Jai ho Bhartiya Rail!

Somebody once told me that we blog about what we feel strongly for, well then here's something I feel 'strongest' about right now. History first! Rewind to last month, Mohit and I stare at the rail track on Ludhiana Railway Station, waiting for The Shatabdi Express to come. Now for the lesser mortals who don't know about this train, these are supposed to be the better trains of Bhartiya Railways. Anyhow, back to the main story! Sweat running down our forehead, soon to the neck and finally to the arms! Finally, the stereo type voice on the m.c goes off, "Yatri kripya dhyan de, amritsar se nayi dilli jaanewali, 2030, Swaran Shatabdi Express apne nirdharid samay se do ghante late aayengi."

Wow, we say! And instantly rush back to my maiden house, only to reach back after 2 hours and finally board the train and reach at 1:15 AM at Delhi. What a night, it was!

Now cut to Yesterday. Same station, same rail track and the same sweat. Only the train reaches on time. Wow, we say again. I board it happily. I(traveling alone) call up everyone I know to inform them that the shatabdi started before time(It is a once-in-a-lifetime event).

All is going well and I am eating the newly introduced Chinese food on the menu. It was actually yum! The train stops 30 mins after crossing Ambala Cantt. I don't bother, Indian trains keep stopping for no reason whatsoever. I keep eating. Well, soon my food is over and The Archie Comic that I am reading also finishes but the train's ass hasn't moved an inch.

Now some curious jacks start moving theirs and ask questions. Some Uncles gather together and round up the TT and ask him, he refuses to divulge any information. Finally, some one announces that the train's engine has failed. WAH, I hear an uncle say. The voice goes on, A new one will come from Ambala and then we shall move. Arre wah, the same uncle says now. We are about 30 kms off Ambala and already 30 minutes late.

But we wait, now I start reading my novel. Have to do something to kill time. How much can I abuse Indian Railways. I leave that to my fellow yatri's and open "To kill a mocking bird". Now don't smirk at that. I know it is a very popular book but I still haven't read it. Avid reader and all aside, I love to stick to the underdogs.
Anyhow, I cross the first 10, then the next 10 and when the 50th page comes, Voila! The train moves!!!!

It comes to motion slowly, steadily and then again!!
Well, the rest of the story is boring as the train does get me to Delhi. I had actually started looking at the options of having an 'a la Jab We Met' kinda train experience. But all that didn't happen, I just reach 2 hours late for the second time in a row. So what? My time isn't money!! I can always sleep well tomorrow...

For more on my view points and grudges about the Indian systems, pls come to my blog and start reading... LOL