Vaanambadi

Train journey – Good and not so good March 22, 2010

Train journeys – Something that I love, maybe coz i have been travelling in trains frequently since I was a kid. I always used to jump with excitement the minute I got to know that we would be embarking on a train journey, more so because it was a journey that would take almost 3 days (start to end), which involved changing of trains (Kanpur to Jhansi and then Jhansi to Chennai), waiting at odd hours (1 Am )  to board into the train, watching engines being changed, and of course the train-friends, some of whom have gone on to become more than just train friends 🙂

Even today, I do excited about the train journey ,provided the Waitliste ticket after moving up painfully slow, gets confirmed. And it did couple of days back and I was on my way to chennai on the train .. Yipee!!

The train arrived at close to 11 in the night.  As the train started moving, I settled myself in my seat (a side lower berth , which normally I dont prefer due to space constraint).  Ten minutes, it was silent all around inside the compartment, the lights switched off and the only sound that was prominent was the rhythmic sound of the train. I plugged the earphones , leaned back , looking out at the dark outside which was barely lit by the crescent-shaped moon. It felt so nice , in-peace with the surroundings and slowly sleep took over.

2 days later

Yet again it was the day (or rather night) of a train journey. As usual, the W/l ticket story again. I set off towards the train with a lot of thoughts in mind. Its really interesting the way we perceive things. I was hoping to get into the train, switch on the fan (not that it emits great air, but for the little feeling that there is air somewhere above your head) and settle into the window seat.

And here I was standing in front of my compartment….. I reached early I guess, since there was no light inside , so decided to wait outside till the lights came on. While waiting for the lights to come on , I spent time looking at the coach itself. It was in such a sorry state. Wondered if it was ever washed after it rolled out from the paint shop 🙂 ..

The lights came, breaking my flow of thought. I waited till the elderly folks got in and as I stepped into the compartment , I was greeted with the strong stench of ammonia.. All my thoughts about a perfect train journey had vanished.. I looked around at the public in the compartment and everyone had the discomfort feeling, but nothing much was being done other than accepting the fact that “Its like this anyways”. Some of my efforts to improve the situation looked bleak as the time for departure got nearer. Talking to the TTE / Station Superintendent did not help, except for the acknowledgment of the fact that it was unbearable.  What was more saddening was to see that the basic rules were being taken for granted by people who look to be educated.

The sound of the whistle sailed through the air and in few minutes , the train moved. The stench seemed to disappear slowly or was it that we were getting used it in the same pace.

Why are we “ok” to things we do not want to be “ok” with? At a closer look , this way of being is not only towards such things , but in general this is a pattern that is predominant in our daily life.

A little bit of responsibility from all of us would make a lot of difference to ourselves and people around us.

Until next time!!

Ciao

K