Disclaimer: This is to inform all the readers that the incident I am mentioning in this blog post has recently happened with me. As it was quite similar to a movie scene so I decided to write a post in the same way.

Cast: Manu Khandelwal

Location: ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi

Genre: Thriller

Harstuff Production Presents

We all are aware of traffic jams in Delhi NCR. People generally say that if you are living in DELHI NCR then your half-life would be wasted by getting struck in jams. There is a say “Delhi me Jam nahi lagta, Jam me Delhi lagti hai”.

So the story begins from here…

Date 24 February 2017

I entered into my room after returning back from my sister’s marriage in Ghaziabad. I had to leave for Mcleodganj on the same day so I quickly packed up my bags, washed my clothes and bought some daily need items from the market. I had already booked my Volvo bus and the timing was 7:20 PM. As I did not sleep for the whole yesterday night, I was feeling very sleepy so I decided to take a nap. I set the alarm and slept. 

I opened my eyes at 5 PM and quickly got ready to leave. I took an auto to Metro station and from here I faced the first tragedy. There was a massive traffic jam in Noida near sector 71. It generally takes 20 minutes to reach the metro station from my room, but on that day it took 50 minutes. Still I was left with some hope and I boarded the metro. I was sure that I would reach maximum by 7:10, as it generally takes 1 hour to reach the ISBT Kashmere Gate. As the metro started and I faced the second tragedy of my day. There was some technical fault in the metro due to which it was stopping several times. On that day I reached the ISBT at 7:30.  I got really irritated at that time and the sound “asuvidha ke liye khed hai” (the inconvenience caused is Deeply Regretted) was boiling my blood. I calmed my mind and ran towards ISBT.

Reached ISBT at 7:30 and found what the bus had already gone. I sat on a chair and started thinking about what to do next. I got two options, either I take an ordinary bus or buy a ticket of Volvo bus again. As I was already short of money so there was no way to buy a new Volvo ticket again. I quickly enquired to some people and they directed me to HRTC office at the ISBT itself. I went to the office and described them the whole situation. The person verified my ticket and gave me the number of the Volvo bus conductor. 

I called the conductor and asked about the bus exact location. At that time the bus was at Karnal bye pass. The Volvo conductor told me that if you want to catch the bus then you have to reach Haveli Karnal where we will stop for dinner. I cut the call and ran towards the platform and boarded a Punjab Roadways bus. At that time I was very confused that whether I am taking a right decision or not then I thought “jo hoga dekha jaayega” (whatever will happen I will manage). I just took out my ear phones and sat on the seat. The conductor came and asked

Conductor: where do you want to go?

Me: Which is the last stop?

Conductor: Patiala

Me: Great! Give me one ticket to Karnal.

After sometime, I started interacting with conductor and told him the whole situation. After finishing my story, I was waiting for his reply.

Conductor asked: Which deodorant you have used? (asked in Punjabi)

Me: Wildstone Chrome

Conductor: Very good fragrance

Me: Thank you bhaiya.

Me (again asked him forcefully): “bhaiya, will I be able to catch the bus?”

Conductor: Definitely. Don’t worry. ( I don’t know exactly what he said in Punjabi, but I got tension free )

After all this, the conductor said something in Punjabi to the driver and suddenly the speed of bus got increased. Then I took out my ear phones and started enjoying the journey. After 2 hours, I made a call to the Volvo conductor and asked about the location. His answer again made me tensed. He said that they will not stop at Haveli Karnal, they will have their dinner at Haveli Ambala.

I quickly went to the conductor and asked him to give one more ticket to Ambala. I got completely hopeless at that time when my current bus (Punjab roadways) stopped for dinner. I was very much sure that now I won’t be able to catch the bus. Then again, the bus conductor gave me hope and we resumed our journey with a positive hope.

After sometime, I again made a call to the Volvo conductor and asked him to give me a miss call when you leave from Haveli Ambala. I was feeling thrilled and tensed at the same time. The Volvo conductor called me when we were 10 minutes from Haveli Ambala. I requested him to wait, but he refused. Then I gave my phone to the conductor (Punjab roadways) and asked him to convince the Volvo conductor. He again said something in Punjabi and the conductor agreed to wait. And finally, I reached at Haveli Ambala. I thanked to the conductor and driver of both the buses and boarded the Volvo bus. As I entered into the bus, all the passengers were staring at me with anger. I ignored all and enjoyed my further journey.