Our family loves weddings. Besides the excitement of the wedding itself, it is the thought of getting together that inspires everyone to drop what they're doing for a couple of days and turn up. The best part is the week before the wedding that goes by in a blur of last-minute shopping, bribing tailors to deliver on time and planning activities.
My nephew's wedding was no exception. We were still laughing over the engagement party a couple of months earlier when one set of guests landed up at the wrong venue and had to be corralled back to the right one. Who knew there were two wedding halls with the same name!
The thing about weddings in our family is this: there is almost always something unique to remember them by. I couldn't wait to see what this one would bring.
The day dawned bright and clear and of course we were all excited for my nephew - he was marrying the girl he adored. Amid much laughter and happiness, everything went off perfectly well.
We returned to Hassan for the traditional bringing home the bride. The plan was for us to leave the next day together with my nephew and his bride to Bangalore where they were switching trains to Pune.
We said our goodbyes, made and extracted promises to visit and boarded our train. Of course, my nephew and his bride were in their own world. He was completely fascinated by the gift she gave him, a tab. We were amused. After an uneventful journey, we got off at Bangalore. Since the train to Pune was not leaving for a couple of hours, they decided to wait in the lounge. We stayed for a while and then proceeded home, telling my nephew to call us when they boarded the next train.
I was also eager to do some app shopping on my mobile. I had recently discovered that my favorite online store Myntra - where I have been shopping for close to five years now - offered super app-only deals via their Myntra app. My best friend's birthday is coming up and I couldn't wait to buy her some fabulous kurtas. Yes, yes. Maybe something for me, too.
All well so far, right? That's what you think.Since it was lunch time, we decided to grab a bite at our favorite restaurant and were on the way home in a cab. I was busy browsing the Myntra mobile app and adding items to my cart, much to the amusement of my folks, when my nephew called. For the first few seconds I had no idea what he was saying. He seemed panicked and incoherent. I asked him where he was calling from and it turned out he was on the train to Pune. So what could have happened?
Out it came. While waiting at the lounge with their luggage, he had plugged in his tab to charge. When the time came for them to board the Pune train, they had rushed out - completely forgetting to take it with them. As a bonus, they had left one small suitcase with it for company.
What did he want me to do?
"Could you please go to the station and try to retrieve it for me, Aunty?"He was in tears - rightly so. His wife's first gift to him, and losing a " tab" can be a " bitter pill " to swallow!
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I mean, visualize a busy railway station with hundreds of passengers. How could we even hope to find that tab and suitcase? So he was okay with losing the suitcase but not the tab, the gadget boy!
My blood pressure rose a bit at his audacity. But love wins every time and with it, brings hope. I told him to call me back in half an hour, saying I'd see what I could do.
Oh, the pressures of being Super Woman!
I requested the cab to head to the station. Next, I browsed on my phone to find the phone number of that station and called the station master. I was stunned to find him quite pleasant and related my tale. I am not sure if he believed me, but it must have been bizarre enough for him to go check in the waiting lounge. Even more bizarre was the fact that the tab was there, plugged in, with a suitcase next to it.
He agreed to take the tab and suitcase to his cabin for safekeeping but wanted proof of authenticity. Overjoyed at his response, I now had the task of convincing him that I was indeed the "owner".
I reached the station, asked the cab to wait and went in to see him. What about proof, though? I was in a fix. My phone rang again. Thinking it was my nephew, I was all set to tell him the good news when I noticed it was Vidur's classmate's Mom. I had a Eureka moment when I realized I was practically looking at my answer.
You see, her husband is a locomotive driver who worked at the same station but was presently posted elsewhere! Elated, I told her what happened. She immediately gave me her husband's number who set the "wheels" in motion. Thanks to his connections we were quite happy to have tab and suitcase handed over to us.
Phew!The power of human connections never fails to amaze me. It was a miracle. As we revelled in the joy of success, my nephew called - and we told him the good news. He had been tracking the tab nervously via his phone. Assuming we had recovered only the tab, he started moaning on the phone about how he had shopped on his Myntra app to buy some wonderful clothes for his wife - and had filled the suitcase, as a surprise gift. I couldn't help laughing - I was thinking, Myntra has a family fan here! Getting the suitcase back was a bonus. I assured my nephew that all was well!
All this, while traveling in the cab on the way home! My heart raced as reaction set in. What would I have done without my mobile phone? Phew!
As I think back on this incident, I find it hard to believe that we actually got our things back. I mean, what are the chances?
100% it seems!Vidur's classmate's Mom had saved the day! It was time to celebrate! Recalling how she had admired one of my outfits, I reached for my phone and smiled as I happily swiped the screen once again bring up my Myntra app.
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As I recall this incident, I am smiling, thinking of how my mobile and apps had brought about this happy ending!I can't believe there was a time when I used to be resistant to mobile apps.Today, I practically manage all my travel and shopping via my mobile - talk about being app-happy!
With 24 x 7 access on the go, I no longer wait in queues or wait to get home to my desk top computer to book tickets or shop. My husband travels a lot and we find that apps are a boon making it super easy to manage trips, local transportation at our destination and hotel bookings. In fact, even cancellations are instant and easy. The huge deals and discounts offered are just a big bonus.
As someone who does almost all her shopping online, I am pleased to hear that Myntra plans to go app-only with virtual fitting rooms. Ever visited a popular store and had to wait for a trial room to become vacant? You'll know what I mean when I say I was fascinated.
If you ask me what the future is like for fashion and travel, two things that can never go out of style in an app-only world, I would say the consumer is in for a treat! Truly, apps put total control in the consumer's hand and the size of their screen doesn't matter.
What do you think? Would you enjoy an app-only world for your fashion and travel shopping? I'd love to hear your story in the comments!