Day 2 - Train Ride from Bengaluru to Warangal

Day 2 was fun...and is continuing to be one. While I type this we are in the train to Warangal, my home town. Although we were lagging a bit from the jet, Nikhil was all exited about going on the train ride and was preparing for it since morning. After a long wait for the taxi that never arrived and booking another taxi to get us to N's another cousin, Arush's, house we finally made it there.  To our dismay, Arush was asleep and N wasn't able to play with him. After a late lunch and a few conversations we headed back to the "mother ship", or  central hub, or our "adda" in Bangalore.

After much traffic delays and skillfully weaving through the Bangaluru peak time evening traffic we reached Majestic, the very majestic B'lore city station. Like we always do, not travel light, we had a "few" suitcases. The sheer number of suitcases attracted a couple of porters/coolies. We were told that the train, Rajdhani Express, was supposed to depart from platform #8. Distance wise I'd say about two city blocks far from where we parked our car. The porter quoted Rs. 400 to lug the suitcases to the train and we paid him Rs. 100. No, this time the negotiation skills were not mine.

As soon as we got on the crossing bridge to get to the platform that we longfully waiting to get to, #8, first thing N said was, "PAPA, TRAAAAAAAAAAAAIN"...yup, at the top of his voice. Only folks who heard his scream were his people...and then the scream vanished into the oblivion of loud city and train station noises. But, it seemed like N's pent up emotion to scream at the top of his voice "papa, traaaaaain" was released. He never seized to contain his excitement even after that. He started walking fast, as fast as he could and at times his walk would transform into a trot but much to his dislike, he would slow down when he hears his dad, say "Nikhiiiiiil, slow down". He did that a few times and then finally said, "papa, i am walking fast so that the train doesn't leave without us"...for reference purposes we were there 40 minutes before the actual departure time.

Coach A1, berth #29, #30 and Coach A3 berth #37 were alloted to us. A nice gentleman, Mr. Ashok Kumar, no not the actor (if it were the actor old man Ashok Kumar, I'd have started running away from the train), up on request agreed to exchange his berth, #25 in A1 with our alienated berth in a far off coach A3. While this exchange was taking place, N was so thrilled, he already climbed up to the top berth and back down probably about 20 times...and this time I am not exaggerating.
Said good bye to the family that came to see us off and settled down to take on the journey. N's excitement flatlined at the top and stayed there, till the food was served, and he has his dinner. He settled for the top berth and he too retired for the day.....