September 10, 2025, Wednesday – Day 1, Moving to Trivandrum
I bid a funny goodbye to my family before my brother dropped me off at Kollam Railway Station. My parents were like: “After exploring Trivandrum, come straight home. Don’t take any deviation to Goa or the Himalayas.” Well, in my defence, they were the ones who put the idea into my head. All the more reason to take a deviation. 😉
I wasn’t expecting my train journey from Kollam to Kazhakuttam to be eventful. After all, it was the same train I took on September 8th for my hostel hunt in Kazhakuttam – the Kollam-Kanyakumari MEMU at 11:35 am that reaches Kazhakuttam by 12:47 pm. But something important did happen. Something that will probably stay with me for a very long time.
At Kollam Railway Station
I reached the station early. The railway authorities had yet to announce the platform of my train. Since it was bound to the Trivandrum side and platform 1 was occupied, I assumed the train would come on either platform 3 or 5. So I climbed the overbridge with my suitcase in hand and laptop bag on my shoulder and waited at the top for the announcement.
The bags were quite heavy. Along with my clothes and laptop, I had also squeezed in my two journals and the two books I was reading at the time: The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman and Samarathinu Idavelakalilla by V.S. Achuthanandan, a former Chief Minister and one of the most popular Opposition Leaders of Kerala. P.S. I’m not a light packer when it comes to books. ‘Cause I need books for all my moods. 😬
A Malayali-Tamil Couple
There was quite a crowd at the top of the bridge. Just next to me, a couple also waited. They were speaking in a mix of Malayalam and Tamil, probably an interstate couple. They were both much taller than I and well-built. Seeing them, I wished I had their physique so I could carry my luggage much more easily. The lady gave me the vibe of a strict and serious person.
After some time, everyone around me ran to the third platform. I looked at the screen showing updates of the trains and noticed that the authorities had assigned platform number 3 to my train’s number. A train had just arrived at that platform. So, carrying my heavy luggage, I climbed down the stairs and ran to the train as fast as I could.
I noticed that the Malayali-Tamil couple was sitting on the window seat of a coach. I confirmed that it was the right train and got inside. There was an empty seat opposite them.
I smiled at them and kept my suitcase under the vacant seat opposite them, and then occupied the seat, still holding the laptop bag and my phone in my hand.
Paapa
Suddenly, the Tamil Chetan from the couple asked me, “Paapa, paiiya mela vekkattuma?” meaning “Child, shall I put the bag at the top(on the rack)?”
I’m 32 years old. Both my paternal and maternal grandparents have passed away. So there are not many people left in this world who would call me a child or a baby. Naturally, his words touched me.
I wanted to accept his help right away, but a part of me was worried about how I would take the bag from the luggage rack later, since it was at quite a height. Still, since he asked so nicely, I said yes and gave him my bag.
Luckily, he was not a bad person and did not run away with my laptop. In fact, he carefully put the bag at the top and reassured me with a smile.
A Phone Call
Everything was going on smoothly. But in between, this Chetan got a brief call from someone. The caller informed him that they had mailed him a medical report. After disconnecting the call, Chetan soon forwarded the medical report to a doctor and got on a call with him. They talked about medical reports and scans for a while. Once he got off the call, he took a deep sigh. Then explained the matter peacefully to his wife.
Apparently, her Thyroid values were high. Around 11, instead of the normal 4.5 or 5. The doctor warned that if she conceived at that point, there was a high probability that the child might suffer from brain damage. So the doctor advised them to spend the next few months concentrating on reducing the thyroid levels first, before conceiving.
The Chechi (the wife) listened peacefully for some time, but soon her eyes teared up. Despite Chetan pulling her into a hug and reassuring her with comforting words, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
Teamwork
Motherhood is such an emotional rollercoaster for women. Especially for those who have been craving or waiting for it for a while, it can be a completely vulnerable area. Even though I’ve never had a baby, as a woman in her thirties who contemplates motherhood occasionally with my own personal set of worries, like the ticking biological clock, I could completely understand her meltdown.
I didn’t want to make them uncomfortable, so I concentrated on the sights outside. But I couldn’t help but hear their worries.
Contrary to the worst-case scenarios my anxious mind was predicting, there was no fighting or shouting. They spoke politely and treated each other with gentleness. They planned as a team to follow a diet and exercise regimen to reduce the wife’s thyroid levels.
