When every single guy from CBE took leave on monday to get a 4 day holiday, I used the opportunity to book ticket from Mettupalayam to Chennai though my boarding point is Coimbatore since it had greater chance for confirmation. My instinct went true and my ticket got confirmed. Had a suprise meeting with PKV Sir, Pramodh Sir, DB and Mr.Shanshank, which was great and left towards CBE Railway Station at 8.00 to catch my favorite train.
I reached Station by 8.20 and to my suprise the 12672 hasnt been arrived. Since my Coach is S3 i had to take a long walk towards the end of the platform. And I saw something which PKV complained to me half an hour...
more... back. Yes. A Second subway is being constructed to reduce the load on the only availiable subway.
As I walked through the platform 16610-CBE NCJ express was ready to depart from pf#5. Then around 8.40 Pm my train came. To my Suprise MTP coaches were full from MTP and TTE was in present and also checked tickets. Grrr.. I thought.. But no one was sitting on my seat which gave me quitee comfortabity that TTE dint allotted my seat to anyone.
By around 8.55 NCJ CBE passenger came into the first platform and halted.. By 9.10 with 15 mintues late My train departed form pf2. I stood near door and even before the train crossed CBF, RPF police came and asked me to go the seat so that he can close the door. He dint wait for the answer. He closed the door and went. My seat was 72 though was asked to change to 8 by a group of female passengers so that they can be together for which I obliged and changed. Luckily the seat was above TTE seat. TTE was a good natured person. He tried his level best to allot berths to all RAC though there were many intrudruers asking for a berth. One person begged to give atleast a RAC seat. For which TTE got angry and said I am doing duty even without having dinner why are you torturing me like this. RPF were rightly doing job by pulling out everyone when ever people came near to TTE. Since door was locked and being SU, I know nothing more is gonna happen so went to sleep.
When I woke up at around 12.30, TTE was awake marking or writing something in Chart. He has given berths to most RAC i suppose. Note that he waited upto ED before marking the person Absent.
When I woke up at 4.30 due to movement of people many were packed and were set to alight. So i too joined them. Poor TTE was sleeping then. I quited crawed down and checked the place, Train was now just outside BBQ and from there slowly came to pf#5 of MAS at 5.10-5 minutes late.
Overall It was nice journey taking into account of the TTE's Plight which was usaully not noticed..
