An Indelible Train Journey

We wanted a break, or rather a respite from our mundane and monotonous life in Kanpur.

The Holi holidays came to us as a desert rose. In no time we made a plan to visit the pink city- Jaipur.

Having not being fully settled, we had to carve a niche into our meager salaries to fund our trip. We sought the cheapest hotels, cheapest way to travel and so on.

Due to our impecunious condition, we had to term this trip as just a “college trip.”

So my husband started it all up by sporting a rugged macho look, and by advising me to carry the minimum luggage possible. Now that was a big sacrifice for me, as I have a habit of carrying double the set of clothing that I might be needing.

Considering our monetary condition, we decided to travel in sleeper class, in a train which I never heard of. I was absolutely sanguine about boarding a sleeper class , because that experience would be first of its kind to me.

I never liked the idea of traveling by the train overnight, mainly because I felt there is an extreme encroachment into one’s privacy. After all you would not want to be gaped at when you are sleeping, eating, combing your hair or for that matter even talking to your partner. Girls I guess you understand it the most!!!

But this time my sense of privacy took a back seat, titillating my sense of adventure.

Tatha’s warnings about the ‘sleeper class’ did not to the least deter me from traveling in it or being excited about it. In fact I felt he hinted at the wax doll, vulnerable and frail image of girls when he said “it would be difficult for you to travel in a sleeper class.” – Which greatly offended me.

Thus , we boarded the train. Well guys.. I have a disclosure to make.

My first impression wasn’t very good!!! though I disagree with the same when Tatha is around.

The coach was extremely dirty and dingy. It was 2 A.M, so all were asleep. I soon found that I have been allotted the side upper berth. That’s the seat I hated the most. Anyway, with lot of repugnance I climbed up, hurting my head and sat on the seat. To my surprise, the seat was enswathed with a thick layer of dust. Recollections from my previous travel suggested that we would be provided with blankets and bed covers. I was wrong. Thus, I took out my wet tissue papers, which otherwise I would be extremely reluctant to even give it to my best of best friends… and wiped out the seat.

The people around me looked like as if they were either stone cutters, auto rickshaw driver or waiters at some cheap restaurant… precisely the type, which I would normally hesitate to share an environment with. Not to belittle the way they are or their profession, but this is just to portray, how some part of the society, comprising of people like me are conditioned to grow. This of course is a matter of personal shame as I have ignored the true essence of my country and countrymen.

The moment I was to lie down, I found that the seat was conspicuously small to fit in my voluptuous body. Guess, the makers thought that people traveling in the sleeper class would have a petit and emaciated constitution.

As I laid down Tatha tucked in all the belongings we had, including my shoe, under my head and suggested me to use it as my pillow. This reduced the seat further.

Therefore, legs folded, head bent, and my sweat shirt as my only cover, I went off to sleep. The only consolation was that Jaipur was scheduled to arrive early next morning.

Hardly had I closed my eyelids, with a subtle happiness in anticipation of the resplendent days that we were going to have in Jaipur, …… I was awakened by Tatha.

He wanted to warn me against a probable possibility of people pouncing at me during night – the motive – either sexual or theft.

Just as I was about to give him a look full of angst and revulsion… he smirked and said… “Remember it is a college trip darling.” I had no words in defense.

I woke up quite early next morning at about six. The credit goes to the boisterous, ticket less people who surrounded me, hovering to catch a seat.

I climbed down. I shared the seat with two other passengers, whom I had not met the previous night. They were discussing about the color, texture and amount of…. guess what… POOPS!!!

Soon I realized that I was the only female passenger in the berths that were visible. As I tried straightening my unkempt hair, I got an eerie feeling of being stared at. At about the same time a horribly untidy beggar with a huge blood oozing wound came and positioned himself beside me and refused to move. There was no question of Tatha coming to my rescue as he was still sleeping and was probably romancing some mystical Rajasthani girl in his dreams. Though intimidated, I made an effort to shoo away the beggar. But my endeavor was futile. Then one of the men, who were discussing poops, said, “ aage baro bhai.” in a deep husky voice. To my relief he was gone. I thanked the man.

Then I decided to shed all my self-consciousness and looked out. The landscape was so picturesque that it carried me away to a different world. The soft breeze touched my face and I started enjoying the experience thoroughly. As another train passed by, a dash of air pounded on my face, which almost suffocated me. The approaching forced a rush of adrenalin and then the lull… I felt a childish thrill foster in me.

My impish enjoyment was interrupted by a popular Hindi number, which was anything but mellifluous.Thus to compete, I turned to the window and sang to my heart's content. The rattling sound of the train prevented me from being heard by the other passengers.

Then, there were the itinerant showmen, who tried to amuse all the compartment members with their tricks.

The discomfiture that I initially faced completely vanished by the end of my journey. Now I can say , with lot of conviction that if I travel, I will only travel in a sleeper class compartment!!