali guy n i rush to get a virar fast train..so i could reach borivali as fast as possible! its 8.15 now...i have my viva at 9!
my heart is pounding ...i gulp in some water...n wait for borivali to come..after 10 minutes i see borivali passing by....its apparently a "double fast" train..doesnt halt at borivali...arggggggghhhhh!!!
i alight at dahisar...now people who are aware of the combination called virar train+rush hour can relate to my plight...its 8.35 and i am at dahisar station...the trains are jam-packed...i see four trains pass by....finallyyyyy a borivali train arrives...i hop into it....i rush to the station masters office as soon as m off the train...he checks a few details n informs me that the bag with the portfolio has been found at naigoan station!
i am glad its found..at the same time..i turn to the antique clock in the room..its 9.11.....
i get into a virar bound train from borivali...i reach naigoan in 20 min...now this place has two offices...one at the east and the other at the west...i go the west only to find the bag is in the east office.......time..9.40...
i reach the office to find a "me marathi" clan...i am relieved to see the bag n also the marathi crowd..because the marathi connection ALWAYS helps in mumbai......but things weren't exactly working for me today...so it wouldn't be easy...
the guy starts by saying...get your sister and i will give the file to her! ( now all this time my sister isn't aware about my adventure...she is waiting for me in college...she scares easy n starts hyperventilating..so i chose to not inform her) when i explain the situation and my urgency he says...."theekh hai...main police station me deta hun phir...aap waha se le jaana" i stare at him in horror...!! his other alternative...equally ridiculous...get me a copy of your ration card and pan card! and then says "bag madhe kay aahe? dakhwaa"(he wants to check my bag!!!).... i am at my wits end!!!
At that moment comes into picture...Mr.sharma....a sophisticated gentleman as apposed to our "maniac" ...he asks me to write an undertaking and take the stuff...but the "manooos" threatens him and says he is solely responsible if i turn out to be a crook! ( apparently someone who steals portfolios)
i am fed up with this drama and i call my father...my dad calls some of his "contacts" and i get my stuff...but before that our manoos wants to verify again..so he makes Mr.sharma call my sister n ask questions like..when is your birthday? what is Ur SSC/HSC seat number? what is your sisters name? after being convinced i am her sister he hands me over the things...! i throw him a disgusting look and thank Mr.Sharma...!
i jump into a dadar bound 10.11 train...reach andheri at 10.30..santacuz at 10.50....college 11.05...!
i give my sisters *imp* stuff to her n rush for my viva...turns out...the prof is stuck in an accident...will be there by 12...its 11.10...i splash some water...n get back to my "schedule" i kick some microprocessor ass in the viva and my sister nails the interview.........!
all this while...while i was jumping in and out of trains...i constantly received messages from dad asking me to keep my cool and relax...and he just said..."hota hai yaar" n don't worry "i am always there"
and i wasn't worried anymore...at times like this...all one needs to hear is something my father kept repeating throught...if it wasn't for him i wouldn't be able to keep my cool!
so this blog is for u dad...i love you! :)
