The Two Sides of a Tracks: A Lesson in Empathy
Travel can be a transformative experience, but sometimes it is the difficult moments that leave the most lasting impact. I truly believe nothing offers more enlightenment than a train journey; in fact, I started blogging as a direct result of one. Last week, I traveled to Kasaragod with my father. It was a peaceful trip in a sleeper coach , where I even managed two hours of undisturbed sleep. However, the return journey to Kozhikode (Calicut) was a Herculean task—especially traveling in a General Ladies' compartment with my mother and sister. Initially, I stood for a while before finding a seat. Shortly after, a mother entered with her child. I held her six-year-old daughter to help them out, and my own mother gave up a small portion of her seat so they could sit—even though my mom could barely find enough space for herself. As the hour passed, the rush intensified until it became difficult to breathe. Just as I was nearing my station, another passenger began experiencing a b...