The trip : Belgaum to Bangalore…

My younger brother and me were all set to go to Bangalore. I did a last minute check on everything - Reservation tickets ( to and fro ), water, packed dinner and other required stuff. I also checked on my brother to see whether he has taken all the necessary documents for his admission at AHA. All set and done.

The train was supposed to leave Belgaum at 6.45 pm. We arrived well in time on the station (a 10 min walk from our house). The train arrived half an hour late and our seats were AC-3 tier B2 with nos 2 & 3 (or thats what i thought!). I had checked the seat numbers on the tickets when i bought it. So there was no need to check it again. We went straight into the coach and occupied the seats. I noticed that there a was a book lying on one of the seats. “The Motorcycle Diaries” by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara. Hmmm… may be the person who had the seat earlier left it or forgot it here. Anyways, it would be a good read, i thought.

Just before the train left the station, an old man (bald and looking very shewd) got in and sat infront of us. “Mine is 4″, he said. I tried to smile but could only put up a fake one… Same was the case with my bro.

The train chugged out of the station and soon I was busy reading the book which I got. My bro got onto his seat - the upper berth - and immersed himself within the earbuds of his walkman. From the corner of my eye, I could see the oldie staring at me or probably the book. A fleeting thought occured - Is this his book? No, it cant be. He got in after we got in! I thought of leaving the matter there. If its his book, he will ask it from me.

We had decided that we will have our dinner after we leave Londa (thats around an hour from Belgaum). I also expected the TTE would come to check our tickets by then so that we can sleep peacefully after that. Soon, the train left Londa and yet, no sign of the TTE. We had our lunch which Mom had so carefully packed for us. My bro got back to his usual business - listening to songs - and me? Back to the book!

We reached Hubli at around 10.30. I thought I could take a stroll outside on the station as the train is scheduled to stop there for around 15 minutes. I told my bro through sign language that I am going out. He understood or may be did not! After sometime I could see my bro coming in search of me. He came straight to me and yelled, “Are you sure those are our seats?” and this followed…

Me : Why? Whats the matter now?

Bro : Come inside the coach.

We walked straight into the coach only to see two visibly irritated guys with luggage that is more than required for a world tour!

Me : Whats the matter?

1 of the The Guys : 2 & 3 those are our seats!

Me : How is that possible? Show me our tickets…

1 of the The Guys : Here… Look!

One of then handed me the ticket for closer examination. And they had a valid reason. The ticket read “Seat numbers 2 & 3″

Oldie : “Where are your seats boys?”, with a wry smile on his face. (I could imagine him laughing out loud in his mind. I could also imagine me bashing his face up!)

Me : How can this be possible?

1 of the The Guys : Can you show your tickets please?

Me : Ya, sure. Here…

1 of the The Guys : (Looking at the ticket) I think the Railways are fooling people. (Now he looks really really irritated!) Heck! They issued the same seat to different people!

Suddenly, the TTE walks in…

TTE : Whats the matter?

1 of the The Guys : Both of us have been issued the same seats!

TTE : Show me your tickets. Let me see…

We hand him both our tickets. He looks at them and gives a smile. Then, looks to me, “Boys, you have occupied the wrong seats!”.

Me : Huh?

TTE : Your seats are in B1 and this is B2.

Now, I could see my bro looking at me furiously. How did this happen? When I checked the tickets, it was B2. I saw the ticket again, its B1 now.

Well, now we begin packing up all the stuff we had got out to get ready to sleep. We collected all the stuff together and headed straight to B1 only to find the seats lying vacant there.

Just while we were about to settle down…

“Are these your seats?”

I turn to see a thin person standing on the passage of the coach near our seats.

Oh God! No more surprises please… I say to myself.

I took out my ticket and showed him, “See? These are ours. Can I see your ticket?”

“I don’t have a ticket because I dont need one. I am the coach attendant. Since these seats were unoccupied till now, I thought nobody is coming here. So I kept the pillows and blankets back in the store. I was just enquiring to confirm so that I can get your pillows.”