The Aj Effect: Trip to Mangalore : Part 1: Jafeel's Heroics

Tour itinerary:
Members: Jafeel and Ajay(myself)

12th July 2055 hrs: Train Bangalore - Mangalore
13th July 1130 hrs: Bus Mangalore - Murdeshwar
1730 hrs: Bus Murdeshwar - Kumta
14th July 2130 hrs: Bus Kumta - Bangalore

So, you expect a very comfortable, boring trip of two days?
If you expected the above, you are totally out of target.

It was more of a ‘RUN, RUN and RUN’ kind of trip.

Vokay, let’s start our journey…

12th July 2008 : 7.50 pm
I boarded Chennai Express to Bangalore City Railway Station from Cantonment.
I call up Jafeel and he has just left his residence.

After half an hour, I’m at platform 9 waiting for Jafeel.

8.25 pm: Jafeel’s still in Hudson Circle traffic jam.

Half an hour left for the departure of the train and I’m feeling bored(specially sitting with my mouth shut – a difficult task)

Crashed my mobile twice and on restarting, I notice the time to be 8.40pm and still no trace of Mr. Jafeel. Remember that the scheduled train departure is 8.55pm.
For the first time in my life, I was praying that the train run at least half an hour late.

I call up Jafeel and still he has not made it to the Railway Station and only 5 minutes left for the arrival of the train.

Jafeel’s doing a half marathon from Hudson Circle to platform nine (extreme end of the station)..
I started thinking about the KSRTC bus service to Mangalore.

Train has arrived and where is our Jafeel?
Only Jafeel and God know ;)

It’s 8.55 pm and train may start anytime.
Latest news: Jafeel is in station and needs to come to platform nine.

Atlast, our man Mr.Jafeel makes it to platform nine and is panting heavily.

Just after 94 seconds of his arrival, the train starts.

We decide to get into General even though we had a reserved ticket.
‘Getting into the train was our main priority’.

Hmmm, Jafeel is exhausted. We decide to change the compartment in the next stop.
It’s 9.35 pm and we are enjoying the benefits of General compartments:
Free passive smoking, Free Career advice, Free soft skills training and what not 

9.45 pm: Train seems to be slowing down and when we thought it’ll stop, it gains in speed.

10.02 pm: First signs of Yawning.

10.43 pm: Atlast we get our seats. Beauty is my seat is cancelled and I’m traveling in the name of JD. He he

11.45 pm: Fifteen minutes since we are in Mysore. Jafeel is hungry and gets a pack of biscuits forgetting that he has badam, kishmish, chips in his bag.

13th July 08 Sunday, 8am I open my eyes to see Jafeel awake.

8.45 am: We reach Mangalore station. Two minutes ago, the girl sleeping in the opposite berth gets down.
I’m reluctant to get down immediately thinking ‘what will people think if I get down as soon as she got down’.
Jafeel shouts, “Abey! Mangalore aa gaya!!!”
Then I get down and narrate what I was thinking… ;)

We call Sandeep(the bridegroom) and confirm the itinerary.

By 11 am, we are ready having refreshed ourselves in a hotel (Forgot the name)
Fifteen minutes later, done with masala dosa and avlakki (breakfast).
Caught an auto and reached the bus depo.

12.06 pm: Just crossed NIT, Suratkal.
12.13 pm: Checking map for Mulki… Crossed mulki.
12.39 pm: Feeling sleepy, listening to songs.
1.17 pm: Just crossed Kallianpur.
2.06 pm: We stop at Kundapur for lunch.

3.34 pm: Reach Murdeshwar. Took an auto to beach.