Thatha sets a new record in train journey ; yeshwantpur kamakhya super fast expres

Thatha was very keen to do a train journey from Kolkatta to Guwahati. I pooh poohed it on a few earlier occasions. Time was a scarce commodity with appa and amma being not well and a tiny baby amidst us. But then he kept his penchant for train travel alive.

A few weeks back  D  told us one fine day that  Bunchin is starting to forget thatha and patti and so  plan a visit soon. This time thatha did not consult with me, but went ahead and booked a train journey all the way from Chennai to Guwahati. I just could not believe it, that he is actually planning to travel 46 hours by train. Other options are available and still he chooses to be in a train for two full days. I was chastened that it is a wait listed ticket and believed that it is likely to be not confirmed. So I did not give it much thought. Even the previous day it was remaining steadfast in the same WL 4 position. But on the day of the journey it got confirmed and he got ready and packed and left for Guwahati.

Nobody in our circle of friends and family could believe that he is doing this journey out of choice. Wont he feel bored is the common question all of them had asked me. Even his colleagues in office were quite surprised and asked him the same question. But he had made up his mind.He told them I have not travelled by train in the eastern part of the country, so looking forward to it.

He had reserved in an ac I class compartment and there was a family travelling alongwith him. A thatha, patti, daughter and granddaughter. When I heard this, I thought how nice, thathas travelling together. But then it appears that the thathas did not exchange a single word throughout the 48 hours!That is something of a record, which I could well believe that our thatha is capable of. But now we know there is one more of the same ! It is possible that they believed that the compartment for four would only have them and the fourth berth would be empty all the way. But then it was not to be, so they could have been  sulking!

Thatha was happy to do sudoku and pass his time quite comfortably. He was also browsing the net on his tablet, upto Orissa. Once into Didi territory, the net connectivity simply gave up. It did not return till he got back home in Guwahati. The last day of the journey at 5 am at  New Jalpaiguri station the next compartment emptied itself out.So thatha went and made himself comfortable there. He was happy to watch the scenery from the window seat. It was green green green all around and where theat re was no greenery, it was full of water. It had also started to rain. Watching the rain is thatha's favourite hobby. He did not feel bored at all, he says.

This is Yeshwantpur kamakhya superfast express and started operation in nov 2014. Food from the pantry was quite good. Only drawback was they do not serve roti with the meals and of  course no curd! Well maintained western toilets are also available.

All in all a very comfortable 'me alone' time and the only missing joy was a hot water bath. D had kept hot water ready as soon as thatha reached home. And after that it was bliss!

Thatha need not worry.This record of 47 (it was late by an hour) hours single train journey, will remain unbeaten for sometime to come!