Planning a Trip with Friends: Part 2

Why does it always have to be the last moments when we remember crucial things? Hearing this, one of my friends answered that it is universally bound to happen. Before death, everyone remembers the most crucial things of their life. Before he could elaborate further, I stopped him and said that I was not talking about death. It was the train tickets that I was talking about.

To reach our desired destination, we had to buy train tickets, but we got so engrossed in planning and convincing our parents we completely forgot how we would go to Darjeeling. Hearing this, the three of my decided trip buddies said that it was no big deal and we would buy them now. I saw how happy they were and was waiting for the moment when their hopes got shattered.

I was sitting in a corner while the three of them went online to search for tickets. It was exactly 3 minutes 47 seconds later that they came to me and said there was no train available for the next three months. I looked at them and said that this was the exact thing I wanted to tell them. But they were so over-confident that I could not break their bubble.

One of the girls suggested to check airplane tickets. They were about to look for it, but I said that plane tickets are thrice more expensive and the airport is about 250 km from our destinations. It would have brought great pleasure for me to ruin their plan, but I was also a part of the trip, so it felt as if I was shooting arrows through my heart.

A couple of weeks passed since the train ticket incident. We became so gloomy that the professors called our parents and advised them to take us to a therapist or do some fun activities. Even the Café owner was concerned as to why we were not wasting any money on a glass of black water, otherwise known as coffee.

Days were passing by and we all became a body without mind. One fine day, I heard my parents talk about a certain neighbor of ours going on a vacation to Darjeeling. The couple had a son and a daughter and would leave for Darjeeling in 5-6 days. Even though they did everything on time, I could not help but get angry at how lucky they were (even though it was more proper planning for them than just luck).

For once in my life, I prayed with all my heart that something would happen, and somehow, the tickets would land in our hands. Miraculously, my prayers reached God (or so I think), and my neighbor's uncle' daughter became ill. I thought to myself, maybe I prayed a little too hard. Nonetheless, it was never my intention to hurt the little girl.

I, along with my parents, went to the neighbor's house to see how the girl was. Thankfully, she was recovering quite fast. We talked with her for a while and went to the next room to let her rest. We learned that she was suffering from a viral fever. While the adults were conversing, I was looking for the best moment to bring my Darjeeling.

Finding the perfect moment, I told my father that I wouldn't be able to go to Darjeeling with my friends since there were no tickets available. Hearing Darjeeling, the neighbor's uncle asked how many of us were planning to go there. I said four, including me. He patted my shoulder and said that I mentioned it in the nick of time since he was going to cancel the ticket after we went home.

Since I was a good human being (only on the outside) by acted as if I was ready to decline the offer. With a little effort, Uncle said that I am your elder, so do not bother saying no to me. Then he handed the soft copy of the tickets to me and said we would go some next time. For now, you and your friends enjoy. While walking back home, I almost cried with joy. My father gave me a look and said, "You are quite a slimy one." After saying this, I could see a smirk on his face. I immediately called my friends and said, "Darjeeling is on, and we leave in 2 days."

If you haven't read Part 1, click here.