I have reached Chennai in Kaveri Express from Bangalore ( Krishnarajapuram Station ). Little did I realize that I need to check the coach status as my ticket was an RAC one & my wrist watch was showing a time beyond the rialway portal work time ( 2330 they close the show.. not just the booking but also the reservation status pages.. funny though)... I SMSed my PNR to the service number and got a message saying the service isnt available after 23.30. I thought that was an automated service..Aint it??? But it doesnt sound like one from the message I got....
Ok.. Lucky for me that this train has numerous stations to stop before arriving at Chennai and even if I land in the wrong coach, I can walk through to my right coach guided by His Highness The TTE of Southern / South Western Railway who only do their work using their subconscious mind. Well dont ask what their concious mind is doing... Thats continously checking on possibilities of selling empty berths unofficially... and making quick money...( A lot of them do )
To make things easier for me, I boarded one of the reserved coaches in the centre of the train and I was very happy that the TTE took an instant look at my ticket and without checking the charts requested me to board one of the first three coaches from engine ( S12, 13 or 14 ). I applied my analytic mind again and got into the middle coach so that I less through the coach as people would be still busy settling down. The TTE took one look at the ticket and while mind was racing that he should say one of the three numbers... there was another googled and the number was S11. My next question was if the train has continuous vestibule and the instant look of TTE was " Which world are you in.
All coaches are connected "... So there I started walking and after one coach there was one big shutter on which I could see something written on Font size 80 " VINOTH YOUR SLEEP IS SCREWED" . It was half past midnight.. Still I didn’t give up and knew the train would stop in the next five minutes at Whitefield station and was ready to run a marathon as S11 was the last coach. True it wasnt the best day of mine) and while I was ready for the marathon standing near the door while the train was pulling into Whitefiled station, the guy on the upper berth close to where I was standing with his half open eye, asked me close the door once I get down. I couldn’t help him as I would be late. There I started running and every coach had its door locked. I thought for a moment that it was time for me to take a rick and head back home as I ran beyond S11 and couldn’t find any of the coaches open.. Finally after rock banging I could manage entry after the train started moving.
I enter S11 and there is my berth number 32, Side Lower berth a very tough one for a six footer, , But I was too tired, that even a 4 feet berth could have sung a lullaby for me... But looked like my berth was auctioned at a premium rate and I found that out as the TTE openly told me that he sold my berth and also took money ( absolutely unofficial and he was telling me that and asked me why I was late ). Neither in my home, school or in work place has anyone asked me that.. But it doesnt matter as I wanted to hit the berth for that 4 hour sleep... and was given a Side Upper. More luxury and u know whats the iciing on the cake, that was right next to the toilet and u can imagine.
170 bucks for overnight journey. No country can boast of this price... I am happy with that and very proud as well. However the basic amenities and support at stations is something which is very important... and the budget should talk about these stuffs and not just people or ministers or government should boast of the cost not being cut. Definitely we respect that but there are more to that money money. I don’t have much trust in Mamta’s budget but I wish some good minister comes for the next year atleast and bring in an ocean change in the way railways work and provides services.
The worst berth that can be allotted to you is a Side Upper and if you are a tall guy thats like the biggest punishment of your life. And if your number reads 8 or 72 the one right next to the Toilets, man you are dead.... So what I suggest is if you happen to get one of those numbers as your Berth please ensure you wear yourself out during the day so that you can sleep on any condition during the night..
Have a lucky journey
Vinoth