RE-INTRODUCING: REDKP
26th July, 2024
The Preview of what's coming ahead!
I Published this narration after working all night on editing the draft and publishing it at 6. a.m. on 27th July 2024. ( Such acts are meant only for agents! GOOD NIGHT!) Do give it a read for the effort! Good Night!
"THERE LIVED A MAN WHO NEVER FEIGNED TO BE A HERO!"
The Side-B had been long in the editing hell now! After the Indian 2 result though, there seemed to be an immediate need to revive the universe and the return and re-introduction exactly before there is a loss of relevance!
NOT Every sequel can be like TOP GUN! Mostly it will become an Indian 2 & Maybe Indian 3 either. Courtesy: Choppy editing is an imperative reason! The SIDE-B has undergone multiple edits across drafts in the past 3 months!
Releasing this SIDE-B on the Occasion of 25th Kargil Diwas on 26th July 2024 would have been a perfect REDKPian tribute to the bravery of our soldiers who dedicated themselves while defending various points along the LINE OF CONTROL.
December 8th, 2023; Time Stamp 17:00 Hours: Taking over the reins from Side A... the agent Walks with his head held as high as a Singham... towards the next OG spot of Dilli! Less than 24 hours before his departure down south, he headed back towards Akshardham Temple via one straight blue-line metro from Dwarka 14 to Akshardham. That travel ate away a good one hour and 15 minutes. With the intimation of the direction sense to Mr Spartan and without a possible response from my busy intern who continued to be busy with her internship duties, he reached Akshardham Temple.
Though Akshardham Mandir looks adjacent to the metro station, that isn't the case. It would take a good 1-kilometre walk for one to reach the Temple Complex. Many e-rickshaw drivers would be standing outside the entrance to pick up people for a 10-rupee ride towards the temple. But it was not worth it for an agent to be spending on such petty distances.
As the temple became visible from a distance, it looked like grandeur. The Glow of Yellow would even attract an atheist towards the eternal divine. As I walked down the lane towards the complex, I saw a board that indicated that none of the heavy baggage and electronic gadgets would be allowed. After multiple attempts, in a bleak tone, I confirmed our meeting at the metro station at 20:30 hours. The time was 18:30 hours, the temple's last entry time stamp. Hence, it was a luxury to enjoy the eternal divine since there were still two hours to meet.
After crossing multiple levels of security checks, I had the privilege of witnessing the grandeur of the temple and the first impression was all but stunning. Surprisingly, there was only a queue for the frisking process and not the darshan at any point. Everything was done pretty smoothly and there was still a good 1.5 hours. What to do next was a compelling question! Then I spot a ticket counter. I had some cash in the kitty, which was meant to be spent.
There is an all-raved-about water show set post-sunset in the temple complex, whose arena would resemble a grand traditional step well. This is one such subject matter whose plot should not be revealed. The 24-minute-long spectacle should be left alone to be witnessed by an individual during his visit to the temple complex.
As I exited the temple complex, the one intent was fulfilled. As I collected my baggage, the time was already 20:00 hours, and as I took out my phone, I had 6 missed calls from my co-presenter by then and the boys were tensed since I was not picking up any calls straight for 1.5 hours. I finally cooled their stomach as I gave a callback informing my locked-up status at the complex and guaranteed a comeback to the base by 22:00 hours.
With the satisfaction of all coins getting pocketed in the right junctures, I reached back the metro station with a ticket towards Chhatarpur, I reached the Noida side platform by 20:25 hours since I was instructed by the person whom we would be meeting in the next seven minutes that I were to wait at the platform around the 20:30 hours to stitch any meeting probabilities! I got a call at 20:30 hours from Ms Keller (This is the nickname for this person from this point in this universe) that she would arrive in two minutes.
