Just in time

I reached the Kharagpur railway station at 5:30 in the morning - 25 minutes before the train's scheduled arrival. The information board did not specify my train's platform number. I therefore went up to the enquiry cell and asked for the platform number.

'Riybpt'
'What?'
'See riybpt' (See right)
'Yeah, but the board does not work.'
'Waibt. It will work.'

I went again to him; this time at 5:50
' Waibt, it will come.'
' Come on, the train arrives in 5 minutes. And the board does not work. There is no information from the PA systems as well. And look at those monstrous steps I might have to climb.'
'Waibt. I will conbpfirm.'
He picked up the phone and spoke to someone in Bangla.
'The train will come in platpform two or pfour.' 'Or pfive.'
'It is another minute or two for the train to arrive and you tell me it could be in 2 or 4, or 5?

The PA system intervened. The train will be arriving in platform 2. I lunged towards the stairs.

Platform 1 >>
Platform 2, 2a, 4 >>

What?? How can one set of stairs lead to 3 platforms? What the heck? Let's go.

And there it was. I was standing on the world's longest railway platform. Three platforms in one platform. Each separated from the other by an iron partition.

The platform did not indicate where the AC compartment would stop. So I stood somewhere in the mid-section of the platform. And as it always should be, I had to walk, jog and run a bit to get to the coach before the train started again.

The TTR checked the tickets.
'The other two who were to travel with me are not traveling.'
No response.
Then he said, 'Get rebphund' and walked away with the ticket.

'Hey. Wait. why are you walking away with my ticket.'

By then he was gone. I had to endure being bumped, cornered and crushed by many suitcases and fat ladies before I found the TTR again. (Praise the guy who brought in the rule that TTRs wear coats. How else would I have identified him.)

'Sir, you took my ticket away. And I can't get down without a ticket.'
'I am giving you rebphund. Two people did not come know.'

There is a saviour everywhere. Or did I mumble too loud to let the TTR know that I have little money and was looking for an ATM.

'That is very nice of you.' Money always makes me smile.

He filled in a form as I waited to sign at the bottom and collect 'my' money.

'Here, gibve the pform in railway istation and get rebphund.'

I didn't ask for paper money? I want real money.