We (Murali and Self) were excited and looking forward for our trip to ladakh. We were scheduled to fly at 6.45 pm from Pune airport to Delhi and then catch a train to Jammu from the Delhi old station. We had a gap of 1.45 hrs to cover up the distance between airport and station, which seems quite reasonable with the help of the Delhi Metro.
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Abhi dropped us at 5.30 pm at the Pune airport and we were pleased to see the Indian Airline flight on schedule. We comfortably checked in and boarded the flight at 6.40 pm. All seems on track.
Abhi dropped us at 5.30 pm at the Pune airport and we were pleased to see the Indian Airline flight on schedule. We comfortably checked in and boarded the flight at 6.40 pm. All seems on track.
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But surprise, surprise. The flight scheduled to depart at 6.45 only departs at 7.25 pm, i.e. a loss of 40 min and we could touch base Delhi airport only by 10 pm. No way, can we now reach on time at Delhi station by 10.30pm to catch the scheduled train. We still rushed out (thank god, we hadn’t checked in our luggage), caught a cab and let him know that we needed to zoom off. We did not realize that we had jumped into “a sheep in wolf’s clothing” The cab was a CNG vehicle and was not capable of zooming past the 50 Kmph mark even on the empty eight lane super highways of the capital. Holy shit we screamed and seeing even bikes overtaking us, helplessly said to our self “Allz is well”.
But surprise, surprise. The flight scheduled to depart at 6.45 only departs at 7.25 pm, i.e. a loss of 40 min and we could touch base Delhi airport only by 10 pm. No way, can we now reach on time at Delhi station by 10.30pm to catch the scheduled train. We still rushed out (thank god, we hadn’t checked in our luggage), caught a cab and let him know that we needed to zoom off. We did not realize that we had jumped into “a sheep in wolf’s clothing” The cab was a CNG vehicle and was not capable of zooming past the 50 Kmph mark even on the empty eight lane super highways of the capital. Holy shit we screamed and seeing even bikes overtaking us, helplessly said to our self “Allz is well”.
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Dilip & Mahima had been waiting for long at the station and they informed us that the train was running behind the schedule. The Hope brightened. But our CNG cabwala was convinced that no way we could get to the station in 30 mins. Infact he wasn’t even making an effort. He even stopped for a Gas fill. But Dilip kept calling us, keeping our hopes alive and kicking.
Dilip & Mahima had been waiting for long at the station and they informed us that the train was running behind the schedule. The Hope brightened. But our CNG cabwala was convinced that no way we could get to the station in 30 mins. Infact he wasn’t even making an effort. He even stopped for a Gas fill. But Dilip kept calling us, keeping our hopes alive and kicking.
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At 11 pm we touchbased the Delhi Old station. As we stepped in the train blew its horn and arrived elegantly at the station as if she was just waiting our arrival. It was a scene just like the Hindi Filmi movie, but unbelievingly true. Maybe somebody somewhere was praying for us. However we didn’t have to run and hop to the compartment, as the sweet train decided it would halt for another hour at the Delhi Station.
At 11 pm we touchbased the Delhi Old station. As we stepped in the train blew its horn and arrived elegantly at the station as if she was just waiting our arrival. It was a scene just like the Hindi Filmi movie, but unbelievingly true. Maybe somebody somewhere was praying for us. However we didn’t have to run and hop to the compartment, as the sweet train decided it would halt for another hour at the Delhi Station.
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I couldn’t have asked for a better and exciting start to this journey. Just before a dozed off in the comfortable two tier Ac compartment of the train, my heart beat fast and politely said to me “Kahani abhi katm nahi huan hain dost”…………..The Journey had just began.
I couldn’t have asked for a better and exciting start to this journey. Just before a dozed off in the comfortable two tier Ac compartment of the train, my heart beat fast and politely said to me “Kahani abhi katm nahi huan hain dost”…………..The Journey had just began.
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P.S: With the Manali Leh highway blocked, we were not left with any option but to take the Srinagar-Leh highway on both the counts.
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