During one of my study hols between my semester exams, I decided to go to chennai for doing my studies with all my books. I did my college in Trivandrum. There were 3 weeks before exams. So I took the whole load full of books and headed for madras, now chennai.

Hardly 10 days had passed when my parents called me one morning and said that the exams have been advanced and I had to leave the same evening. with no reservations and with just so little time I had no idea what to do. My periappa/dhodappa/thau ji ( my dad's elder brother ) was a station master, he promised my parents that he would get me into some compartment and see to it that I reach tvm without much problem.

We reached station at 7ish, the train leaves for tvm at 9, the unreserved compartment was fully packed. But my periappa somehow got me in with my heavy lugguage. I was really tensed, I had space just enough to stand on my two legs. it was jam packed. There was some guys and girls in early twenties who occupied the boogey too with me. Though I stayed in TVM for a long time, I looked more tamilian..( though I am a kannadiga)..I think they felt I didn't know malayalam and they started cracking jokes at me. The way I was balancing my stance between allt he people still tensed for facing the exams that were advanced. One of the girl asked her boyfriend not to spend too much time concentrating on me, but to look at her and talk to her instead.. he was like.. poor girl.. And she was like, oh oh, alright then ask her to sit on your lap.. and blah blah.. they didn't realise that I understood all that they spoke. I didn't know how to react, whether to laugh, be angry , was also tensed for what was in store the next few days..

My periappa came and asked me to get all the lugguage and get down as he found another place for me to sit. I carried my bag full of books and clothing and followed him with tears in my eyes, because of the heavy lugguage and running with that. Finally with just 5 minutes before time left for the train to start. he got me into some compartment with some free space.. later he realised it was a military compartment and there were only guys.. military guys all around. with no more time to relocate me again.. he requested the fellows there to adjust and to take care of me till I reach Trivandrum. It was one odd start of a journey.. with so many men..all hyper, with some already drunk and enjoying all men;s company. I was given a side lower berth to sit for a while and the train started. I felt so uncomfortable that I started crying.. sensing somethign was wrong.. those army guys asked me why I was travelling like this all alone and no reservations.. when I explained, they said everythign will be alright and they asked me to feel comfortable and to ask them incase I needed anything. After that point.. that was it.. the journey was one of the best I have had. those guys are really full of life.. playing cards, singing and dancing and full masti.. a couple of them would be on the verge of thier all guys act, when one of them will remind them that I am around.. and they will be back to thier decent limit. Each of them offered to get me somethign to eat or drink or water whenever any station arrived. With just few hours into the journey I already developed crush on couple of those guys ( this is a secret, probably they sensed it too , the age it such.. ) Anyway.. finally trivandrum arrived the next day morning and had to bid goodbye to all of them, few of them got down in between stations and some remained.

I can never forget that journey.. the one which started with apprehension.. ended with so my excitement.