Such was Kutch

B – "This is it. Stay on your toes, stay steady, stay focused. Our target is the upper-berth seat, and our aim is to score two for us. We are going to rush our way in, find ourselves two decent seats, and set our assets on them before anyone else does. This is the general compartment, here money buys us tickets only. Rest, we have to work for. This place has its own rules which change depending on the people and the situation. So don't forget to be respectful in the heat of competition. At least until we score ourselves a seat. Alright, here it comes, come on!"

As they stumble through the doors, trip between the partitions, and spin about the seats, they see themselves being aced by other commuters. They couldn't help but fall to the forceful chaos unleashed by belligerent women, hyperactive kids, annoyed elderly, and anxious husbands. Running on an unyielding proportion of inhibition, etiquette, and not enough desperation, Bunny and Ape win a standing position.

B – "So much for that plan. But no worries, we'll find some seats soon enough."

"Hey, behind you.. excuse me, uncle. Hi, you mind squeezing in so my friend could sit? Thank you. Here, sit for now."

A – "I can see you've done this before. Tell me, the last time you visited Kutch, did you travel like you lost a bet to misery then too?"

B – "Hahaha. No man, that was my first solo trip, I had a seat booked weeks ahead."

A – "Then why subject ourselves to such struggles this time?"

B – "Patience, my friend."

"It is easy to travel in comfort with a reserved berth. Anyone can do that. I wanted us to have an irregular experience. Putting ourselves in unfamiliar environments and learning to negotiate is a useful skill. A little suffering is a good thing, it develops patience and consideration. And what better place to practice."

A – "I see this is going to be a long ride."

B – "Yup! You know, the other time I was travelling to Kutch from Bandra Terminus, I was all comfortable in my seat, I wrote some, I read some, then I chilled to some music. I thought we had crossed the Maharashtra border by then, but I fell on my head when I saw that we were just crossing Nallasopara!"

A – "Hahaha, talk about long rides, damn."

B – "Tell me about it. Makes me wonder how comfort-discomfort affects our perception of time."

A – "That's a fascinating question. So what did you do next, look for an answer?"

B – "Nope. I started preparing to alter time by smashing some herb to smoke"

A – Lol. "Good job!"

B – "Speaking of which, later that evening I was all smoked-up when I received a call from my uncle who had lined up some job prospects for me. He was grilling me for choosing a trip instead of a job. He was acting out love and concern, but damn did I have a hard time trying not to crack up laughing."

A – "The old ones, they mean well, but they don't seem to understand our conflict. THe world was different when they were our age. Their quest was to find security through a stable income and a respectable job. Whereas our quest is for fulfillment and meaning, I believe. Our parents have provided us with what they struggled for, so we've developed an alternate perspective and thus different goals and aspirations; while being grateful for what they do for us."