The frenzy of assisting parents in packing suitcases,
the pleasure of jumping on them till it clamps tight
the thrill of shutting all doors and windows
me and my sister bidding bye to our bedroom
frantic search for tiny locks and exact keys for all suitcases.
The rickshaw slowly pulling at the station to the smell of salted cut mango peices
and tangy puffed rice in paper cones
The endless tug at mom for the 25 paise coin to check weight till the train arrives
Counting of the compartments till the train stops
The excitement to occupy the window seat and stretch hands out
Catching the train at the bend watching the engine puff and cough.
Groping teen eyes reading the names of co passengers stuck on compartment door,
wishing for some handsome guy to be a co traveller for the 24 hour journey
the disappointment at seeing aged men and ladies
the thrill to buy Archie novels and Pai comics at A.H Wheeler bookshops on stations
the feel of home bedsheet on train's berth and dozing off
to awaken to different train announcements.
Listening to Dad's continuous chatter with other passengers,
the enjoyment of eating along with co- passengers,
sharing each other's delicacies, eagerly climbing up and down the
top and lower berth
playing cards and reading new town names pass by
drinking tea from little hot earthen pots
fritters and pancakes guys selling food on our faces
the lovely aromas too hard to resist.
The scanning for the uncle who used to come to receive,
the hugs and giggles, the ride back to their home,
the beginning of the summer holidays.
Bend faces on screens, wires, earpods and cables for company
the conversations with rectangular inanimate objects,
pouts, clicks and selfies, posts, likes and insta uploads
the new journey of today's teens.
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