When lightening strikes again and again

Many of you may disagree with me. But, also there is a community whose every single member will hail when I'll say “Architects lives are full of adventures and surprises”. Now its quite obvious which community I was talking about. Though, I completed my architecture course doing daydreaming and drinking pints of beer every fourth day (its way too less as per architecture students standards), but I also kept my creative instincts alive throughout the half a decade. Following is one incidence out of scores of events which depicts the misery and shock I underwent on two occasions.

We were working (actually not working) on a Railway Station design competition organized by ISDAG and TATA Steels. Date of submission was three days far. When we inspected quantum of our work, me and Bathla (its not an alien, just a weird surname of my dear friend) realized that printed sheets will not be even able to wrap all of our body parts. We have to do something. I called Ambrish (the third Lord) and to my surprise he refused to come. Lightening No.1. I thought we were friends. Me and Bathla yelled at him, showered all our blessing on him, collectively praised him, and finally hung up thinking that this will make him come. But, Ambrish...he didn't come. Lightening No.2.

Me and Bathla started with the work in the morning and Ambrish appeared from nowhere at noon. He brought with him-selves some stuffs, that was sufficient to pacify both of us. We three were friends again. The three musketeers. The next two days we worked like anything. But, lightening was waiting to strike again. We received the news that date of submission has been extended by one week. Lightening No.3. How could they do so? We are almost done. How could they put other losers, who are giving final touches to their design, on advantage. But, that was how it was. Finally, one week passed and Bathla-Ambrish duo left the home with all the sheets to submit them in the mentioned college. But, attendant slammed the door at their faces, said time of submission had been passed. What the fish !! They could give a week extension and not a couple of hours. Lightening No. 4. They begged, they pleaded, they tried and they even threatened. Finally they got succeeded. My boys !!

Month later, Bathla called me up and told that our design has been selected for final round to be held in Kolkata. Oh, we were on seventh heaven. For this round we just needed a model and a small presentation. We worked day and night to make our 'Ashiyana'. It was the best model we had ever seen. Better then those in Ftv. Because we made it. We were the architects of India's upcoming state-of-the-art Railway Station. But we were so much into model making that we completely forgot the presentation part. Lightening No. 5. No problem we'll make it during the journey on the laptop. That day we had our train at 6pm and next day we had our jury. We rapidly packed our model in a spare TV carton with all the stuffings we could think of.

We called one of friend to drop us at Railway Station ( a badly designed one). But, when it come to accommodate carton inside the car, we found that Maruti committed a serious mistake. They haven't provided enough opening either through doors or trunk for a TV Carton to get in. Lightening no. 6. We were getting late for train. Somehow, Ambrish showed his geometrical skills and did the job. But, only two lucky people could give company to that carton. One driver , of course and one more. Lightening No. 7. Me and Bathla took auto, Ambrish hopped inside the car.

And there were we. A railway station on time. To our excitement, our 3^rd tier RAC tickets were upgraded to 2^nd tier coach. Thanks Laluji. But, soon we realized that Maruti is not the only culprit. Railway coach manufacturers are equally stupid. Our TV carton was not getting inside the compartment. Lightening No. 8. So, we had to put it next to the toilet in the common area. Can you imagine. World's upcoming best of the best railway station was going to spent 16 hours next to a toilet.

Since, we were short of time, we immediately took out the laptop to make the presentation. Laptop's battery was about to be gone. So Ambrish stood up to plug it in. Lightening striked again. No.9. No sockets ! AC 2 tiers and no sockets !! Were they kidding to us !!! But, there was a life saver on board. Me !! Luckily, I took the extension board from home which we plugged in the main distribution board of the coach. By morning, our presentation was ready. Train was at halt at Bardhman station. Kolkata was couple of hours away. We were thrilled unknown to coming surprise.

Train started moving, all the way to Kolkata. Coach attendant came and asked us where is our carton ? What are you saying man ? Its resting all in peace next to toilet. No its not there. What the ****. We three rushed out of the compartment. No trace of the carton. Some one stole it. Lightening No. 10. That crook must have thought that he is grabbing a brand new television. But, no he took our dreams away. In fact, he made this country devoid of an idea of a greatest Railway Station.

We gave jury without a model. It was as if jury members were whispering in them – from where they caught these jokers who have come without any model. And we returned back, bare handed.