The context is so simple behind that nickname. When I heard about this person from my friend for the first time in 2023, my mind went straight to the Chapter on Helen Keller in our NCERT Marigold textbook during primary school days. Concerning that chapter, though it is impossible to recall what exactly the activity was, the essence is that we were tasked with a class activity, wherein we were to make a Diorama on that chapter. Ms Keller was an inspirational figure at all points of her life and so was this person. When we first met in March 2023 near the Aavin Booth, I was embarrassingly struggling with a cramp that I suffered from due to unplanned participation in a 100-meter sprint.
At 20:32, a person deboarded from the metro was searching for the agent. It was never that easy to identify someone in such a disguise. The Platform was all but almost ghosted, with just a few people around. I spotted her and with a certain swagger, I walked towards the other side. I was spotted in an attire that looked less like a delegate and more like a thief. The harsh conditions forced such a disguise. The BGM that played all around in my mind resembled the Whistles of Dhoom 2.
The exact crux of the meeting cannot be revealed since I am an Indian and have a short memory. But as a memory of such a meet, we did click a selfie. As the meeting was on, I could see on the other platform a rake towards Dwarka was to depart at 20:37 hours. We can speak for hours, but was this the right time? That whole setting could have resembled this Antique Sword Robbery scene from Dhoom 2 since I did resemble a 'Perfect Thief' at that point.
At 20:36, I revealed my intent to catch an already jam-packed metro. Considering the promise made to Bhai, I was certain that to catch that metro, hence we ended the meeting in some 4 minutes. I ran through to board that metro, I entered the train and the doors closed. She was shocked at what on earth was going around her. She later expressed that her Blood Pressure is yet to get over that stunt of mine.
If I running towards that metro had a Scene:
The route back home was quite simple. I was to trace back in the same line upto 'Rajiv Chowk' and then Interchange for the yellow line towards Gurugram Millenium Centre. This was a pretty much familiar loop of interchanges by then. It took a good hour to reach the ultimate metro station where I was destined to go. The Mercury drops drastically in the late hours of the evening during winter back at Dilli.
The Hustling Street of Dilli at 22:00 hours
The PICS OF THE EVENING
I reached probably the safest place in the city within the promised time. It was Party Time after all. We overthrew a party owing to my stay in Delhi. I visited a temple and partied on the same day. Truly, I need to fear god, if the almighty exists.
Truly, D-Day ended in some style!
Day 7: December 9th: The Delayed Departure and the Continued Explorations
It was my last few hours at the National Capital. The eyelids woke up to a text from Indian Railways that Train Number 12270 was rescheduled by 3 hours and 45 minutes. The Train which was scheduled to depart at 15:55 hours from Hazrat Nizamuddin was expected to leave at 19:40 hours.
With all my baggage packed and strapped, I planned to explore certain places on my hitlist within 6-7 hours. The Plan was to start with Qutab Minar, then go upto the entrance of Redfort and click certain snaps of the landmark, then head towards the India Gate for the evening view and finally reach Hazrat Nizamuddin before 19:15 hours.
So, I started from our base with all my baggage around 11:50 hours, bidding adieu to my boys and marched towards Chhtrapur Metro. Though Qutab Minar was the next station from this point and is bleakly visible from Qutab Minar Metro Station, the actual landmark was 2-3 kilometres from the station. I vividly remember walking from Qutab Minar to the Metro Station during our family trip to Delhi in 2018. This time I was built differently. The Share Autos came to the rescue. Twenty rupees per person was decent for such a distance with all the baggage around in Delhi.
Time Ticked 12:40 hours and as I secured my baggage at the cloakroom and reached the ticket counter, there was a long and anticipated weekend queue. It ate away another 10 minutes. As I entered the Monument Complex, it was already 13:00 hours and I gave myself an hour and a half to explore around the monument. The important landmarks around the monument are all but presented in the collage.
As I was exploring around, I spotted the Historic Iron Pillar whose construction is based on metals having a rust-resistant composition. I have read about this Pillar in the Class 7 Ncert Our Pasts-II textbook and snapping the very same pillar indicates that I was living a dream in my last year of teenage.
With one spot done, I could feel some fatigue, hence a glass of Nimbu Panni was the need of the hour to charge the Turbo-Agent since he neither had the time to have breakfast nor the luxury to have a full plate of North Indian Thali (That was going to be served later in the Train as such).
