Read Part 1
Coming to back to summer holidays, every day and every minute I spent in Tirunelveli are etched so clearly in my memory. Every day before I sleep I live through those memories once again in my mind. Sometimes which I drive these are the memories that keep me company. This part explains the excitement we went through as children right until the moment we board the train. and this blog explains what follows inside the train.
As I grew the expectations changed as well. While we were kids the only longing was for a window seat but as I grew I became interested in a Tamil crime novel which I can read through the journey. When I moved from Tamil novels to English the expectations changed to studying who will be my neighbor I will be sharing my seat with. But the excitement was always the same it cannot be compared to anything else. Even now whenever I hop on a long distance train either for travel or to drop someone the station and train are always magical.
Once we hop into the train the next interesting stage is to look forward to the time when the train crosses our home. Since our house is located near by the railway track whether you are at home and someone close is in train or vice versa waving to each other is an important milestone. During early days since my dad wouldn't have reached home after dropping us we will just look at our home pass by.
The next milestone is to look forward to Chengalpattu. It always carries a charm because that the first halt for the train after Egmore. The lake before Chengalpattu will signal that the station is approaching. Those days trains to south expecially to Tirunelveli used to start between 1700 and 1730 hrs. So by the time we reach Chengalpattu it will be 1830 to 1845 hrs. It will be not be dark but the sun light won't be there either.
The sound of tea and coffee vendors will hit your ears but it will only be a quick stop and the train will start with a light jerk. While we were kids we never got down from the train in intermediate stations. So we were waiting for the time when we can hop off into those stations. As we grew we used to get down and get back on the train as it leaves.
The next milestone will be Tindivanam and it will be even a shorter stop compared to Chengalpattu.
The next milestone is Villupuram. Those days Chennai to Villupuram will be electrified engine and post that it will be diesel Engine. We always felt diesel engines were faster. They change the engines in Villupuram so we always look forward to that station and that event. Also since the engine is changed there usually it will be a long stop there. It used to reach Villupram sometime around 2100 hours and you can hear lot of vendors selling Tea, Coffee and Dinner. Mostly we have our packed dinner in Villupuram. Usually it will be Puli satham or Idli. While we keep having dinner we keep awaiting those engine changing jerks which can be felt. Sometimes we will miss that. We keep observing the trains in other platforms and try to read their signboards.
After a long stop we can hear the sound of the diesel engine horn and the train departs from Villupuram. It is quite dark outside and you can see may parts of the station is dark as the train leaves the platform. We see the last huge signboard saying Villupuram Junction in English, Tamil and Hindi. As we leave the station we can see the city outside for couple of minutes and then darkness surrounds the train.
At this point most of the people get ready to sleep. Middle berths are brought up, people climb over to the upper berths. I try to hold on to the window seat. With sun set now and the summer heat reduced considerably it is a pleasure to feel the air on your face. Once everyone has settled and lights switched off my mother will ask me to close the window and sleep. But how can I let of this once in a year experience. "I will sleep little later you go to sleep" will be my standard answer.
With my face pressed to the window I can always see the reflection on the trains light rolling along with the train outside. Its total darkness outside and the only company is the sound of the train and the sound crickets outside. You can see occasional light far in the dark which will kick start imaginations on what the people in that house might be doing in such a lonely place. With strong winds on your face one can get tired easily but the adrenaline doesn't let you to sleep. You keep checking for the next light in the dark. Those days it's the yellow light which had its own charm.
Some trains stops at Vridhachalam and some doesn't. Once we cross that it is Trichirappalli. The train usually reaches Trichy by midnight. There will be limited activity in the station but still vendors will be selling Tea/Coffee/Milk. You can see the empty station with some people sleeping on the concrete seats covering themselves with lungi. It used to be a great feeling to see the "திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி சந்திப்பு". We see the last huge board in the station as the train leaves Trichy. Within few minutes the train used to stop at "பொன்மலை " or "Golden Rock". This station will look deserted than Trichy and you see silhouettes of a hill and some lights on top of the hill. After a very brief stop the train will pick off from there. The next station will be Dindugul but most of the time I fall asleep here.
