by Michelle Hettiarachchi
PureTravel Writing Competition 2024
“I won’t give up” was my ultimate phrase of morals when I got selected as an Outgoing Global Teacher from AIESEC Sri Lanka.
India was one of my dream destinations where I was so obsessed with their cultures, food, rituals, fashion etc. I had no clue that it was going to make my life head over heels. I was so thrilled to get into an aircraft for the first time in my life and I felt butterflies in my stomach. It was a different feeling mixed with happiness, sadness and victory. However I was not alone though, I had another companion throughout the whole journey of being a teacher in India.
Gavithri and I were roommates for 8 months where we had fun and adventure in India. We shared happiness, tears not that we didn’t fight also. She was herbivore and I was omnivore. She was able to survive by eating Paani puri, Alo parata and paneer 24/7 but where I began to think that we live in 21st century is an utter lie as I was not able to find a single piece of ham at Shakthi Nagar, Chandigarh, Punjab. Anyhow, my soul mate “sweets” was my only joy for those 8 months when it came to food.
However it was Gavithri’s crazy idea that we should travel to Rishikesh by train after the Diwali holidays. I was continuously making fusses about going in the “Train” as the movies and the stories that I’ve heard about Indian trains were fantastically awesome for young girls to travel alone without knowing the language and people and it was my first experience to try a foreign train. Even though she kept pushing me, the only answer that came out of my mouth was “No”.
Although she was keen enough to tangle me into that trap. Yet I was having negative feelings and unwanted replicas from movies which I’ve watched where a set of gangsters come and kidnap us.
The most awaited though unwanted day came and we went to the railway station in the early morning and were waiting for the train. I was counting fingers for that iron horse to come as my shoulders were paining because of the weight of my backpack.
On top of that….
Here comes an announcement saying that “the train will get delayed by 40 mins.”
As soon as I heard the news, without thinking twice I asked her to get her stuff together to go back to the hostel because it helped to prove my imagination. Even though she didn’t move her foot but asked me to go back, she will come only after the trip. I had nothing else to do after hearing what she said.
Finaly… Here comes the magnificent train which I saw more likely a politician who comes late for the meeting as there were hundreds of people looking at its arrival. It was a journey of more than 7 hours where I saw all the people in the train were looking at me like vultures just like in the movies. I felt very uneasy about the looks that the women and men gave us. Most probably that was because of the texture of our skin. Yet my mind didn’t want to accept that fact.
There were seats above us where the passengers could sleep. I was dreadfully scared because they were able to reach us at any time with just one small jump. I soon scanned the caravan that we were in and was able to find a charging point which was the only positive sign that I found so far.
Oh my god! I never expected the seats to be that horizontal, the toilet to be so rancid. Even though we were able to get a seat. “Nothing is better than something, let’s get the experience bro” My brain won over the silent self-debate. I had no choice but to turn my head towards the window.
Damn…
Looking out from the window of the tarin made me realize that I live in a world surrounded with immense treasures of nature. Where you’ll always be able to get inner healing, fresh oxygen, untrodden beauty of the sights that will calm your tired iris, melancholically wonderful sound waves and most importantly the privilege of being blessed among the rest of the people around the world. I regretted saying “no” before.
I felt like the cold breeze and the mist was cracking jokes out of me and the Rishikesh mountain was sarcastically smiling from the edge of its mouth. I was able to visit Ganga River and to see different cultures and rituals that people do according to their beliefs. Not just that I was able to eat nice meals with meat and also yummy milkshakes. Almost forgot…
Oh!!!! how yummy were the sweetmeats.
We had night walks but were not afraid because the streets were filled with people as it was Diwali. Fireworks were everywhere and I heard the noises of love, laughter, happiness and hope. Not just that we went on a safari at Rajai National Park where my bosom was filled with happiness and content. My care less “No” but love for my friend has brought me immense happiness. We came back to the hostel by train. Since it was Diwali, the festival of lights, all the houses were decorated with fairy lights and it was so satisfying to see that kind of a vibe before Christmas and the new year. On the way home we were invited for dinner by an Indian friend. To multiply my happiness, they had made a yummy lamb soup. Which gave me the hint that everything is on the correct track.
I was so grateful for the epic train ride that brought me courage to travel anywhere in the world. Now, I’m very confident that I’ll be able to travel over the seven seas by myself.
Photo by Killian Pham on Unsplash