SPOT 1: QUTAB MINAR
The next stop was Lal Quila i.e. Redfort. By the time I boarded a Metro from Qutab, the time was 15:00 hours already. The Route for the same was to head straight towards Samaypur Badli in the yellow line upto the Central Secretariat and interchange on the Violet Line towards Kashmere Gate ISBT and deboard at Lal Quila.
After dodging the huddles, I somehow reached the Lal Quila Metro around 15:45 Hours. Now came the real game. This was the 'OG' Dilli that I had to encounter now. The Metro Station was nothing short of a mad rush and one who panicked here would be a sole loser. Since I was here to conquer and not to lose, I dodged this huddle, only to face a bigger huddle ahead! Chinnrasu, vidra trolley'a Redfortuku...!
SPOT 2: RED FORT i.e. LAL QUILA
As I exited the underground station, I witnessed what Delhi-6 meant. There was a lineup of Chole Bathure stalls and all possible agents ranging from travel to.... xD (The Blank was to be filled at your assumption). Looking at my Baggage, I dodged some 10 different agents approaching me for the rescue or were they on a spree of trapping me? I ignored them as if I were tuned to some serious beats on my Airdopes 131 for real.
Mission Redfort reached its peak. We arrive at the D-spot guys. Make some noise guys since this was Cinema for real. The time was 16:00 hours. The Agent reached the location where this mission was to reach! I gave myself just 10-15 minutes in the spot just to snap the grandeur as such. While heading towards the Metro, I tried Malai Kulfi since I was in no mood to try the Chole Bathure as such.
The next spot was India Gate. The time So as I reached back the Metro, there was absolute Chaos at the frisking wing! The fat parcels that were being frisked, people behaving recklessly. Hell broke loose at Lal Quila Metro station. The biggest headache of a solo traveller is the baggage and travelling all through with them. Adding to the burden is the continuous security checks. By the time I boarded the metro from Lal Quila, it was 16:40 hours.
The Route to India Gate is a very interesting one... The Locale is at an accessible distance from the Blue Line, Yellow Line and Violet Line as well. Though the Central Secretariat is said to be the closest to India Gate, the most connected station from the entry of India Gate is Khan Market Metro. I chose the same line since the locals had advised me to do so. Lal Quila to Khan Market on the Violet Line. As I reached Khan Market, I got an auto ride for just 60 rupees to reach the next spot.
The time-stamped 17:30 hours. It was the perfect time to visit India Gate. I snapped the late-evening visuals of the India Gate+ Subash Chandra Bose Statue all around and immediately headed towards the National War Memorial. This was meant for people like us, the chosen ones. Ask any Army Brat around and he will narrate the stories of valour and resilience to you. I belong to that category.
This was perfect, just perfect!
My Honest Reaction to that Display was:
That Display had my chest thumping with a patriotic sense. Any Indian would associate with that feeling. They are the chosen ones! As I was traversing through the memorial, I ended up interacting with one of the Higher Rank Officers, who was on his rounds in the Memorial for a brief moment. He gave me a pat on my back. That moment made me intense and emotional. A Brat would understand the value of that pat. That was some level of goosebumps delivered.
As I exited the Memorial, the time-stamped 18:00 hours, India Gate glowed in the Patriotic Tri-Colour. The meaning of being an Indian was truly defined at the Indian Gate. It was difficult but due to the scarcity of time, I could not snap the Parliament and the Kartavya Path view leading to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
SPOT 3&4: INDIA GATE + NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
I guess the Auto fares tend to soar high post 18:00 hours in Delhi. The Ride back to Khan Market Metro ranged between 80-100 rupees and with none turning up for a shared ride, I had no choice but to shell out 100 rupees since the time was already 18:15 hours. I had no choice but to reach the station as early as possible. The Auto Driver irked me by asking how much I would give if he dropped me at Nizamuddin. I kindly asked him to stop at Khan Market xD. That riled me up, was that a bad sign? The Red in REDKP is not the best thing to be activated!
