നിമിത്തം (malayalam) pronounced as nimittam - refers to a sign,an omen, an efficient cause.

My first trip to mumbai was on 9th april 2010. Believe it or not having travelled all over the country thanks to my father`s occupation I had never been to mumbai. There had been a couple of opportunities when I could have visited Mumbai, with family or friends or as part of a detour to some other place, but it never happened, earlier because of no apparent reason, later on because of a staunch stubborn refusal from my end. My reason being, the first time I go to that City would be for something related to my long cherished goal of becoming an actor. At some times it sounded like a total middle class and highly filmy (read cheesy) mentality, but somehow at that point it made perfect sense i my head. So when my uncle who used to stay in mumbai invited us over, i refused to join. Anyway I finally got to go to Mumbai for an Audition and decided according to my conditions this situation suits to the T. And then started the process of getting ready for the travel

നിമിത്തം (malayalam) pronounced as nimittam - refers to a sign,an omen, an efficient cause.

Having not traveled by train in a long time i had totally forgotten the fact that

1.in order to increase your chances of confirming a tatkal ticket u need to be at the reservation counter much before the opening hours (8:00 AM), infact some people sleep overnight there to ensure they get a confirmed ticket.
2. Also if you plan to enter the ticket office after 8:30 AM you might as well say goodbye to your chances of getting a ticket
3. And specially if you need an AC Car (lesser no of seats compared to sleeper) and that too 2nd AC

My initial plan was to go aaram se at 10;30 and book my ticket. but suddenly at around 7:30 i woke up that morning and decided , now that i am up might as well go and book my ticket, might have been the excitement of going to mumbai that woke me up i thought (നിമിത്തം no 1)

With a rather sleepy head i reached the booking counter at 8:45 and requested for a 3rd AC ticket-
receptionist - "No ticket for 3AC"
me - " Try 2nd AC"(at the risk of sounding illogical since 2nd AC has lesser no of seats)
receptionist- "your lucky, available"
me- (nonchalantly) "do the needful please" (നിമിത്തം no 2)

Not realizing that i was truly lucky to have got a seat on a weekend train to Mumbai despite opposing circumstances I packed my bags and went to the station and was in for a shock.
At the allotted seat was sitting someone else with his legs stretched and showing me his confirmed ticket. I was Aghast and though this is a bad way to start of things. Anyway i went and checked the Chart and found my name mentioned but my seat changed form 2AC to 1st AC main cabin . I got more tense "great!, first i loose my seat and now i got to pay extra- this is going great"
Once in I spoke to the TC who pleasently informed me that i have been upgraded free of charge under some new scheme to this quite luxurious and comfortable cabin which i shared with an MLA from BJP and some high profile Head of Revenue departement. (നിമിത്തം no 3).
The next day morning when i got up the 2 had left at their respective stations and i had the entire cabin to myself for the next 12 hr journey. I couldn't believe myself.
And that`s when i realised all the നിമിത്തം s .
My trip to Mumbai and my chosen path in life - was always meant to be.

PS : I gave an ok audition not expecting to get selected but i did (നിമിത്തം no 4) :) :)