A General🚂🚃story.

Monday morning brought a sudden plan to visit my elder grandmother’s house . As we reached the railway station and waited for the train, I got to know that our reservation was in the general compartment—not even in sleeper. Since I had never traveled in either general or sleeper before, a mix of excitement and nervousness filled me like a roller coaster. Soon, the train arrived. To my surprise, I realized that even the general compartment requires a reservation! As the train slowed down, people rushed frantically, running and pushing to grab seats. I stood there, confused, with my bag in hand, trying to take in this chaos and newness. Inside the coach, it was a world of its own—families spreading out to save seats, arguments breaking out, some passengers silently adjusting, others occupying every possible corner, even sitting on the floor. The environment was loud yet strangely fascinating. The rhythm of the moving train, the constant arrival of beggars—each with a different story, voice, or trick to seek attention—added another layer to the experience. I was both surprised and curious as they came one after another. Though uncomfortable in parts, it felt like stepping into a completely different side of train travel—a raw, unfiltered slice of everyday life on the Indian railways. For me, it wasn’t just a journey, but also a first-hand glimpse into a new experience that I’ll always remember.