So what is your story all about?

A TRAIN JOURNEY

I am glad that you liked my book. I know that I haven't updated since long. But I didn't find anything interesting to write about. But recently, I received a message saying I should continue writing. So this, is a part about train journeys. I personally love them. And this part was written, while I was travelling, so it's even more special. Hope you like it.

A TRAIN JOURNEY

I studied in Pune for 5 years and Mumbai was home. So I have had quite a number of Mumbai-Pune train journeys. In the beginning, we all used to travel together; that is, my friends and me. But as the years passed, we got busy with the clinics and tests and practicals, and we never seemed to get free at the same time. And that is when we used to travel alone.

        This is one such journey. There was nothing different today than the other days. That same hawker, whom I have seen growing up, quite literally, in all these years. She used to sell all kinds of accessories, from cheap hairclips to nailpaints and earings at reasonable rates. She used to sell the same goods when I was in my second year, but now along with her husband who used to sell mobile covers and keychains. In the third year, I was amazed to see her with her baby. She used to tie a peice of cloth between two bars on the seats and place her baby in it. And then she used to resume with her little business.

Then there was that uncle, who wore white kurta everyday and used to have a red tilak on his forehead. He who used to get novels and sell them at cheaper cost. He had his own way of grabbing public attention . He used to make funny little rhymes like "Marathi kadambari...ghetli tar bari...gheu naka bagha tari..."

     There was that old blind couple. Walking stick in one  hand, and holding her husband's hand with the other; the old woman would follow her husband. While he held a bowl in his hand and sang. He had been singing the same song over and over again, every single day. The lady sitting beside me, got a few coins out of her purse and placed them in his bowl. I looked at her and smiled. Admiration and respect. She hadn't done something extraordinary; just spared a few coins, which could prove to be their dinner may be. But I hadn't thought of it or done it, even once in all these years.

       There was a lady sitting in front of me. I couldn't help but observe her keenly, until it would be too obvious that I had been staring at her. She had worn red coloured pants, which kept creeping up above her ankles and she kept pulling them down. She had worn a red and blue printed top and had goggles placed on her head, holding back her frizzy hair. And all the time, she kept biting her nails while looking out of the window and listening to music. She bought fruits from a vendor and ate those fascinatedly. And after that, she went back to biting her nails again.

       I looked at the girl sitting diagonally opposite to me. She was sitting by the window, and reading some academic book. She kept underlining and marking important stuff in it. I remembered those old days, when I used to do the same thing.

       There is something about train journeys, which always makes you want more of it. You travel, you travel alone. Look out of the window. Enjoy the scenery. Close your eyes. Feel the breeze on your face. Buy a cup of tea from the hawker. Dip the teabag, look out of the window. Have some of it. Heaven, you think. Get the headphones from your bag. Listen to your favourite songs. Peace, at its best. Look around. You can see so many people, living all kinds of varied lives, having one thing in common, and that is, that they are all so different. Observe. You are sure to find out more about them. You simply don't get bored. Train journeys, you might be travelling alone, but you are never lonely.

If you liked this part,please do vote. Your suggestions are always welcome. And do share your experiences. I would love to read about them.