This is hardly a lesson or theory but an experience I describe here. I start a new thread on this blog about the long time longings which as and when get fulfilled, get posted here. This one is about traveling in AC First Class of Indian Railways. This has been my dream for a long long time and it came to fruition on a trip from Kolkata to Delhi on Sealdah Rajdhani Express on 21st March 2011.
The best part of the whole story is that it started as a surprise :) I was comfortably seated in my 2nd AC seat playing a game on my mobile when a couple with a child comes in and start talking about taking my seat. A glimmer of hope kindled in my eager heart that I could have been upgraded. With huge anticipation I checked my PNR Status and here it was, my cabin number H in H-Ext1!! Yeah! there are cabin numbers in AC First Class and seat numbers are to be checked at boarding time.
I was the object of envy of everyone around me, including the guy who checked my PNR on his laptop, and the guy looking to usurp my seat. Yeah man! I am the one taking over the world and you rotten garbage, keep your stink off me. I was so happy that I could only compare the happiness to a time in my childhood when I found a rupee coin on the road to school and I spent it in recess on a pepsi cola.
I went in my cabin to find it empty! So the king travels alone. King? Yeah, why else would the attendant bow unto me while wishing 'Good Evening Sir'. O yeah! Mamta's boys can do that too in addition to thrusting the tray of food in your lap. But not here; here they serve it. Served they did, the juice, in a tray and a glass. The same Jumpin but in a glass! A neatly turbaned guy with mustache comes in, hands me a rose, says "Welcome Sir" and I get that he is the butler for the night. He gets a folding table and sets it up to put the first round of food. He gets a huge tray with crockery containing the food. As I am wondering how am I going to eat from a large tray, he presents me with a smaller plate to help my helpings.
So the time passes merrily with four sumptuous meals being served with utmost sincerity and welcomeness, which I experienced for the first time in the trains of a country which prides on its tradition of "Atithi devo bhava". As i deboard in Delhi, I have a perpetual, divine smile which refuses to die. I play along.
The best part of the whole story is that it started as a surprise :) I was comfortably seated in my 2nd AC seat playing a game on my mobile when a couple with a child comes in and start talking about taking my seat. A glimmer of hope kindled in my eager heart that I could have been upgraded. With huge anticipation I checked my PNR Status and here it was, my cabin number H in H-Ext1!! Yeah! there are cabin numbers in AC First Class and seat numbers are to be checked at boarding time.I was the object of envy of everyone around me, including the guy who checked my PNR on his laptop, and the guy looking to usurp my seat. Yeah man! I am the one taking over the world and you rotten garbage, keep your stink off me. I was so happy that I could only compare the happiness to a time in my childhood when I found a rupee coin on the road to school and I spent it in recess on a pepsi cola.
I went in my cabin to find it empty! So the king travels alone. King? Yeah, why else would the attendant bow unto me while wishing 'Good Evening Sir'. O yeah! Mamta's boys can do that too in addition to thrusting the tray of food in your lap. But not here; here they serve it. Served they did, the juice, in a tray and a glass. The same Jumpin but in a glass! A neatly turbaned guy with mustache comes in, hands me a rose, says "Welcome Sir" and I get that he is the butler for the night. He gets a folding table and sets it up to put the first round of food. He gets a huge tray with crockery containing the food. As I am wondering how am I going to eat from a large tray, he presents me with a smaller plate to help my helpings.
So the time passes merrily with four sumptuous meals being served with utmost sincerity and welcomeness, which I experienced for the first time in the trains of a country which prides on its tradition of "Atithi devo bhava". As i deboard in Delhi, I have a perpetual, divine smile which refuses to die. I play along.
