Train Travel

Waiting on the platform heads turning from side to side almost always like a guessing game followed by arguments. "I'm positive it will come from the left," says the wife. "Na... can't be. You have no sense of location. We are going to Mysore; the train has to approach from the right" asserts the man. The kids look on with amusement as Mum and Dad place bets. "Whoever wins will claim the window seat" both agree. 

Craning their necks over the platform edge, adult and junior eyes dart back and forth between the platform clock indicating the time of arrival and the vacant train tracks. Chotu is the first to spot the engine chugging in from the right. "Dad, you win" he exclaims with excitement knowing Dad could be easily persuaded to switch seats. The girls look a tad disappointed.  

Bangalore/Mysore Satabdi express arrives dot on time grinding to a halt next to platform no.9. The family had got scattered seats, one window, two middle, and one aisle seat in different rows.  

As agreed, Dad took the window seat, Mum, the middle in the row immediately after, while Netra and Chotu sat in the row adjacent to Mum in the middle and aisle seats.  

The kids took out their tablets and got busy playing games. Mum felt uncomfortable wedged between two old men, both dozing off with the sway of the train movement. Dad felt lonely without the three of them.

Half an hour into the journey, the waiters started serving breakfast. All the passengers started opening their tray tables folded up behind the back of the front seats.  

Dad cooked up a plan to switch seats. He started coughing and sneezing loud enough to alarm the passenger seated next to him, who started fidgeting. "If you wish you may shift to the middle seat behind occupied by my wife. The man willingly agrees, moving out like lightning. Mrs. Sethi moves in promptly. Now remains how to get Netra and Chotu closer.

This time the kids play a prank. Pretending to throw up, they have passengers in rows in front and behind rushing out to occupy vacant seats at the rear end of the coach. The pranksters quickly take over the seats next to their parents.  

The mischievous Sethi family had their way of being together on the journey.

Getting off at Mysore, Dad claps the backs of the kiddos. "Well done" and in response gets three sets of hands patting his back. "You started it. We just took the cue". Laughing aloud the Sethi family board the hired taxi waiting outside the station to drive them to Ooty for a six-day vacation.