Memorable(Train) journey

Can you imagine me rubbing my hands in glee? Why? Simply because the BUF team has given the freedom to write on past topics. Pity I noticed it just now, with just two days to go.So, without further ado, let me go to the first topic that caught my eye.

Memorable (Train) journey:

Have you heard of a train journey making a sick person better?This incident happened some(many?) years back.(Really jogging my memory for this one) I was in Std VII. And, in an ‘ill’ state. Ill as in, no doctors could diagnose what was wrong since three months, the fever et al just wouldn’t subside and things kept getting worse.

Trains and visiting Delhi were(are?yea, except the time factor) one of my favorite pastimes. So, on my insisting on going to Delhi, the doctors finally agreed, saying that the change of scenery might do me some good. I insisted on going by Dehradun Express, which takes around 24 hours even today, to reach Delhi, from Baroda. The longer the journey, the better, was the logic.(Arghhh…I just cannot imagine that today, when time seems to be at such a premium)

So, anyway, the day dawned, and, we reached the railway station, with me feeling slightly better already. Waiting anxiously, wondering whether the train would ever roll in, checking the signboard every few minutes, biting my nails till their very end(That’s not really a memory, I do it now when in India, so, I assume I did it then..grin).

Hooray, finally, the announcement was made and the train came in, and, as usual, everyone thought it would leave without them, so they rushed to the entrance of the coaches-err, second class, of course.( In those days, even looking at an AC/a 1st class coach was sheer torture, since it was beyond our reach) Anyway, even this excitement did a bit of good for me, and a faint smile came on my face after months, making everyone with me smile as well.

Finally, the train left the station, and in what seemed like less than fifteen minutes, it stopped. Voila- I was thrilled..the first station had come already and I had to get off and check it out, despite protests from everyone. Samlaya, Champaner, Derol, Godhra...I had the 'Latesht' timetable in my hands and, would proudly announce each station which would come next and say ‘tch tch’ by looking at my watch and commenting whether the train was on time, much to the amusement of my family and those around. (I think the drivers of such trains keep a lookout for a house on the way,and,if they see it,they stop.)

Then, of course, all along the way, the delicacies of the main stations had to be tasted, be it the bhajiyas of Godhra or the pedas of Mathura or the tea and spicy sev at Ratlam, to name a few. This, of course, besides the normal goodies from 'sellers' who’d keep wandering into the compartment with fruits and toffees n all. Thankfully, my family put up with my shenanigans, all in the hope that I’d be on the road to recovery, if I was allowed to do what I wanted, within limits.

Night time- we unrolled the huge(now extinct) bedrolls we’d lugged with us-cozy things they were, definitely, and I had a nice sleep(I think- no real memory of that)

Finally, nearly sixty or so official (And, nearly half of these, additional stops) stops later, the train rolled into New Delhi railway station, where my relatives were anxiously waiting, wondering whether I’d still be feeling ill. Imagine their surprise- when I got down looking fresh as a daisy, they asked ‘Were you really ill, Amit?’ In fact, my parents looked more tired and worn out than I did. Hehe….

BTW, if you don’t believe that such a long train journey exists even today, check out the link. . The train number is 9019. And, even today,it has sixty stops between Baroda and Delhi and 96 stops between Bandra and Dehradun. Perhaps we should reserve a coach in it one day and travel between end destinations(Wacko would surely agree). Only for BUFers and their spice, err, spouse and kid(s)...quite an interesting picture develops…*goes off into his Piscean dreamland*. Cheers!

Truly Memorable (Michelle)

This incident took place many years ago when I might have been around 9 years old.I don't remember too many incidents that took place so long back but you obviously tend to remember the ones that touch you.

This one, however, has never been forgotten.

My maternal grandfather was very ill and was hospitalised in Kerala.He had been ill for quite sometime but his condition was deteriorating and he was going through dialysis almost everyday.This happened in the middle of an academic term.My mom, who is a teacher had to take leave and so did I and we took the next train to Kerala.Most of my maternal cousins were already there because he was very serious and nobody knew what could happen when.

As a kid, you tend to get bored easily and I was done listening to music, reading 2 books and staring aimlessly out of the window.I had this habit of making friends everywhere I went.I have always befriended strangers on every trip I have taken.To my dismay, on this trip, there were no kids of my age, just a couple of bachelor guys.

One of the bachelor guys got talking with my mom and me and even though we had quite a huge age difference, we had so much to talk about! His name was Xavier and I became fond of him instantly.I told him all about how my grandad was ill, and how I hope hes ok and my school and my friends and he listened to me with so much of interest and did not speak to me like I was a little girl, but like I was his friend.We played cards, listened to music, sang songs!! In a few hours, he was my best friend!

