Look, I love trains.
There’s this unique kind of charm in train journeys -
the sound of the wheels, most importantly.
So, when I boarded my train from Bangalore (to visit my cousin for Diwali), I envisioned it as the perfect opportunity to catch up on the much-needed sleep. The stress of work, personal errands, and late-night coding sessions had drained me over last week. A full night’s sleep seemed like the only thing I needed to recharge.
Little did I know, the journey would turn into an emotional rollercoaster, not because of the train’s motion, but because of a crying child ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
The day was full of complex problem-solving and technical challenges.
And you know the mental exertion is exhausting, so sleep is the only real escape. My body was telling me I needed rest — desperately. I had booked the train ride for this very reason: to sleep, to reset. I imagined how blissful it would be to lie down, close my eyes, and drift off, surrounded by the sound of the train.
In fact, I settled into my seat, pulled the blanket over me, and closed my eyes, ready to embrace the comfort of sleep. But just as I started to relax, a piercing cry broke through the quiet of the train.
The child, probably three or four, seemed inconsolable. I could hear the sobs, the occasional screams, and the panicked cries for attention ◡̈ ◡̈
The parents, perhaps as exhausted as I was, tried their best to soothe the child, but nothing worked. The crying didn’t stop.
This was the kind of cry that seemed to echo in the very marrow of my bones. Okay, not really but you do understand what I am saying, right?
I checked the time. Hours had passed. No sleep. The cries persisted every few minutes.
In the middle of all the chaos, I realized something. I had no control over the situation. The crying wouldn’t stop just because I wanted it to, right?
The parents were doing their best, but this was beyond them too.
I took a deep breath and allowed myself to be fully present during this moment.
Instead of resenting the crying, I shifted my mindset.
I focused on the sound of the train.
I reminded myself that this journey, like life, was full of unpredictability. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. And sometimes, you just have to make peace with it.
I pulled my headphones from my bag and put on calming music, the ones I often use to meditate. I closed my eyes once more and let the sound of the train mingle with the music. It was a small act of surrender, a decision to stop fighting the situation and accept it for what it was.
Slowly, I began to relax. The crying was still there, but it no longer dominated my thoughts. I focused on my breath, the gentle rise and fall of my chest. With time, I felt my body loosen, my mind quieting. In those moments of stillness, I found peace not in the absence of noise, but in my ability to navigate it.
I just woke up now and, I did win the battle for sleep on this noisy train :)
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