the bugbear

Lately, while sifting through the net , I chanced upon on an article by some obsure shrink. On flitting over it I found the trick cyclist argued that a sure way to confront our fears is to confide it, get square with our circle. So taking a leaf out of the leech's book, I believe many of you will positively commiserate with me , when I say my bugbear happens to be foot-board travelling in trains. Though it may appear puerile to you swankpots,let me narrate this incident,which will only show how dicey is such travel. So on the fateful day I along with my chum thanappan were at the station without any presentiment whatsoever of the events that soon were to follow.Now to say of Thanappan , he just a little over five feet ,corpulent,build like a warthog and usually attired in habiliment that only amplified his love handles. Thanappan even in best of times , would come across as a moodyu ,cagey bird. On that particular day ,he had put on the airs of one who had taken me on sufferance. i was just humouring the sap ,when the train brusting at seams arrived, spilling out a maddening ,hustling and jostling crowd. we were nowwhere near the carriage,when the train started trundling and lurching forward. I was still musing, when Thanappan displaying considerable nimbleness ,perched himself on the moving train. I , for a moment was baffled how a ungainly ,unweidly thing was capable of such lithe exertion. In a desire not to be outdone ,I too fastened myself on the train. It was only while precariously dangling over the rails , the eminent risk to limb and life dawned upon me. some twenty or more buggers clinging to the coach, found nothing uncommon, only kindred spirit displaying great agitation was Thanappan, who was too quaking and trembling asif stricken with ague. The train now worked up to terrifying speed seemed to be hellbent on taking us to the blazes.We traversed bridges ,subways, raucous level crossing adhering closely to the railing and making amends to the gawd. Many a semaphore missed Thanappan's bum by a whisker. After what it seemed like an interminable ordeal, the train begun to slow down, a dingy station came into the horizon, and just when the prospect of a sticky end resolved itself, the trouble began. From the unlit, cavernous interiors of the coach rose a cacophonous demand to make way, all this while the train was still cruising along the platform. This really proved to be the last straw, for in a split second , in some inexplicable way I found myself rapidly hoofing it on the platform, somehow trying not to suffer a fall. but ,alas, all my endeavours were in vain, for I landed squarely on my derriere , with not a soul to lend a helping hand , I steadied myself up only to find the hoi polloi convulsed with laughter. It was at this precise moment , the uncouth rabble were treated with another spectacular fall this time by Thanappan intenting to better me. The poor thing landed broadside and was in throes of great pain . It whined all sorts of pitiful, wheedling howls which only amped up the revelling crowd . Thanapan oblivious of all this rended the air with heartrendering wails , while alternatively clasping at his tummy and bum. Collecting our self , we, lumbered out , a narky bugger delightfully pointed out my torn seat of trousers.Thanking him profusely ,I along with Thanappan doddered away from the awful place.