Noticing that people often write stuff while on or about a journey/trip/vacation, i decided to write one as well. This is yet another one of those innumerable Delhi-Mumbai (or vice versa) solo train journeys that i have made over the past 28 months , only this one is the longest among those, taking 21 hours and a little more(no its not boring.not if you decide to sleep for the better part of it :P). This time around, though, i couldn’t help but notice the similarities in all these journeys. So here goes:
• Whenever leaving from Mumbai, i always end up rushing it. Always. And that sense of accomplishment when you realise that you’ve managed to reach, with that big blue suitcase of mine, well before time. (It takes 20 minutes in a fast local from Andheri to Mumbai Central. Useless fact, for you. Me, its the best thing ever, considering we’re talking about a distance of 18 kilometers. Imagine taking one of those Meru cabs till there.)
• The sense of awe people have their faces plastered with when they see these bright-red-and-steel coloured bogeys pass them by. Its a mutual thing between both cities, and the ones that these bogeys stop at.
• I almost always end up getting a seat in the midst of people working in a particular office/company, or a family with atleast a couple of elders. Not once has there been a pretty lady/lass seated in the 6/8 seats i have to spend the next 16 hours. Not once.
• Also, I almost always end up being asked if i’m travelling alone, and/or if i could shift to some blah-blah seat in some blah-blah bogey because the guy wants to be around his colleagues/family (“Is there a pretty girl,maybe my age, nearby?” “Err..no. Why?” “Then i think i’m more comfortable here. Thanks.” No i’m not mean. I obliged this one time. I could ‘see’ the seat which was wanted to be exchanged, seated in my current seat)
• I almost always(part 3) have a noisy baby somewhere close by. Now i must add i listen to music at a decently high decibel level. These cute things manage to pierce through sounds sourcing from barely a couple of millimetres from your eardrums!
• The Rajdhani food. ISO 22001 certified. Whatever that certification is, it reminds me of food served at the mess (and helps giving me a reality check while on my way back to college. Sigh.)Mamata madam, help!
• The compartment waiters/attendants coming politely with a tray of saunf+sugar cubes( the chotu ones dumbos, i don’t know what its called) and people obliging them with 10 rupees, maybe a generous 50. That when the initial announcements as soon as the journey begins clearly requests people not to. (I like the background music more than the announcer’s voice though)
• The fact that i love listening to ‘Maaeri’ a few times and feel euphoric after that (pun intended). It makes sense on a train journey no?
There are things about the journey that this Rajdhani veteran (yes, i can call myself that now) does like. The aimless gazing at the surroundings, and wondering how diverse our beautiful country really is. The texts exchanged at the start of the journey, the ones exchanged on it too. Observing people, their habits and traits, maybe man-hi-man mein laughing at them, or consciously learning and picking them up ( i did not know the right technique to opening that 3rs wala amul butter ka chotu pack for instance). And the fact that this train is ALWAYS on time. The only exception was last year when the fog was at its peak. It would have been impossible to ride a bicycle, let alone drive an entire train out of the station.
And just when i’m trying to think of a witty end, i realise i have to make this journey again in exactly a week.
Maeri and trains have a special connection don't they?
ReplyDeleteI love train travels. The view out the windows, the solace in immersing yourself in a book, or music while the train gently rocks you into this amazing state of laziness. And of course, observing people around you. All so very nice.
Damn, its been years since I've had one.
the law of marginal utility can be applied to train/mess food wherever you go-the more you have,the less you want to have! barring that one thing,i'd almost always choose train journeys over anything else!
ReplyDeletenormally, on long train journeys, i like to disappear within myself..listen to music..gaze at the beauty outside..or just sit back and reflect! i jealously guard this me-time..i'm the MOST asocial co traveler you'll ever find :P
but sometimes its fun when you have interesting people as fellow passengers! there's some innate joy in striking random conversations with complete strangers(people you never know you may/may not run into later in life!) or sharing co incidences/experiences with them..although i have to admit,i am totally incapable of initiating one such conversation! observing people is fun too,so is eavesdropping conversations :P (thats like deriving pleasure out of something which is not intended for you in a purely selfless way! the 'man-hi man' laughing happens with me too!)
in fact, my biggest stab at freedom would be travelling whole of india all by myself with total strangers! but folks at my place would never allow me to do so :(
anyway, hope you have a great stay in delhi and come back completely rejuvenated :)
p.s: dont they serve soup now?
p.p.s: my first comment on your blog :) i'm liking the blue theme...
keep us updated! :)
Always wanted to travel alone. Just coupled with headphones.a camera and a diary and a pen. Wander and explore. Learn and imbibe. Walk and walk more.
ReplyDeleteLucky you.
@ashmita: your comment summed up my entire blog post! :O
ReplyDelete@niharika: Something i've not mentioned in the post is the conversations bit. Maybe because i intended to list out all the similarities of the journeys rather than interesting anecdotes. Nevertheless, the me-time is what i yearn for, and a simple train journey puts so many things into perspective, with a calm mind and almost all the time in the world!
Yes, they still serve soup. If given a more generous serving, i might end up filling my stomach with breadsticks and soup only :P
I wish i could travel the country too, but i'd prefer a few known people around (even barely known would do)
Thank you for the comment!
@shraddha: I don't get to 'wander and explore' like you get to do in Leh/Ladakh. I go from one station to another and back. So lucky you, not me! :P
Journeys in India are more interesting than the destinations. Looking out of the window, watching the world go by, allowing yourself to think. To imagine. To dream. Hours of watching trees fly back. Fields. Pitch black nights. Funny co-passengers. The hustle bustle. Life all around. Losing yourself in the crowd. Or losing yourself in solitude. Exhausted and content, you step out of the train to a new city, to a new experience. In your case, to run to CP. :D
ReplyDeleteyeah! nice narrative really!
ReplyDeleteAnd really, maeri pops up the image of brushing teeth on a train :P
train travelling is wonderful in so many ways, those green fields, the feeling when the train starts, the people around u, to travel alone in a train, i've always imagined having a trip like that!
damn, to be a girl!
Nice Nice!
ReplyDeleteI love long train journeys too :)
ME-Time is exactly what it is :D