September 11th 2009

The morning of Sept. 11th, I went over to Varun's house in the morning and we both walked to the local gym for a work out! On the way, i sang the American National Anthem to honour those individuals who died during the terrorist attacks in the United States. After the gym, we ate at a local bakery, both ordering a veggie baguette (so delicious). We walked back home and i noticed a woman crying in her car. We walked past and i stopped and asked Varun whether or not i should ask her if she is okay. I said, lets step up, what would Tony Robbins do in this situation, after a couple minutes discussing whether i should change her state, she opened the door and wiped her tears away and told us she was fine. She heard everything we said from inside the car. She then closed the door and we walked back home.

I was dropped off at the Ilford station, on my way to Billericay. I normally never sleep on trains, however this time i was so tired i fell asleep. I woke up and we had just arrived at Liverpool Street. I soon realized this was where i needed to switch trains, i quickly grabbed my luggage and headed for the door. As i left the train, my suitcase got stuck in the closing doors. I panicked and forcefully pulled the suitcase towards me. Luckily i got my luggage before the train had departed. (Never again, i told myself, that i would sleep in a train)

I got on the National Rail to Shenfield. This journey was approx 25 mins. I also fell asleep on this train. It wasn't until 6 mins after the train had arrived, did i wake up to realize i was the only passenger on the train and i had arrived at Shenfield. I got off the train and asked a man which platform i needed to get on to take the train to Billericay. He told me it was on this same platform and also, if i hadn't of woken up, that train would have gone back to Liverpool Street.

I sat patiently for the next train to come, i saw school boys and girls wearing their uniforms running around in the station, they had just come back from school and it was a friday afternoon. Soon thereafter, i heard many passengers leaving the platform heading down the stairs. I wasn't sure what was happening. The conductor came up to me asking me where i was going, i replied with so much certainty; " I am waiting for the next train to Billericay on this platform." She looked at me as if i was dumb- she said " Dont you listen to the announcements, your train is departing in three mins from a different platform." I went so red, i grabbed my luggage and ran down the stairs like all the other kids. While i was walking down i saw Simran with her school friends, She and I were so surprised to see each other, i gave her a quick hug and legged it to the next platform.

I jumped on the train and it departed Shenfield momentarily towards Billericay. When i arrived in Billericay, i went outside the station and saw Anand just standing there, he had just got off his bus from school and was about to take a train to Shenfield. I told him i was meeting Ashish here and we are both going back to his house. So then Anand decided to join us. We all walked back to Ashish's house and watched tv.

Sachin came home from work shortly after and all four of us decided to play some cricket in the garden. Nothing was planned for the evening so we just relaxed and watched a movie.

What a day!