Something’s happen by chance (2)

Note : Railway Diaries follows the Number on the Post Title

It was just like any other day except that My friend Naveen who was doing MBBS in Davanagere had come home to Bangalore to purchase his Medial books and as usual since he did not possess the driver’s license nor knew how to ride a bike, I had to be his driver to Avenue Road.

He purchased his books and on the way back to the parking lot, along the roadside I noticed this advertisement for Diesel Asst. for South Central Railways and the Qualification asked was ITI in fitter, Millwright Mechanic and all bench trades. As it cost only ten rupees for the application, I picked one and filled the details and posted to the address mentioned.

After that I had to leave to Belgaum to work for Fairfield Atlas on behalf of Dynamic Services & Engg Consultancies. I completed the work there and after My return to Bangalore My uncle Anantha Krishna sent me on a project to Gurgaon as an Engineer from Atreya Integrations (never did I want to become an engineer). I returned from Gurgaon on 12^th Sep 2001.

When I reached home, mother informed me that there is a written test on 13^th Sep for South Central Railways and gave me the hall ticket. Half heartedly I wrote the test which wasn’t all that difficult and I did not have any hopes because all the candidates who had come there had thick books which they had studied for more than 6months and for some of them it was the 5^th or the 6^th attempt. Whereas I wrote it, without turning a page of my MICO or any other manual.

Life went on as usual with the maintenance work that I did for Dynamic Services & Engg. Consultancies and also for Atreya Integrations. Financial earning per month was 3000/- INR from Dynamic Services & Engg Consultancies and nothing fixed from Atreya Integrations (I really cared less about my earnings because I knew my time would come and I have to hone My Technical skills to the sharpest possible on Earth).

GOD blesses you with such surprises that you don’t realize what HIS plans are. I received a letter calling for the Psychological test. Again without a clue answered all the questions in the time given. This was a cake walk I can tell, after all the practical training I had at MICO.

Now almost confirmed that I would get through this round, I was awaiting further communication and finally it arrived asking me to come for a final Medical round at Hubli (which was bound to be my home station for two years).The wait was more than two days and My father who had accompanied me had to leave after two days. I was staying at my father’s friend’s in-laws place where Badrinath their son became my friend (hospitality received in their home for more than a week cannot be forgotten).

Here GOD puts me through another test. When I was examined for 6/6 eye test, the first day I really couldn’t make out the direction of opening of ‘C’.This examination is conducted in a dark room where you have to sit at a distance and at the other end you have a small ‘C’ with a faded light at the background. The attendant rotates the ‘C’ and you have to tell the direction of the opening of ‘C’.The doctor whose name was Renuka asked me to reappear for this test the next day as I had passed in all other tests and also for the fat that I was the only from Karnataka in that Batch.

Feeling low I returned back to Badrinath’s home. I called up home and informed them that I had some defect with my eye and I doubt passing it the next day.

I hardly get any dream even to this day but on that night a miracle happened – Lord Venkateshwara came in my dream and I remember it well, it was the gopura of Tirupathi. Quite amazed after I woke up, I recollected that on my earlier visit to Tirupathi when I had to wait in the queue for nearly 24hrs, after the darshan I had told to the Devine unseen that I will not visit you again. When I mentioned about my dream to Badrinath’s father, he told me to make a wish telling if I get through the medical test, I will visit Tirupathi for Lord’s darshan.Not quite trusting my own wish I went to the Railway hospital the next day and the ‘C’ was crystal clear and they had to do multiple rotations to confirm the same.

When HE calls you, there’s no stopping and as all the elders later told me, it was God’s way of calling me to Tirupathi again.

Thanks LORD – I did not have to strive much to be noticed by YOU.

After the medical round, I had to go through a final round – a one on one with AME and then take off to Guntakal for LOCO Training. I traveled on a pass for the first time in my life.

Journey from Guntakal to Moulali (Secunderabad) in my next post…

Railway - Begin (1)

Note : Railway Diaries follows the Number on the Post Title

Vishwanath Sir, Vishwanath Sir…that’s the wake up call by the call boy to book me for a train at 0300 Hrs. I look into the Train no. its PSJT Spl to Hospet and Driver Mr. Christopher.

After signing the call book I get ready. Bath a mandate for me no matter what time it is, a short prayer asking for blessings for myself, driver and the train to reach the destination safe. Depending on the time left is when I decide if I have to cook something for enroute.

After reaching the Lobby, sign the log register with the Train/Driver’s name, collect the Caution Order and wait for the Train to arrive which sometimes has already arrived and most of the times the wait in the Lobby itself takes 5-6 Hrs and after 6 Hrs if you want to sign off and go home you can (But rarely we sign off, because we all understand that there is a serious shortage of Running Staff).

