Return to Allababad!

I don't know about you but every now and then I find myself pinning for travelling . No..a travellouge is not a suffecient reason! I think, it was the right time for a change. So, how could I ever say 'NO' for a trip! I had to accompany my mum and a cousin sis Somu.But, this time the destination was quiet difficult!

Allahabad, a very beautiful place.My maternal uncle & aunt live there.Since, childhood my experience in Allahabad has been quiet tragic but thank god this time it was rocking! I have visited the city for 3-4 times ,till now. The biggest tragic moment came some years back when we were returning from a Shimla-Kulu Manali - Delhi trip and had to stay at our aunt's place in Allahabad .My dad got an attack and was admitted to Heart Line Hospital in Civil Lines, Allahabad. Oh..that was the time when all of us in the family really cursed our stoppage.

After that incidence, I don't remember if my dad has ever visited the city ,again.So, it was obvious my mum will have to go either with somebody else or with me. I really appreciate my dad for planning our trip so well . Except dad, nobody travelled alone on our family .But, this time it was just mum and me.We were shivered, truly! On your way to Allahabad you do get many nasty places and nasty passengers too!

Thankfully, we had more number ladies than men in our compartment. I picked 'Lajja' by Taslima Nasrin to read ,in my journey. Our dear train and my mom's favourite 'Tulsi EXpress' has reached every station before its scheduled time and to adjust that super speed it made us wait for hours and hours on outer stations. Very very annoying! I remember when we reached Nanni , a near by station.Its hardly 15-16 km from Allahabad Junction. But, it took a long stay of 3 hours and here we experienced the true U.P effect ! Can you believe , we were sunbathing in the station!

While in our journey we met one Allahabadi ,who did his M.B.A from a reputed insti and the moment Allahabad came he went crazy , he started talkign to me and said," yeh meri jaanam-bhoomi hai ,hum kahi bhi ho ayyeen yahaan anee ka mazza hi kuch aur hai, hum yeehaan ke babuaa hai.." oh , he really surprized me.

Also, many chaiwalas come to offer you steamy hot tea, with the heater below the Tea Ketley.That was something new to me. My mum, din't let down a single chaiwala. I remember, the clash of two chaiwalas ,when one came and said, " sune ho bhaiya hum hai allahabadi chaiwala, hamar se panga na lena..chalo nikal lo" , was enough to scare, isn't? A chaiwala into dadagiri. Its all about GundaRaj !

Later, in the trip when our train made a halt in outer. A Sainik School was there, school children with navy blue trousers and white shirts. They must be of 14-15 years of age. I just looked outside the window and they started flirting like hell. Some crazy activities to get the attention. And comments like, ' arre dekh lo ek baar toh dekh lo'.I had to tell my mum and she laughed ! It was very embarrassing they all got collected some 200 students and kept gazing at me whereever I move in the bogie they too followed to get a glimpse! I was astonished to see kids of Allahabad! But, aww poor kids a train came in the other track and they missed me! I remember one kid, who was very badly gazing ,as if he gonna take me away!


My poor uncle, was waiting in the station to recieve us for past 4 hours , it was very irritating. And, I ask where's youth in Allahabad!? No glimpse .. a double trouble!

Anyhow we reached and you should have seen the happiness in my mum's face...oh she was damn happy! A Priceless smile ..so I really took the entire torture as an adventurous fun!

I am going share my Allahabad trip experience with all of you.