From Mumbai adventures to a cancelled train, here’s the emotional rollercoaster we never saw coming. Read on to discover how our journey to Nepal ended before it even began.
Today is 13th April — the day our long-awaited journey to Nepal was supposed to begin. We had planned to travel by train, packed with excitement and dreams. But everything came crashing down with just one heartbreaking message.
The day started with so much hope. I woke up early, completed my last-minute packing, although I was feeling a bit uneasy. Out of nowhere, I started coughing and even vomited. Still, I pulled myself together, prayed like every day, took blessings, and booked a cab to the bus station.
We boarded a bus to Mumbai, costing ₹950 for two people. By 5 PM, we reached Dadar, Mumbai. Since our train to Nepal was scheduled at 10 PM, we thought of exploring a few places to kill time. Unfortunately, all the places I had planned to visit remained a dream because the taxi drivers were charging crazy amounts. Instead, we booked an Uber to a nearby mall.
Our Uber ride was another mini-drama. The driver literally begged us for upfront payment, citing personal urgency. Out of kindness, we paid him ₹350 in advance. But once we reached the mall, he shamelessly asked for more money! Realizing we were being fooled, we refused and reported him to customer care.
Trying to shake off the negativity, we entered the bustling mall. It was packed with people, but our spirits were still high. We were waiting for that one important thing — confirmation of our railway tickets.
Hungry and tired, we went straight to the food court, but there wasn’t a single seat available. Craving something iconic, I said, "Mumbai aaye aur Pav Bhaji nahi khayi toh kya kiya!" So we headed to Amar Juice Centre where we enjoyed the most buttery, delicious Amul Pav Bhaji for ₹250.
Just as we finished eating, the dreaded message arrived from IRCTC:
"Your tickets are still waitlisted after chart preparation. You will receive a full refund. Do not cancel your ticket."
At that moment, my heart just... froze.
How was this even possible? We had booked our tickets way in advance! I sat there, stunned, unable to process it.
Bubbles (my travel partner) comforted me, saying, “Don’t worry, let’s eat first and figure things out.” So, we grabbed a pizza at Jamie’s Pizzeria, costing us ₹750 after requesting them to remove the unnecessary service charge (always check your bills, guys!).
After dinner, we searched for a ride to the railway station, struggling again because Mumbai autos and taxis charge outrageously even for short distances. Finally, we found an auto driver who agreed to go by meter.
At the railway station, with an hour left for the train, we still held on to a tiny bit of hope. When the TC (Ticket Collector) finally came, we explained our situation.
His response? Just two cold words:
"Buy a general ticket and get in."
We peeked into the general compartment... and it was horrifying. There wasn't even space to stand, let alone sit. It was clearly impossible.
We quickly started exploring other options:
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Buses? 48 hours of non-stop travel sounded brutal.
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Flights? Last-minute fares were sky-high.
Reality hit hard.
The Nepal trip was officially cancelled.
With heavy hearts, we walked out of the station, cancelling our hotel bookings, cab bookings, and all the adventurous plans we had excitedly made for Nepal.
By the time I reached home, I was crying non-stop. I knew tears wouldn't change anything — but sometimes, the heart just needs to let it all out.
Even now, I’m still upset with IRCTC and how the system favors travel agents, leaving regular passengers helpless. If things were fair, today would have been different. We would have been living our Nepal dream.
But that's life, right?
Plans fail. Hearts break. But hope must never die.
Someday, I’ll make it to Nepal.
Not today. But someday. 💔🏔️
Xoxo
Gujjugirldiaries
#Nepal trip cancelled #IRCTC booking issues #Travel misadventure #Mumbai travel experience #Pav Bhaji Mumbai #Dealing with train ticket waitlist #Last-minute travel cancellations #real travel story #journey of hope
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