Bhuj My second business tour

Bhuj was my second outstation office tour in my life First one was Indore.

At Bhuj , my job was to install Urrasonic Cleaner supplied to Indian Army and get 20% money that was due after installation . This must have been my second month in the company and I was little nervous . This is because, I was told the same day that I had to leave . I was briefed by my boss Mr Sabnis - what I need to do and how do I need to reach .He took me to the assembly floor and showed me the similar model that i needed to commision . 

Armed with PO copy and documents, I marched towards Indian Army Bhuj . I reached Bombay Central station . I had no prior reservation. Those were the days before computerization. You just purchase a railway ticket and try your luck at the train . If unlucky , there is always an unreserved compartment . This was summar time - with vacation and weddings - there was no vacant seat - in fact people on the waiting list had priority . I reached  at Bombay Central late evening  ( later it was named Mumbai Central ) and straightaway jumped into  ‘ unreserved ‘ compartment of Veerumgam Express . I must have found some place to stretch and sleep  Early morning I landed at Veerumgam station and enquirer about Gandhidham Express . Early morning platform at Veergam was bustling with arriving passengers with tea makers busy preparing tea on the hissing noise of gas stove . I had no such luxury to enjoy tea because I was told -  Gandhidham train is leaving on the next platform  - so I rushed to next platform  - Train had started moving and I was banging on the the nearest compartment door . But door was locked from inside , some one from inside shouted - “ this is wedding compartment and booked by wedding party - and I can’t get inside . I should go to unreserved compartment “! .. but I kept running along the moving train, banging on the door  ... pleading him to take me inside . He must have taken pity on me , he opened  the door , gave me hand and pulled me inside . I thanked him and promised him to move to another compartment when next station arrived . But this train was passenger train . Passenger train stops at almost every station . I somehow managed to get window seat in the unreserved compartment and started watching arid  dry  terrain in scorching summer heat . I realized everytime train would slow down , hoardes of villagers with brass and aluminium utensils would start darting towards the train. I learnt that train was carrying water and it would distribute at every station for villagers . If it not be for this train , they won’t get water. This area was rain deprived and I was told every summar - there is water shortage . I could watch with railway man standing on top of railway water tanker would put water through his water hose . Villagers shoving eachother tried to keep their vessel below the hose . And I guess villagers - most of them young woman and gals -in their traditional wear would walk miles in hot sun with water .

By 4pm , I reached Gandhdham Station . I walked around and found a hotel . There was nothing much see around. Heat was palpable even by evening . 

Next day , I went to Gandhidgam bus depot and took a bus for Bhuj . Previous day , I had telephoned our customer and told him that I had arrived at Gandhidham . Once I reached Bhuj  - colonel from Indian Army on his scotter came to fetch me . He was South Indian and was based at Bhuj . I sat behind him and we were on straight road , flanked on  either side full of reddish sand . I asked him - how far is Pakistan ?  - he said 20 kms - I was excited being so close to the border .  I finished the job , collected the cheque and by evening  - colonel dropped me back to Bhuj - reverse journey began - Gandhidham Veerumgam - mumbai central 

This was 1981 . Now almost 40 years have passed but this journey flashed as if it happened just recently — all this with name of movie Bhuj The Pride of India .