![\"Chhattisgarh\"](\"http:\/\/manjithanda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Chhattisgarh.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0It was a matrimony grand and lavish by middle class Indian regulations:<\/p>\n
the henna, the bridal shower, ladies\u2019 night out, wedding-alert,<\/p>\n
much music, singing, screaming and jubilation;<\/p>\n
the bride\u2019s salon visit before the earliest lark<\/p>\n
to look drop dead gorgeous, and certainly not a tart.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A huge gathering, about three hundred,<\/p>\n
palatial hall, a music band, the great Indian curry feast,<\/p>\n
fifty different dishes, fifteen different liquors ,<\/p>\n
the music band to which all danced several hours<\/p>\n
sealed the perfect celebration deal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But honeymoon! That plan remained tentative;<\/p>\n
we\u2019d thought to go see the Taj Mahal, of eternal love it was representative.<\/p>\n
Adventure was on our mind and impulse helped a wee bit\u2014<\/p>\n
On the third day after wedding,<\/p>\n
much to family and friends\u2019 chagrin<\/p>\n
we requested to be dropped at the local bus-stand.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Saying adios to the last family member,<\/p>\n
we went to the counter o\u2019 the ticket vendor,<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Sir\u201d, he quipped, \u201cit is ten in the night,<\/p>\n
no bus to the land of white Dome<\/p>\n
\u2019til the Sun shines bright.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adventure running high in our veins,<\/p>\n
we took a taxi to the rail station,<\/p>\n
what\u2019d be more fun than railroad a la old times<\/p>\n
and sparking the hour more<\/p>\n
with travel of the yore.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello Mr.\u201d, the window man said amused,<\/p>\n
\u201cthere isn\u2019t a train until five, where d\u2019ya live, what keeps you mused?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bent not to return home we decided to hang on to the platform\u2014<\/p>\n
gaze at the sky, the stars, Moon and the Night in every tone and chrome.<\/p>\n
Time passes quick whence matters are aplenty to discuss,<\/p>\n
the worriless hours or the just attended gathering<\/p>\n
that gives wings to the imagination of young buds.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Truth remains, the locomotive arriv\u2019d<\/p>\n
and we desir\u2019d to crash prostrate within matter of minutes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And what a train did we select for the journey to the blissful city<\/p>\n
of the edifice love-enrolled<\/p>\n
\u2018Chhattisgarh Express\u2019 it was called.<\/p>\n
quaint name, yeah, but we weren\u2019t appalled:<\/p>\n
quainter the better, we thought,<\/p>\n
did it matter so long as to the destination it brought.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But boy oh boy, why ticket this we bought;<\/p>\n
three hours max from point A to B,<\/p>\n
is what in geography class we were taught.<\/p>\n
Not with this train\u2026 no, never, not. Naught!<\/p>\n
This thing was less mobile and more the variety of static,<\/p>\n
for every chug forward, twice it moved backward, or so it seem\u2019d\u2014simple \u00a0\u2018rithmetic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The new husband held the sleep he could\u2019ve caught,<\/p>\n
poor guy worried what if we missed the stop?<\/p>\n
Sleepless and zombie from the window he gazed out<\/p>\n
although help was extended from the guy on the berth atop.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All said and done<\/p>\n
some six though several seeming hours later<\/p>\n
the Chungking pushed on to finish the catwalk.<\/p>\n
No points for guessing who first disembarked.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But before heading to a hotel and shower,<\/p>\n
\u2018twas appropriate to book a ticket for return<\/p>\n
and avoid a tortoise ride after ‘proximately four days of sojourn.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The man spoke matter-of-factly, horror and terror,<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trains remain on strike next week,<\/p>\n
but if you must leave there is one I refer,<\/p>\n
the Express called Chhattisgarh.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Several years later I do still clinch,<\/p>\n
but don\u2019t mind taking journeys several a thousand,<\/p>\n
with you and only you as my husband.<\/p>\n
~Manjit Handa<\/strong><\/p>\n (The sketch is made out of pen and crayons)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0It was a matrimony grand and lavish by middle class Indian regulations: the henna, the bridal shower, ladies\u2019 night out, wedding-alert, much music, singing, screaming and jubilation; the bride\u2019s salon visit before the earliest lark to look drop dead gorgeous, and certainly not a tart. A huge gathering, about three hundred, palatial hall, a music band, the great Indian curry feast, fifty different dishes, fifteen different liquors , the music band to which all danced several hours sealed the…<\/p>\n