A Journey worth Remembering

 

From Dudhwa 

via Kathgodam

       to Nainital 

When Leena and I started on our trip to Uttar Pradesh we were given strict instructions not to talk to strangers nor tell our itinerary to anyone. UP had a reputation! We solemnly promised and forgot all about these instructions soon as we boarded the train, happily chatting away with all and sundry. Train travel used to be such an interesting experience.

After travelling to various destinations on our itinerary we landed up in Dudhwa National Park. What we did there is another story for another day. But, the journey to Nainital is something to be remembered.

Dudhwa being a forest, it was next to impossible to get a vehicle to ferry us to Kathgodam station. These were pre-Ola / Uber days. Though I don't know whether that would be of any help.  We were running out of time when like a blessing came the forest ranger, whom we had met the previous day, in his jeep. Espying to hapless ladies he stopped and having learnt of our ordeal, told us to hop in and instructed the driver to just 'go for it'. And 'go for it' he did and how! We almost got thrown out of the jeep but managed to hang on till we reached the station with 5 minutes to spare. The platform was at a distance which gave us no time to purchase tickets. We dashed with our luggage and got into the last compartment even as the train blew a whistle, shook herself and took off!

We plonked on a lower berth and started discussing, now what? No tickets! Then we decided we’d throw ourselves at the TC’s mercy and hope to appeal to his good nature. We had, in this critical situation, not paid any attention to our co-passenger who was covered from head to toe with a bed sheet, sleeping on the lower berth opposite us.

It wasn’t long before the TC arrived and asked for our tickets. We explained our situation to him but he said we would have to pay a fine of Rs 130/- which was the cost of two tickets including the fine. We were only too happy, as our intention was not at all malafide. Just as I was about to hand over the money to him [me being the treasurer for the trip], our co-passenger rose like a messiah and told the TC, “Main agle station pe utar raha hoon. Main inka ticket laake deta hoon. Aap fine mat lo”. [ I'm getting down at the next station and will get their ticket. Please don’t fine them.]

We hadn’t realised he had been a very awake audience to our excited discussion!

The TC readily obliged and went away on his round.

As the next station was approaching, we offered to pay the ticket fare to our saviour but he refused saying, “Main laake aapko deta hoon, phir paise dena”. [“I’ll get you the tickets and then you pay me.”]

He quickly alighted and started walking and then turned round to call out, “Aaap bhi aaiye, jaldi hoga”. [“You also come, we’ll save time”.]

I followed him, trying to match his speed though he had had a head start. Before long, he was back with the tickets and the transaction completed satisfactorily. By now, I was somewhere near the middle of the long train and our compartment was right at the back, the last one to be precise. Any hopes of walking through the train was nipped in the bud as this was not a vestibule train. I was hesitating when the TC appeared like a genie and said, “Aapka compartment aakhir ka hain. Aap jaaiye.” [“Your compartment is the last one. Go”.] His tone implied, “Don’t worry.”

And indeed, only after I climbed in, did he flag off the train!

Our experience of the much maligned men of Uttar Pradesh.

[Sucharita]