Train to Ajmer Sharif

Well delayed as usual

I scrambled with my duffel bag and laptop tucked into my haversack, changed over from the central railway line to the western just so that I could make it on time for my long distance train due to depart at 2 p.m. from the terminus called Mumbai Central. Well the effort paid off, I made it, only to discover the train was delayed by 4 hours something you get used to over time in India.

I was traveling to Ajmer with a friend. Rishi and I got acquainted during my Diploma at Xavier's Institute of Communications in Mumbai, India and have been in touch since. Rishi who worked with Unilever as a brand manager for Dove was on his way home to tell his parent's he was detected with Crohn's disease and he was required to undergo a minor surgery. Trust me, news like that can take the wind out of your sails but Rishi was very optimistic for words even.

Now getting back to the delay. Since we had 4 hours and nothing to do, we reckoned a Hindi movie would provide the apt filler. So after a quick bite at McDonald's off we were to a nearby theatre to watch Indian Cinema at its silly best - "De tali". Like all Hindi films a love triangle with a twist and off course not forgetting the song and dance sequences. I like Indian Cinema that uses the conventional mix, its stupid at best, but thats what they're trying to portray right. We left the movie 20 minutes early so that we had enough time to get back for the train. Arrgggh.... the suspense - we missed. Back at the station, we figured 10 minutes to pick up some bottled water and chips and hey I could afford some bars of chocolate, it was going to be a long journey.

Getting comfortable

It had been many years since I took a long distance train and it sure can take a while to get used to. The on board tit-bits kept us going through the journey and we spent the time talking, the occasional game of cards and taking some pictures. I was always a fan of capturing important memories, what better than the digital age photograph. I had recently upgraded to an a decent prosumer camera - Sony Cybershot DSL H 50. Point and shoot at its professional best, I would say. We spent the remaining part of the day eating whatever came our way, from South Indian Idlis, to the Maharashtrian Wada Pav to the North Indian Dry Bhel - all the junk food you could possibly eat in a day and not get sick.

That was easy