Being someone who grew up and stays in a noisy, busy, city, heavily influenced by John Keats and William Wordsworth I belong to the category that automatically invokes 'wow' to anything that is remotely green, natural, rural or all the three. So when we rented this apartment which borders a railway line (its a very busy line), overlooking fields and a lake that's exactly what I did. I did the 'wow'. I was so thrilled, and pictured myself sitting on a beanbag, a hot cuppa in my hand, a nice book, not to forget a slight drizzle. Pure unadulterated bliss. What else could one possible ask for?
Ahem, but none of it happened. Babysitting, cooking, and housekeeping kept me occupied. However I found a new found interest - rushing to the balcony with the baby in arms each time a train passed by. The goods train fascinates me the most; specially the one which pulled along white oil containers. Looked like I was secretly watching an albino anaconda from a tree-top :P Well, not exactly. But it looked great.
There's just something about the train. The fact that it majestically carried people and freight across the country each day? Or probably that it connected almost every single dot on the map? Probably just because its a machine that magically transports you across time.
You are one place at one moment and another the next. Noting down your path of travel, how far you have come, is another joy altogether.
Breakfast at a place, lunch at one and dinner at another- isnt it cool- makes me feel like some business tycoon minus all the stress :)
Just sitting back and gazing out of the window - you'll notice how fast life changes, lifestyles change, how different things become important for people in different places, how starkly contrast the culture of every place is, how tangible it feels, and above all, it makes me appreciate and respect so many little things.
The forgotten joys - of watching the sunset, counting the number of bogies in the train when it takes a turn, tossing a coin into the river and making a quick wish, waving randomly at people, some things dont become childish acts, there is fun in them forever!
Cheers to the train!
Ahem, but none of it happened. Babysitting, cooking, and housekeeping kept me occupied. However I found a new found interest - rushing to the balcony with the baby in arms each time a train passed by. The goods train fascinates me the most; specially the one which pulled along white oil containers. Looked like I was secretly watching an albino anaconda from a tree-top :P Well, not exactly. But it looked great.
There's just something about the train. The fact that it majestically carried people and freight across the country each day? Or probably that it connected almost every single dot on the map? Probably just because its a machine that magically transports you across time.
You are one place at one moment and another the next. Noting down your path of travel, how far you have come, is another joy altogether.
Breakfast at a place, lunch at one and dinner at another- isnt it cool- makes me feel like some business tycoon minus all the stress :)
Just sitting back and gazing out of the window - you'll notice how fast life changes, lifestyles change, how different things become important for people in different places, how starkly contrast the culture of every place is, how tangible it feels, and above all, it makes me appreciate and respect so many little things.
The forgotten joys - of watching the sunset, counting the number of bogies in the train when it takes a turn, tossing a coin into the river and making a quick wish, waving randomly at people, some things dont become childish acts, there is fun in them forever!
Cheers to the train!
Very nice post ...reminds me of my childhood..and Adulthood too :-D
ReplyDeleteand of our trip :D :D
DeleteThis blog of yours reminds me of R.K.Narayan's narration :) Very well articulated :)
ReplyDeletethank you so much anu :)
Deletefor 3 to 4 years I accompanied my grandpa to a railway station just to watch ajanta and ellora express trains ( i doubt if they still run , ajanta used to go to bolarum was what i remember) . then i "grew" up
ReplyDeleteChovi