A Journey to Remember

By Bismi Sadashivan, EEE

It was a warm Sunday,  Ernakulam railway station, a train was on the platform, and two teenage girls were sitting at the window seats and nodding their heads to what their mothers were saying. Then there came the shrill sound of the train whistle and the train started moving  ahead .  The girls relaxed into their seats and started chatting to each other.

Those two teenage girls were none other than me and my friend Bridget(Biji).  We were traveling from Ernakulam to Kasaragod. Our train left at  6am in the morning, and we were expected  to reach our hostel by 4pm in the evening. The journey was supposed to be a relaxing one with some time to chat, nap, and enjoy the scenery.

We settled into the rhythm of the ride, talking, sleeping, and munching on the snacks we had packed. The train stopped at various stations, with people getting on and off. It was like any other day of travel—calm, predictable, and relaxed.

During the train trip, we met  two  young  lovely ladies, Usha chechi and Preetha Chechi, who were also going to Kasargod. They were very friendly, and we clicked instantly. Together  we laughed, shared snacks, and made the journey even more enjoyable.

The day progressed, Our train, which was running on schedule began to slow down. We didn’t notice it at the beginning; trains often slow down for signals or at stations. But this time, it was different. The delays became longer and very soon we realised the train was running very late.

By the time we reached Kasaragod, it was already 8 PM—much later than what we had planned. It was already night, and the station was almost empty, with a few scattered passengers here and there hurrying to leave.

All of us quickly agreed to share an auto-rickshaw,  as our hostel and their  home were in the same direction, hoping that is safer and faster.

As we left the city, the roads became  darker and quieter. Soon, we were traveling  in an empty stretch of road with unending grasslands on both sides. The full moon in the sky, surrounded by stars. It was a beautiful scene, something out of a movie—a perfect setup for a romantic night drive. Instead of feeling romantic, I was  nervous. The silence was heavy, and the only sound I could hear was my hearbeat.

Suddenly, a jeep blocked our way. Our auto richshaw came to a sudden stop, and my heart also stopped.  I saw three men jumping out of the jeep; their faces serious and unreadable

They quickly started walking towards us.

 what to do. Should I run? But where to,  in this dark empty fields?  I was shocked and frozen.

I saw a man standing next to me and looking at me , suddenly I heard a sound from the lady sitting next to me  “chettah”  . Yes,  He was that young lady’s  brother. It was their family!

The men come to pick up them as the train was late , but they were also late.

The tension in the air melted away, replaced by smiles and laughter. They offered to drop us in our hostel . We accepted their kind offer. Then  we continued our journey, now in the comfort of the jeep. They dropped us to our hostel safely

Sometimes, the scariest moments bring people closer. That night, what started as a simple train journey turned into a startling and then to a memorable experience. We made new friends and experienced kindness that I would never forget. I had lost touch with them for a long time, but Biji stayed in contact. Recently, I got Usha Chechi’s number from Bridget and reconnected with her.

This experience taught me the power of human kindness and the bonds we can form even in the most unexpected situations. I will always remain grateful to Usha Chechi, Preetha Chechi, and their family for their warm hospitality and for making us feel safe that night. Reconnecting with them recently brought back a flood of cherished memories, reminding me how such acts of generosity can leave an everlasting impact. To them, I say thank you from my heart—“you turned what could have been a frightening night into a story of trust and camaraderie that I will treasure forever”