Screech....screech.... The braking sound was being heard beneath the wheels. The fans were running over the upper berth where I was lying down. Picked out the mobile , which was resting for the night in the backpack. The time showed 0525AM. Not a time for any halt, for this duronto should be one hour away from its previous technical halt. Google maps was opened to the last location where it closed previous night. Waited for refreshing. Moved to current location. Yes, we were nearing the junction. The WAP4 ahead gave a low tone. Waited to observe whether it was going up or down. The speed was indeed reducing, a complete trot. The 100's of hooves going tak tak on steel..thadak ... thadak..thung thung thung the points being crossed to one of the largest junctions of South India. The whine of WAP4 slowly reducing, we were about an hour late into our...
more... halts
The slow movement continued as I disembarked from berth. Dad was awake so we moved to the door. The wintery chill morning welcomes us with a mix of darkness and platform lights, the day-light is yet to spread. The final puff is heard as the train comes to a halt . Vijayawada junction welcomes us with sounds of the vendor, as our train, 12245 YPR bound Duronto from Howrah takes a short break.A vendor near the door is immediately called for 2 cups of tea. Hot piping tea, dad takes one inside
Though the morning wasnt shivering, the hot tea is a piping relief for that hour to keep us awake. Sipping the hot tea I turn towards the train, the WAP4 still staring at the tasty apple ahead . Announcement for Sanghamitra on a faraway platform and Pinakini waiting departure time goes around
Looking around , I see the tea vendor still standing as more passengers stand around for tea. He gives me a stare as he serves customers. I ignore it 1st. Then it continues. I look at him again. Suddenly brain came back awake. OMG...Haven't paid for the 2 cups of tea yet and my cup has already gone to the bin. Hand went to the pocket, my wallet !!! Osh it's still asleep in my bag at the berth. Rushed to the door to get, the tea vendor still staring. Thankfully, Dad at the door for dropping his tea cup. Took the money and settled off the tea vendor as the announcement goes for Sanghamitra departure. A glance at the red beast reveals that Simla has turned into Nagpur and the loud tone of the beast is heard. Go back to the door to my berth, as the snores still go on. The morning black has changed a bit to the blue, but the yellow lord has yet to give his blessings and presence .
The screeches slowly start again as we near the berth. Woke up my mom to say the junction is done away with and it will be time for her Bridge and she found her way to the door. Krishna was always her favourite, especially at Vijayawada, where she happened to spend her few holidays of childhood and a scene always in her memory. Her agony that the junction will crossed in dark was now dispensed
Dhad dhad .. dhad dhad... The canal of Krishna was dispensed with. Then came the literal girder bridge, just as we start accelerating past points. Dhad .. dhad...clang ..clang..clang..dhad.. The sound of girders is always a music to ears. The sound from below, coupled with the metallic girders echo , provides the much required BGM. Wonder if music director Harris Jayaraj used the same music for the music of Uyirin uyire song of Kaakha Kaakha
Krisha is a poorer self of the destructive waters it held during the monsoon . Effect of the post monsoon storages in the dams till the Prakasam Barrage, ensured the water beneath the river just flows, not being dry. The morning blue reflected the river with same colour, and the continuous clangs ensured that the bridge was despatched off.
Post the bridge, mom returned to the berth, while me decided against sleeping. With both lowers occupied and 80% of berth sleeping, moved towards the door. The sky was becoming whiter, indicating the breaking dawn. The morning breeze made its way through, not chill for the last berth passenger to request it to be closed. The door opened towards the wall, while I settle against the opposite, letting my whole body take in the breeze. The wheels were thundering, the beast was unhappy with the 80 mins delay in departure at Vijayawada. The steel burnt under the hooves , the earlier dhadak dhadak sounds replaced by a continuous ssssssssssss sounds under the wheels now, making no difference whether it's a Volvo on 4 lane or a Duronto on tracks. However, duronto has no obstacles here, no sudden brakes, no wrong side driving at villages, it's a continuous run
The kilometre markings show a reduction , nearing the 400 mark, as the wheels thunder. An electrified line joins from the right, and the rays of the sun from my left. Clang clang clang clang the lines disperse indicating the arrival of next junction . The line from Guntur joins us and we are let into the main line among the array of platforms. The time was close to 0625 , we had taken about 25 mins for this 30 km section, as we clear Tenali junction.
Tap a hand on my shoulder. It was my dad , giving the news that lower berth companions are now up and we could have our seat. Newspapers were being distributed as we settle, carrying the front page of CAA protest across East and the Andhra CM's proposal for a 3 capital in the State. Slowly shut the paper as my eyes move towards the window again. The morning tea was served and the berths are being lowered around , some soft as a butter and some with huge Bang. Sipping through the coffee and crunching the biscuits , sun was up for this "Sun-day' , ready to accompany us for the rest of this day. The uninterrupted ssssssssss of the wheels thunder below readies to cover the delay, my eyes move to the scene outside the window, while the mind recalls the previous week's short trip, that will be ending before the day ends.
Thanks for reading
