Bag Chase

Surya and Zeyn are on the bike. The bike that is moving on the wrong-side of the road. "B#$%@^ Surya, why did you have to give him the bag. Couldn't you keep it with you, f&*$#^. You knew we would be meeting na." And so on, the abuses were flowing out from between Zeyn's lips. While Surya was just trying to navigate through the traffic.

...At the same instance, Royson was on the sky-walk, cleaning up his face with the white handkerchief that he was carrying with him. Hoping, that those two reach the station on time. They could have just told him to keep the bag at the station with someone and gone aaramse, he is thinking. But now its too late too inform them. Even if it wasn't how could he inform them. With the cell phone lacking battery and he doesn't even remember their numbers.

...Meanwhile on platform 2 of Bandra terminus, Aashay is roaming around with the bag. "Bhaiya, could keep this bag with you. It belongs to my friend. He will be here in sometime to collect it.", he is constantly pleading to the shopkeeper, "My train is about to leave, and I need to give this to him."

"Nahi bhaiya, please don't disturb us. Go seek someone else for this favor.", comes the shopkeepers reply.

How do I contact this guy now. Even his phone is not reachable. And the other guy is not picking up. After trying every possibility, Aashay boarded the train with the bag around his shoulder. Hope they reach on time.

Rewind...

6 years ago, at the basement of St. Francis Institute of Technology, two guys were trying to find the classrooms they were assigned to. A while later, both entered the lift and one of them started, "Hey, do you happen to know where class FE4 is?". "No. You are in FE4? Even I am. Hi, my name is Royson". "Hi, I am Surya". And so the two strangers, became acquaintances and soon became friends. The bond grew strong between them as they completed their 4 years of engineering in the same class, later got placed in the same company - training together, giving retest together, and coming and living in Pune together (as roommates).

Months later, Royson along with Allan (Royson's friend from school) boarded the second class coach of the Borivali local. There Royson was introduced (by Allan) with a skinny stammering lad - Zeyn. The mutual friends became friends with the progress of time and soon were in Mysore completing their training and later in Pune as flatmates for a brief period of time.

Fast-forwarding to a few weeks back...

Surya got his visa approved to go to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia for work related purpose, for a span of 6 months. After having settled in Pune for almost 2 years, it was time for Surya to pack his stuff and move to a new land. A few days of shopping and packing were followed by Surya leaving for Mumbai (cause the flight was from Mumbai and so were his parents). The cab was booked by the company. Now, there was just a single issue that worried him and that was, How to take Aruna (Surya's bike had been named Aruna) to Mumbai. Surya approached Royson, "Oye, are you going home this weekend?" "Yes". "Can you get my bike to Mumbai? I got a cab from Infy to carry all my luggage with me. I can take your bag as well", Surya offered. Being a riding enthusiast, how could Royson possibly refuse this offer.

A day before...

Knowing that even Zeyn would be travelling home over the weekend, Royson asked him, "I'm taking Surya's bike to Mumbai. Wish to tag along? Plus you can give your backpack to Surya. He will be going via cab". "But one of my friend is also joining me". "He can come with Surya. I don't think he will mind that". "Okay then. When are we leaving?" "Tomorrow morning at 7. Don't be late."

The day...

And the following day, Zeyn and his friend, Aashay, were fashionably late. An hour late from the scheduled time, the journey began. Surya, Aashay and all the luggage, backpacks and what not came in the cab. The cab took the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It completed its journey in less than 3 hours. Surya called up Zeyn to check on his location. When Zeyn replied that it would still take them 2 hours to reach, the bewildered Surya handed over Zeyn's backpack to Aashay, when they parted ways.

...Royson, Zeyn, Aruna (Surya's bike) had to take the old route to Mumbai. And somewhere after the wonderful ghats of Lonavala, they drifted in the wrong direction, only to realize this after an hour or two. Lost in no man's land, they sought help from Google Maps. Traversing roads filled with craters, roads as dusty as the deserts and roads passing through mystical godowns, they made their way to the outskirts of Mumbai. 

Navigation always comes at a cost. The cost was that both their phones had run out of juice. When the battery was 1% on one of the phones, then Surya was contacted and told to rendezvous at Sion railway station in 20 minutes.

As agreed upon, Royson and Zeyn were there with Aruna on time. Surya got there almost an hour late. Bike was being exchanged for a backpack. Instead of 2 backpacks (Zeyn and Royson had 1 each), there was just 1. When asked for about Zeyn's backpack, Surya replied, "I gave it to your friend, whats his name, A...ashay. He said he was going to Bandra." To which Zeyn's train of abuses began, "Abe C*&$%^#^, he is going to Surat. He has his train from Bandra terminus. My phone is also switched off, how do I contact him. When you knew we were meeting, why did you have to give the bag to him, G#$%^". "What did I know. Now let's try to contact him."

After racking our brains, they got contact of Aashay. Finally, the bag could be retrieved. But before this could happen there is a twist in the plot.

"Aashay, this is Surya. What time does your train depart? Zeyn wanted to get his bag.", asked Surya over the call. To which Aashay replied, "The train was supposed to be here at 12. It is late today by 15 minutes. Come quick." and he disconnected the call. Surya turns towards Zeyn, "The train is late. It will leave by 12:15. You can collect it easily. We got lot of time." Zeyn checks his watch and then the bombardment continues, "It's already 12, B@$^@#$%. How do you propose we reach Bandra from here in not more than 15 minutes".

The spectator, Royson, hands over the key and helmet to Surya and urges them to get going, "I will find something or other to reach Bandra". Don't know what compassion take over Surya, he says, "Chal Royson, sit back. Lets go triple till Bandra. Just warn me if you see any cops".

And then the race against time begins. 3 idiots and Aruna making their way through traffic. At 2 instances they are almost spotted by the cops. Almost... cause they were not caught. Luck is in favour today. But luck is a thing that cannot be trusted, it can betray you after raising your hopes to the high. Would this happen today? Let's see...

Royson had to get down as they were closing in Bandra, cause the roads were bustling with traffic police on either sides. They were saved from the eyes of the cops in nick of time, thanks to Surya's alertness. And that's when the spectator moves out of the picture, finding his way home. While the two are still struggling towards the terminus.

The story continues...
Surya and Zeyn reach Bandra terminus at last. Wait... there is more masala to this tale remaining. Now they are trying to figure out the platform where Aashay would be waiting.

Trying to reach him over the call as they climb the foot-over bridge. Phone connected, words exchanged and now our smartly dumb heroes are racing for platform 2. They reach the platform only to realize they are on the wrong end of it. And this is the moment when luck gives up on them. (Told you never trust luck)

...The train starts with a jolt, the train in which Aashay is already boarded, the bag for which they rushed is also moving with the train. So close to the goal, Zeyn and Surya can't give up now. It would have been the worst end. With a ray of hope they dart towards the other end, giving in all the energy they have. Just as the coach (in which Aashay is standing) is about to leave, he gets a glimpse of Zeyn sprinting towards him. In the nick of time he tosses the bag out, out at the platform, out towards Zeyn. The right thing to do? Well, No. Cause of the many ingredients in the bag, there is one important, fragile thing - Zeyn's office laptop. With the heart in his throat, Zeyn leaps to get one of the precious catch of his life.

Did he get it?

Yes. Zeyn has done it. The catch of his life.

Where is Surya, one would wonder? The cause of all this, is rolling on the floor laughing his guts out.

With such dramatic note the journey came to an end.