Missed my train in an alien town on my first ever solo trip as a 20F (story time)

So I recently went on my first-ever solo trip (4 day work trip) in the neighbouring state. The journey to the city (via train) went super smooth, and I was like, “wow, look at me being an adult, handling my solo trip with responsibility” until..Of course a small hiccup on the last day of my trip ruined everything.

My return train was at 8:45 PM on Sunday, right after my work conference ended. People there assured me it would hardly take 30–45 minutes by cab to reach the station. I trusted them. AND I wanted to socialize a bit after the event, so I started from the campus at 6:30 PM. Still tight, but manageable… in theory.

Then First Disaster hit: I Literally Misplaced My Handbag 😭 Somewhere between walking around campus (literally one of the biggest college campuses in asia btw) and trying to book a cab, I LOST my handbag. Thank fvck, I found it within 10 minutes.

The Second Disaster: No Cabs. The campus was on the outskirts, and suddenly, all three cab apps decided to act unemployed. Luckily, a friend had given me a local taxi driver’s number. I called him, and he promised he’d reach ASAP and get me to the station on time. He reached late. Very late. & Here I had quite accepted my fate but was afraid to confront my parents I reached the station at 9:00 PM. For a train that was at 8:45 PM. Peak “my life is a joke” moment.

But I didn’t cry because I didn’t want to look vulnerable or like an easy target. So I carried my duniya bhar ka luggage (all FOUR bags), tried to keep my composure, and started looking for the station manager’s office.

The Third Disaster: I Fell. ON THE STAIRS.

Yep. With all my luggage. Because why would dignity stay with me at this point? I finally found the station manager’s office only to learn it was closed. At this point, I was done.

Then I walked into a private AC lounge nearby. A man there spoke Hindi (thank god, because I was in a southern state and I’m Maharashtrian), and he actually helped me calm down when I finally broke down crying.

He stayed with me for over an hour, helped me book the next train to my hometown, and overall was extremely kind still playful and kept calling me "saami" like idek what that means but it kept reminding me of that one hindi song from a dubbed movie

And then… Unexpected Indian Uncle Behavior™

When I left the lounge to catch my next train, this man GOES AHEAD TO CALL my parents. Because he had my dad’s number from when I used his phone to contact home for the booking. He told them I was “wearing very short clothes” (it was literally just a half-sleeve top) and that the area was unsafe. Cue my parents calling me in full panic mode, telling me to be careful and video call them until I boarded. I know he meant well in a typical Indian elder-protective way, but bro… WHY. Finally Reached Home

After all this chaos, I finally reached home on Monday afternoon.

Not gonna lie, this was NOT on my first-solo-trip bingo card. But I definitely learned a lot. And maybe earned a lifetime supply of stress and taane from ghar-wale.