1st Journey-The Santhosh Express

           This short time of my life is relaxing...   i thought i should brush my old memories & keep myself away books by which i'm dog tried reading for last 6 months. Now clicks clicks to open a folder named Old Clicks in my comp (Which long back i digitised my self using my Cam).The folder has bunch of mixed pics of my Dad Mom pre marriage & post marriage.There are few pics in which Dad wears Big Bell bottom Pants a big Cooler which covers not 1ly his eyes it cover his cheeks too... ha haa.Few Pics are of my Dad who fortunately work for Indian Railways made lots of travel around the country.So even his post marriage days it continued.so train is unseparable from my family

   With this thought I just tried to remember my 1st journey in train though i may not know my very 1st Journey but this one i still remember with all fascination as my first journey..so here is my 1st journey

   I should not be more than 4yrs of age me dad & mom in a coupe.i exactly don't remember to which place we travelled.But not too long & a day journey.That was a monsoon time.it was not at all fun as a kid to sit inside a coupe with doors shut & windows shut. I was simply watching rain droplets falling in glass windows & trying to get my hands wet.It was bit of an enjoyment & my 1ly option to entertine myself until my dad say no to it :(. It was a boredum to see the same faces mom dad. It was like train journey is very boring dislike train journey to the core & not to board in again.

    Then switched off myself to sleep.Then Few hrs latter my dad woke me up to make me ready to  deboard as we nearing our station. The rain has stopped it was bit dark for normal evening with  the sweet smell of the rain hit soil was refreshing my mind to forget what happened few hrs ago.I ran to the opened window pressed my cheek toward the grill expecting something i felt cool breeze with aroma i closed my eyes took a

deep breath & felt freshness of the air.I continued closing my eyes 

felt the breeze caressing my face i loved it.I heard a different sound

from a normal engine in which we were travelling i opened my eyes to see

it but nothing appeared
    
     i asked my dad whats that sound ?
     He said,It shd steam engine coming from other side ?
     I asked him Innocently wont it hit our train ?DAMMAL
     He gave a smile...My mom laughed loud
     Come lets jump out of the train
     This time both laughed aloud.. :)
    
     I asked y do u laugh ?
     Though my dad knows how the system works.it quite difficult to make

me understand.But he gave an answer not so convincing but he made sure

we are safe.

     fweeeeh...chhik chik!!!!

   I ran to window tried finding out nothing appeared ten ran to through

different windows viewing from different angles but nothing appeared but

i still hear the sound.Train Slowed a bit as it nears the station.The

sound is so clear more evident. This time more eagerly pressing my

cheeks to the window hoping to see it.My face shrinks in dismay i could'nt

find anything but still sticking to window like a lizard.The train

enters the station.

    The Fweeeeh....Chhik chik.... this time was so loud & vigour

I saw the steam engine approaching from the other side in a parallel

track with fweeeehhhhhing whistle sound & vapour spewed around makes the

view like a mist passing across in a valley   

I shouted dad!!! look at this..

I was so excited by seeing that ... The full black steam engine bigger

than a normal engine emmits black fumes mixing with sun rays coming

towards me was like the elephant in the African jungle runs on seeing

its calf with lots of happiness.I was totally awestruck by seeing that,

my eye balls hesitant to move.. my ears cud only hear to hush & husky

sound the engine makes..It slowely came close to my compartment it pick

up speed there blowing its typical horn & coal burns above its head my

heart too started pumping blood so fast i started jumping in joy

clapping hands..
as it reaches nearly parallel to me it was like real heaven for me it

husks husks vapour blows it was cinimatic. the man who operates the

engine waved his hands seeing me so happy with smiles i waved back saying

tada as it passes me :)

 My train halted with a creak pulled my mind from the African elephant

gone passed.. so its time to deboard, my dad held hand pulled me off

from window i was'nt in a mood to deboard the train. i felt why should'nt

this journey be never ending.Finally got to get down no other way.Got

down walking in the platform holding my dad's hand waving on the other

hand to the 1st train journey with no heart.