The Train Journey
JiyaP
It was 6 in the morning when the train entered the '*-Howrah Railway Station-*' in Kolkata. There was a rush in the platforms as people started alighting the train. After everyone had disembarked, the train's doors were shut to clean the berths. I leaned against a wall keeping my luggages by my side and waited for my friends. I was always an early riser and I was the first one to reach the spot everywhere me and my friends planned to go to. I took a glance at my wrist watch. '8:00' It showed. "They are going to miss the train today" I sighed "It's just 15 minutes till the train departs."
I tried calling Roy, one of my friend's house through the payphone, only for his sister to pick it up. "/=Hello=/" I said "/=Am I talking to Mr. Roy?=/"
"/=Dada?=/" A female voice said, the one that I immediately recognised "/=Gopa?=/" "/=Yes, what made you call today? We didnt talk for like..decades=/"
"/=Yeah=/" I said "/=I was kind of busy with work=/"
"/=hmm.. busy with work=/"
"/=I am sorry?=/"
"/=You better be..Anyways what did you call for?=/"
"/=I just wanted to ask whether Roy is still sleeping or did he-=/"
"/=He went out early in the morning=/"
"/=He was too excited for the trip=/"
"/=oh..That's great=/"
"/=He might be reaching there within a few minutes=/"
"/=Yeah=/"
"/=I am afraid I'll have to cut the call=/" She said "/=Maa needs my help with the kitchen=/."
"/=She will kill me if she sees me on the telephone instead of helping her...=/"
"/=Sure then, I will call..maybe some other day=/"
"/=Please do..Don't forget about us once you set on your journey=/"
"/=hmm=/"
As I kept the reciever of the telephone back in its place, I checked the time once again '8:08'. I was now sure that they were going to miss the train today. The doors of the train opened and the workers came out, indicating that passengers could now board the train. I was now scared. I didnt want to let go of this trip.
"Banerji" shouted a voice behind me. I turned around to see Roy and the others. Roy taking the lead and Bhaskar, Abhijit, Sanjoy, Sheema and Koel walking behind him.
He waved towards me with two luggages hanging on his arms.I waved too and went towards him to help him with the luggage. "Sorry bhai, we got late because of Sheema" said Abhijit as Koel replied "It wasn't my fault though"
"It wasn-" I cut of Sheema as she was about to reply "Let's continue this later or we will..you know what"
With this we loaded our luggages and occupied our places. The train left the platform.
"You know we were so tensed back then" Abhijit said "Sheema was locked inside the room and Koel was nowhere to be found"
"Yes" said Abhijit taking the lead of the conversation "Koel was at the haat buying snacks for us and Sheema couldn't open the lock" "It took a lot of time to get her out of the room"
Everyone started laughing as Sheema angrily crossed her arms and stared at the window.
"Raag korona raguni..Ranga mathaye chironi " Said roy as we started laughing harder.
I must say the train journeys back in those days were the best. Friends used to have heart-to-heart converstaions and we used to enjoy not by seeing the screens of the mobile phones, but we talked, played games and did many other things that the new generation can't even imagine of.
Soon, The TC approached us "Dada, ticket please" He said as we showed him our ticket."
"Aren't you Mr.Protik Banerji?" the TC said
"Yes, I am"
"Do you remember me?" "I am Shudhir Shah"
"Sudhir Shah?"
"I think I've heard this name before"
"Remember the boy who always used to get scoldings from Guru Chattopadhyay?"
"Guru Chattopadhyay?"
"Oh..Shudhir"
"I remember..I remember"
"It's good to meet you" I said
"Good to meet you too" He replied as we shaked our hands
We both had a small conversation before he left for his work. *-School friends, the best friends for life-*.
Time passed. Some people exited the train. Some people entered the train. Some people came to the train to sell things and some came to entertain us with their soulful voice. "Should we play antakshari?" Roy suggested as everyone replied "yes".
"Cholo Sanjoy, sing with N"
We played and talked a lot and enjoyed ourselves as the sun set and the moon rose. Bhashkar and Roy took a nap as they were tired, Abhijit drew in a piece of paper, Sheema hummed a song while staring at the scenery outside the window, Sanjoy and koel wrote poems and articles to publish in the daily newspaper. Seeing them, I started writing a new story in my diary.
The train went on crossing tunnels and boarding passengers from stations as people inside spent time with their family and friends.
It was 11 am, the next day as we reached the Pune Junction Railway Station. One by one we unloaded our luggage and got off the train as we reached our destination.