Vidya, Priya and Jayshree met at the Chennai airport with their three children. From there they took a cab to Chennai Egmore station.
“Amma, why are we taking a train?” Anish asked. “We already flew till Chennai.”
Vidya smiled. “Because I want you to experience something which is close to our heart.”
The three sisters were excited as they were travelling to Trichy, their native place. On reaching Egmore station, for a moment Vidya almost seemed to expect someone!
How could she forget the coolie who was an essential part of their journey when they travelled as kids along with their parents.
Now, no one in a red shirt, a metal badge and a cloth around his head came running towards them.
They all walked in pulling their own stroller bag with wheels gliding smoothly across the floor. There was no one to bargain with, no one to keep pace with, no instruction to follow closely and not lose sight of the coolie.
“Remember,” Priya said softly, “how Amma would bargain with the coolie. We always had so much luggage as she carried half the house.”
Hitarth asked puzzled, “Why did you need someone to carry bags?”
“Suitcases did not have wheels,” Jayshree replied.
They passed the old weighing machine. Priya stopped. “It is still here.” She remembered dropping a coin into the slot, waiting for the thick card to slide out with weight printed on one side in kilogram and a prediction along with a film star picture on the other side. They would preserve it carefully. It used to feel like an event!
Now, with bathroom scales at home none of them found it fascinating, as checking weight within the confines of the home was more of a routine now.
Near the waiting room, Jayshree glanced at the reservation chart board. “Do you remember how we would search for names and during our teenage years we would check if anyone of our age was in the same coach?”
The sisters giggled. The three kids did not find it amusing at all. Shivangi said,” why waste time, when all our reservation details are on the phone!”
She read aloud the coach and seat numbers.
Now, the board still existed, but it held no one’s attention.
They took the escalator up to the platform. Vidya remembered the old stairs, how Amma would insist to hold the railing, rest halfway and watch the steps. The climb had demanded effort. The stairs still existed but escalator was preferred.
Now, the escalator demanded nothing.
Once on the platform, Priya said, “The coolie always knew exactly where the coach would stop. He knew it by heart.”
Now, the digital display board announced it in red letters.
They boarded and settled into their seats. As the train pulled out and picked up speed, Vidya turned to the window.
As the cool AC air hummed gently with the glass windows sealed, she missed the feel of the cool breeze of yesteryears touching her cheeks when her chin would rest on the window bars.
“Earlier we fought for window seats, fought for the upper berth to sleep at night. You three are just glued to your gadgets, any seat seems to be okay for you”, Jayshree told the children who were already absorbed with earphones in place watching their screens.
Priya spoke about how Amma would carry idlis smeared with milagaipodi, lemon, tamarind and curd rice with vadams. As per the shelf life they were unpacked over the three days journey from Delhi to Madras. The surahi served cold water which was refilled in some big stations called ‘’Junction’’.
Now, food arrived effortlessly when ordered. Water came in sealed bottles. No one packed food from home.
The siblings spoke about how they used to enjoy the journey, it never ever felt boring although time moved slowly. Landscapes, food habits, clothing and language changed gradually enough to be noticed as the train chugged from one state to another. Co-passengers became friends over shared food, conversations, board and card games. Goodbyes felt real when the destination arrived.
Now the coach was quiet. Everyone seem to be occupied in their own world. There was no reason to speak to anyone. No one watched the scenery with curtains drawn on the windows.
As the train slowed near a bridge, Jayshree remembered the excitement with which they would clutch coins, waiting to throw them into the river as an offering to the River Goddess as Amma explained. It used to be a moment of excitement.
Today, the river slipped by. It was no longer sacred or thrilling.
As the train moved forward, the sisters understood the trains continue to run, tracks remain where they were laid with same routes, platforms and station remain where they are with better amenities. The crowds, vendors and the rush still present.
But something had definitely changed.
The station and the train no longer excited them like before. They no longer seemed to stretch beyond their purpose. Now travel was more about arrival and departure timings.
Their patience and attention span had shortened. Wonder no longer lingered.
For the children travel meant airports, boarding passes, security checks and comfort. This was the reality with no fault of theirs.
Distances had expanded geographically, yet something within had narrowed.
It no longer opened a feeling of excitement and curiosity the way it once did.
Glossary:
Milagaipodi – a spicy dry chutney powder also called gun powder
Vadams – sun dried
ready to eat fry snacks made from rice flour/sago
Surahi – Earthern pot
