I am very excited about my trip to Mumbai, my hometown. I finally have confirmed tickets, thanks to the Tatkal quota of the very amazing Indian Railways. But getting Tatkal tickets is not an easy job.
Booking online failed, so we had to go to the nearest railway station the next day. Tatkal booking opens at sharp 10 am all over India, but the tickets are all exhausted in the first 10 minutes. It is all way too risky. People start forming a queue at the railway station gate from 4 am onwards! When we heard that, we were in disbelief - 6 hours of standing in a queue?! But we wanted our tickets anyhow and decided to take the advice seriously.
We are not regretting. When Meghu and I reached the Delhi Cantonment Railway Station at 4:10 am, we learnt that there were 2 queues, one for ladies and one for men. I thanked myself for deciding to accompany Meghu, because I turned out to be second in the ladies' queue! At what time did the first lady arrive? 3 am.
And the men? Meghu had 7 guys ahead of him. 5 of them had reached the station at 8 pm the previous night, and spread a sheet and slept out on the ground only.
Getting Tatkal tickets is seriously a grand struggle. The probability of getting a ticket, the wait time, the unnatural hours at which you must queue up....... and the weather.
Delhi winters are killing. I was wearing a monkey cap, gloves, woollen stole, sweater, jacket and socks. And was still shivering. My body is still hurting from having to pass those 6 hours in such cold! Plus, no place to sit.
None. I had anticipated that Meghu and I would take turns to stand in the queue. But we ended up standing in 2 different ones, and there was not a single bench in sight. I was equipped with winterwear, but I wasn't carrying anything to sit on! The woman after me had luckily brought an old durrie. She spread it on the ground and happily shared it with me and the first lady. She also had her 3 year old son bravely withstanding the cold. I was so touched and in admiration. She shared her Umbrella with us... How much ever she could.
Then she wanted to go to the loo. She left her son in the first lady's care, who literally took the child in her lap, covered him with her shawl, held him close to her bosom like a mother would, and tried to pacify him as he woke up to find out that his mummy was gone. She rocked him, cajoled him, and eventually took him to the mother in the loo. ...... Now she had opened her Umbrella.
This first lady had also shared her story with me, invited me to sit on the durrie, given very helpful information about the Tatkal Procedure, and when THE moment at the counter came, she helped me count out cash quickly so that I wouldn't delay other people in the queue (every second is crucial).
And I was watching all the time how in harsh conditions too, some human beings choose to keep their humanity and have generous hearts. That was touching. For my part, I was struggling with the cold and lack of sleep most of the time. But I took my opportunities too. Shared my biscuits with both ladies, played with the child, assisted the first lady to find the right counter, and when the whole hall was crowded, we brought her out safely after we had bought our tickets. Then Meghu suggested we keep her company while she waited for her husband to get tickets and come out (both had to be buying tickets, they were a largish family). She was touched too.
Everybody had been helping each other, and sharing others' joy of getting confirmed tickets. It was such a heartwarming experience. I am humbled by the love flowing between complete strangers. I have yet to let this love flow so freely through me. I have so much learn.
I will never undergo this Tatkal Trial ever again, at least I don't want to endure the wait. But I am thankful that the whole experience was rewarding - I got the tickets I so badly wanted, and I saw Love in action.
I have learnt today that when we see others give selflessly, compassion in us can get switched on too. Vicariously or directly. You try to reciprocate the gesture, you end up giving more, and happily so. Then the other one responds. And before you know, a cycle of giving freely has started. It is immensely joyful.
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