Walk The Line

Captain Edward A. Murphy was one astute thinker. A person who can come up with “If anything can go wrong, it will”, a great fact of life, is most definitely deep, I'd say. This morning, when I had awakened, I had felt quite confident that an extra hour of sleep would not be a problem, seeing that my classes were to start later than usual today. So, I did not rush about getting ready for the day, I did not leave home with my father and I also indulged in an hour at the computer before leaving for classes at ten.

Now considering that my first class began at forty past eleven, leaving at ten would appear to leave me with ample time on my hands. However, that was not how events unfolded. “If anything just cannot go wrong, it will anyway.” How perceptive of Murphy!

The moment I stepped out of the human-mixer ’n’ grinder that is a rickshaw, I was greeted by a humungous traffic jam on the main road. Boarding an auto was akin to jostling, or rather, ‘haggling’ for fish and vegetables in the market. With ten people scrambling to get into one tiny seat next to the driver, I was reminded of the admissions-scenario where there were at least ten students vying for one seat in the colleges of their choice. I also had to change ship twice before I could reach the metro station and move closer to my hallo we’d destination.

“Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.” I was forced to take a long detour from my intended path, got nicely cooked inside the two autos and then nearly got lost while walking from the unfamiliar auto-stand to an equally unfamiliar metro station. By then, it was eleven o' clock and precious time had been lost.

The journey from one metro station to another was rather uneventful. I was lucky enough to spend all of it sitting and the stations seemed to come by quickly enough. “If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.” I had. The time! It was already half past eleven when I got off at the station nearest my destination. I had ten minutes to complete a normally fifteen minute walk and climb up the stairs to my classroom on the fourth floor. So, I did the only thing I could think of that that moment. I ran.

I suppose people must’ve stared quite a bit as I sped along the pavement like the white rabbit from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and recklessly pushed my way through two-somes and three-somes walking along an otherwise peaceful path, muttering imprecations all the while. And I also suppose that it is some sort of a record to cover that stretch of street in five minutes flat.

Nevertheless, I am rather surprised that I did not drop down dead when I arrived in class, red-faced, panting and out of breath. Thankfully, I had arrived with the teacher and was spared being ‘late’.

After that, I settled into the lesson (which was amazingly absorbing XD) and heaved (quite literally) a sigh of relief, assuming that the worst had passed. Sadly, just towards the close of class, bloody Airlet (yes, it is intentional … do not question) decided to call me up, probably to let me know, for the hundredth time that I can do some rubbish (read: pay Airlet money) to support the Indian cricket team. It was extremely embarrassing, not to mention infuriating!

The rest of the day was comparatively calmer. My classes were (surprisingly) very interesting and I must admit that I am pleased. The only other blot on the horizon was coming home in an auto which had ridiculous fluorescent green and orange seats and shocking pink decorations hanging from the ceiling. Definite eye-sores, they were, oh yes!

Right now, after ample application of my lungs and legs, I am aching all over. Hopefully, it will all be better by tomorrow.