We reached Kerala the next evening and I was really sad that we had to go our separate ways.My uncle came to pick us up and offered to drop him wherever he had to go which made me really happy because I would get to spend more time with him.In the car, my uncle broke the news to us that my grandad had passed away that afternoon.Everything felt so far away...I could hear my mom crying in the background and a rush of memories blew past me.

A cycle.

Me getting jealous of my cousin who got to sit on his lap

His glasses

The way he smiled.

And then a strong arm pull me into a hug.I cried for a long time until he had to leave.He left his contact number with my mom and I kept staring at his dark silhouette till it disappeared.I have never heard from him since.

Train ride to hell & back... (Ishita)

My most memorable train journey sadly is memorable NOT because I came across an interesting stranger ...though yes I wish it were so :)! It’s memorable because of a rather unusual adventure! Some of you who know me well have heard me talk of it often.

When my dad was posted in Assam, I once traveled from Delhi to Guwahati (in Assam) with my grandma by train. Now since dad was working in the Railways, we would travel via train quite frequently. This time my grandma and I were traveling in a Saloon. Those familiar with Railway life will know that a “saloon” is a stand alone coach which is like a house in wheels - with a living/dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen. It’s used by rly officers to travel at work and is usually attached to the end of the train so as to help them inspect the tracks, etc. I’ve once lived on such a saloon for a couple of months…it was like living out a “caravan” adventure!

Anyway, it was a rather long journey but we loved the comfort the saloon provided and time seemed to fly by. We entered Assam early morning and were more or less ready to reach home by lunch time. When suddenly….20 minutes after we crossed the border…we heard a THUD…loud…and then the train gave several hard jolts….a screeching sound…and then SILENCE….the train stopped. Then we heard a wail…loud…pitiful. I was stunned. My grandma simply held me close and then she said what my heart already knew… she said “Bomb!” ….

At the time Assam was (still is to quite an extent) plagued with the problem of insurgency. Those were bad days there. Bomb blasts, terror killings were common place…a battle raged between the Government and the various insurgent groups there.

I gathered my wits and walked to the living room and we had one of the staff from my father’s office traveling with us and he came and told me “beta there’s been an accident…a bomb on the tracks…we don’t know the extent of damage yet but we have to get off the train RIGHT NOW”…I kept nodding my head but told him that my granma would need help getting off as the train was stranded in the midst of paddy fields and climbing off would be trouble for her and her bad leg. Plus there didn’t seem to be any sign of life nearby.

A village some distant away seemed deserted. Not a single soul from that village ventured out to help. Maybe they were scared. Maybe threatened not to help. Maybe they sympathized with the people who caused this to happen. I don’t know…

Luckily for us, the train had a lot of army people traveling. Many of them took charge of the situation and had people evacuating the area in a rather organized way. Some helped us get my grandma off and we walked along the tracks away from the train and gathered at a fair distance off…I guess that was when it all hit me that we very narrowly escaped death! I watched people all around me…most in shock, some crying, some dazed…I was scared, angry…and I ached to be with my parents. There were no cell phones back then so I had no clue how to contact them …I seemed to be in the middle of nowhere!

Meanwhile, back home my dad got the first call from the Control Room (he was one of the senior most officers of the Zonal Rly then) and my mom happened to pick up the parallel line at the same time… her heart sank as she heard the operator inform my father “Sir the *x* train has met with an accident…bomb blast… and there are many casualties” …My father did not accompany the rest of the senior officers team but had his driver drive him non stop to the nearest station to the accident site. Mom stayed home…waiting…waiting…to hear if we were alive…

….. It is a rather long account. I won’t get into details here. Eventually we did get home. A lot more happened in between. Of all that, the one I always tell people about is when my grandma suddenly felt faint and turned to me and said “Ishita I need my medicines” I said ok I’ll get u some water. She said “No no…I left my medicine box on the train!”….I was like... “Oh! But I can’t go back there” and yet I knew she had to take her heart medicines. I made up my mind and started the trek back to the train. One army chap ran up to stop me, “ Are u mad? U can’t go back! It’s too dangerous!”…. I simply said, “My grandma needs her medicines… I have to go!” He said he’s go with me, so we walked. I heard my grandma call after me “please get my Paan ka dabba too!”…. huh!?!! It was funny really coz here I was walking back to danger and she worries about her paan?!!!

Aah well, I also saw a side to my grandma that made me cherish her more. She reached out to so many people on that day…comforted so many strangers…hugged them close, cried with them…reassured them. All this from a woman who herself was so frail and ill.

Experiences like this and trust me I’ve had more… a plane journey that went horribly wrong… and being stuck in the SUPER CYCLONE in Orissa… well, such experiences have taught me a lot about treasuring what life offers me. I try not to take anything for granted…be it the lil moments of joy or the moments that upset me.

