On the Navjivan Express

At 6:30 AM on 31st August Sourabh , My Night shift reliever came early by 30 min to relieve me of my shift duties.

I headed home straight and refreshed my self for the Journey. My first destination Point was Chennai. The Train available was Navjivan Super Fast Express.

At 7:30 with one large suitcase I left home to catch the usual 7:30 am Station Bus to reached Railway station. At the Bus Stop of F Block I found already some 5 people were waiting. But to my Bad luck the usual bus didn’t turn up. My Company transport dept had sent just a small Trax Jeep instead. The space was very less I need to put my suitcase inside it. With much hard ship I reached railway station and rolled my

Navjivan Express Rolled in some 3 minutes before the scheduled time and the train was bit free as it was an off season for travelers.
After brief halt at Surat Rail Station Navjivan Started its Journey and soon headed east from Udhna Jn.

The journey was peaceful. I soon spread my air pillow and started to sleep on my lower berth. Before I could sleep well I just informed passing Pantry Vendor to bring me food during lunch. As I slept over to overcome the tiredness of my nightshift , I was awaoken at 2PM by vendor for lunch. Soon I had a good refreshing meal

The Pen drive MP3 player was very useful and I listening to tne new release film song Anniyan. The songs I was listening for the first time in fact. The songs were too good and were catchy.

The Most favourite was Run-duck-a, Nokia and R E M O….

Soon I was joined by few more co passengers at Jalgon who were traveling up to Tirupathi. Soon they adjusted themselves and the SUN was about to set.

The same vendor of pantry car was prompt in getting me a dinner too. But before that I had a cup of hot tomato soup with bread crisps. At 8 pm I to had my dinner. By 9:30PM every one was on bed and we started to sleep.

At around 11:30 pm some station had passed and the tree guys in early twenties speaking Malayalam had joined us and occupied the vacant seats. They all had a valid reservation tickets up to Chennai but a very heavy odor of alcohol filled up the air. They were all creating all sorts of noise and were causing a nuisance. I signaled them not to disturb them and remain silent as it was middle of night.

The Second day journey
As the clock passed 12 midnight and around 1pm once again my sleep was disturbed from sleep. All I can make out was that one of the Mallu guy has misbehaved with adjacent lady and got a good slap on his face.

Lights were on and they were furious and even I too objected the mallu-guy’s behaviour. Thus there was a clear frustration among the mallu guys and retired silently till day break.

Then I sent an SMS to Mr Haresh Happani to check whether we had achieved 100% production target for the month of Aug 2005. The reply was positive.

As the Train traveled beyond Kahammam , at around 7 am every one started to wakeup and I was still in my laziness. As train approached Vijaywada I too got refreshed and was waiting for the arrival of station. I was planning to have some breakfast at Vijaywada.

As the train rolled to Vijaywada station at 8:40 hrs, 5 minutes before schedule, I got down and stretched myself. I found Fresh brew coffee shop on the platform. The train was to leave only by 9 am.

I got one cup of Hot Hot Coffee. This is the first coffee I was tasted after 4 four months. Previously I had it at my native home when my mom had served it. Actually in Surat tea is only known beverage. If you had ordered a coffee then you will have a cold stare by vendor and then you will be served with a weir taste instant coffee.

As I sipped first sip, my brain got stimulated with freshness. I soon switched on my mobile and called my mom, just to inform about my journey and shared same with my dad.

Then I ate “Idly-Chutney” sold on the platform and the train started to leaved. The train rolled south along the east coast of peninsular India. At the exit of the station is the great Krishna Barricade over the river “KRISHNA”. Since the monsoon was Active the water level was too good .The scene was spectacular and I had got few snaps of it . As train moved on I switched off my mobile to conserve the battery.

At 12:45 I switched on my mobile and the train was nearing Nellore. This district is the most important district in the whole of INDIA. The SHAR – Srihari Kota Range or the launch centers of ISRO.
Entry to Tamilnadu was around 3:30pm and by 4:25 PM Navjivan reached Chennai Central at least some 10 minutes before schedule.