I hurriedly finished packing and in even more haste packed up everything that was there in the room. Then I looked at my laptop and then at my now in a dilapidated state laptop bag, and then looked at the poor laptop that would have to either travel in one of the 2 already over full bags or in that laptop bag that hardly looked like it was in a state of carry it. I decided to put the legendary culcom rope to some use and tied the laptop bag to ensure it would hold its own and then sadly packed the laptop in it.
It was around 5pm and I was ready to leave, I had to take care of some more loose ends before leaving, which I did with a little hiccough and then I left for the railway station along with Preethi and Iti, who were headed to the city for a little after end term celebration. Packed food and the regular take home lassis. Then we were heading towards the train, but there was a very long line for the platform tickets and Preethi was in one of those “lets not break the law” moods, so after waiting for a few minutes we decided that I would miss the train if they waited any longer. So unwillingly Preethi and a more willing Iti came on the platform and made sure I got on the train and all that. I then saw them both stealthily sneak out of station (remember they dint have platform tickets) and then I retired into the AC three Tire coach B2 of the so well known train mandore express.
The train took of on time and I had just settled down and started listening to some music when along came Krithika and Sindhu who were in S1, we chatted for some time and then I went along with them to meet Roopal who was sitting in B1. This was all very usual on this train on the last day of the semester, everywhere there were students, some chatting, some watching movies on laptops, others roaming from one coach to another in search for other friends, it was like NLUs Hogwarts express.
At around 9pm Sindhu and Krithika remembered that they had seats in the sleeper coach and in a while the gate that connected the two classes would be closed and then they would be stuck in the AC compartment till Jaipur. So we bid Roopal good bye and went back to our respective coaches. I was feeling much better now but the fever had left its weakness and I decided that I could do with some extra sleep, so I finished the sandwich I had packed and went to the top birth set an alarm for 5am ( that’s when the train normally reached Gurgaon) and went to sleep.
Suddenly I was shaken awake.
To be continued …
