Damn these journeys again and again

Our railway journeys are mostly preplanned – prebooking, packing, arriving station before time , checking seats, double checking for tickets and safety , goodbyes and then the journey. Observing this journey process, I think this is present even in the small journeys of our lives, like schooling, college, marriage, and career. Checking out various options, getting the application forms, attending interviews, filling out forms, getting the offer/admissions is same as checking the route, selecting trains and booking the tickets. Then the things to carry, ID proof, ticket printouts is like prepare the certificates, stay, and finances and back up plans. This common phenomenon in travel and in life can be attributed to our inherent risk averse nature, meticulous planning or assuming the outcome and acting on how things are going to happen or working for the predicted outcome. And for the unplanned in the life, there are a few whose journeys are made in the last minute, unexpected. Some carry it off well, with their extra resources (tatkal and bribes) and some with taking risks travelling the hard way (unreserved). And we have also the unfortunate few, who don’t get ticket confirmations, those who miss the train accounting for the failure situations.

Now at the stations,  those quiet moments before the departure the passengers waiting for their journey to begin. Loaded with luggage of expectations to be carried, the instructions are given and goodbyes waved as the whistle is blown. Their journey begins with a jolt shaking them back to reality for the experience which they are going to face alone.  Wary of co-travelers and the hawkers with the instructions and prejudices in mind we cross few stations carefully treading on relationships. But as people get to know each other, bonds begin to form and the loneliness fades off. We begin to relax and start to believe in others entrusting with them our luggage of secrets. With friends and foes being made, secrets either safe or stolen and experiences various flavours along the route, we get down at our destination not being the same person who boarded.

didnt want to name it...

People are not born the same, all races don’t start equally

If you start slow, you can always catch up,

And if you have a good lead don’t ever lose it.

Cruising on highways when everything is good,

Don’t look back often but take short stops.

Take time in life’s big changes like you go slow on curves.

Not all routes can be travelled going hard on the gas,

One should know to use brakes, likewise when to say ‘No’.

You are not the only one with problems,

Watch others in traffic jam and learn from their mistakes.

And ‘The End’ it doesn’t even matter,

The journey is not only about the bike, life lies in the ride…