A funny thing happened with an acquaintance of mine.
She had never boarded a long distance train alone before. She had to go towards Bombay side and had a 3A ticket in Kushinagar Express. Couple of folks went to the local station to drop her off[and personally see her into the train]. Kushinagar arrives at Babhnan before Avadh Express [another Bombay bound train]. That day, Kushinagar was delayed and Avadh Express arrived first. They stupidly put her in that train. They later claimed that there was no announcement and that there...
more... was only announcement for a Barauni bound train[which they said was for LJN-BJU; Avadh Express also starts from BJU so they can miss it].
But what they can't miss is different terminals [both starting and ending points] and names of the two trains. Still, both proper educated folks, put her in the wrong train. Still, her 3A SL berth was empty and she traveled upto Gonda station where the TTE came and told her that she had boarded the wrong train. The Kushinagar by this time had caught up with Avadh Express and she could have theoretically changed at Gonda but she didn't. So, the TTE advised her to get down at Lucknow [where she knew folks] and then return next day. Kushinagar had already gone away ahead, so no chance of switching trains at Lucknow[Aishbagh].
please wait...Translate to HindiMere ek jaan pehchaan waale ke saath ek majedaar baat hui.
woh pehle kabhi akele lambi doori ki train mein safar nahi ki thi. unhe Bombay ki taraf jaana tha aur unke paas Kushinagar Express mein 3A ka ticket tha. kuch log unhe station chhodne gaye the. Kushinagar, Avadh Express se pehle Babhnan aa jati hai. us din Kushinagar late thi aur Avadh Express pehle aa gayi. un logon ne bewakoofi se unhe us train mein bitha diya. baad mein unhone kaha ki koi announcement nahi hua tha aur sirf Barauni jaane wali train ka announcement hua tha.
lekin woh dono trains ke alag alag platforms aur naam toh nahin bhool sakte the. phir bhi, dono sahi se padhe likhe log, unhe galat train mein bitha diye. fir bhi, unka 3A ka sleeper berth khali tha aur woh Gonda station tak gayi jahaan TTE ne unhe bataya ki woh galat train mein aa gayi hain. is waqt tak Kushinagar, Avadh Express se aage nikal chuki thi aur woh Gonda pe theoretically train badal sakti thi, lekin unhone nahi badli. toh TTE ne unhe Lucknow utarne aur phir agle din vapas aane ko kaha. Kushinagar phir aage nikal chuki thi, toh Lucknow pe train badalne ka koi mauka nahi raha.