The Route to Hazrat Nizamuddin from India Gate would be from Khan Market to Lajpat Nagar on the Violet Line, interchange towards Shiv Vihar on the Pink Line, and deboard at Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin.
By the time I reached Lajpat Nagar, it was already 18:37 hours as I was about to board the train towards Shiv Vihar, one hard push by one guy rizzed the Maduraikaaran in me. I was carrying that heavy baggage. As I entered the metro coach, I ended up uttering some typical Hindi cuss words and continued to behave in the most ruely fashion. That push felt deliberate and unnecessary since we had formed a line to board and this guy tried to be a bit too oversmart.
We Maduraikaarans have a heart as sweet as Jigarthanda, but only until we are dealt the right way. We raise our voices when the share auto kaarans tend to ask even five rupees more than what is usually charged and this guy ruffled shoulders with me. But I had to move on since no train would wait for anyone. By the way, we had already witnessed a guy being banged by a group of people at the metro station a day ago before our presentation.
Naanum Maduraikaran Thaan Da!
The Passage from Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin Metro station to Hazrat Nizamuddin station
This was followed by a dingy passage through which I had to pass from the metro station to reach the station. It was frustrating as it was meant to be. By the time I reached the platform, the time was 19:20 hours. As I saw my rake stationed, I sighed in relief. I was departing for sure, however late it would be. I parked my trolley in its designated place with the backpack in the fairly spaced side upper with a charging point on the berth being a perk!
The Departure Shots from the NCT!
It was almost time as per the scheduled departure, but there were no signs of the signal turning green. I scrolled through to understand that multiple trains were bound down stand departing from Nizamuddin and New Delhi.
I helplessly viewed Bangalore Rajdhani and Karnataka Express leaving Dilli on the time. The Tamil Nadu Express bound for Chennai Central, which usually departs at 21:05 hours from New Delhi, was also on time. This was further salt rubbed into the wounds.
Finally signal turned green at 20:23, and train number 12270-MAS DURONTO EXPRESS Hauled by a LALAGUDA WAP-7 chugged out of Hazrat Nizamuddin with an overhead delay of four and half hours (Reschedule+the delay from the reschedule). Good Night to a tiring day after all!
Day 8: Mission Halke Fulke and the chug towards Chennai
The Time was 06:00 hours and I was served the morning tea kit. The train had crossed Rani Kamalapati by then and was skipping Itarsi Junction. I had made my way to the doors, to enjoy that stunning non-stop chugg upto Nagpur Junction.
After four hours and forty-five minutes of hauling through the dense forest stretch of Madhya Pradesh...
Entering Nagpur Junction at 10:45 hours.
The halfway mark of the Journey was breached. More Halfway Down the Lane... I had no idea when I would reach Chennai Though. The only thing I prayed for at that point was a late arrival at Chennai Central after 04:00 hours or an early arrival by 23:00 hours so my uncle could pick me up from the station.
I was hooked in near the door as the train neared Nagpur Junction with the Jute bag in hand since purchasing Haldirams chips "Halke Fulke" and "Aloo Bhujiya" from Nagpur was an obvious part of this mission. The Stop was just for five minutes. I stormed in to make the purchase. The Bill was some 340 rupees. As I tried to use G Pay, it showed some error. So I quickly gave them hard cash and promptly returned to the train.
A Shocker awaited since I had a bank balance of just 144 rupees ig! And in my purse, I had just some 100 odd rupees. I had no idea about where all my money flew xD. Now I had no choice but to ask back home for some more hundred rupees since I still had a couple of days of travel in the offing.
SHOTS OF THE DAY!
After good daydreaming post lunch, through the next ten hours, it was dinner time. By then the train had crossed its 450 kilometres of non-stop run between Balharshah to Vijayawada. As the train pushed into Vijayawada Junction, I called my NIT twinnies since they belonged to Eluru, just around BEZAWADA i.e. Vijayawada (Formerly known as Bezawada ig, since they jokingly equated my arrival at Vijayawada to be at Bezawada).
