VADODARA EXPRESS




VADODARA EXPRESS

There is one train from vadodara to Mumbai starting at 10.45 pm and reaching Mumbai  central next day morning at 6am

Almost everyone , except my Gujrathi friends, will agree that during this period of journey there is absolutely no need to eat anything. The real situation however is quite different than this normal thinking  and anyone can verify this by traveling in Vadodara express.

As the train starts the discussions on the share market and investment in the property will also start and soon  one after another passengers in the compartment will start opening their four or five stories Tiffin carriers.The whole coach will be filled with different flavors of so many varieties of edible items.If you are not successfully pretending that "you have slept " then at least 3 or 4 persons around you will offer you some food items .While eating ,the passengers around you will be constantly talking either about their business or about politics or about which items are available cheaper at which locations and what is their  demand.

When Bharuch station arrives some special "Dal fry " will be bought using that some people  who have not completed the dinner will continue to eat while those who have finished the dinner will start eating either "paan"  or some  "ghutaka "

The next station Surat will witness rush for eating sweet dishes. Many people will eat Vadilal Ice cream or Matka kulfi while some will prefer Jalebi with Rabadi . Those who don't eat will be drinking either coffee or tea!


Now almost half the journey is over and one will expect that there Will be some peace and respite to eating activity. Indeed there will be some respite but no peace .....as  now the whole boogie will start witnessing almost all varieties of snoring sounds of sleeping passengers.

On the next station Valsad which is famous for " Chikku" at least half the people will buy those juicy fruits and the compartment will be filled by   superb flavour  of Chikkus. No where I have tasted such juicy sweet Chikkus and if you have not tasted those fruits there I will  refuse to agree that you have travelled in Vadodara express . After Valsad there will be some calm and brake on eating activity.

Barring few early birds who will have tea at next station Vapi , almost everyone will sleep till the  train reaches to Boriwali at around 5 am.

At Boriwali more than 50% passengers will get down but you will observe about half of them will board the train again as they  actually got down only to get their morning tea ! After Boriwali everyone know Mumbai has arrived and no one will even make an attempt to sleep. 

The train sometime will stop at the stations  like Andheri or Bandra if line is not clear and eating Vada-Pav on suburb stations in the morning hours is considered absolutely normal.

Our Gujju Bhais will therefore use such opportunities merrily.

Finally the train will reach Bombay Central.

After living in Vadodara for 4 years and observing Gujratis closely , l found they  all are really  nice people.  There are certain  other observations I have , about them like ....,..

1   Most Gujratis have their own business and they earn lot of money

 2  They eat too much and there are more  varieties of  snacks.  in their intake .

3  They are extremely social and lively  and almost force others to mix with them

... and. last   but not the least....

4  Given a chance they  will be ready to do "Garaba Dance" anytime anywhere !

The description of Vadodara express given above is based on my experience about 40 years back. The things might have changed now somewhat ........The only change which I can imagine is items like Pitzas and Burgers must be  consumed these days instead of........sorry.......  in addition to conventional items like "Khakaras" ,"Fafadas" ,and "Dhokalas".!

         -------  Rajendra Phansalkar

'............'...................................'..................

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