No matter whatever was the colour of my mood, be it blue - I wanted to be there to be with myself, be it green - I wanted to be there with my friends, be it saffron - I wanted to be there with volunteers. And, POHA definitely was not the only reason for me to be there, but for sure was on the top of the priority list of - why I wanted to be at station. Even if my stomach was full enough to not allow even a nano particle to get into it, or was it empty enough to send the signals, that it will readily devour whatever finds its way down to it through its agent - the tongue, I always craved for atleast EK POHE KI PUDIYA.
Though POHA has always been the main reason for me to be at station, there has always been some uncanny and very subtle feeling of comfort and relaxation that has always enveloped me. The serenity of the place, thanks to the apathy of railway ministry and lackadaisical attitude of the political leaders of Neemuch for hardly allotting the city a good number of trains to even pass by, has always helped me to provide a perfect ambiance to think, mull, moot or ponder over myriad of issues or matters, I have confronted during my journey of the evolutionary stages of the roles and responsibilities attached to me being a social homo sapien. And, believe it or not I have, almost every time, found myself coming out of the morass of issues and problems.
Not only that the station has been a place for me to satisfy my taste buds or a place which has given me a reason to discover or explore my inner universe, it has also given me my first opportunity to serve the society and its people. Strange though it sounds, but it is indeed a fact.
There were some dedicated people in Neemuch, who thought of a very noble cause of serving water to the passengers travelling through trains, specially in summers. Geographically speaking, Neemuch falls in a semi arid region and borders Rajasthan. In summers, the need of water increases in geometric progression and those people who travel through trains, whatever amount of water they carry with themselves, always fall short of satisfying their thirst. By looking into this situation some people came forward to offer volunteer services to serve water to the passengers. Being a regular visitor to the station I came to know about this initiative and liked it very much and started offering my services for the cause. I time to time was accompanied by my friends like Vikas, Pranay, and Akshat in serving water, but due to lots of other commitment and engagements I could not found a regular partner. Though, once out of the Neemuch for studies and then to pursue carrier, even I could not continue the effort but whenever I used to come to Neemuch during summer vacation or for any holiday/s, I always tried to take sometime out for my volunteer ship.
It was such a fun, running with buckets of water with a 'MAGGA' and a 'KUPI' once the train arrives, and start yelling PANI PANI PANI, NISHULK JAL SEWA and then reaching out the general compartments first to serve the general public. I simply can not describe what actually we used to feel when we offer water to the passengers, it was heavenly and so satisfying. A feel good factor always lingered on, specially when the passengers used to appreciate what we were doing for them and some passengers even blessed us like anything. Linked with this social service was also some mischief. Once we were through with the general compartment, though it hardly happened, we used to rush to the reservation compartment just to take a glimpse of any beautiful girl travelling that day in the train, and to show how benevolent we guys were. But for sure that was the last that we expected to do while doing our duty. I used to go for 581 up and Meenakshi express, one in the afternoon and other at night. It indeed was one of the best feelings of my life whenever I found myself satisfying the thirst of people, literally.
Besides all these, I with my friends have lots and lots of memories attached with the railway station, specially Sumit who has, I think, has accompanied me the most number of times to station for Poha. We have celebrated birthdays, festivals and what not at the 128 years old structure bulit by the Britishers to ease the movement of the troops between Rajputana and Mewar.
At one place I want Neemuch Railway Station to be the same place as it is for ever, but when I look for the growing needs of the common people and really needed proper volume of trains passing Neemuch, to connect it to the main cities of India, I foresee the gradual transition of a peaceful, serene, calm place to a busy, noisy and chaotic place. Though this transition, keeping in mind the persistent apathy of the concerned department and the lack of political will, will take place in next 25 - 30 years. So, if my calculation is anywhere seems to be correct then, its high time, do not miss this opportunity to visit one of the oldest structures of Neemuch, based on Gothic style, and have a CHUSKI of GARAM GARAM CHAI with a POHE KI PUDIYA. Inner Ecstacy is guaranteed.
