Weekend

The jeep takes an hour to reach Bharuch. I sit in the middle row, packed with my colleagues, trying not to feel cold. It's getting darker and colder. We had stopped for tea at Bhensli, but its warmth is wearing out fast. Maybe we should have stopped again at Bhadbhut.

Tea at Bhensli tasted heavenly. The music from the nearby shop was nice - old Mukesh songs. And the girl at the tea stall was lovely. She can be seen there only occasionally - only her mother sits there usually.

That was half an hour back and we are entering Bharuch now. The jeep turns left to the Dahej bypass. Past Manubar road. Past the small railway gate at Jambusar chowkdi. Finally we reach the junction we call Mughal Sarai. A couple of my colleagues get down here. They stay at nearby Mangaltirth society.

The jeep turns right into Bharuch town. Past the Jakat Naka. The next stop is at Ayodhya Nagar. Tripathi gets down.

We stop next before the Siva Temple. There are only five of us left in the Jeep. On has to get down at Panchbatti, so we go straight. Past the level crossing.

After dropping off Pandya at Panchbatti, we turn left. Head straight towards the railway station. We speed past Shalimar Theatre.

Reach the station ahead of time for Sayajinagri Express. There is enough time left, so we decide to have a go at Bihari Samosa at the laari in front of the station. The Samosas taste wonderful. And these will probably be my only dinner today.

I buy tickets at the counter and walk to the platform. The others are season ticket holders. I haven't bothered to take season tickets since I travel only on weekends.

We step down on to the track from the first platform, and jump on to the second platform. From there, we walk to the third platform and wait among the crowds. I can see hundreds of Mynah birds perched on the inside truss of the big roof.

There comes Sayaji. We all get into a crowded coach.

Off to spend another lovely Sunday at Baroda!