MY SISTER'S WEDDING

Nothing could be more important and exciting for a family to get the daughter of the house married off happily. I literally witnessed the tension and sleepless nights faced by my parents for months searching a suitable groom for my sister. And then at last after months of planning and preparation, the d-day finally arrived-15th of february- just a day after the valentine's day itself. Couldnt do it on the 14th or else my sister wouldnt hav been able to celebrate her marriage anniversary, thanks to the sri ram sena and the vhp.
Anyways i was busy doing what a brother of a bride is supposed to do-running around getting works done, welcome the guests, make sure everyone has had their lunch and most importantly arrange everything for the ceremony. In a way, I was enjoying doing all these. No one was more satisfied than me seeing that the ceremony went off smoothly and was a grand success. Everyone was happy with the arrangements and blessed the newly wed couple.
It was late midnight by the time i got free from all the works. My sister got a emotional sendoff, a typical hindi movie style when i was busy on the other side arranging the house.I was complementing myself to have controlled my emotions since the past three days or so. But as i came back to my room, some things started hovering around my mind. And it was then i realised that i wont be able to see my sister anymore at home as soon as i would come back from my college from vacations and from now would have to go as a visitor to her in-laws to meet her. All those regular shopping hops on the bike, those evening visits to the beach, none of them would be possible that often in the future. All this started haunting me to such a extent that i couldnt bear staying in that room even for a second more-the very room which i had shared with my sis since years.
Someone has said it very correctly - you realize the value of a person only when he/she goes away from you. I did realize it......

ITS JOURNEY TIME FOLKS!!!

Train journeys are something that have always enthralled and mystified me since childhood. And after traveling more than 8000kms in 18 days thanks to tata jagriti yatra, my love for the railways has just multiplied manifold. I got a chance of witnessing different shades of India all in a single journey at the same time staying, sleeping, eating, singing all those 18 days with people i never knew before developing such a close bond which i may never never forget all my life...
I think this is what a train journey is all about. Over a span of few hours of a journey, you meet so many kinds of people-some who just glance by, some have a small talk with you, some engage themselves in a interesting conversation and some people leave a everlasting impression in your life.
What better time to write this entry sitting in a train itself with so people from various spheres and kinds all around me having their own share of thought processing and mindsets during the journey- the joy and excitement clearly written in the faces of a group of some workers sitting behind me who are going home to meet their families after a span of 5 years with their bags filled with gifts and sweets, the contempt and satisfaction of a elderly couple going back home after a month long pilgrimage all around the country, the sadness and depression evident in the face of the girl leaving her parents for another session of college, d excitement in an elderly couple who i think were traveling in a train for the very first time who used to jump with joy as soon as a goods train would pass from the other side(god knows why!!!), a group of ncc cadets listening to their mentor with utmost interest who is sharing about his experiences in the war front at the same time inspiring them and many others, and the list goes on......
Where else can you see such a blend all in a span of hardly of 20m in a compartment. In short, hats off the railways. If you found this interesting, just try interacting with your co-passengers the next time you board the train.I bet your experiences will be more interesting than mine!!!!!!!