The halt was for a good 10 minutes. I just heard the "Anda Biryani" Chants around. They warned me to avoid them since they were not worth it. If I had to taste one, the best ones were available in the city. As I was done with my call, I heard the horn of the WAP-7. The train began its last leg of the journey at 20:20 hours.
After the departure, that typical railway thali was served as dinner. Well, no comments on that, this stretch of 431 kilometres between Vijayawada Junction and MGR Chennai Central was a non-stop run as well. I just checked the Tamil Nadu Express running status. I was shocked to realize that it was running on time as per schedule and had crossed Warangal. I realized that this train would reach sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., which meant I had a midnight horror awaiting.
As we shut our eyes, the pantry staff came for their Chai Paani collections. This time I was forced to pretend to be sleeping and prevent myself from exploitation since I barely had anything in my purse xD. This practice made me so annoyed that I decided not to travel by any premium long-distance trains to and fro from North to South. Even a sleeper berth felt more mental peace than this haphazard premium service. Honestly, they do this as soon as...
Well as I tried to snap my eyes down for the day, my eyes weren't snapping down. My eye was filled with fear as I was set to live an agent's life again. My sleep was going for a toss for the nth time now. But things are very pretty different this time. I was deboarding Chennai Central when the city would have fallen all asleep.
Day 9 & 10: Agent Enters TN and Sleeps Through
The Time was 02:20 hours and I deboarded with four baggages at MGR Chennai Central. I directly headed to the waiting area. The station donned a very usual look. It was just a haunted mansion with all the people who were around sleeping like zombies whom you had no idea when they would activate.
THE GHOSTED BLABBERS OF A SLEEPLESS NIGHT! A GHOSTED CHENNAI CENTRAL.
I just found myself a settled estate for the next three hours. Meanwhile, I met a family from Lucknow who were travelling to Coimbatore. They had missed the Dhanbad-Allepey Express due to Duronto's rescheduling and were waiting for Kovai Express which was scheduled at 06:00 hours. I just had to wait upto 05:00 a.m. though. The next two hours went with me tuning to YouTube and guarding my baggage.
THE BUZZY CHENNAI CENTRAL POST THE ARRIVAL OF HOWRAH-CHENNAI EXPRESS MAIL+PALAKKAD-CHENNAI SF EXPRESS+BENGALURU-CHENNAI MAIL EXPRESS!
Chennai Central wakes up every day at 03:30 hours since the station gets buzzy due to consecutive arrivals at the Terminal. As Howrah Mail arrived around 04:30 hours, there was a contrast in the atmosphere, there were people all around the station. I refreshed myself and promptly exited Central and walked towards the Metro station.
The walk through an empty passage by MGR Chennai Central Metro at 04:58 a.m.
The time was 05:00 hours and Chennai Metro had commenced its operations. My way en route was from MGR Chennai Central Metro to deboard at Arumbakkam Metro station on the train towards the Airport.
I boarded the feebly crowded first service of the day and traversed some half an hour to reach Arumbakkam. As the lift doors towards the concourse opened... That picture reflects what I had gone through last night. So the day was a good night...!
My cousin had his exams held every alternate day. He had an exam on the day back in Chennai. The next day, we bought a Pepsi ball to play some terrace cricket amidst the winter breeze of Chennai, only to lose that ball out of the park within one delivery due to an ultra-aggressive stroke offered by me in his underarm bowling. Otherwise, these were the recovery days of the whole trip. I caught up on new releases across various OTT platforms. I charged my purse with a request of some three hundred rupees from home.
SHOTS BETWEEN THE CALL AT VIJAYAWADA TO THE PEPSI CRICKET BALL THAT FLEW OUT OF THE PARK!
Day 11: Rail Fanning went wrong!
“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." ―Helen Keller
I have seen this quote multiple times back in school. But I never envisioned I would be crying for slippers at some point in my life.
