A True "Mid-Autumn Night's Dream"

Revisiting Cherished Memories from the Train!

Today, I stumbled upon a memoir from an old diary that I had written more than five years ago. It captured the buzz surrounding Train-18, the Indian Railways' pride before it was rechristened as the swanky Vande Bharat. 

In the soft glow of the train compartment, I settled comfortably into my window seat, ready to enjoy the journey ahead. Beside me sat a young couple, with the husband quietly absorbed in the passing landscape, while his wife, delicately leaning back, seemed halfway between sleep and wakefulness. The designer walls of the train, a calming shade of light blue, lent a touch of sophistication, a reminder of the sleek new experience aboard this modern Train-18.

Just as I was about to get lost in thought, I spotted a familiar face on the platform—a schoolmate I hadn’t seen in years. My voice cut through the noise of the bustling station as I called out his name, hoping he’d hear me. I was so close to jumping off to greet him, but the train had already begun moving, gathering speed with every second. Reluctantly, I stepped back, waving my hand from the doorway until he was just a distant blur on the platform. As the train raced onward, I returned to my compartment only to find that the young woman beside me had taken over my window seat, her head resting against it in a half-dream. Her husband remained engrossed in the outside world, a faint smile playing on his face as he watched the landscape.

Rather than disturb them, I took the aisle seat, admiring the ambiance of this swanky new

train. Somewhere a few compartments away, I heard the unmistakable sounds of an acoustic guitar, expertly strummed to the tune of "Sono Kono Ek Din.” The guitarist’s voice, smooth and resonant, filled the air, and as the song went on, passengers around him joined in chorus, their voices harmonising, hands tapping rhythmically to the beat. It felt like the whole train was caught up in the joy of the moment, bound together by this timeless melody. From my seat, I couldn’t resist humming along softly to the chorus, swept away by a sense of community that only music could create.

And then—would you believe it?—I woke up. It was 3:53 AM in chilly Delhi, and as the spell of the dream lifted, I couldn’t help but laugh. The entire experience, from the familiar faces and warm ambiance to the music and laughter, had all been part of a vivid dream. A true "Mid-Autumn Night's Dream" that left me with a lingering sense of warmth and nostalgia, and a need to capture every detail before the morning light swept it away.

Not wanting to let the magic fade, I immediately searched for the song on YouTube and listened to it a few times, savouring its nostalgic beauty before drifting back to sleep. Listening to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay's voice, alongside Salil Chowdhury's genius composition, was like stepping back into a golden era of Indian music. These legends were ahead of their time, crafting melodies that age like fine wine, growing richer and more cherished with every passing year. The pauses in the lyrics, the gentle lilt—it all made the song stand out in a way that felt utterly timeless.

Thank you, YouTube, for bringing back these priceless tracks. And to anyone reading this, I hope the next time you hear a classic tune, it brings you as much warmth and joy as it did for me in that dream. There’s something about these old melodies, like "Sono Kono Ek Din," that carries you away—reminding us of the timelessness of good music, and of moments that become memories, whether in waking life or in dreams. 

And so, with a grateful smile, I slipped back into slumber, letting the tune echo softly in my mind, like a cherished friend whispering stories from a beautiful, bygone time.

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