A heap of apprehensions rose in my mind, when I realized I had to cover the entire journey of more than 15 hours, alone in a Sleeper class train compartment. The entire bogie was bustling with activity, kids climbing up and down the berths as if they were in some kind of an amusement park, hawkers continuously repeating the same set of words, people merrily chatting with other fellow travelers as if they knew each other for ages.
And I for one was totally feeling myself out of place in that crammed compartment of the 3:10 Goa Link Express.
But this was definitely not how it was supposed to be. I had decided to travel by train this time as this one journey I was in no mood of traveling alone, I had decided to travel by this train as my friend was supposedly supposed to be in it and I thought this journey would be fun. I had actually got my A/c ticket by the same train canceled and got a sleeper class
tatkal tickets booked (despite several attempts by another dear friend of mind who was totally against this whole idea of me traveling by sleeper class. Probably his 6th sense had informed him that this journey was destined to be alone.)
Well frankly speaking, traveling alone was not really my problem, neither was the sleeper class compartment, the reason for my apprehensions was something different.
Firstly, I was not mentally prepared that this journey would be alone. Secondly I particularly dint want this journey to be traversed alone – for reasons better kept untouched. Anyways, one cannot escape from the destined plan.
I took a quick look at the faces around me. They were all engrossed in their conversation, each one doing their part of introduction. I could easily guess that all of them were traveling alone, and somehow it was nice to listen to them and know about them. It was nice to see how 7 different people each from totally different walks of life, each traveling for their own unique reason come together and share this 8*10 sleeper compartment. Seeing this, I felt the 8th fellow traveler(hey that’s me) should also join in the conversation. But then my reclusive self or maybe the little xenophobic streak in me stopped me from doing so. I thought instead it was a better idea to spend some time with nature. The initial the stretch the train covers along the dudhsagar and the surrounding regions indeed offer a scenic treat to the eyes. And so the journey was going good, with me taking full advantage of my window seat and totally lost into the surroundings while the others lost into each others talks. I was listening to bits and pieces of their conversation and often felt I could join in too. But for whatsoever reasons I felt it was better to stare out of the window instead. But soon I realized I could no longer continue staring in the dark. My next companion for the journey was a pen which for once I successfully located in my otherwise unhelpful purse, which being huge is often difficult to navigate and locate things. Now the golden question, what would I write??? My first thought.. why not write something about the journey itself.. hmm not now maybe sometime later. Much of it is yet to come..What else?? Oh with my wedding planned within the next couple of months why not I make a to-do list. Not that this was the first one of its types, with the wedding dates approaching, any number of to-do lists will always miss out some thing or the other. I also happily convinced myself that this was also a good time utilization strategy.
And soon I was lost in my list, when my smooth thought process was interrupted and the expression on my face was drastically changed as though my dreamy world was suddenly taken over by a nightmare. There was a eunuch standing right in front of me asking money from the person sitting opposite to me. I would have definitely been the target in line. I was scared to death and immediately slipped my hand into my purse in the hope of finding some quick change. My purse was back to its tricks even at this important moment and it took me some time till I could finally feel the touch of some life saving coins. My fellow traveler was in a worst state as he was already on the hot-seat, and had realized he didn’t have any change. His discomfort was evident on his face and he asked me if I had any change. I quickly handed him some coins which he handed to the Eunuch. The eunuch was probably impressed by my generosity and thankfully ignored me for his next subject. I was happy that I was safely out of the hit list and heaved a loud sign of relief when I saw that it our compartment was mentally stricken off from the eunuchs’ ‘compartments to be visited list’. My fellow traveler thanked me for my timely help and that was when our conversation started. He told me he plays football for Indian army and had been to Goa for a match. He was forced to leave in between his tour as some family member was ill. I did my bit of the introduction too. I was impressed by the word ‘Army’ but he modestly clarified that he wasn’t an Army Man as such and was only playing for them.
Soon a lady sitting at the neighboring berth; who had probably noticed my uneasiness at the Eunuchs entry asked me if I would prefer to sit this side. I accepted her offer and shifted my position. Along with the position, I had also reversed roles from a silent spectator to an active member of the conversation. The lady was a Principal of KV school. She was traveling to Bangalore to meet her to-be daughter in law for the first time. We had brief talks about love and arranged marriages. Her rich experiences through the journey of life were evident from every view she exchanged. She was a person one could really learn a lot from. There was another gentleman who happened to have stayed in the same lane, I have currently put up. What a co-incidence that was! We three had a lot of exchange of views and thoughts about varied topics. The other two co-travellers who were travelling on business purpose and our army footballer also pooled in their views from time-to-time.
I could sense that I was speaking quite liberally and was surprised about it myself. At times one can be more open to express ones views and ideas with strangers, as you do not count each word on the basis of how they will perceive it, or modify your statements depending on what you want them to think of you. A detailed pre-speak-up process is not really needed in conversation with people you may never even see again. The two hour long halt which the Link expresses takes when it links itself to Rani Chennama passed within splits of thoughtful exchanges coupled with laughter.
Soon it was time to catch some sleep and we all said each other a dutiful good night and took to our respective berths.
Before sleep could take over me, I had another brief conversation.. This time with myself!
Was the 8th traveler really me, one who hates to even ask for help from strangers to something as common as locating an address.. Was it the same person who prefers calling up some friend when at a bus stop when needed to know a bus number to a particular destination, over asking the same to a stranger waiting for a bus. The same person who may go the extent of asking a friend to google and find the answer to a silly query rather than asking a fellow traveler, the second option being much less time-consuming one. Was it really me who was doing so much of exchange of views to a set of people whom I had met for the first and maybe the last time? Would I have joined the conversation if the Eunuch hadn’t come and I was left to continue with my wedding preparation list without being interrupted?
Then another set of questions hovered over these thoughts...
Would I have traveled with my friend, what would have been my experience like?
Would that have been as different as this one? May be it would have, maybe it wouldn’t. But for sure this is one experience I shall always remember, as for me it was a realization of the fact that conversations with strangers can be fun too…
