We were expecting two ladies to arrive at Kottayam Station today. These ladies were to arrive from Pune through an agency that helps people in getting household helps. We were told that the Ladies have got on to the S6 compartment on berth number 41 and 42. They were arriving at 5:25 and so we started from home at 4:30 in the morning to pick them up from the station.
The train was late by about 45 minutes, so we spent time drinking coffee from our flask, reading a news paper and talking to people at the help desks. At the first desk I inquired if they could tell me the coach position. The led displays were not working at that time. The man at the counter was a policeman and hence I didn't not think he would know - yet I took my chances as his kiosk only mentioned help desk. He instructed me to check at the information counter.
The information counter was closed. However there was another kiosk with another policeman. All I wanted was information so I rephrased my question. "Would you be able to tell me the position of S6", I asked. Well he told me that he could tell me the position of the train that leaves but not of the one that arrives. I was happy to have whatever was available. To my surprise he had a chart to refer and he told me that it could be at display number 8. I had no choice but be there.
Thankfully when the train arrived coach S6 did stop at display 8. I went and asked for 'Souiya Maiti'. There was nobody by that name. There was only one lady and by her looks she was a Malayali for sure. I was expecting to see Bengali face. To my dismay they were not in the coach. They could have been moved to a different coach as may happen in India or they might have got down at the wrong station. They were presumably illiterate and might have found it hard to communicate.
I came out of the coach looked into the adjacent coaches and by that time the train left. I ran through the entire station to check if I could spot a couple of worried eyes looking for me. I was just left with mine own to be troubled with. I went back to the helpful help desk Kiosk. This time he asked me to check with the Inquiry Desk. This being at the entrance of the station I ran towards it. I asked them if they could let me know if 'Souiya Maiti' and her companion boarded the train. The lady at the counter told me she couldn't.
She gave me a number 9846200100 to contact to get more information. When the phone was answered the man at the other end asked me to check with the station information desk. When I told him that I got his number from them he told me that they wouldn't be able to tell until the train arrives at Trivandrum it's final destination. I told them that they could check with the TT and help me out. However, they told me that the TT could not be contacted until he arrives at his final duty station. He dind't sound helpful, however, he took my contact details and told me that I would be contacted if there was any information.
I came back to the platform and went straight to the station master. On being told that people were supposedly missing from the train. He told me that he could do nothing. I asked him if he could find out for me if the missing passengers alighted the train. The station master responded by asking a question. "How do you think I would know that?" I maintained my clam and told him that he could check with the TT. "How would the TT know?", he retorted. At this I made a stern face and told him that that was the 'TT' job - to make sure that people who have booked have boarded the train. The station master realised his mistake and told me that he can be contacted only when he reaches Trivandrum. I persisted and asked him if he could refer to the reservation chart and tell me if anybody by the name 'Souiya Maiti' was travelling. He bluntly told me that he could not do that. I saw no point in arguing with somebody not willing to help.
I decided to run over the platform once again to try my luck to spot the ladies. All this while (and even until now about 12 hours from the schedules arrival of the train), we had been unable to contact the agent who had confirmed to us that the ladies had boarded the train. Walking on the platform I saw the office of the RPF (railway police force). I decided to go there as my next hope in getting help for finding the ladies. However, I decided to finish off going to the end of the platform and then return to the RPF.
Unlucky with my search as I ventured to enter the RPF office I saw a policeman in half uniform and half civil dress. I decided to talk to him. To my pleasant surprise as I explained, the policeman had already got the news and he told me that they are already looking for the ladies at Kollam station and elsewhere. Many non-Keralite travelers according to them confuse Kollam for Kottayam. Whatever, it was finally pleasant to learn that the government machinery is helping me out.
I was with my Mom at the station. She's old and must return home for rest. I abandon my search and head homewards with Mom. The agent still remains at large, his phone either remains busy or is switched off. The railway search team reported that no such individuals as reported by me could be traced. Hope there were no real ladies travelling and nobody is at risk. It's dark now and I hope to have a pleasant days tomorrow. Hopefully, the agent will tell us that he had made up a story.
No comments:
Post a Comment