2nd AC Train Journey, IIT Delhi, Extended folks at Dun, Mussoorie and me - PART I

When I was in class 12 our English teacher once asked us to write an essay on the educational value of traveling and I remember how I wrote some passable rubbish in that. In the next class she discussed the points with us and throughout my trip I was just thinking of her words. She had said how when you travel you meet new people and get to know about their way of life, you learn about new places and have new experiences that you will never forget. She also said how misconceptions and prejudices about people clear up…So well…in all these senses, my trip was definitely the most educational and eye-opening trip ever (that's why the pic above - "eye-opener")… (I met sooo many people…I learned sooo much about others & about myself as well) and also the best and most unforgettable one I’ve had…Every day was like a new adventure and I didn’t spend a single boring moment!!

To start with, I went first to Delhi, then Dehradun and Mussoorie. Yes yes I know what the blast said, but really, that was my idea of the trip!! This is what I picturised in my mind’s eye the moment papa told me he had booked the tickets and I was going with him: That I would uselessly miss all my tuitions (all my kids are having their exams). That we would spend a day or two in Delhi (where I would get bored with sooo mannnyyy brilliant ex and present IITians ), then to my cousin’s place in Delhi (where, again, I would get bored ), after that to my Dadima’s place in Dehradun (where also I would get bored)…the only ray of hope for me could be the short time I would spend in Mussoorie…Well, what followed couldn’t have been further away from my bleak expectations…

On D-Day (9th March) my bro came with Dad and me to the Howrah Railway Station and our train left at 7 pm. Papa’s was the lower berth and mine was the Side Upper berth in the AC 3 tier…we had just settled down…and Papa was only beginning to tell me how Laloo uncle has started the new system of upgrading passengers to the better compartment if it’s empty…when suddenly an uncle came and put all his luggage on my seat…Papa and I looked at each other, utterly confused and my Dad politely suggested that he could keep his stuff under the berth…so the gentleman replied that he preferred keeping his stuff on his berth, thank you very much…in a few minutes we learned that the TT had allotted the berth to him… “Well, how can that be? There must be some mistake…that one has been allotted to my daughter...we have a confirmed ticket” was what papa said…Soon the TT came along and in answer to his queries he said the words which were music to my ears: “You have been upgraded to the AC 2 tier.”
What a pleasantly surprising beginning it was!! It was God’s way of letting me know that the whole trip was going to be full of surprises (click here for more info on the weird relationship I share with God) However, I was not paying attention to this particular sign of his… I was too busy rejoicing over the whole upgradation business , thanking & blessing Laloo uncle (Really! God Bless him!!) and pondering over the possible boredom that I was doomed to endure for the next 10 days…

P.S.: The title of the post was suggested by Neha Di...she said it enlists all the surprise elements…