Jumping Off a Running Train - A Fit of Insanity!!!

It is said that when a person is caught in a tight situation, he/she resorts to desperate measures. I’ve gone through a few of such situations myself, this perhaps being the most memorable one….

A Novice in an Unknown Kingdom!
It’s been pretty long. But I can remember it as though it happened yesterday – perhaps this particular memory got engraved and embossed in my cerebral hemisphere. I was a fresher at college then – with no idea of the outer world – meaning the Andhra world. And I ended up in Warangal – a place I never even imagined I’d go to. Well, I maybe I was destined to go there to ‘study-while-suffering’. Well, it has been quite a fun-filled ride, marred by occasional occurrences of undesirable incidents!

Changing 3 Trains – Whom to Blame???
The most unfortunate bit about studying in Warangal is the lack of a convenient mode of travel. Buses are there, of course but I’ve never been happy travelling by bus. So the only option left was train – and I, having always loved travelling by train, was always game for it. But when faced by reality, the balloon of enthusiasm deflated in a jiffy!

There were no direct trains suitable to my time of travel as I had to a catch a train on Sunday so I can attend college on Monday. And as fate would have it, the direct trains were scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. So, having no choice, I had to change trains in the midst of my journey. The worst part – the train from Bangalore doesn’t go till Secunderabad, only till Kacheguda. So I’ve to catch a local train for that little part too. Then a third one from Secunderabad to Kazipet (it being the closest station to my college). You are full of thoughts as to why you didn’t stay at home longer. Then attending college – yuk! Life can’t be worse!!!

“Wish I had Studied the Geography of Secunderabad!!!”
They say a man learns from his mistakes – I learned a few things that day! So I was en route to college. Got down at Kacheguda and was waiting for the local train to go to Secunderabad. Back then I’d no idea whether I had to catch the train going left or right. Anyways, one train came. I knew not a single word in telugu then, so I tried asking a few people in English. Most of them wither didn’t know English or had no idea where the train was going. So I tried my luck at the enquiry counter – one idiot (I wouldn’t hesitate to punch him right on his face, but unfortunately I don’t remember his face. Geez!) told me the train would go to Secunderabad, while in fact it was coming from there. So I get on. Then as the next stop passes by, I wonder “This station wasn’t in the way when I travelled the last time”.

I wasn’t inclined to trust anyone. So I called my dad and asked. Bingo! He said I was going the opposite way. By then the train had stopped at its next stop and was departing. My dad’s voice rang in my head,”Get off that train!!!” So what did I do – perhaps the most insane thing I’ve ever done in my life! I grabbed my travel bag and jumped off!!!
(This incident had me wishing I knew the different stations in Secunderabad and I did find out in the coming days.)

Saved by Sheer Luck!!!
It could’ve resulted is quite a disaster but I got away; just with a couple of scratches I guess. Fortunately I managed to jump off before the train left the platform so I sort of went crashing down on to the cement floor. Man, was I fortunate! So I was able to get up on my feet no problem. I still remember a lady in the train shrieking as I prepared to “take the dive”. Count my lucky stars!

Well, I had to catch the 6 o’clock train from Secunderabad railway station. So I had no choice but to catch an auto. And he swiped me clean of 200 bucks – well, guess it’s better than ending up in hospital with the half the body covered in bandages. So I finally managed to reach college and attend the 10 o’clock class. Phew! Wasn't it a relief!


An ordinary day going haywire, but saved by the flick of fortune!!!