Intro Shots of the day: An unfortunate expedition barefoot under
After resting for a couple of days, I decided to visit the Chennai Rail Museum located on the North West Side of the ICF furnishing division. I left home around 11:30 hours and walked towards Nungambakkam Station and bumped into my cousin, who was peddling back from his school after his exam. He swiftly went back home and headed towards Nungambakkam station with his bicycle. I warned him to stay home and prepare for his exams, but nothing materialised.
En route to the museum was in the Chennai Suburban towards Chennai Park from Nungambakkam on the Tambaram-Beach Sector and a subsequent interchange at the Moore Market Complex towards Villivakkam on the Central-Arakkonam Sector. It cost us around 5 per head rupees for that distance. From the station to the museum, the distance was some 1.6 kilometres.
The Localities Villivakkam and Perambur are all home to various divisions of the Integral Coach Factory i.e. the ICF. A significant portion of the movie Alai Payuthey was shot around the ICF colony near the station. We walked towards the northern part of Villivakkam. My Grandfather was someone who worked in the ICF. So now his Grand Sons might have just walked down the lane.
Exhibit 1
As we walked, out of nowhere my left chappal had just reached its rupture point and hence... it just broke. I had the task of walking barefoot in my exploration and also managing my cousin, who was notorious. We just managed to reach the museum with me walking as slowly as possible, to prevent any injury to my foot considering the rough surface of the path.
Exhibit 2
We explored the museum, there was just an array of multiple models of locos, coaches and other interesting technicalities relating to Indian Railways. There was also a small toy train ride to enjoy either. But my mind and the barefoot under just wanted to get back home as soon as possible without any damage.
The Toy Train Ride
After two hours... I reached home safely, managing my cousin and barefoot before the Sun TV News aired at 18:00 hours. There was a great shock at home when they learnt I had to walk barefoot for at least three kilometres. But the end meant peace though.
But this expedition was one to remember for life! I would reiterate this quote...
“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." ―Helen Keller
Day 12 & 13: Going Further Down South
A four-day stay at Chennai was coming to an end. The time was 20:00 hours and I boarded 15G at the MMDA Bus Depot (As they mention at Chennai) towards Broadway to reach Central Station. Interestingly, considering the amount of Baggage I carried, I was charged a rupee more for the baggage.
The Departure Shots from Chennai
I reached Central around 20:45 hours. But where was I heading though? The Initial Plan was to head back to Bengaluru through the obvious train i.e. Bengaluru Mail at 22:50 hours. But we had to reach Madurai for some reason. Hence, I had to reach Madurai from Chennai. Ask anyone residing in Chennai and has an origin from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. They would reflect that it were almost impossible to get a Train Ticket to Madurai in such a short notice.
Hence, I had another task now! To reach Madurai, there was a back route. So, I cancelled my confirmed ticket to Bengaluru and had to book a Waitlist Ticket upto Dindigul in anticipation of it reaching RAC status. Eventually, I was onboard in train number 22651 Palakkad Express (Which was Initially Introduced as the Palani Express) upto Dindigul as an RAC passenger. This train has had high demand since its inception in 2013 due to the important places it connects to Chennai as the only Daily operating train (Of course, don't tutor the headmaster, this train reaches Palakkad Junction through a different route, unlike the other Kerala Bound Trains).
This train was slatted to reach Dindigul Junction at 06:00 hours. From there it's an hour's journey to reach Madurai. Hence, I was slotted to board train number 16235 Mysuru-Tuticorin Express, whose arrival was at 06:10 hours, in which my parents were also bound to join me. I did have a reserved berth for this stretch though. This is a train I have traversed from Bengaluru to Madurai and vice-versa since my Birth. Life does come full circle.
Though the time gap was just 10 minutes, I was pretty chill since the former had a big slack time at Dindigul Junction and would reach earlier or at least on time since it had a loco reversal there to head towards Palakkad via Palani, Udumalaipettai and Pollachi and I had full confidence over the latter due to its tendency of being delayed to the Junction.
