Chapter-3: I was refused the boarding card

A Rollercoaster Journey: Passport Woes and Unexpected Kindness

On a Sunday night (6th june) buzzing with anticipation, I booked a taxi for 4:00 AM, eager to catch my first-ever international flight from Delhi to Kabul. Little did I know, the day would unravel into a chaotic saga of bureaucratic hurdles and last-minute rescues.

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The Airport Ordeal

Finally, after all is in place, the grand day comes: 7th June !! Packed and ready, I arrived at the airport—my first time stepping into one, let alone for an international trip. Nervous but excited, I followed the crowd to the Aryana Afghan Airlines counter. The agent’s smile faded as she scrutinized my passport. “Your ‘Emigration Check Not Required’ (ECNR) status is deleted,” she said, summoning her manager. My heart sank. Without ECNR clearance, they denied me a boarding card... Stunned, I pleaded for solutions. The manager shrugged: “Get the ECNR reinstated or seek emigration clearance.” 

so, I went to talk to the emigration office who asked me to submit orignial documents of the company who is recruiting me, includes company registration, insurance, audit report, my job contract etc. whihc is basically a requirement for a labourer job aborad and that is required if you have ECNR not ticked on your passport. Being a graduate, it would have been easily ticked without a demand at the time of issuance of a new passport; however, somehow I didn't have it, and I never knew until this moment.

Defeated, I had no choice to get to the passport office and get it done :( I trudged toward the exit, only to be halted by a policeman. “You’ve already checked in—you can’t leave the gate,” he insisted. After a tense negotiation with the manager, I was finally released, stranded on the curb with dwindling cash and a messhead.

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Back to Square One

I retreated to my hotel, regrouped with a cold shower, and mapped out a strategy:

1. Alert my employers about the delay.

2. Reschedule my flight to June 14th.

3. Get ECNR stamp in the Delhi passport office else

4. Rush back to Ahmedabad to fix my passport.

Easier said than done. With no funds for a flight, I braced for another grueling train journey.

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Delhi’s Bureaucratic Maze

At the immigration office, queues snaked endlessly. An officer demanded documents I couldn’t possibly gather—company audits, registration papers. Desperate, I asked for alternatives. “Return to your hometown passport office with your degree certificate,” he advised. so no choice but head back to Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad, here I come.

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The Ticket Hunt: A Stroke of Luck

Booking a last-minute train ticket in peak season felt impossible. Forms were sold out, lines crawled, and hope dwindled—until I spotted a Bengali family in the ladies’ queue. After a hesitant exchange, the daughter courageously secured my ticket. Grateful beyond words, I collapsed into bed, exhausted.

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The Train Gambit

My ticket was RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation)—rank 173. Miracles? Unlikely. Yet, as the train departed, a fellow traveler’s absent boss freed up a berth. I claimed it, slept soundly, and awoke in Ahmedabad, ready to tackle the ECNR battle.

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Reflections

• Preparation is key: Always verify passport details and carry backups (ATM cards, emergency funds).

• Humanity shines: Strangers—like the Bengali family and the berth-sharing traveler—restored my faith in kindness.

• Resilience pays: When plans crumble, adaptability and grit keep you moving.

This whirlwind of setbacks and small victories taught me that even the messiest journeys carve paths to growth. And sometimes, a stranger’s help is the lifeline you never saw coming.

Adventure isn’t just about the destination—it’s about surviving the detours.