by C.V.Rajan

Created on: August 11, 2010   Last Updated: September 03, 2010

Catching the midnight train was something that Daniel always detested. The Central Rail Station was twenty kilometers away from his suburban home. Local suburban station was 3 kilometers away.  It was always difficult to get an auto-rickshaw at the late hours to reach the suburban station from where he had to take the Metro Rail to reach the Central.

In his current financial status, engaging a taxi to go straight to the Central was unthinkable. Either he had to start too early , or get tensed up due to delays in getting an auto-rickshaw or due to the lack of frequency in the metro-rail service as night advances. The early night sleep had to be sacrificed.

Today was particularly a tiring day at his workshop. As one of his colleagues took leave, Daniel’s supervisor insisted that Daniel should do 3 hours overtime that day. Daniel reached home only at 8 PM. After finishing dinner, he felt too tired to start immediately.

“Let me start just one and half hours before the scheduled departure time today” he thought. Providing for all possible delays, he could reach the Central at least 10 minutes in advance. He kept his luggage well packed and ready and cross checked the ticket. ‘Date: 12th August; correct – today’s date. Departure time: 12:30 AM. Perfect.  Coach Number A3, berth number 34 – good, my lucky number!’ Daniel relaxed in his couch, switched on the TV and before he knew, the day’s tiring workload took its toll - he went fast asleep.

-

The train had already started moving when Daniel landed in the platform. He had to take a sprint and virtually jump into the compartment.

“Oh! You are fully drenched in sweat! Landed up at the last minute?” inquired the Ticket Examiner as Daniel proffered the ticket moist with sweat from his pocket. “Yeah. I had dozed off and when I woke up, I just had less than enough time to travel the 20 kilometers to reach here. It was nightmare, you see. A near miss!”

“I am afraid it’s a total miss, Mister. It is 12:30AM, just past the midnight of  12th August - your date of journey as per this ticket. Now the date is 13th. Either pay for a new ticket or get down in the next station”

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