“The World is a Book and those who don’t travel read only one page.”- Augustine of HIPPO
Travelling solo or in company can give various experiences depending upon the purpose of travel.
Some travels may be very enjoyable, some adventurous, some educational and some most memorable. They remain etched in our memory. Solo travel is a bit boring and may turn out to be adventurous too if you happen to face some unexpected challenges. I have faced some tense moments in my solo travels which I consider to be adventurous. Chronicling all the episodes may run into pages. I shall stick to one.
It was a chilly November morning around 4.00a.m, when I landed at Agra Cantonment Railway station after a long Solo train journey from Chennai with my 14 months old daughter. The journey was as tiring as it could be. But I was very excited and elated to get down as I was going to join my husband, who was posted at Air Force Station, Agra. He couldn’t make it to the station to receive me.
Imagine the sight of a young woman with an infant child waiting to engage a coolie to collect her luggage from the brake van. All other passengers had departed, and the platform was almost empty.
I was stranded there near the brake van with my heavy luggage (a sewing machine packed in a wooden box and a steel trunk). The railway staff were not satisfied with the receipt that I showed for having weighed my belongings. They weighed the luggage once again and to my horror, asked me to pay fine as the weight exceeded the limit. Incidentally, my brother-in-law in Chennai had failed to weigh my steel trunk. I was asked to pay Rs. 45/- (more than double the normal charges) and poor me. I didn’t have enough cash. I was in despair and was wondering how I could pay. No mobile phone in those days!!!
I was in a dilemma and looked around to see if I could find anyone to help me out. I was overwhelmed to see one Air force personnel who had alighted from the train. He appeared to be God’s messenger who had come to save a damsel in distress. I explained the situation to him, and he readily paid the money for me saying that he would collect it from my husband later as he too was serving in the same unit.
My Savior connected me to the Air Force Guard Room and to my husband. As instructed by him, I reached the Air Force Station in the Posting Truck. Thank God. During all this hullabaloo my little darling daughter was sleeping in my arms!!!
This experience was no less than an Adventure for me!!!
Shared by: Neela Swaminathan
