I'd boarded the early morning Intercity Express to Thiruvananthapuram on work. I'd boarded the train in the nick of time as it had started moving just after I'd boarded. So much about my time management!
I was curious to see the site of the recent accident at the Aroor level cross but the place has been spruced up with the point being manned and the newly inducted, young man was smartly waving his green flag. Ironically, it required a gruesome accident (in which five car borne passengers - including a two year old child - had perished, just a fortnight back) to bring about this idealistic state.
Meanwhile, Asokan (I could get his name from the calls that he made!), a railway catering contractor, was continuously on his cellphone issuing instructions to his minions. And around a half past seven, my breakfast of idlis, vada and sambar on order, that had fetched up, turned out to be cold and insipid. Seeing the miserable stuff, he took it upon himself to get me a better treat in lieu! Damn sweet of him. He was going to the city to meet up with the railway's divisional railway manager to renew his contract.
There was this lady, Chandrakanta(again, the name was gleaned from her high-decibel conversations), a deputy director in the state's education department who'd replicated her office into our space in the train. A meek looking, bespectacled assistant - Shankar - who said 'yes' to everything she said as she browsed through her mail off the lap top, was in attendance! She did give the impression that if she stopped working, her office would come to a standstill. She's going to the capital to attend a very important meeting called by the secretary of education! I also happened to hear her assistant's not so charitable opinion about Asokan that he conveyed to his boss!!
Then there was a father - son duo, on the side seats, immaculately turned out but who remained fairly silent except for snatches of conversation in hushed undertones, occasionally among themselves and generally gave the impression that they were not meant to be there! They'd an appointment with a minister on arrival.
There were two other gentlemen, who're asleep throughout the journey giving the impression that train travel had a sleep inducing effect on them and one of them was snoring at fairly high decibels.
And I browsed through Louis L'Amour's 'Kilrone' for the nth time.
Tailpiece.
The train was bang on time for a change. The return journey, by the Jan Shatabdi was uneventful and it was also immaculately on time. Kudos to the Indian Railways!
And I've handed over the additional charge of Thiruvananthapuram to the new incumbent after 30 calender days!!
I was curious to see the site of the recent accident at the Aroor level cross but the place has been spruced up with the point being manned and the newly inducted, young man was smartly waving his green flag. Ironically, it required a gruesome accident (in which five car borne passengers - including a two year old child - had perished, just a fortnight back) to bring about this idealistic state.
Meanwhile, Asokan (I could get his name from the calls that he made!), a railway catering contractor, was continuously on his cellphone issuing instructions to his minions. And around a half past seven, my breakfast of idlis, vada and sambar on order, that had fetched up, turned out to be cold and insipid. Seeing the miserable stuff, he took it upon himself to get me a better treat in lieu! Damn sweet of him. He was going to the city to meet up with the railway's divisional railway manager to renew his contract.
There was this lady, Chandrakanta(again, the name was gleaned from her high-decibel conversations), a deputy director in the state's education department who'd replicated her office into our space in the train. A meek looking, bespectacled assistant - Shankar - who said 'yes' to everything she said as she browsed through her mail off the lap top, was in attendance! She did give the impression that if she stopped working, her office would come to a standstill. She's going to the capital to attend a very important meeting called by the secretary of education! I also happened to hear her assistant's not so charitable opinion about Asokan that he conveyed to his boss!!
Then there was a father - son duo, on the side seats, immaculately turned out but who remained fairly silent except for snatches of conversation in hushed undertones, occasionally among themselves and generally gave the impression that they were not meant to be there! They'd an appointment with a minister on arrival.
There were two other gentlemen, who're asleep throughout the journey giving the impression that train travel had a sleep inducing effect on them and one of them was snoring at fairly high decibels.
And I browsed through Louis L'Amour's 'Kilrone' for the nth time.
Tailpiece.
The train was bang on time for a change. The return journey, by the Jan Shatabdi was uneventful and it was also immaculately on time. Kudos to the Indian Railways!
And I've handed over the additional charge of Thiruvananthapuram to the new incumbent after 30 calender days!!
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