The Central Railway Station in Chennai is what I consider my gateway to paradise. Let me explain to you why. The only reason why I come to this densely overpopulated place is because the train takes me home. As I have expressed in one of my previous posts, I live in Chennai currently and I go back home frequently. You may say that going home is no big deal but for me, it is something I cherish. After braving a month's summer in Chennai, I can't wait to go back to Bangalore, a place which stays cool during summer unlike rest of India.
I cannot explain the feeling when the train starts pulling out of the railway station and starts trudging towards Basin Bridge junction. A few minutes later, I see vyasarpadi jiva in the distance and the train starts picking up speed. At this moment, I lay back on my seat/berth smiling to myself knowing that I will be home in exactly 6 hours and 20minutes. I take out a book to read and forget about sleep. I read till my eyes droop, ocassionally checking outside to see how much closer to I have come. With practiced accuracy, I guess where exactly the train would be at that moment. When the next station comes, I chuckle to myself after I conform that I was right. Even though it is a useless talent, it keeps me entertained in the night train and it keeps me from falling asleep. Finally, I get really tired and drift off to sleep.
When I wake up after sometime, I look out of the window, still dark in the morning, the train is bursting through the cold morning air as I can see fields and farms whiz past me. I lose track of time and I continue to stare outside trying to figure out where I am. The cold wind strikes like icy knives and there is a tinge of petrichor in the air(yes, I like to use that word repeatedly :P). After few moments, I spot a yellow board of an upcoming station but the train doesnt seem to be slowing down. The yellow board read 'Devanagonthi'. I lay back and relax because that word made me happy. We are in the outskirts of the city and we will soon, be entering the city. Only 45 minutes more. I start thinking about my bed and how it missed me. After reaching home, I wanted to do nothing but sleep, on my own bed.
You maybe wondering why the title of this is '10:10 on 10'. I am presently writing this standing inside Central railway station between platforms 3 and 4. I am waiting for the train which takes me home,to paradise. With two hours of time in hand and after a heavy meal in Saravana Bhavan, my Mind is racing with all kinfs of stuff and my fingers are aching idly. So I decided to write this on my phone. I can hear the automated announcer repeating arrivals and departures in 3 languages. I have now memorized whatever she says. One particular line which caught my attention is that the Kovai express will arrive on Platform no. 10 at 10:10 pm.Hence the title. Also, I will be posting this exactly at 10:10 pm to be consistent with coincidences. Now I need to go because I need to memorize the rest of the train timetable.
I cannot explain the feeling when the train starts pulling out of the railway station and starts trudging towards Basin Bridge junction. A few minutes later, I see vyasarpadi jiva in the distance and the train starts picking up speed. At this moment, I lay back on my seat/berth smiling to myself knowing that I will be home in exactly 6 hours and 20minutes. I take out a book to read and forget about sleep. I read till my eyes droop, ocassionally checking outside to see how much closer to I have come. With practiced accuracy, I guess where exactly the train would be at that moment. When the next station comes, I chuckle to myself after I conform that I was right. Even though it is a useless talent, it keeps me entertained in the night train and it keeps me from falling asleep. Finally, I get really tired and drift off to sleep.
When I wake up after sometime, I look out of the window, still dark in the morning, the train is bursting through the cold morning air as I can see fields and farms whiz past me. I lose track of time and I continue to stare outside trying to figure out where I am. The cold wind strikes like icy knives and there is a tinge of petrichor in the air(yes, I like to use that word repeatedly :P). After few moments, I spot a yellow board of an upcoming station but the train doesnt seem to be slowing down. The yellow board read 'Devanagonthi'. I lay back and relax because that word made me happy. We are in the outskirts of the city and we will soon, be entering the city. Only 45 minutes more. I start thinking about my bed and how it missed me. After reaching home, I wanted to do nothing but sleep, on my own bed.
You maybe wondering why the title of this is '10:10 on 10'. I am presently writing this standing inside Central railway station between platforms 3 and 4. I am waiting for the train which takes me home,to paradise. With two hours of time in hand and after a heavy meal in Saravana Bhavan, my Mind is racing with all kinfs of stuff and my fingers are aching idly. So I decided to write this on my phone. I can hear the automated announcer repeating arrivals and departures in 3 languages. I have now memorized whatever she says. One particular line which caught my attention is that the Kovai express will arrive on Platform no. 10 at 10:10 pm.Hence the title. Also, I will be posting this exactly at 10:10 pm to be consistent with coincidences. Now I need to go because I need to memorize the rest of the train timetable.
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