When Almighty Decides, You Better Surrender

I've always been an agnostic & very proudly boasted of the fact but there are times when a situation comes which tend to make you believe in superpower or let me confess "Power of ALMIGHTY".

Me and my friends had made a plan couple of weeks ago to visit "Vaishno Devi"(one of the most sacred pilgrimage for Hindus and those who are followers of Mata(Goddess), its the holiest place to visit). The last time I visit a holy place was when I was under the complete influence of my mother and she took me to birth place of sai baba- Shirdi and puttaparthi. After that, leave pilgrimages I've always tried to avoid Holy functions at my house. Only time I come is to eat sweets which are distributed after being offered to God.

This time also visit to Vaishno Devi was no realization of God, it was more of an adventure trip, because of what I've heard from my friends who have been there numerous times that Vaishno Devi is situated at high altitude and reaching there is an all together different feeling and after that there is a place called patnitop to explore which is at a further higher altitude.

Excitement level was increasing as the day to leave for "Vaishno devi" was approaching. Railway tickets were almost confirmed even-though it was a holiday season and waiting list was long but in India you need not worry about these things till the time you have contacts and same was the case with us as one of my friend's(Parikshit aka pari who was also part of this adventure trip) father is in Railways.

Finally the much awaited day arrived and excitement reached its peak. Train was scheduled at 2100hrs. I reached office at 10:00am and upon reaching there saw that the techie guy was working on one of the workstation to fix the computer. Me and my colleague were thrilled to see that as we were sharing a workstation for past 1 week. "Its one of those rare good day" I was saying to myself suddenly when techie guy said that computer is fixed but internet won't work as there is some problem with LAN card. Computer without internet is like body without soul. That rare good day thought suddenly changed into an indication of bad luck. Then started working and in between attended numerous calls from Namit(who was in panipat at that time and was supposed to join us in between the journey). Left for home at 1600 hrs and after reaching home got a call from pari that tickets aren't confirmed. This happened first time that pari's dad could not confirm the tickets and was an indication enough to let my Grandma speak the famous 'Vaishno Devi' line- "Jab tak mata nahi bulati koi ja nahi sakta". Its a very famous and familiar line and is always bang on but I thought that today I'll prove it wrong.

Call session again started and this time it was a conference including me, pari, namit & hemant. A mutual decision was taken that now we'll go via bus and will pick namit from highway at panipat. Now I had to meet pari & hemant at lajpat nagar which is only 7 min walking from my home but that day road was jammed as never before. As a result it took me 20-25 min to reach there and it was already 1930hrs. Then as usual finding auto is quite a task at office hours but we somehow managed to find 1 in next 5 min and without much debate for fare left for Inter State Bus Depot. Luck had some other plans that day as auto suddenly fell short of CNG and we had to wait for good 20 min at gas station. Namit was continuously calling for every second updates. Varun(who was also goin with us to vaishno devi) was already waiting for us at Bus Depot. In between Auto driver overheard us & said that he can arrange for bus tickets to Vaishno Devi. Any help in tense situation is always welcome and he took us to to small travel agent near Red Fort. Travel agent was ready to arrange 5 tickets with few hundreds extra. We didn't mind spending a little extra money as going to Vaishno Devi was a priority now but the moment we were about to pay him Varun called from bus Depot and said that tickets are available at Bus Depot also. That seemed a much more reliable option. After wasting another 15 min we finally reached Bus Depot and got tickets(they were more costly than Travel agent's offer.. Corruption in india is only thing that increases exponentially.. Factors like time and place have no effect on its growth).

So finally we were going to Vaishno Devi- yipee(was the only expression after so much trouble). But destiny had some other plans. Bus which was scheduled for departure at 2230hrs started its engine at 2245 hrs and when it started it never really started.. Bus Driver said this bus can't go with AC on. Passengers were as much desperate as we were and all unanimously agreed for to go without A.C but desperation can't overcome the power of money as everyone now wanted Rs500 as non AC bus charges Rs550 & we have given Rs 1200 each. Everyone wanted Rs 500 back. Bus owner agreed for a while and bus got started & after travelling mere 1 km Bus owner said he'll only give Rs 200. All hell broke lose and people revolted.. these are the only situation which proves India's "Unity in diversity" tag line. Bus Driver returned all the money(i.e Rs 1200 each to every passenger). He now wanted time to think that if he'll run it for Rs 700. It was 2345hrs and he had all reasons to make people accept his conditions. We had enough of this bus. We picked our luggage and went again to the Bus Depot. We were looking for some mediator as 1 guy shouted "Katra Katra"(this is the place from where visit to Vaishno Devi starts barefoot) as if he'll take everyone on his shoulders & fly to katra. We asked him in how much time will the bus leave and the cost. The over-smart lad started giving history of bus-"This bus was AC, it got some problem and now it will..... bla bla". We couldn't stop laughing as we had just came down from the same bus which was never supposed to leave before morning. All we could reply to him was an expression- "Take that". Namit's calls were now irritating as we had already gone through so much and his stupid instructions on phone were like hitting hammer on ears.

We decided to gave it 1 last chance by 1st going to chandigarh and then make some arrangements from there. But wait till you see the rush of people at 12 in the midnight to go to chandigarh. It seemed as if Delhi was under the threat of Tsunami and everyone wanted to rush to chandigarh. Pari was brave enough to break the line and go directly till the counter but punjabis in the line were no rats. Some of them started abusing and 1 even got hold of pari's collar. We also wanted to take out our frustration. After some serious scuffle we decided to let it go and go back to our place.

We were about to leave the Bus Depot but suddenly from nowhere 1 cab driver approached us as a glimpse of hope. He was ready to take us to chandigarh for Rs2500. Destiny today was not not only testing our nerves but was also was in funny mood. Cab was Indica & could arrange only 4 people beside driver but we had to pick namit as well from panipat. Namit was all fired up on phone and left no stone unturned to convince us. But we had now understood the omens and left for our home.

It not only made me realize that faith is no substitute for fun and being an agnostic is no matter of pride but also that when Almighty decides something for you, you better surrender yourself.