Unwanted Kindness
Navigating the Night Train from Delhi to Ajmer
After the holidays, I had to make this epic solo journey from the bustling streets of Delhi to the mystical land of RIE Ajmer. It was an 8-hour train journey, and that too at night, from Delhi to Ahmedabad.
My mom asked my brother to accompany me to the station. He was hesitant and had some fear of going out. Mom lectured him, and he reluctantly consented to accompany me.
He was unhappy and enraged, wondering why he was being sent along. We began rushing towards the platforms as soon as we got to the railway station.
I had no notion what a railway platform was or where to go because it was my first voyage. I was clueless and saw trains from all over the country standing there.
Some trains had arrived, while others were about to depart.
We managed to find the platform for the Ahmedabad Mail and hurriedly headed towards platform number 2.
A stranger who was also going in the same direction joined us. I was still focused on the stranger, wondering why he followed us so closely.
Then, suddenly, the train whistled, and I ignored it.
As the train started moving, the stranger asked my brother which compartment was booked. My brother replied, “C-5”.
When the train jerked a bit, the stranger said, “Quick, get your sister on board; otherwise, she’ll miss the train. She can change the compartment later.”
I told my brother not to worry and that the engine was still there, so he could continue running along with the train.
My brother ran faster, but the train started moving, and I got very nervous as the train picked up speed. “How did my train depart early? Its scheduled time was 10 PM, and it left at 9 PM. This must be another train. I got worried.”
Seeing my worried face, a fellow passenger reassured me and said not to worry. The next station, Rewari Junction, was just two hours away, and the Ahmedabad Mail train would also stop there. He advised me to get off at Rewari junction and catch my train there. I was planning to take a bus to Ajmer the following day if I couldn’t get off at Rewari junction.
Finally, we reached Rewari junction, and I stood near the train’s door about 20 minutes before it arrived. Two railway employees came to pick me up and asked if I was Suresh.
I was scared, thinking, “How do they know my name?” But they explained that my brother had called the station master in Delhi to ensure my safety and to make sure my reservation didn’t get cancelled. “I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Could this possibly be the same person?’ The one who had been with us across all those platforms. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.” But they led me to compartment C-5.
When I boarded the train, I found some of my college friends were also there, and they were surprised to see me. They saw my name in the reservation chart but thought I didn’t get onto the train.
They had been worried about me. After two days, I received a letter from my brother in which he stated that the same stranger had told him of my position and had driven my brother to the station master to handle the situation. I felt strange and amazed at how people could be kind and helpful.
The world is full of odd and quirky folks! Who knew so many weird and empty characters were out there, ready to assist in mysterious ways?
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