Chhuck Chhuck Kartee Railgadee

"All the passengers pay attention. Train No. 3210 is due to arrive at Platform No. 2 at 10:10 AM"....Sounds familiar, right. This is the usual bhavishyavani which reverberates in railway platforms when we are about to travel to distances in chug-chug railways. Of course, nowadays due to the ever-increasing lack of time, we are presented with other alternative, thanks to the Oliver and Wright brother's invention.

For me, travelling in a train, always carried that oomph factor. The excitement and fingers-crossed environment which it carries had been second to none, till date. Right from the time I leave my home, following events consistently unravels itself --- searching for an auto, letting him fly his three-wheeler, coming to the platform, first thing to notice whether the train is on time by seeing on the display board, checking the platform no., going to the destined place where my bogie should ideally come.

And then, when everything is settled comes the great commentary --- "Train No. 3210 is running late by 2 hrs. It is expected to arrive at ...." We take a huge sigh, not sure though whether of relief or no-idea-what-to-do-all-this-time. Youngsters pick up their best friend (mobile) and then call their supposed-to-be-better-half and would be stuck to them. Families would get time to discuss about their hierarchical structure taking each family member's context one by one. Loners would be left with a couple of choices -- either stroll around as if to measure the length and width of the station or take a magazine/book to read.

But after 2 hours and of course, if everything goes well planned, we abode our vahana. First there would be a sudden hue and cry to sit in the alotted seat. And then after that, we would all be settled. Some take the avatars of kumbhakarana....some take the avatars of sorry-limited-stop talkers....some would be the audience, smiling every now and then....of course not to miss the little angels for whom its the play-time.

And not to forget the chai-chai's, bread-omelette's, samosa's, pakoda's, bisleri's, biscuit's, ice-cream's all coming in regular intervals to let us deviate from our avatars. And of course, the Ticket Collector entry to verify our ticket's identity. And then finally, we reach our destination....if we are going for a vacation, we would be full of energy but if we are coming back, we would be thinking "alas...Back to pavilion...".

Somehow this travel machine always carries with it the spontaneity and excitement of life with itself, which never ends and goes on and on and on.