It was 7:30 in the evening, I had a metro at 7:38. It will take two minutes to walk from my home to the station. If I leave now, I will reach the station at 7:32 and the platform at 7:34 and then I will have four minutes spare time. From Bansi Nagar Metro Station to Rachana Ring Road Junction Metro Station it takes approximately four minutes. So, I will reach there at 7:42. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes after that to walk to my dance class. My class is from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm and I will reach there by 8:53 to 8:57 (on time!!).

I had everything planned. I had memorized all these calculations as this was my daily routine. This was my favourite part of the day – going to dance class. Of course, and why not, dance is my passion and after waiting for about 12 years I had finally found the nearest dance class and because of metro the travelling problem was also solved. It is my happy space. No matter how much physical exertion I do there but my mind finds peace there. And seriously speaking…oops!! sorry, I mean writing I prefer mental health over physical health.

Everything was going as planned. I took my haversack and my handbag, got into the metro, found myself a seat and started scrolling my phone. My station arrived, I took my haversack and got out of the train and before scanning the ticket I went to the washroom. As I returned from the washroom, I realized that I did not have my handbag. So, I again went in the washroom but it wasn't there and at that time I realized that I had forgot it in the metro itself. I stood there silently for some seconds to digest what just happened.

I looked here and there people were exiting and entering with their belongings in their hands, metro staff was talking to each other and doing their work I gulped the saliva in my mouth and when to a staff member and said, “Excuse me, actually I forgot my bag in the metro.” I was shivering as how would that lady react to this. She first gave me a disgusted angry look as of how careless I am. "Which bag and which metro?" She asked. "A handbag which had shoes in it, I forgot it on the train to Sitabuldi from Bansi Nagar in the ladies’ coach, the bag was a white coloured one." I told her every possible information I had. She went to the other staff on the station and I followed her. She told them and they asked me the same questions and I gave them the same answers. One of the ladies laughed sarcastically and called a male officer (maybe he was a senior one). "Sir this girl forgot her white handbag in the train to Sitabuldi and is saying that it had shoes in it." The man looked at me and gave a little laugh. Was this all funny? Am I cracking a joke here? And this must have not been the first case that a passenger has forgotten his/her bag. Forgetting something is common in human beings, why are these people making it a big issue?

I looked at that man with innocence in my eyes so that he will pity on me and will stop laughing, but to my surprise he did not. "Madam, you need to go to Sitabuldi Metro Station to collect your bag, our officials will take it to the security and you can collect it from there." He said this and went inside the Customer Care Cabin and called someone (I did not know who and I could not hear him because of the sound proof glass). "I have informed to the Sitabuldi staff, they will collect your bag but only if it is in the train. If any person takes it during the ride then the metro staff will not be responsible for it." He came out and said this a bit strictly. I was already shivering and this sentence made me more nervous. I opened my mouth to speak but only air came out, I cleared my throat and with a low voice I asked. "So, I have to go now, or I can go tomorrow?" I asked this because I did not want to miss my dance class and as I go to college every morning by metro so it will be convenient for me to collect it the next day. Surely, I can dance without shoes for one day. The officer gave me a disgusted look and said in a bit higher tone, "Obviously you have to go now!" "Ok, ok." I agreed. I had nothing to say further. I called my mom and told her everything and was expecting a good scolding but to my surprise she replied calmly, "Okay but take care, be alert and keep giving me updates." and she cut the phone.

I turned around and started climbing the platform stairs. With every step forward goosebumps and embarrassment were flooding in my body. On the screen on the platform it was written”7 mins”. I sat on the bench on the platform, took out my phone and messaged in the WhatsApp group of our dance class that I would not be able to come. My sir asked me why and I told him everything in the personal chat. He texted nothing but two laughing emojis. I mean seriously!! Was this situation so funny that everyone is laughing? I forgot my bag with my shoes in it in the train, I don't have any clue if they are safe or not and these people are laughing. It's around 8 in the evening and I have to go to Sitabuldi to enquire about my bag and return home. This whole process will take about 1 hour and all these people are laughing. A young teenager girl has to travel alone at this time of the hour, everyone knows it is not safe and all these people are laughing. My eyes became wet. I was on the verge of crying, then I suddenly remembered that my parents had always advised me to not to cry in a public place I wiped my tears, took a deep breath and got into the train. During the ride thousands of thoughts started troubling me. "What if my bag was stolen by someone?" What if the staff told me that they did not found any bag?" "What if the officials told me that they did not receive any information about any bag."

As soon as the station arrived, I called my mom, got out of the train and headed to the concourse. At the Customer Care, the lady told me to exit first by scanning the ticket and told me to ask the security. I did accordingly. The security lady went to the Customer Care Cabin and I followed her. She went inside and talked to the senior male officer and again I could not hear anything because of the sound proof glass. The lady came outside after a few minutes and said, “You came from Vasudev Nagar right?" "Bansi Nagar." I corrected her. "Okay then, you will get your bag at Bansi Nagar only." I really wanted to scream WHAT on her face but I controlled myself and said, "But the Rachana Ring Road staff told me that I will get my bag here." "No but as you came from Bansi Nagar you will get your bag there only." I gave her a disgusted look. Suddenly a voice came from the walkie-talkie which was in her hand. It was a man's voice, it said, "Yes madam, we found a white bag and shoes in it." My excitement increased and the disgusted look on my face vanished. "Okay keep it, the girl is coming." The lady replied, "Go to Bansi Nagar you will get your bag there only." She said. I sighed in relief.

I hurried back to the platform and ensured that my haversack is on my back. The train was already there, I managed to get inside in time. I told everything to my mom and even she said in a disgusted tone that how could they make me roam like this. But anyways, fighting with my own anxiety and nervousness I reached Bansi Nagar and enquired about the bag to the security. The man gave a little laugh. My stomach curled up, my eyes widened and I bit my lips. I mean seriously! What was all funny about this? Why is everyone laughing? Forgetting something is very normal. I really wanted to give him a very angry look but before I could do so he pointed at the security lady beside whom my bag was there. I was so relieved by seeing that dusty white bag. In the past one hour my eyes were so longing to see it. I rushed to the bag and checked if my shoes and fortunately they were as it is. A smile full of relief came on my face. On my way back home, I was hugging that bag so tight that the shoes inside it were getting folded. On the way, I saw wet streets, that means it must have rained. As I was roaming in the station and travelling in the metro only, I did not know about the rain. After coming back home I checked my phone and found that nobody went to the dance class that day due to rain, so sir had to cancel it. And as now I am writing this, I realized what was so funny about all this! 

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