Personal Experience: "Most Embrassing Moment of My Life"

It was April 13, 2007 friday evening (I remember this date exactly because i have to leave to US on 21st night), i was to catch my bus to Hyderabad 8:00 pm @ Majestic (In bangalore we call Bus Stand as Majestic). Completed my work early and went to room (I used to stay in a room @ Electronic City), Packed my luggage and started to Majestic. Had good amount of luggage so had to take an auto, i had not other choice.

Reached Majestic @ 7:00 pm and was waiting for my Bus (Volvo Bus which leaves at 8:00 pm). I had gone for this specifically as it goes directly to ECIL. I stay near to this area. At around 7:30 i started enquiring about Bus to one of the APSRTC official (They stand near APSRTC stand in completely white outfits). He said that theres a huge traffic and buses will arrive late. Again enquired at 7:45 and got the same answer. When i got the same reply @ 8:00 i panicked but had the confidence as the person saying this was a APSRTC official.

Later at 8:15 i wanted to make sure whether the bus has arrived. I asked him whether 8:15 bus arrived, he showed the bus in front of him. I was shocked and told him that i was looking for a 8:00 pm volvo bus. He said that volvo buses stand opposite to this place. I requested few of the passengers waiting for antoher bus to look after my luggage. I hurried there and found that i missed the bus. I came at 7:45 and left @ 8:10. It was first of its kind for me and didnt know what to do next. I went to the apsrtc office and told the same. They told me to first cancel the ticket within one hour of scheduled departure of bus. If i cancel it with in one hour i will get 75% money back.

And again requested the same people to look after my luggage. By the time i got to know about this, it was 8:45. I went to the counter took a form and filled all the details and stood in the queue. at 8:55 i requested people ahead of me told them that situation they agreed. I gave my form to the person to cancel the ticket and refund my money. He said that its already past 9:00 pm and i am not eligible for refund. I showed him the time and all the people in queue agreed that it want 9:00 still. But that guy arrogantly said that in his watch its past 9:00. I had a quarrel with him. But all the people consoled me that he is like that and told not to obstruct the people standing in queue.

I wanted to get a ticket to hyderabad for ordinary bus. To my horror i didnt had much money. I enquired about ATM's near by majestic. There was only State Bank of India (SBI) ATM near by. It was over crowded, if i try to withdraw from that i will miss the last bus to Hyderabad. I was sweating heavily (when ever i am tenses i sweat a lot). When i went to collect my luggage, the poeple who were looking after my luggage enquired about my situation and felt sad. I didnt take help from them, but the one of the girl came farward and gave me 400/- rs. I wanted to say no but how can i. I have to go to hyderabad to do pruchases for my "First US Trip". I accepted the amount and told her that first thing i will do when i come back to bangalore is repay your amount. I asked her cell number, she refused started walking. I followed her and took her number. I said thank you for all the people who looked after my luggage and left to catch a bus to hyderabad.

I got another bus to hyderabad, luckily there will be 2 seats available (These seats are always available in APSRTC buses, these seats are some quota seats where driver and conductor can sell during departure time). When everything was set, i sat in my seat relaxed. I thought i shoudl talk to her and get to know her. I tried to search her number, this is where i cruse myself even now. I lost her number. You might be thinking how i might have lost her number, when its stored in my cell.

The cell phone which i was using at that time was my birthday gift from my brother. I didnt know exactly how to operate it. It is a sony ericsson 810i model. When i dialled the number and pressed more which will be on right hand side. I got the save number option, but in nokia when we say save it will ask the name and it will save immediately. But in sony ericsson it asks for further details. Thats where i thought i saved her number and pressed back button few times to clear the screen. This way i lost her number.

When i coudnt find her number, i was dijected. I felt really bad and the pain was unbearable. I felt really bad as i have done one of the worst things in my life. I still fear that they might be thinking me as a cheater and might not help other people in need.

After completing my shopping during weekend, i came to back to bangalore and send out a unanimous mail to all the friends i know. But still i havent got any reply from the person i am waiting for. That weekend i left to US for the first time. This should have to be one of the happiest moment of my life, but throughout my stay in US i coudnt forget this incident and still i cant forget the thought of cheating good people who helped me.

These are the Important thing i learned from this incident:
* When you wait for a APSRTC bus check the service number and enquire with more than one person

* look for appropriate place wrt ordinary or volvo. Because APSRTC ordinary and Volvo buses stand separately.