The Train left Chennai Central at 21:40 hours. It was an old ICF rake with old switchboards. For the next five hours and twenty minutes, I was to share a side lower seat with a co-passenger. As the time was around 03:00 hours and post the train crossed Salem Junction, I got a berth to rest for a few hours. That was a temporary relief for some time.
KPD i.e Katpadi Junction at 23:30 hours and SA i.e. Salem Junction at 02:55 hours
The Blabber of facts at 6 a.m. wrapping my head around... as I reached Dindigul Junction!
As the train reached Dindigul Junction sharply on time on platform number 1, I got down and headed towards Platform 2, where my next train was slotted to arrive. With four pieces of baggage with me, it looked like I was returning from a battlefield indeed!
The Time was 06:20 hours and yeah everything happened as per my calculations! Tuticorin Express was running late. The train finally arrived at 06:35 hours and after 12 days of expeditions and adventures across thousands of kilometres, my parents met their valiant ward after 13 days coincidentally our seats were in the same coach, which made things much more convenient.
Witnessing the Vaigai River with water flow on a higher side is a blessing by Kallazhagar himself since this is a rarity of sight in all fairness. Ofc, Meenakshi Amman's role does become important for the well-being of Madurai. Again, I would not go into its analysis since I have heard elders back home referring to Kallazhagar and his connection with the Vaigai River during the Chithirai month of the Tamil Calendar and the world-famous Meenakshi Thirukalyanam i.e. Chithirai Tiruvizha.
As the train crossed the Vaigai River Bridge and pushed into Madurai Junction, I had breached a milestone on traversing 5,126 kilometres on Railway Tracks (Including the 28 kilometres to and fro distance between Nungambakkam to Villivakkam during our rail museum visit).
I rested on the sidelines in my aunt's place during our stay at Madurai on the 13th and 14th days and we departed the very next day from Madurai. We chose to board the Tiruparankunram station considering its accessibility from the place. The train number is 16235 Tuticorin-Mysuru Express. Considering the baggage we decided to deboard the Bengaluru Cantonment and hire an auto to reach DRDO Phase-1 Quarters. The Distance Between these stations was 481 kilometres.
The entry and departure pics at Madurai and the gate of K.V. D.R.D.O.
After 15 days, on 17th December 2023, I finally reached home. The moment we entered home, I was asked about the details of my next mission about which even I had no idea at that instant. Well, I replied with a classic dialogue as used on my LinkedIn page at the end:
"Just One Step at a Time!"
It didn't generate any applause but I was only handed a familiar childhood mission of buying a Blue Packet Milk of Nandini a not-so-familiar mission of buying veggies for the day's lunch. I couldn't deny such missions since it was a duty that a son would be expected to perform xD!
This basket I had procured suggests that the lunch for that day despite it being a Sunday was the Karnataka Famous Bisi Bele Bath! Well, on my way back from the Market, I came across K.V.D.R.D.O., which was my first identity as a student. It was my school for twelve long years.
Snapping that shot of the front gate, my memory reflected the same time frame a couple of years back when I was a student of that institution wearing that KVS uniform and the blazer (Which I continue to use even today) during the winter season. Well, that was a phase indeed where I had not in my distant memory envisioned that I would have travelled solo in trains for 5,000+ kilometres. This is no Hridayam's Climax. The story arcs might be similar but I wouldn't be allowed to enter my school anymore ig!
No emotions, move on! Indeed some satisfaction gazing at that gate as a late teenager who hasn't trimmed his beard in weeks! Gotta, go to trim my beard now! Until then...!
"Just One Step at a Time Mama!"
Total Distance Traversed by Trains in this trip=5,607 kilometres. How's the Josh? High Sir!
"THERE LIVED A MAN WHO NEVER FEIGNED TO BE A HERO!"
Meanwhile... Santa had some other plans for me ig!
A so-called Christmas present or a storm arrived at my home on 25th December 2023! That bag speaks volumes about why a storm has seemingly arrived here...!
To be continued... For much more ahead...
Mandated T-Verse visits/ revisits:
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