…another train experience

I didn’t have to do much work from morning and most of the morning time I was thinking about how to get out of the office by noon to catch the evening train. But I had to tarry two more hours after lunch to meet my boss who was in meeting with some foreign delegates. As it became very late by the time I packed few things in to my backpack I had to take the help of my colleague to drop me at the railway station. Luckily the train was late by ten minutes and I was on time before its departure.

As it happened to be Friday the train was fully crowded with IT geeks who travel every weekend from Pune to Hyderabad. It took an hour for me to settle on my berth before my berth status was changed from RAC to SL. I was quiet and started reading a novel to pass the time but it was rather stodgy- digressing from actual story. The journey soon became tedious and I had to start conversation with uncle who’s sitting next to me. In that process I had to tell my biodata like where I am from and what I do and where I studied etc. The girl who has been quietly listening to us from adjacent row just opposite to my berth joined us by introducing herself as Srivalli and she works for Tech Mahindra and so on. I could not stare at her eyes while she was talking as I didn’t feel comfortable and maintained silence by nodding. The uncle was listening to her but it was my turn to answer her when she asked me ‘what do you think’? I tried to act as if I have not heard her but had to look at her when she moved further close to me. She was good looking, plump, and with the innocence of small child against to her talkative nature. For next one hour we had nice discussion on politics, Telangana issue, education system in India and foreign opportunities etc. After some time the uncle moved to the upper berth and there by given more space between us.

We had our dinner together and she asked me to wake up her at Nampally if she doesn’t get up. I wished her sweet dreams before I was about to sleep and there all of sudden we heard a loud shout from few compartments away. It was known from the fellow passenger that some bandits snatched gold from a woman neck and ears. Fortunately she was not hurt seriously however she was strangled for sometime when they were pulling the chain from her neck. Everyone was frightened by that barbaric incident and cursed the railways for not arranging proper security. And Srivalli too horrified by that scene and asked me to do favor of not sleeping for some more time. She talked about her childhood dreams, friends, movies and her colleagues etc. She even shared all her personal feelings and family details to me and at one point of time I felt like she’ll propose me. I was very happy to listen to her for one more hour by looking at her ingenuous smile until she told me that she has engaged and her marriage is in next month.

Sree…