* If you miss your bus dont forget to cancel the ticket within one hour of ur scheduled departure.


* Keep extra money when you are travelling even though you have confirmed ticket and you reached the destination before hand.

* When you ask any person their phone number, dial the number and then once call that person and then try to save the number. If incase you havent saved the number you find the number in recent call list.

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Personal Experience: "Sudden Trip to Pedana"

On Wednesday 26th November' 2008 as usual i was working on my current project. I got a call from home (Hyderabad), that my uncle (Fathers younger sisters husband) has passed away due to Heart Attack. I was in a total shock as i saw him recently at my brothers marriage (September 22nd), he was hale and healthy. All sweet memories with him were flashing in my memory. Learnt that he will be cremated in pedana (Village near machilipatnam).

Then started enquiring for all the bus services (Public\Private) about the ticket availabilty to Vijayawada. We dont have direct buses to Pedana. To go to pedana, we have to go to vijayawada and from there to machilipatnam and from there to pedana. I searched online for availability of tickets. I got a link http://www.kesinenitravels.com/ through which i could know buses leaving to Vijaywada from bangalore. I didnt know that we have a site for online private bus bookings (I generally plan my schedule well ahead and book train tickets). I havent booked ticket online as i was not sure whether i can reach the bus on time.

I got a phone number of kesinenu travels @ kalasipalya 25527396. I asked if they have any bus leaving from koramangala as i stay there. There was one bus service (diwakar) which was leaving @ 5:30 pm from koramangala. I asked him to reserve a seat and will pay the amount as i reach there, but he didnt accept and told me to come to office to reserve the ticket.

It was already 4:00 in office and at once i closed all my work and took permission from Ravi (Team Lead) and started to bus stop. As soon as i reached bus stop got a volvo bus still check post (Near Forum). From there jogged to room and took my bag and came to Sri Venkateshwara travels, koramangala @ 5:15. I got a ticket and boarded the bus @ 5:45 pm.

Journey was all fine until midnight 1:00 am. As it was raining heavily Vovlvo bus got hit by a branch of a tree and glass was broken. As the driver applied breaks at once, bus was locked (In volvo buses there is a central locking mechanism which will come into picture when there is a sudden stop to vehicle). Bus drivers (There were two) and cleaner broke the whole front glass and jumped out of the window and tried to open the door from outside. At last with one of the co passengers advice they opened the screws of the door and completely removed the door. After all this drivers took a brave a decision to go on without font glass as it was still raining.

Cleaner tied few blankets in between the driver seat and passengers seats. So, we passengers not get the chilled blown air. After one hour of dicussions and suggesstions bus started, but it was not going at its normal speed as driver was not able to bear the rain and air blown into him while driving. With all these things finally bus reached Vijayawada @ 11 am.

From there i took a auto to Vijaywada Bus stand @ 10 rs. As soon as i reached Bus stand took a non-stop ticket to machilipatnam. I had 5 mins of time in between where i had my break fast. I reached machilipatnam @ 12:45 near lakshmi takies. There i got a city service and reached pedana @ 1:00 pm. But funeral was already done @ 11:00. According to our family customs and traditions we dont keep bodies more than 24 hours.

Met aunt and consoled her, but she was unconsolable. Then Abba (Dad) took me to the burial ground where uncle (May his soul rest in peace) was buried. I was late by 2 hours or else would have seen him for one last time.
Dad showed few places where our fore fathers (May there souls rest in peace) were buried. Our family origin is from pedana, all our forefathers (May there souls rest in peace) hail from pedana. That's why everyones last wish will be to get buried at the same place.

Then met all our family members and came back to machilipatnam @ 3 pm, me and abba had chapathi near by tiffin center at Lakshmi Takies. Went to my grand fathers place which is quite adjacent to police head quarters in machilipatnam. Had shower then started to vijaywada @ 5 pm with ammi, abba and few relatives in qualis who had come from Hyderabad. They left me in vijaywada @ 7 pm and they Proceeded to Hyderbad.

I got a ticket to Bengaluru @ 8 pm Bus, in the mean time had tiffin. Bus came @ 8:15 pm and once all the passengers settled it started and reached Bengaluru the next day @ 10 am. Reached room @ 11:00 and got ready and started to office.