When I was In Lucknow – 1

This is the start of my post so no pictures here...

It was evening and raining when I was waiting for bus to Delhi. Though I was going to Lucknow but I had to finish some work in Delhi. Around 7 PM bus came into station. I had booking so I retired to my seat. Rain became fast which was creating wrinkles on my face because roads can get close anytime through the landslide. Some more passengers enter into bus otherwise it was almost empty.  I push my seat little back and stare out. Station was in mode of emptiness. Few shopkeepers were inside their shop and some passengers were strolling out in rain. Around 8 PM bus start as it was empty so everybody was silent. We reached Haldwani at 9.30. Haldwani was full of life and Kumauni songs were blearing with full volume…

Bus stops here for 1 hour and then starts again. It was a bore journey because nothing interesting was happening. Anyways few miles away bus stopped with full breaks. Everybody gets in active mode and shouted together – what happened ? Big python crossing road – driver replied. Everybody wanted to see him so as me because it was something new for me too.  Everybody has their own idea about python which they gave as their precious advice like he must come here by mistake that he is baby python that he is sick and so on and on and on.  Meanwhile python crossed the road and hidden into jungle.  All came inside and bus starts again. This was the only activity…

Morning 7 A.M. I reached Delhi. It was overcast but luckily not raining. Delhi was running like always. Every time when I come here, city looks new to me.  I took DTC bus and went to my destination. Whole day I did my work and by evening I went to Ghaziabad Railway Station to pick up the train to Lucknow. My train has to leave by 8.30 so I moved station by 5.30 which was itself a struggling journey. I again took ramshackle DTC bus giving feeling that anytime it can off from life anyways it was full so I stood inside. Half n hour later I reached Ghaziabad and took auto-rickshaw for railway station. Auto wala stuffed lots of passenger in rickshaw. No one could sit comfortably but he kept on stuffing as he is stuffing chickens inside. Eventually when passengers start shouting at him then he start auto but still stopping in every second for more passengers whom I don’t know where he is going to give seat. Finally I reached station by 7.45. I was assured my train would be on platform but for my disappointment train was two hours late. I had no choice accept to wait…

I thought to roam around in station because this was the only thing which I can do perfectly for time pass. Station was overcrowded with the heap of passengers. Floor of platform layered with passengers who were slipping on it. Where the space was empty I could see the layer of dirt and red stains of tobacco. Some were sitting on the top of their stack of luggage. I always noticed that Indians travels with lots of luggage. This is common scenario of many stations. Eventually I got one seat on rickety iron bench which was again dirty but I had no other option…

Trains were running on the track. Tracks were littered with plastic and other scraps. Station announcements were announcing about trains time and other information. My bench was near to track which was vibrating when trains were passing through. All trains were full because it was Rakhi festival. In many trains passengers were hanging out and some were sitting on the floor of train. I spend some time here and then again went to roam around. I crossed one platform through over bridge and went to another side. Here again all stairs, side paths, over bridges were packed. I was experiencing all this by then my train came on platform. Big smile appeared on my face but as I couldn’t get AC compartment so I was travelling in sleeper class…

I went to the train find out my birth and put my rucksack. It was lower side birth. This compartment was again overcrowded. Passengers were standing or sitting everywhere. I wanted to go to toilet but could not go. Whole night it was hustle-bustle in train so there was no option for sleep. Eventually I woke up and set on my birth to watch out. It was raining and all green which was the only thing to give pleasure. But railway tracks were littered with human dispose. I could see people sitting on the tracks which are new thing for me…

Train crossed many big junctions like Kanpur, Unnav and others. Here train become local and stopping in every spot. Collage going student and office people were main passengers. It was not raining but become hot. Around 10 AM I reached Lucknow…

Continue…