How I got hold of Udayan ?!?

Right now (Friday, October 24, 2008 10:53 AM) I am writing this post sitting in train with complete awe that how I managed to catch this Udayan Exp. It was touch and go. Now I am happily going to Mumbai; my home; to celebrate Diwali.
Yesterday, The train was scheduled to depart at 20:10. I had left office by 16:40 and reached home by 17:35. I left home by 18:30 and waited for half an hour in Sony World signal for a bus to Majestic. But, I couldn’t find any to my despair. It usually should take 45min to reach Majestic, but today the traffic was quite gruel some.
It was 19:05 and still no sign of a bus. I finally decided to go for a rick. But as a usual nakhra with these Bangalore Auto Drivers; they won’t come to the place where you want to go. I had asked at least half a dozen autos, but no luck.
I was scampering around the Sony world signal like a beggar with child (here luggage) in hand and begging autowallahs to come. A mid-aged autowallah seeing my misery offered to go. He was like a messiah at that point of time for me.
After that I had to go through the emotions of Bangalore traffic. Signal after signal, road after road, gully after gully; everywhere there was jam. I pleaded with the driver to take me somehow to my destination. But what can he do? It was too much traffic yesterday. It seemed everyone on the road was conspiring to block me. It was 20:00 and I was still near Mysore Bank; still a good 6 signals to scamper through. It was 21:10 (the departure time) and still 3 signals to go. I was almost in tears. The fear of missing the train was gripping me. But still something said inside me I can make it. It was a challenge thrown to me. I was stuck in one more blockade and asked autowallah whether I can make it by foot.
The moment he said “Yes” I threw a 100 rupee note to him and bolted like Usain Bolt towards the station. Still the sight of Bangalore City JN evaded me. I had to cross a huge barricade, but it seemed to be too small at that moment.
20:17hrs
It was 7 min past the scheduled departure time and any other day the train would have chugged out. I ran as if I am running for my life. My worst fear being, seeing the back of the train; that dreaded ‘X’ mark.
20:19hrs
I finally made it to the entrance and gasping for breath as I carried quite heavy backpack and an equally heavy shoulder bag. One porter came rushing to me saying, “Saab, Sirf 10 minoot hain Rajdhani ko”. I replied in vain almost in tears, “Udayan”

I didn’t had the heart to hear ‘it had already left’ from him. But, it was my day. He took my bag and ran to the platform. My Udayan has not ditched me. How can she go w/o me? ;-)
Btw time I reached platform, the train had just started moving. We just got into some coach. I gave him 10 bucks. Me in total disbelief of not missing the train. My lungs were longing badly for some much needed oxygen. A fellow passenger gave me some water. Belly was aching badly. I had never run like this. My round physique making matters worse.
Then I checked with TTR and came to know that my reservation was in the same coach (My RAC had confirmed). I am on my way home still with the disbelief of, how I got hold of Udayan!!