Way to Anandwan.

Around 12:45, the train departed from Kolhapur, and I settled into my seat, ready to embark on this journey. Most of the seats were occupied, but I hadn't interacted with anyone yet. Little did I know that the next 22 hours on the train would gift me a treasure of sweet memories.

Before leaving home, I had made up my mind to revisit Gandhi's autobiography during the train ride, but that plan was quickly disrupted. You see, I was sharing my compartment with some remarkable fellow travelers. There was a senior citizen couple, a college couple, a businessman uncle, and a town planning officer. Our discussions covered a wide array of topics, from food styles to lifestyles, medicinal reforms to tourism, government systems to business strategies, and even family life and the younger generations. The camaraderie was heartwarming.

At Akola station, I decided to order dinner through the Zoop app and enjoyed my dinner. Around 12 a.m. we all slept. In the morning, many of the people I had interacted with the previous night disembarked at their respective stations. It made me reflect on how people come and go in our lives, but their brief presence can leave a lasting impact.

I informed Komal mam about my arrival and first stopped at Wardha station. I tried to have breakfast but ended up having fruits only while I waited for my next train to Warora. The journey from Wardha to Warora was a short one, just about one and a half hours. As I crossed Hinganghat and arrived at Warora station, I booked a rickshaw to Anandwan and let my eyes revel in the joy of the surroundings.

As per Komal mam's instructions, I made my way to the Loti Raman guest house at Anandwan, where I met the caretaker, Madan Dada. After freshening up, I visited the library office and had the privilege of meeting Komal mam in person. There, Madan Dada introduced me to someone who was quietly reading in the office. I shared 'what had brought me to this place'.

He then introduced himself, and I was fortunate to have Bakshi Kaka as my guide during this journey. What made Bakshi Kaka so special that I still cherish his memory? You'll find out soon. 

Stay tuned.

* My Train Booking details : 

1) Kolhapur to Wardha : Kop-Nagpur Exp (11404) : 12.45 - 10.20 (21h 35min)

2) Wardha to Warora : Pune-Kazipet Exp (22151) : 11.20 - 12.35 ( 01h 15min)

3) Warora to Wardha : Kzp-Pune Exp (22152) : 18.19 - 19.45 (01h 26min)

4) Wardha to Kolhapur : Ngp-Kop Exp (11403) : 16.15 - 13.30 (21h 15min)