Shivganga Express and Me

I once again took Shivganga express to Varanasi and back. The forward journey from Delhi to Varanasi was pleasant. The train was only one hour late. The return journey was pleasant too. The train was only 12 hours late.
Last time it was the dacoits, this time it was the Northern Grid Failure combined with the accident on the Delhi-Howrah track. By the time the train shuddered to a halt on the Minto Bridge (I simple cannot accept the Shivaji Bridge concept. Why can't the idiots in power understand that you cannot do away with history by just renaming things. OTOH, Shivaji bridge is better than Indira Chowk and Rajiv Chowk for CP)I was done with the train journey. I got down there and took an auto home.
The 12 hour enforced imprisonment in the train compartment meant that we all soon let down the barriers and started talking. The compartment had a nice mix of bunch of people from Europe/Canada, and Sri Lanka. There was a Buddhist student from Ladakh who missed his connecting train to Chandigarh. There was a chap who was appearing for an interview at Kajaria Tiles who missed his interview. The persons from Sri Lanka were doing a Buddhist tour- Gaya, Kushinagar, Sarnath- and were most unimpressed by Indians and their lack of cleanliness. The only thing they admired was the Indian Saree which apparently is much prized in Sri Lanka. They were worried that if the train got so late would they be able to do shopping as their flight back to Colombo was next day early morning.
The lady from Canada was originally from France settled in Canada. She was 68 years old and had decided to travel. She had spent last three months in Dharamsala teaching children. She was scathing about the Indian education as well as their lack of concern for the environment. She gave me her story book to read. I am done with it, you can take it with you was her comment.
There was a TT who snored his way through and woke up near Delhi to discuss about Jodha Akbar.
There was also a group of distributors from Robertsgang, Sonbhadra district, going on a vacation abroad.
Appa had the final word. When I got back home, he said that Shivganga and I do not mix well. The Railways, I think, have taken pity on my predicament. A Garib Rath Express is going to run between Varanasi and Delhi. Therefore, next time I am going to try my luck with that train.