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How we missed our train - Almost, that is ...

Vijaya and I had gone to Bangalore during Feb - March 2009. (know more about this). We were to return to Chennai on 21st March by Brindavan Express. Departure time was 2-30 PM.

On 21st, we and Ashok-Neeraja had an early lunch at 12 noon, and started at 1-00 PM from house for City station. Neeraja drove the car. We were smug as we had nearly 1 1/2 hours to cover the 16 km. Oh, we didn't expect the notorious Bangalore traffic-jam to upset our apple cart.

For the first 5 km, it was a smooth travel, but once we turned left from Dairy Circle into Hosur Road, the traffic snarl started. As the car moved inch by painful inch, we started having sweat and tense. Suddenly it was 2-20PM and we were still 2 to 3 km away from station. What a huge traffic snarl!

We were sure we would miss the train; Ashok-Neeraja decided to try Bangalore Cantonment station and so Neeraja turned and went towards Cant station. As she parked the car, it struck us that we had landed on the wrong platform (there are just two PFs in Cant); oh God, we had to climb the footbridge ! Ashok with his recently fractured leg hobbled on with our suitcase climbing the steps. Excruciating pain. Then I took the suitcase from him and we three "ran" on the bridge.
As we were climbing down, the train arrived. Unfortunately for us, our AC coach was in the very front!! We got into the nearest coach when the train started moving! We were in D8 coach and we had to carry the suitcase along 9 coaches as the train was speeding along before we could see our C3 coach. Finally, we found our seats and sat, so relieved. Vijaya who carried the heavy suitcase had back pain during the night.

Thus, we had our taste of the notorious bangalore traffic jam - we will never forget this.

Rajappa
23 March 2009 at 8-30PM

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