Triambek and beyond

Triambek and beyond

When i reached Gwalior there was something to fear. Though i was in battle gear, the dogged refusal to extend my train journey to Manmad saw me enter a territory that i was least expected to share. Going beyond platform, the first foray was towards the current reservation where those expected to hand out ticket were cracking jokes and expecting those in the queue to be no less than blokes. Having made queries on the seat availability front, it was met with a response that saw me and others grunt. No clear picture could be provided as the staff on the other side declared that all train charts had been prepared till 11 the next morning even though it was 9 the previous night. Tried to console that head TC office (platform 1) where i was directed to make further queries could break the logjam but here it was a picture of more discomfort and most in their cash registering form.

Wait was all that i could do and this period saw me go to Sooraj Medical store for headache relief and Jain Misthana Bhandar (opposite Sai Bhoj) for tea belief. At both places the personnel were good and handed me combiflam and tea that could inspire the agenda of brood.
Finally after much persuasion to myself i boarded the Karnataka Express and reached Manmad the next day with a journey spent across people who were good at heart. Except for two army jawans, the other jawans were equally wonderful for the compassion architect they were glued. Had it not been for this sleeper class ride, i would have failed to come across these men, women and babies who rose to the occasion and were wonderfully bright. They were supposed to get down at Kurduvadi, supposed to come at 10.08 at night and i got down at my station at some minutes past four when the SUN was equally bright.

At Manmad station i reached for Mohat kirana store for jaggery and post jaggery infusion i was back to my train commute to Nashik Junction. The commute onwards was to Triambek where when i reached most residents were awake. A little over 17 hours i had my luggage in the hotel room, for which i had to go beyond 400 plus cash zoom. The stay was wonderful in the town and this time Brahmagiri was not in the itinerary round.

When i left Triambek, there was one lady who was shouting in the bus and she was made known the displeasure the commuters were having. When Nashik was touched, Sharanpur Road was the target the scooterwallah fetched. Not a routine road by any standards (buses don't ply on this stretch), i am of the belief that in two years' time it would see buses plying and more commuters not escaping and trying. Post ticket purchase which read the status of waiting list 13, the next day i somehow managed to get in the train with a waiting list three and saw the Gujarat Mail reach the destination with no extra fee.
Gujarat saw me share wonderful stories about resilience and a new gear.