13617/Σ Bina Gwaliore via Guna Link ΣChain

Travelogue/ यात्रा वृत्तान्त
This one is from the graveyards down the memory lane. My first inter- state train journey dates back to 2003.
Date 20nd March 2003.
Indians were prepping up for historic finale vs Australia under captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. I was preparing for entrance exam JEE for IIT entrance. Peers advised me to take a chance and shift to Kota to...
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take coaching for entrance exams. I decided to take a trip to feel the ambience there.
On Thursday 20nd March 2003, we left for Kota through 8236 Bilaspur - Bhopal passenger cum Express at 6.45pm in the evening. We had reserved up to Bina in sleeper class in this train. For onward journey from Bina we had no reservation. We had brought Home food for dinner. Next day we crossed Katni (those days reversal occurred at Katni junction as bypass for Murwara was not present) around 9.15 am. Some tasteless Samosa at Ganeshganj/Patharia came handy as stations of that route /section did not have had much of eating options available. Lot of crowd was present in that train in Katni-Bina section.
Delayed by 2 hrs train reached Bina junction on 21st March 4pm. There we refreshed and had lunch at some dhaba outside the railway station (railway colony outskirts). I made a STD call to neighbour at Bilaspur home, as family members by then were in worrisome mode that how we two youths were travelling on our own out of the state. As soon as neighbour informed them about reaching Bina they got relaxed and assured that we would travel safely. After that we waited for our next connection 411 Bhopal Jodhpur passenger. It arrived by 9.15 pm led by RTM WDM 2. As soon as the train arrived we ran to grab upper wooden berths. We could snatch only one berth. I and my friend decided to take turns to sleep in it. I took window seat and tried hard to stay awake. But the cool breeze and oily dinner from dhaba made it hard. Train crossed CR and reached WR Ruthiyayi jn by 12.30 am. By 4am we were at Kota junction.
Next 2 days we were engaged in visiting coaching centers like Bansal classes, resonance, career point etc.
Return 23rd March 2023.
On Sunday also gave entrance test of Bansal classes at St. John school Bundi road. Pandals with TV sets and big screens had been prepared at many chowks to watch the match together. We packed bags and left station as India were on the verge of losing Final, courtesy deadly innings by Ricky Ponting.
Trains on the return journey were the same. We had no reservation till Bina. After taking meals from restaurants outside station named Sharma Bhojnalaya, I bought the general tickets for two and tugged in between the Concepts of Physics book by HC Verma and slept in the upper berths.
Early morning after Ashok Nagar TTE came checking for tickets. Somehow in deep sleep, I could not produce tickets. Asking for excuse being students studying out of the state, my friend who was unaware that I had the tickets, persuaded him to let us go for 100 Rs.
We reached Bina Junction. After getting fresh, we had light snacks. By 8.30 am announcements were done for Bhopal - Bilaspur Express. We were amused to hear the word Express, as that train has pretty bad impression in CG and is known as passenger there.
In Bina we were also joined by one of our female batch mate who was traveling with her parents to give entrance test of Bansal classes.
So lunch dinner in return journey were no issue for together of us as they had plenty of packed items and light snacks.
I saw wap-5 for the first time at Bina outer. I thought how lucky those persons were who got a chance to travel in such a fast train.
By early morning 4am train we reached Bilaspur Junction. And so in this good way my first long journey on my own completed with pleasant memories.