An hourly wait at a remote station for the train. Most tracks jammed due to the rains.
Am I frustrated, troubled or worried? No, never, I aint those kinda people.
Let the train take its time, its infact a blessing in disguise.
So much to do until then!!! Rains, greenery around, a hot cup of tea and some snack- vada paav preferably. Wow! Do u think u need anything else in life???
Watching others waiting... people who are complete strangers but yet are one amongst us....maybe because they too are Indians. Yes, this is a big reason, whose importance one only realizes when in a similar situation but abroad.
Anyway coming back to my ordinary indian railway station of this small town... even the faint stink of excreta on the tracks does speak of its rights to be there...Thats India!
The train is still to come and the sun is slowly setting. Somewhere nearby a family is trying to adjust the luggage so that they could spend a few hours relaxing like me. There is the head of the family, a forty-eight year old uncle?(hmmm, ok) and his wife who used to be the ever so slim and beautiful lady is now the mother of two teens, and maybe not that slim. Anyway, father instructing children to sit with their mom...and suddenly changing minds to take the son and go to fetch some idli-chutney and coffee for the evening snacks.
A bachelor at another corner checking the reservation chart to find his name...many a times even if we are having a confirmed ticket, to see our name on the reservation chart gives us some kind of superior complex/thrill and pride, feels as if we are telling the rest of the people checking the chart 'Look: No one can steal that berth from me now, its officially on the charts now on this very platform on the day of my travel. I own 1/72th of the bogie now!'
So, wasn't the status on the TICKET official?
But its sweet.
Aah, maybe I should have another cup of tea, I mean please look at the scenic beauty around, it just rained, the smell of the wet mud and the sun slowly bidding bye for the day leaving the sky a little red. Wow, this definately demands a tea.
Wait, did you hear that announcement? Yes, the train seems to have got stuck somewhere and is delayed by two more hours. I ask myself: is it still a blessing in disguise?
No, my answer is still not negative. I am happy.
The journey as it is, is going to take 30 hrs; Am not a business tycoon or a very busy man, have already kept a day as a buffer before resuming work.So, I can enjoy the journey and the waiting. Don't you think in any other possibility- a cab to the nearest airport would have been my choice? Some plus points of being just an engineer and not a manager etc.
So what to do in the next two hours? Its already getting dark.
C'mon Sai, out with that book you had dumped in your bag thinkin one day you would complete it.
Sitting on one of the chairs in this surprisingly well lit waiting hall is not that uncomfortable. Oh, that family too is in, certainly gonna give me company in the train too! And...whats this hustle bustle all about? Some 'goods train' entering the platform. Anyway, I am back reading my book.
Bravo, I have managed to read through half of the book. Khaled Hosseini definately needs a mention here for such a simple story that could otherwise never touch my heart. Well, this is about his book- The Kite Runner. For those interested in simple yet soul stirring art, this book is surely worth a read.
A half an hour left and time for me to get done with dinner. The station is already deserted, its great to see those oil lit lanterns on the streets of the town.
Mr.Chief Minister, you have some work left here!
The canteen boy has just served me some chapatis and chicken masala curry.
And no sooner did he serve have I managed to gulp down that last morsel too! Keeping a chicken already cooked wait for long...Not my way!
Back to the waiting hall, collect my bag and move to the platform. That was the plan. And I was successful executing it too!!!
Jokes apart, here I am on the platform again and as I take the last sip of this typical indian railway station chai*( Doodh kam paani zyaada***), the strikingly bright headlight of my train's engine seems to ignite the tracks.
Atleast my Bye bye is heard and doesn't get lost in this engine's whistle.
Bon Voyage!
Keep d faith...
Karun.
* tea in hindi
*** less milk, more water.
lovly !!
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