New Delhi, Dec. 28 :    New Delhi, Dec. 28:  It was a different last journey, though tears were shed and hugs exchanged. Different, because Delhi police and Intelligence Bureau sleuths oversaw the parting when the Delhi-Lahore bus left Ambedkar Stadium at 6.30 in the morning on its last journey, at least for some time. Each passenger had a story to tell and all of the stories had an element of tragedy. All 33 passengers on board the Sada-e-Sarhad (call of the border) were leaving India in a hurry to meet the December 31 deadline when train and bus services between the two countries will be snapped. One was leaving an ailing aunt behind, another going away before a wedding for which she had especially come from Pakistan and still another leaving the last rites of a beloved family member midway. But the emotional bonding across the Indo-Pak border remained despite the diplomatic offensive launched by the political establishments. None of the passengers and their relatives exchanged customary pleasantries - 'will meet again', 'call up soon' or 'write a letter'. Only tears flowed and, once in a while, 'Khuda hafiz' (may you be in God's protection) could be heard. The bus for Lahore left on a cold, foggy morning with 33 Pakistani nationals, two drivers and security officials. A Delhi police escort jeep drove up to Burari, after which Haryana police took over to see off the half-empty bus till it touched Punjab. The journey marked an abrupt end to a symbol of Indo-Pak friendship. At Ambedkar stadium today, nobody was talking about Pakistan's nefarious designs or the terrorist bid to blow up Parliament. There was no discussion on India's right to retaliate or cripple the Pakistani economy. Twenty-year-old Irfan Ahmed was leaving an ailing aunt in Meerut. 'I may not get to see her again,' he said, barely holding back his tears. Ahmed had a visa valid till January 15. Shakila had to pull herself out of her sister's wedding, scheduled for tonight, to get into the bus. 'It was a difficult decision but there was no other way I could have made it back to my country.' Shakila was married to a cousin in Pakistan in 1981. There were first-timers like Shazia, a student from Sindh, who came to see her relatives. 'It is a wonderful country, full of nice people. I am sure things are going to be normal. Inshallah,' she said. Sitting next to her, Farid said: 'Amin' (May God let it happen). For the cash-starved Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), the bus-loss may be irreparable. The Delhi-Lahore bus was extremely popular as passengers from both sides were happy to spend Rs 900 for a comfortable 12-hour journey compared to the Rs 7,000 air-fare or the cumbersome train journey with an eight-hour halt at Attari. DTC officials said they have written to the foreign ministry requesting it to organise two special trips on January 8 and 15 to help the return of those stranded in remote areas. 'How do you expect someone in Munger district to rush back to Delhi and take the bus today? I am sure there are many cases on both sides where passengers would like to come back. I am sure the respective governments will fulfil a humanitarian request,' a DTC official said. Like the bus service, the train link too will be snapped. The Samjhauta Express, a legacy of the Simla Agreement, will make its last trip on Sunday.