8. Essay A Scene at Railway Station (10th/12/2nd Year/BA/B. Sc) by AG Ahmad

 Essay No. 8

-- A Scene at Railway Station --

            The railway station is a very important place in every city. Here one can find people from all sections of the society and all parts of the country. It definitely presents a highly colourful scene. The rich and the poor both can be seen in great hurry at the railway station to catch the train. As it is wisely said,

“Life is just like a train in which we meet many people. Some leave us before our destination and some new passengers join us at every station.

Then our destination comes, but journey continues.”

A little before the arrival of the train, the station is busy place. Wherever you go there, you find a crowd of people. In front of the 2nd class booking office window, there stands a long line of passengers who wait for their turn to get tickets. They are pushing one another to reach the window. If there is a policeman to control them, they behave better. As it is rightly said,

“A railway station obviously has typical scenes”.

Last Sunday, I went to the Lahore railway station to see off my uncle who was going to Rawalpindi. We took a taxi and reached the station at 2:00 p.m.

At the platform, a large number of passengers were waiting for the train. Some of them were sitting on the benches. Others were sitting on the bare ground or on their own boxes or trunks. Some were going up and down the platform. Now and then, they were looking in the direction from which the train was to come. As the distance signal light turned yellow, all felt happy. They were certain that the train would come in short time.

But you hear, as it is said,

“When you are on a railway station platform waiting for the train that is due,

and when you come to know that it arrives five hours late.

You will fling (throw) abusive words at train”.

As soon as, they caught sight of the smoke rising from the engine, they got ready and stood up. Some passengers carried their bundles on their heads, while others hold them under their arm pits. Some people, whose luggage was too heavy to be carried by them, engaged coolies to carry it.

When the train arrived, all were anxious to get it and occupied a seat. The passengers who wanted to get down at the station opened the doors. Others, who were to get into the train, struggled to get into the train. Thus a deadlock was created. As it is said,

“The railway station is a place of great interest”

As better counseling took place, the in-going passengers made way for the out-going people and let them pass. Some got their seats and sat on their seats and others ran down the platform to find a vacant seat. When they failed to get any seat inside, they caught hold of the handle outside some carriage and stood at the footboard. My uncle had reservation in the train. So, he got his seat in a very difficulty. Then I came down from the train and said my uncle bye. As it is rightly said,

“The farewell between two persons at the station is very affectionate.

Both men are to move”.

Goods were handed over through windows. There was cracking noise of vendors. A tussle continued and then some travelers moved to have a stroll (wander) on the platform. When, they found it difficult, they sat on their seats and tried to get eatables on their seats.

Members of the station staff were busy with their duties. The ticket collector was at the gate. He collected tickets from the passengers who had detrained. All were in a hurry because the train was to depart.

When the train had left, the crowd melted away. The hawkers went to some other platform. They no longer cried. The watermen went to their cabins. The station staff retired to their rooms. The platform which was full of life a minute before had become a dull place. As it is rightly said,

“The railway station is a place, which presents a blend of

feelings of sorrows and joys”.