My biggest lesson - Life is unpredictable and u can lose everything in a split second! So value every bit of it and God knows I DO!
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Ps: Sorry for the infrequent posts and I'm hoping this rather longgg one :P will make up for my absence (may continue to be infrequent though!)

mumbai local (messy)

those living in mumbai would know what i am talking about... trains here are not the 'normal' kinds... there is nothing like a nice train journey... there is nothing like a peaceful train journey... i know people from other countries specially get onto a train just to get the 'feel' of a train ride in mumbai...

the trains are never empty... they are perpetually stinking... not a day in the history of mumbai railway must have gone by without a fight in one of the compartments... you cannot reach your destination without breathing in the stale air of perspiration of your co-travellers....

and one day long back i had to travel to andheri by train... this happened when i was working... almost 7 years back... i had to meet one of my cousin at andheri... and unfortunately i had to travel at 7 pm... the peak hour... ladies compartment was out of question as i had a male friend (lets call him akshay) accompanying me (he lived near andheri then)... so we decided to travel in the first class compartment...

now i was under the impression that the first class would be better off than the second class compartment... but naah!... no way!!... it was totally packed... we decided to stand near the entrance... because if we went inside, it would be very difficult to get off at andheri... but we never thought it would get so crowded... i stood with my back to the seats... there were hoardes of people around me... i guess i was the only female around... it felt very uncomfortable standing like that... akshay must have guessed that... because he stood facing me so that no one could push me or touch me... he rested his palms on either side of me so that no one could push me from the sides too...

unfortunately this position wasnt good for my system... i knew akshay liked me a lot... and i had a major crush on him (ahem ahem)... and with him at such close proximity it was bound to get difficult for me...

he was tall and strong enough to keep people off me... but i had my doubts about how i was going to keep him off my mind... i wanted to hit myself for not getting into the ladies compartment... but it was too late to change my decision... i couldnt do anything about it... i tried to hold myself away from him... so that i wouldnt touch him even by mistake... but the crowd was crazy... everyone was jostling and pushing... it took all of akshays strength to hold me in place... and then someone pushed him so hard that he literally fell on me... ouch!

his face was so close to mine that if he had dabbed on some aftershave i would have smelt it... his hands tried to gain support from me... i had to hold him by his shoulders so that he would not be shoved away from me... and then our eyes met...

it was as if the crowds had melted... the touch that was supposed to be a support for me became a caress... his body that was shielding me seemed to be embracing me... his hand reached out to touch my hair softly... he bent low and kissed me on my forehead... i looked up at him... his eyes held mine like a magnet... his handsome face close to mine... i did not know how to react... i was lost in the pleasure of his embrace... he bent his head lower... i was sure he was going to kiss me...

and then someone pushed... ouch again!... the spell broke... the magical moment came to an end... i looked away (relieved??)... he moved his lips away from mine... he pushed himself off me as i moved my arms away... we waited in silence... not looking at each other... waiting for the train to reach andheri as soon as possible... till we got off the train and i left to meet my cousin...

Together in Boredom (Sam)

Well... i have been travelling across the length and breadth of this country since I was an infant. My dad was with the government!! For me memories aboard a train are far too many. Can't single out any.. except for one may be. For it was on this journey that I realised I had shed a lot of my shyness.... I was a little bit different now. Here is the experience:

"I started my journey, on the 19th of November evening aboard the Azad Hind Express, the journey slated to take around 34 hrs now. Long time, and i was all alone there, surrounded by strangers. What does one do? Had packed in a few books to give me company but was soon through with them, rushed through two editions of "India Today", the Monday print of "Times of India".... still boredom refused to grant me a moment of peace. As for my companions, notable where 3 or should i say 4. U see, I was accompanied by a couple with their 10 month old son, and a pretty lady, who happened to be a student at Pune. While a lil bit of chitchat was going on now and then, a proper conversation simply didn't seem to be the order of the day. While, the couple effectively had each other and their kid for their company, me and dat lady were left completely to our own devices to wage our individual war against boredom. it was a losing war, as we both realised as time flew by, plain ignorance of each other started giving way to shy smiles... an acknowledgment of a perfect understanding of the other person's state of mind. Still, brings one those smiles on my face, those very memories.

As time was flying by, suddenly I realised that only a few more, and the lady would be arriving at her destination. And thus, I prodded in the dark, after much consideration,(and I dare say after some calculation too), to engage this beautiful lady into a conversation. My prod was in the right direction, and thus ensued the most enjoyable hours of the journey. The couple too joined in with their anecdotes,as the discussion was going on about our college days.............. what to do, and essentially wot not to do...... ;)

Finally, with the parting moment coming close, I mustered the courage to ask for her number, to which she complied............... I wonder, whether I'll call her or for dat matter ever try to contact her in the future."

