A journey 'memoir' - Excerpt

Mumbai CST - The very place, a boy came with his 'toy' and made it his playground. After that incident, security has been intensified, more security persons were deployed, metal detectors were employed and did many things. From that Mumbai CST, I did my first ever General compartment journey from Mumbai to  Bangalore. It was in the Udyan Express. When I got into the compartment after an attack with the huge rush, most of the seats inside were unoccupied and I was happy. But there were a band of boys waiting inside the compartment and  I think  it is to welcome us. They were standing on each and every seats blocking people's way. Sooner I understood that it was the ' reservation system that Indian Railway has just introduced'. They were asking money from the passenger for each seats. The rates were ranging from some 30 to even 100. But they were good guys, because we can lessen the amount by bargaining. And it may fall as low as 20 per seat ! Being new to this place and being alone, after a long argument I finally decided to pay the money to save my life and settle with a 40 rupee for my seat . Few minutes after doing the 'reservations' they were nowhere to be seen. And train started moving and in the next stop my 'precious seat' was being invaded by other passengers. 

And during the journey met with some other 'small small robberies'. From some station 'hijadas' came asking for money. But they were extra decent. They have a fixed rate. A 10 rupees will do the job! 24 hours in 'general dabba' was quite an experience. One of the most exciting and unforgettable journey .

But people doing some organised crime like 'selling  seats' in general compartment, that too in a place like Mumbai CST is not a simple thing to overlook