Finally the Train arrives and I check the fuel balance and the following-, headlight, flasher light, all brake pipe hoses and the coupling, radiator room, generator room, brake shoes, water level gauge, expressor room, sand in the sand boxes and finally clean the wind shield and the control stand.

Now comes the second part of the wait time, you wait for the signal of your line.

Main line starter, advance starter proceed .oOo that’s the whistle code, one short one long one short when the train starts the station. At the first curve where you can see the full formation, I look back and shout, formation rolling intact and Guard signal right.

Approach of the next station – Distant signal caution…….Distant signal caution Home danger and then Home signal caution line 1 ….. Line 1 starter danger.

You get down, do a check of the break shoes, and blow down the air tank to release moisture. Wait for the train to cross and exchange signal (green flag in your left hand and red flag in your right hand, the moment you notice something wrong in the crossing train you raise the red flag immediately)

Line 1 starter caution, advance starter proceed and the short long short whistle code and the train leaves the station.

Then between this station and the next station you have a level crossing for which Gate Distant proceed and then Gate signal proceed (If gate signal is danger then Gate Distant is caution).

Approach of next station – Distant signal attention, Line 1 Caution, line 1 starter caution, advance signal proceed and exchange signal with the station staff.

Finally after crossing all the stations you reach the Destination, halt your train, apply hand brakes, note the fuel balance and if charge is not taken over unscrew the lever for throttle and break and take it to the Combined Crew Booking Office. Sign off and rush to the Running Room.

Depending on what time of the day it is you give rice to the cook and get vegetables and toor dhal and also oil for the curry from a near by store.

A quick shower, a full house meal and then off to the bed.

And the trip continues in a similar routine.

Terms :-

Call Boy- the designation for the person who comes to inform you about the train in advance.

Call Book- the book where you sign telling that you will report to work or if you are calling sick.

Lobby (Combined Crew Booking Office)- office where you report and sign the registry.

Running Staff- Engine Driver, Assistant Driver and Guard.

Running Room- place where the running staff stays at destination.

Have had great experiences in two years of my life (2002-2004) that I spent in Railways as a Diesel Assistant. Will share more in the near future and this post was to set foundation and also I was checking myself if I still remember the terminology.

I'll Wait........

Bang! Bang! Bang ! , Three shots aimed at the torso of the once loved one, this was a long awaited moment for Prem and he had it rehearsed for the last 2 months-the time when he knew he was closer to vengeance.

There was cry, fear and panic in the wedding hall but it was a moment of truth for him as the warm blood touched his cold feet. He bent down for one last glance at the face that had deceived him and he remembered the lines he had wrote when she had dumped him “I saw heaven in her face and a hell in her heart “. As rehearsed, he wanted to smear her blood over his forehead and shout "love hurts" but he refrained for reasons unknown.

The crushing beats of the water falls and the rustling of the leaves, a pen with it's cap opened lay beside the man who was fast asleep still stinking of the cheap spirit that he had consumed, some fishes tried to clean the stains and dirt of the hand that lay dipped in the flowing water-this man lay there amidst the wild with a smile on his face, not all the smiles are the same – this one displayed a sense of accomplishment.

He did not know the date or the time and was unsure of how long he had passed out, he tried to lift himself but fell hard on the rock as he felt an acute pain on the left side of his brain and this was not one of those hangovers. Still lying there he searched his pockets for some more spirit that can ease his pain, finding that he had emptied all, he splashed the water on his face and decided to leave.

After a few staggering steps, he walked back to the rock where he had spent the last unknown and unaccounted hours of his life – searching under the leaves he found what was at the moment the most valuable, the most precious of all the things that he possessed on earth --- his pen which was a gift from his high school friend.

The next couple of hours unable to walk , he sat leaning on the trunk of a tree, this time his sight was fixed on the pen and thoughts racing back to the playground, which he believed was the only real playground where , as everyone big had told him life is a playground. All those who were opponents on that playground had turned good or if time be true the most trusted friends of Prem’s life.

All the counseling had failed from family and friends and now he sat there – was it all worth it?

He knew he cannot get her out of his mind and the least he could do was, drench his brain and mind and what ever that reminded him of her, in the sight of her blood at his feet asking for forgiveness. He knew it was the ego but still he wanted it – some forget and move on and some can’t live without the pain. It’s like a bullet in your heart, as long as it’s there you have the pain, you operate to take it out, you die. IF IT DOESN’T HURT – PREM’S DEAD

Note: I hold no accountability if it resembles anyone’s love or life.