The Route
Full account here: Of moments, meetings and conversations with strangers during a journey!!

Was that the train??

Well... we did stay in touch, till she finally left for her hometown after completing her grads and is now pursuing MBA in Kolkata. We did meet up once more though: "And so we met again!!" And that is one of my memorable journeys till date... and the most memorable one... nah!! won't write about that... it's too personal!! ;)

Most memorable Journey (DJ)

This is something that I wrote on the plane on my way to Germany. Hope you all enjoy it.


As I am writing this, I am at a height of 33000 feet above the ground level somewhere around the boundary of USA and Canada; I think I have already bumped into Canadian
province though I am not sure of it. It is so hard to tell from this height whether I am into one country or the other. We are moving east at a speed of 650 mph to reach Frankfurt, Germany. Yes, as you might have guessed, I am typing this while I am comfortably seated in a 747 savoring the tangy taste of red wine along with cracker snacks; though while I finish writing this, it will be Sunday evening (GMT+1) as my laptop battery will die soon.

A very beautiful young girl is seated right next to me, and as of the moment she is sound asleep with her head almost five inches from my shoulder and moving towards it every second getting as close as three and then suddenly gaining senses to pull it back ten inches away. And on and on. I know you might be thinking of this to be some stupid movie scene right now, but believe me people even I am surprised..... So let me take a little latitude to bore you all, and tell you as what happened that has motivated me to document this. If not everyone, I am sure Keshi is going to appreciate this as I feel right now to be in her shoes. I have always read these kinda stories on her blog; noteworthy of which was the train incident.

My friend dropped me at San Francisco Airport at around 10:15 in the morning wishing me all the luck for a happy stay in Germany and chances to meet European girls. As soon as he left me alone, I walked straight with my baggage to the Luftansa ticket check-in terminals to get my boarding passes. As I was standing last in the line, I saw this beautiful girl in black overcoat and a red sweater walking with a trolley in her hand that carried her bags some fifty feet away from me. It seemed that she was a European. I did not concentrate much on her and waited for my turn to get the boarding passes. On my turn I started to walk towards one of the open counters and as I glanced on the side, there was she standing right behind me waiting for her turn.

Somehow I ignored everything and kept moving towards the currency exchange booth to get some Euros. Later I proceeded towards the terminal. I still had some two hours before I had to leave. So I decided not to go to the departure area which was on the ground floor and instead be seated on the first floor waiting area. After a while I again see her on the escalator to the ground floor. She was looking at me and suddenly turned her face away when my eyes just met. It somehow felt all this quite funny.

After some time I boarded the plane. I had a left hand side window seat towards the end of the aircraft. I kept my bags, removed my jacket, seated myself and started reading "for one more day" by Mitch Albom. The seat next to me was empty and I was waiting to see who comes here. I have read and also believed (until this day) that "Ninty percent of the girls in this world are beautiful; but you will always have one of the rest ten percent in your neighboring seat". However, this does not hold true anymore for me.

Few minutes later I saw someone pushing bags in the luggage compartment above my seat. I looked out of the book to find the beautiful girl waiting to be seated next to me. What a surprise, I thought. She is the one. Exchanged a formal "Hi.. Hello.." and I went back to my book and she started to read Sidney Sheldon's Stranger in the Mirror.

--- Until here, I had written while I was on the flight. Starting here on, I wrote on that night in the hotel in Braunschweig ---

After a while, the air hostess came to ask for food, and I asked for vegetarian. To my sheer surprise, she asked for the same too. I thought, a European and a veggie? She slept after the meal. After some time she put on her earphones and was listening to music. And it was real loud that even I could hear it. And I was swept away by yet another surprise. I heard a hindi song sung by Lata Mangeshkar from the 80's movie "Hero". Wow, I thought. Indian too! Sounds kewl. Anyways, I thought I would not bother her as she looked to be one of those sharmili (shy) types, and I did not for at least three more hours.

Once we reached somewhere over the North Atlantic, I started getting bugged and as everyone knows, nothing helps a bugged mood than spreading it around. With this thought in my mind, I started the conversation and it went on and on after that. I bugged her until we reached Frankfurt where she had to move into another flight to India and I had to go to Braunschweig. We chatted on this and that and what not, details of which would not be furnished here.

Did I enjoy the flight? You betcha. But I let her go without even taking any sort of contact info from her. I thought its better that I not, which on contemplation now, I find was a really dumb idea. So people, remember, all adages are not true and always keep a watch on the neighboring seat. You may never know when Murphy is proved a dumb ass again.

P.S. - None of these details here is a fabrication or a figment of my imagination. I know I have rushed hurriedly towards the end of the story, but it's 'details' people ;).

[ADMINS:: Though it is not a train journey, but this has been posted with a special request prior to publishing. As it is a Journey, we are allowing this as a special request ]