Sometimes when I wake up I can listen to the rhythm of the train sound and sometimes I can feel the train had stopped somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Mostly I will miss Dindigul but there were times I have seen the station as the train was just leaving the station.
Kodai Road Junction will be the next stop which will be usually busy. I never wanted to visit Kodai those days. I was only looking forward to Tirunelveli. After Kodai Road it is Madurai. The train usually reaches Madurai between 0430 and 0530. By the time it reaches Madurai people inside the train and the station will be active. It also means another 3 to 330 hrs to Tirunelveli.
We can hear lot of announcements in the busy Madurai station and this will be slightly a longer stop compared to other stations. Atlast you get a glimpse of the last board "மதுரை சந்திப்பு " as the train leaves the station. The air now feels different, it has more chill and more energy.
The next stop is "விருதுநகர் ". By the time we reach Viruthunagar people become active in the compartment. While some remain sleeping we can see people walking back and forth to the restrooms. While Indian train restrooms can be nasty sometimes it is manageable most of the time. The restrooms themselves have their own scent which adds to the atmosphere. Post Viruthunagar depending on the side you are sitting in the train the sun rays may can fall directly onto your face. The scenery outside becomes more green and among the paddy fields, coconut trees, palm trees you will notice huge wells and pump sets.
When the train reaches Kovilpatti and Sattur you will see lot of local vendors with local sweets and savories. By this time we would have brushed our teeth and my mother would have bought Methu vada and coffee. Though people complain about the quality of the coffee it is an experience. Unless we drink the experience is not complete. Near Kadambur you will see Poli sellers getting into the compartment. When the train reaches Maniyachi we can see peacocks outside. By this time advertisements about RMKV and Pothys start to appear on the walls of buildings. We start notice advertisements of Sunlight detergents.
Its just few minutes before we enter Tirunelveli. There is a station called Nanguneri which announces we are almost there. Then comes "தாழையூத்து" and its famous cement factory. My grandfather was an employee there. We used to watch the factory with an awe and I still do that. If we are sitting in the wrong side we strain our neck to make sure we see the factory. Now it is just minutes to Tirunelveli.
Finally the train enters "திருநெல்வேலி சந்திப்பு" we can clearly see the board with the words written in English, Tamil and Hindi. While in Tirunelveli the word Junction takes a new meaning as everything will be referenced by how far it is from Junction. By this time we had already pulled the luggage from under the seat. We press our face against the window to see which side the platform will be. Once the train enters the platform your heart starts to beat faster. We press our face even harder searching among the crowd the face of our grandfather and grandmother. And then "Oh ! there they are". A huge wave to them and now they notice us and starts running along with the train. We can see the porters hopping into the compartment. The train now comes to a complete halt. Our grandparents come and touch us and talk to us through the window while the passengers alight the train.
We wait for the crowd to clear and take out luggage and walk towards the door. We look at the seat once with love before we move towards the door. We get down and our grandparents hug us with all the love. They share with us the coffee they had brought with them in a flask. From here everything will smell and taste differently in a good way. Finally we gather all the luggage and walk towards the exit. While I walk I look at the train which had carried us this far. There was an unspoken relationship that was developed with the train. I feel that the train can now take rest after such a long journey. It will almost look like a living being with all feelings. With heavy heart I say a good bye in my mind to the train and step out of the station looking forward to what Tirunelveli had to offer me for that summer.
I write these as these thoughts have been in my mind for so long. I do not want those good thoughts to get lost. My grandparents are not there anymore. I have been to Tirunelveli so many times sometimes by bus and even by car but none of them equal these memories I have. I do not have my grandparents to welcome me like they used to. But still the station is there, the yellow board is there, the junction is there. Everytime I look at them I will bring back all those people and memories alive. Thanks to GOD for giving our mind that ability.
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