Rail Ki Kahani, Meri Zubani

As I waited on the platform at the Borivali station awaiting the arrival of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabadi Express, noticing the flies over the railway tracks, It struck me how enthusiastic people are about travelling by train in India. It was 7am.I was about to travel in India's fastest train in a few moments. They train slowly entered the station bringing in with it that signature smell and a lot of mosquitoes! The train justs topped there for two minutes and I had to make way for noddy(myself) to get into the train, pushing aside the other's who were imitating me ;)
I had 2 bags with my clothes and 3 cartons of the best quality Alphonso mangoes(without which my family wouldn't let me enter my home). Mangoes are a must for my family whenever I come from Mumbai. But I must also say that my maternal side makes good use of those mangoes. They store the pulp for the year, make Aamras, Mango shakes, Dishes, raw and what not!
'Sumhow', I managed to reach my designated seat after winning my war with the ever rowdy crowd, and settled on my chair. An assortment of newspapers and magazines was lying lined up in front of me for MY entertainment. I just picked up a TOI and glanced through the Bombay version, to accompany my reading session, the waiter/rail purser/you choose appropriately brought in d trolley and asked me if I wanted coffee. Why in world would I ever refuse a cup of coffee? By the time I was done wid my old age style of reading the newspaper and sipping my coffee, I was deep in the countryside with distant huts and nearby fields clearly visible.
My huge window gave me a clear view of the passing rivers, windmills and at times Power Plants. It may seem dull when I write about it but you don't get bored even for a minute even if you get to see the same fields, trees and hutments for hours. Though I had been advised to catch up on my lost sleep because I had got up at 5 but the journey didn't make me sleepy at all. After all this was the first time I had initiated a rail journey all by myself.
It was on this journey that I realized why Gandhiji always preferred to travel in 3rd Class with the masses. It was because it connected India, not just geographically but also socially. In a train, it really didn't matter to people who was sitting next to them. It hardly matter if it was a Brahmin or a Muslim in that era which was dominated by Casteism and Communalism. He also got to interact with people of different strata's of society and how people thought. Railways were to India then what Tata tea is to India now :P
Coming back to my journey, I had by now entered one of the most developed states of India, Gujarat. It was quite evident from the train because instead of those poverty stricken mud-houses, I could now see pucca houses. The trees which lined the tracks were full of raw mangoes. I knew that somewhere behind those trees was one of the most beautiful village from where my grandfather hailed.
We soon crossed important stations like Navsari, Anand, Vadodara, etc. But more than stations in my journey was food!!! There was something or the other constantly coming in infront of me. It all started with that refreshing cup of coffee, followed by breakfast, then coffee again, soup, lunch and finally dessert. The food wasn't as bad as the newspapers say but it wasn't excellent either.
The train gradually slowed down and when the regular travelers got up, I knew it was the end of my very enjoyable journey and it was time for me to pick up my 5 pieces of luggage with 2 hands(now I wish I was one of those million gods  who have 4-6 hands). The temperature in Ahmedabad was 45 degrees and it was as if I'd entered an Oven from a Refrigerator. I found an auto and bid goodbye to the train who had played the role a host to me for 7 hours. It had taken me through the countryside where India's heart, beauty and diversity lies.
It was then that I realized that though it had taken me longer than a flight but the trip was more than just travelling. It was an experience for me which I would remember all my life. It wasn't just looking at things from the top(more than the things, it is the clouds we see) but I was with the the scenery. I was a part of the whole canvas.
I would suggest everyone that if you have time, you must travel in India by train because it is a unique experience that I feel everyone will rejoice in.


P.S.: I would take this opportunity to pay tribute to my Maternal Grandfather who was a great rail enthusiast. Someone who could bet on railway timings. His love for trains was such that he would take the longest possible railway route to get to his destination. I'm always reminded of the great soul whenever railways are mentioned in front of me.

BMI: Bohot (Zyada) Munching Index

As I continue to eat and ask people to surrender their tiffins to me, I have aptly and rightfully gained the title of 'The Foodie' or a little more rough tag of Bhukkad! I'm someone who appears from thin air whenever a tiffin is opened, whenever food is bought, whenever someone cooks, and the likes of such situations. No wonder my brother equates me to the baby depicted in the advertisements of Michelin tyres

Doesn't my body look like this guy? I guess it does, all because of my eating habits. Astonishingly, I don't regret or I have no remorse for the way i binge on food because I have a very simple theory(inspired by my father) that this is the only life I have to live, so why not live it to the fullest?
I may control myself by putting restrictions on my eating to turn my lifestyle into a 'Healthy' one but what's the fun then? Will I be happy? N-O  NO! Without good food, my life will be a boat without water, a mobile without balance, a pair of shoes without feet, clothes without a body,etc.,etc.(I hope I've made my point clear :P)
I may extend the last few years of my life by doing so, but are those years, when your body has been infested with every single disease known to Human kind, worth living? In my opinion, it's another N and an O.
The only reason why I would put in that my effort and heart into that 'enormous' task of losing weight would be for two reasons! The first is obvious and I leave it upon the readers to decide( I just hope I have people with some intellect reading this who can figure this out) and secondly so that I can get RID of the acne which have turned my face into the surface of the moon. Anybody willing to go on an expedition may do so on my face(Registrations now open for girls. Criteria:The candidate should be beautiful ;)) ( Well, I guess i just overshot my limit, but nevertheless, registrations are still open for Who dares wins :P)
I just wish I could have my acne-free skin back again! I miss those golden days when 'people' use to pull my cheeks and say 'Such a quite little boy'.
So I'll end this before my tears wipe the ink of this post.
P.S.: Please oblige me by 'penning' down your comments!

In the wee hours of morning

It stood tall with might

The day broke, bringing in light

Gushes of air engulfing me

As I stood underneath the pine tree

The day broke , brining in light

Birds chirping melodiously

As I stood underneath the pine tree

Imbibing the composure and serenity

Birds chirping melodiously

Ending the silence of the night

Imbibing the composure and serenity

Embellishing the day, now active and bright

Enlightened

                                                Enlightened
                                            I                 Walk
                                   Home   with       Experiences
                           Gathered,     which     now     mould
                                  My  personality,      thinking,
                                      Making              me
                                                 Stronger

A ship that never sinks....

As I switch off the lights in my room and lie down on the bed, my minds drifts away, not to places around the world or to the time that has passed, it drifts to the time that is yet to come. It lingers to a place where I see an old bespectacled man with white hair, wrinkled and sagging skin weeping on a sofa as he speaks to someone in his faint and squeaky voice, both reminiscing their childhood days. Sobbing nostalgically at the bygone glorious days of their youth, full of joyful and sorrowful moments when they stood by each other.

As I dire to see the face of the other person, my mind questions who could that be? Who shall secure such a special place that he could move me to tears? Is there someone with whom I will share such a relationship? The answer that comes back to me is that apart from family, the only ones who make that little space in your heart are the people who are family to you: Friends.

I'm a person who does not make friends very fast. It takes me some time, and the other person some more time to accept me. I don't know if that is due to my looks, my conduct or something else. I also am aware that at times while I'm in a facetious mood, I cross my limits when while joking, therefore irritating the other person.

I recall the days and the people whom I once considered friends but we stand estranged now. Such instances have turned me into an insecure person. I always fear the loss of my friends whom I consider 'True' pals. I think I've finally found associates for whom I could lay down my life without expecting them to do the same.
I write this today for the first time, to tell my mates that they really matter to me and that I always fear their loss :)