Her husband reminded her that it was not about rushing and having a baby just because they wanted to. They both needed to get fit and maintain a nutritious diet… not only to ensure their baby would be born healthy, but also to have enough energy to care for the child in the years to come.
Reflections
They reminded me of something one of my Geography teachers had advised us girls years back. He said, “Choosing your life partner is one of the most strategic decisions you will ever make in your life”.
When we creased our eyebrows in displeasure, he explained: “If you ever decide to get married, in this patriarchal world, it is crucial that you choose a man who supports your dreams and will work as a team with you to get there. Choose someone who treats you as an equal and a friend, with love and support, even on the hardest days, especially on the hardest days.”
Looking at that couple, who were handling a sad moment with so much love, understanding, and tenderness, I realised what my teacher was trying to say that day. There was no blaming involved. Both of them took responsibility, made a plan, and were determined to face the problem head-on as a team.
A Prayer
The couple got off a few train stops before me. But as they rose to leave, that Chetan stopped in his tracks, turned to my side, and asked me: “Paapa, bag eduthu tharattuma?” (“Child, shall I take down the bag for you?”)
I was so overwhelmed by their care and thoughtful gesture. I said I would take the bag by myself when I reached my stop and thanked them both.
I’m no God or seer, but I wished in my heart that those two would resolve their medical issues and have a happy and healthy baby before the end of this year. I wanted to hold their hand and tell them the same, but of course, I didn’t; they would have thought I was a lunatic, a weirdo, or a fake fortune teller trying to scam them.
Remember that scene in Friends where Chandler talks about Monica to Erica, the mother of their adopted twins?
“I really want a kid. And when that day finally comes, I’ll learn how to be a good dad. But my wife… she’s already there. She’s a mother… without a baby… ” – Chandler Bing
That was what I wanted to tell God that day. “I would love to have kids someday. And I promise I will learn to be a good parent. But that young couple… they are already a father and mother… two good parents… without a child. Please listen to their prayers and grant their wish ASAP.”
A New Couple & Their Baby
As soon as the couple got off the train, two young girls occupied the vacant seats. So when another couple with a baby in their arms approached our seat, the middle-aged man who sat next to me and I got up reflexively. Maybe because we were both still in the hangover of the meltdown we had witnessed.
This new couple’s adorable baby kept babbling all the time, bringing smiles to all of our faces. When the train left the Kaniyapuram stop, I tried to pull my luggage from the rack. Seeing my struggle, the child’s father helped me with that. I thanked him and walked to the door, carrying my suitcase and laptop bag.
A Grandpa
A grandpa in a lungi and white shirt, with a big, grey moustache, who was standing near the door, worried about the weight of my luggage and said he would help me when I got off the train. I assured him I was fine and that I could manage the weight of my luggage. We chit-chatted until I reached my stop, and I learned that he was going to Nagercoil. He reminded me of one of my maternal grandpa’s friends.
Hostel Life Begins
Because of the heavy luggage, I took an autorickshaw from the Kazhakuttam railway station to my hostel. At first, the autorickshaw driver was irritated when he found out that my destination was nearby. But I chit-chatted with him, and he soon opened up about how apps like Uber and Ola got on his nerves, by creating high competition.
Even though I struggled to remember the path or recognise the buildings on the way, thanks to Google Maps and the auto-chetan’s help, I soon reached my hostel safely.
Overall, it was a lucky day for me. Everyone was trying to help me, maybe because of the heavy luggage. I hoped luck would stay on my side throughout these trips, at least for the next 30 days.
When was the last time you packed up and moved to a new city? Was it a pleasant experience or a challenge? Also, have you ever come across someone unforgettable during your daily train or bus rides? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments!
Author’s Notes
~ All content on this blog is the intellectual property of the author. © 2025 Lirio Marchito. All rights reserved.
~ This blog is part of a series exploring my travels through Trivandrum, the capital city of my home state, Kerala, in India. You can read more posts from this series here. Trivandrum | Kerala| India
~ A big shoutout to my friend Vijaya Raghavan for helping me with the Tamil transliterations used in this blog. If you read Tamil and enjoy thrillers, do check out his Tamil novel பிரதிமை. I’m still waiting for that English translation he promised ages ago. 😛
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