The Compartment

The Compartment 🚃

Have you ever felt that you never had a chance of touring the world or even a country? Have you ever felt that you couldn’t explore this diverse nation? that you never knew different people & their life styles? Here is an economical way of doing that.

Get into a General compartment in a train.

Wednesday; 8:16 am

Fully grown sun above the trees, from a distance, made the rails shine. The light blue colored metal sheet roofing looked new in the rays of sun. Railway workers in their orange uniforms are at the rails, cleaning before the arrival of the train. Rats running between the rails for food and shade. Green trees, red sunshine, blue sheets, silver rails, orange uniforms, everything in one frame looked like a portrait.    

The repeated advertisements and announcements on speakers all over the station, never let your thoughts still. 

Some people made the black & shiny bases of the poles as their beds, some sitting, holding phones & books, some pushing their bodies up over the platform bases to change the platform across the rails.

Surrounded by muffled people voices, the displeasing sound of vacuum cleaner, yelling of tea sellers. The rails of three platforms are empty. The first one is ready to bear the tons of weight of train upon it, to which I am waiting for.

The signals at a distance appeared like three vertical dots. The topmost dot turned green, which made the sign for the train to come on to the platform.

The small dimensional rectangular face of the engine becoming bigger and bigger as it is approaching me. Announcement for this train is completed in three languages, shifted to another train to be arriving on the platform three.

I managed to get into the general compartment, after scanning few other compartments for empty seats. Finally, I could find some space on the edge of the seat besides the emergency window.

The voices of people in the compartment increased a lot more times than on the platform. People running through the aisle, with the sole aim of getting a seat. Pushing with enough pressure in making the way through the gangway connection.

Some calling out for their family “I got two here, try to get two more there.” One with huge luggage on his back, looked like a seller moving from one place to another, pushing his luggage under the seat to escape fine.

Though I make a few hours, this train makes a four days journey from the north to south most point of the country. 

People of different states accomplish their short journeys by this train. People present here are of different states, languages, lifestyle, mindsets. The last one is very interesting, mindset.

One sacrifice his seat for a standing lady; other, fight to make the kid sit on lap, anyhow to get space to sit. One who eat everything that comes in the way; other, suppressing oneself to save money & health. One trying to pass the time; other, trying to make the journey a memorable thing. Some praying for the train to run quick; other, wanted a long never-ending journey. Some strike a pose; other, hiding their destitute. One trying to make an eye contact and make friendship; other, never raised his lids. One wait for ticket check to prove his sincerity; other, with thumping heart beat without ticket. Some fed up travelling; other, loving each and every moment. One felt unlucky to travel with same travel-partner; other, tired of travelling alone. One wait for the opportunity to help; other, deny to help. Every one manages to complete their journey in a comfortable way.

A feeling of reaching a milestone, when destined. Many worries, goals & thoughts. A dissatisfaction, a complete satisfaction.

When a conflict arises just to turn the fan on or off in a compartment. Unity in this enormous diverse nation is questionable.