IndiGo flight cancelled days before her wedding— So two men drove 2,000 km to bring the bride home

December usually carries its own festive rush— overflowing airports, homebound families, and travellers counting days, hours, and minutes. But this December, India witnessed something different. Indigo Airlines, hit by massive operational failures, cancelled several flights across the country. Terminals were thrown into chaos, and thousands were left stranded.Among them was my daughter, Chandra— an IT professional returning home to Kolkata after a two-week training programme in Hyderabad. The timing was crucial: her wedding was just a few days away, and several final preparations were awaiting her.

Her return was planned flawlessly.Her schedule was tight.Her excitement was high.But fate had arranged an unexpected twist.The flight that never took offOn the morning of 5th December, Chandra reached Hyderabad airport carrying her luggage and the joyful anticipation of a bride-to-be. Moments later, her world turned upside down.Her Indigo flight had been cancelled.There were no alternatives offered, no helpful guidance, and no reassuring response. Helplines, apps, and counters all echoed the same helpless reply: Nothing could be done.Panic slowly replaced her excitement. Every lost hour meant another task at home delayed. Friends across cities offered sympathy, but the aviation mess was nationwide— there were no instant solutions.Except one.Someone who didn’t just sympathize.He acted.Abhisek: The friend who drove into the crisisIn Bangalore, Abhisek— Chandra’s senior and close friend— had discovered that his own Indigo flight to Kolkata was also cancelled. While hundreds stood in queues hoping for clarity, he made a decision that would shape the next two days.He would drive to Kolkata.Not later.Not after the airline “sorted things out.”But immediately.He checked his route, started his car, and began the nearly 2,000-kilometre journey— fully aware of how critical it was for Chandra to reach home. They agreed that she would catch a train from Secunderabad and meet him en route.Chandra, shaken but determined, boarded a train and reached Visakhapatnam. When she saw Abhisek waiting by the car— exhausted but resolute— the first wave of relief washed over her.Together, they began the long drive toward Kolkata.Through highways, exhaustion, and hopeThe journey ahead stretched across highways and state borders, through Andhra Pradesh and toward Odisha. Chandra kept checking her wedding schedule; Abhisek kept his focus on the road.But even heroes have limits.Near Odisha, the fatigue of continuous driving began to show. They both knew rest was necessary— but time was unforgiving.And then came another twist.The groom who joined the missionBack in Kolkata, Pankaj— the groom-to-be and a close friend of Abhisek— had been following every update. Unable to sit idle while the two battled distance and exhaustion, he booked the earliest train to Bhubaneswar.By the next morning, he was there— waiting.When the car finally pulled into Bhubaneswar, worn down by the relentless journey, Pankaj stepped forward with a smile.“Get in,” he said gently. “I’ll drive the rest.”Abhisek, relieved and exhausted, moved aside. With Pankaj at the wheel and Chandra beside him, the final stretch— from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata— unfolded smoothly.A journey that became a lifetime storyIn the early hours of 7th December, under Kolkata’s winter haze, the car rolled into the driveway. Chandra was home— tired, emotional, but safe. And just in time to complete her wedding preparations.What began as a flight cancellation became an unforgettable saga of:Abhisek, the friend who drove halfway across the country,Pankaj, the groom who travelled by train to take charge of the last leg, andChandra, who navigated uncertainty with courage.Sometimes destiny writes its own script.Sometimes a cancelled flight becomes an epic tale.And sometimes, the people who stand by us shine brighter than any celebration.This December began with chaos but gifted us a story we will tell for years— a story of friendship, commitment, and love travelling nearly 2,000 kilometres – A journey that brought the would-be bride safely home.Authored by: Arun Kanti ChatterjeeIf you too have a soul-touching story to share, then send it to us at: soulcurry@timesinternet.in