A train ride to remember

WOW post

"It is the same train going back. So no pantry. Better we get something packed" - We were taking the overnight train from Khajuraho to Hazrat Nizamuddin , Delhi. This train comes from Delhi as U P Sampark Kranti and reaches Khajuraho in the morning 6.30 am. The same train goes back in the evening 6.20 pm. P and I got chicken sandwiches and some tetra packs of juices for dinner.

We had the side lower berth and one upper berth. From Khajuraho there were not many people. The train started right on time. This train stops at Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh and from there it gets connected to a bigger train and then continues the journey to Nizamuddin. While coming we knew what to expect in this train. Everyone around had opened tiffins of Puri and Aloo ki sabji with aromatic achars for dinner. We had taken the train after having an early dinner at the ever reliable Comesum at Hazrat Nizamuddin station. So we were not hungry. But somethings are done because they form a part of the whole experience.

As the train pulled into Mahoba, I told P to go find some "Indian" dinner. He came back with the "oh so typical" Rail Janta ahar from the canteen. All for Rs. 15, 7 small puris , one katori aloo ki sabji and a packet of Nilon's achar.  The compartment was full in Mahoba. As the train pulled out slowly everyone started opening their dinner boxes. They all were carrying the same thing. This time we also had that. It may not have tasted the same as those home cooked dinners, but it was the experience of having that spicy aloo sabji with the puris with everyone else was fun.
Our train journey was complete. After that we ate the cold sandwich and drank the juice too. We were happy.

It had been a while that P and I travelled by train. This trip to Khajuraho made it possible. Even though we have not travelled in one for a long time, both of us firmly believe that to experience real India, Indian Railway is the best. One train carries a whole world within. For us this time it was just an overnight journey. We still have fond memories of longer journeys of 2 -3 days where the co passengers become your family. Everyone shares not only the space for those days, but also their food and loads of stories. Until then we are content with this one.

‘This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.’ 

As I look back

I guess everyone faces this at some point in their lives. That urge to look back, stop and ponder " What if life had a rewind button or what if life offered an eraser?" What if...Yeah; but alas! that's not to be. The drifter and dreamer I am and now getting nearer to the age when chances of mid -life crisis are more; this stopping and looking back is happening more than before.

The curves of life

Every time I go to the mountains, I feel small. The majestic mountains make me realize how small we actually are. These enormous ancient mountains; standing tall with their head held high like some grand old men ( okay women too). They have seen many ups and downs; season changes, landscape changes! We think, now that we have managed to cut roads through them and now that we can reach on top of them; we have conquered them. But alas! that's again not to be. Mother Nature sure knows how to get even. And when she does, we all know what happens.


My last trip to the mountains was to Leh. I and my other half P; travelled by road from Srinagar to Leh and back. Believe you me when I say this is a road trip which can have a deep effect on your soul. As the green meadows of Sonamarg ends and the mighty Zoji La Pass begins, you realize what you have got into. Those narrow broken roads, constant eyes on the road, one wrong turn and you know what may happen. From Srinagar we had hired a cab. The jovial driver Ghulam singing and talking from the moment we got into his cab in Srinagar; suddenly gone all serious and was concentrating on the roads and only on the roads. There were other cars and bikes coming in between regular intervals. But mostly there were army vehicles. As we crossed the Zoji la and continued with our journey to Kargil and then to Leh by the super smooth and well maintained NH1, we realized that's what life is. We at times come across such hurdles and some are as mighty as the Zoji la pass. But the way Ghulam and many others like him make sure that his vehicle and his passengers cross the pass safe and sound and reach their destination; we also have to make sure we come out from such situations with our head held high. That's one Vantage Point in my life which I will never forget. Same was reiterated while returning from Leh to Srinagar. That time we took a shared cab and the cab started from Leh market at 5pm and we were crossing Zoji la at 1.30am! The scary pass looked even scarier at that hour. But thanks to our expert driver; we reached Srinagar in one piece. But deep down inside me ,something changed from that trip. Whenever faced with some hurdle in life now; I try and think of those 2 drivers who cross so many passes everyday ferrying people and they emerge victorious. That makes me believe I too will pass and continue with my journey ahead.




That trip itself provided me with the chance to ponder and look back from a really high Vantage Point;I mean literally. We stopped many times during the trip. One such was near Namik La. Looking down to the winding roads that we have crossed and the curves that we are yet to cross made me realize that's what my life is at that point. I have crossed many winding roads and curves and now standing at  that point of life where I can look back and ponder at those roads and then look forward to the roads coming ahead too. Life does not offer a rewind button nor an eraser. We make mistakes, we fall down but life sure helps in getting up and moving ahead. And that's what I am looking forward to. Life is not all smooth like the surface of NH1 nor it is always only the rough and tough narrow passages. It's a journey mixed of everything. As someone rightly said " When life throws lemons at you make lemonade out of it." Your call actually, Lemonade or Tequila shots.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.