Essays

I often travel lo ho to my village and I Usually travel by tr.iin. Tickets are booked in advance and my packing is also done by my mother.

However, the last trip to my village was memorable as I started off on a wrong note because my reservation was not confirmed. Since I had no choice but to go under any circumstances, I boarded the train.

During the day there was hardly any problem while travelling. The ticket collector was a friend of mine but I still did not get a berth to sleep on.

At night the train was extremely crowded. People were sitting in the aisle, on the seats and wherever they could find some place. I had a big suitcase on which I tried to make myself comfortable. As the train moved on it got colder and colder. I had a sheet with me but no blanket to cover myself with. 1 wrapped it around myself and huddled up on the suitcase.

People around me (those who had a berth to sleep on) looked cozy and comfortable stretched out on their berth under their blankets. I looked at them and felt more sorry for myself. As I sat shivering on the suitcase, I saw a boy who was in the same state as me.

He told me that he studied in a school close to my village and that he was going to his hostel. He too did not have a reservation and was sitting there, looking quite dejected. I offered him some place on my suitcase. He took up my offer and soon both of us were sitting close together.

The train stopped at various stations on the way. We had tea to keep warm and also to drive away our sleep as it was almost impossible to sleep in the position that we found ourselves in.

As morning approached I felt better and thanked god that the night was over. Soon the train reached my village. I found my relatives at the station and heaved a sigh of relief. When I reached home, I had a 'bath and some breakfast

and quietly slipped into bed and slept through the day. I vowed never to travel without reservation and that too by night.