Notes from the Daily Commute of Average Joe

The average Joe waits for his train on the platform. The Monday morning blues are all driven away when he sees the blue snake approaching the station. The train has travelled a long way, bringing in passengers from the Northernmost district of Karnataka and from the neighbouring state of Kerala.

Joe is not a railfan and thus, the loco class, entry speed correct to two decimal places, offlinks mean nothing to him . All that matters to him is a seat if he can get it.  Joe prefers the first coach as it avoids
him down the subway. Joe prefers to exercise at this state of the art gym near his home rather than walk up and down the subway.

The train has a long halt at his station and Joe has gotten into his coach with some difficulty as the coach has stopped well beyond the platform. Only one door meana it does take some time for passengers to get down and get in.

The 12 km long train ride begins and the train skips the first halt. Just before the first halt, there is a temple right next to the tracks and Joe says a quick prayer seeking the favour of the gods for a peaceful week.

The train enters the next station and though it is not supposed to stop here, the train does stop here as another train that leaves 20 minutes before has not yet reached the major terminus ahead. Joe is resigned to a long wait and he recollects a term that his crazy friend who goes of photographing trains and is always seen on a forum which is called ifca or whatever, unscheduled halt. Joe is cursing himself for having an extra dosa for breakfast which made him miss the train before. This is a regular affair for Joe on Mondays.

Some train passes in the opposite direction and after this train passes by, Joe's train moves again much to his relief.
The train is rather slow in progress and Joe thinks he should have gotten down at the long halt at the previous station , walked for a couple of kilometres and boarded the cool and comfy Metro to his workplace. But, Joe prefers to exercise at his swanky gym for which he paid a high fee.

Just a kilometre before the major station, again his train is halted, and a lot of people are getting down. Luckily for Joe , the halt is not as long this time and the train soon drops him off at his station from where Joe takes an Ola Cab to work.