Call it Night Queen Bar! Just not for families. Review on Nandigram Express

I am no fan of Indian Railways, as any sane person with any sense of personal health and toilet hygiene will never travel via Indian Railways! But Nandigram Express is an altogether new low - with people sitting around having their vodka, rum and whiskey in an AC coach, with the support of TCs and management staff bringing them napkins and glasses.

I had the misfortune of taking it from Nanded to Mumbai, and this is truly my last Indian train journey. I am going back to my preferred choice - road trips. So I boarded the train from  Nanded with my wife, daughter, mother, father and brother.

The problems started right away within an hour of boarding with the TC selling our upper berth obviously illegally, to unreserved people till the night, telling us to'relax on the lower berths' and by night time these guys will move out, and we can take'our' seats back. Wow. What a consideration.

Then the wash basic jammed with dirt, and toilets overflowing - not getting fixed despite constant complaints by many from the coach. If this is what you get after paying for AC coach, God bless the second class and sleeper class travelers.

Then came Aurangabad, and four guys - let's call them goons in fact - boarded the train, and to our bad luck had their four seats in our box. My wife was sleeping on the upper berth, and daughter on the middle berth. Yet within 10 mins out came the bottles and glasses. They started with some drinks - I ignored and thought they would stop after a couple of drinks and just doze off. No they had plans - party plans. Two more guys joined in. Imagine how it would have felt to me with my wife and daughter in the same zone as these goons. The loud conversations started with abusive language - every slang u can imagine. Don't even get me started. The worst part - the TC passed by, drunk himself, and very conveniently ignored what was happening there. I regret not noting down his name.

So of all the goons, the main villain was this guy named Yusuf Pathan. Bragging about being a political big wig connected with Shiv Sena and BJP, he went on and on about how great he is, and his boot lickers surrounded him, and kept praising him. Meanwhile the drinks continued to flow, and some chicken boxes came out, spreading the filthy smell in the entire compartment. Remember it is AC, and the smell spreads faster.

I gave him some stares which made him lower his voice, but then they were drunk - how could I even expect them to be sane and stick to a decent behavior. There were dirty stares being directed towards my 9-year-old daughter and my wife. It was like being in hell. I could see my wife very scared. That's when I decided to take action. I called the railway police helpline and the police line 100 - but to no avail. They kept transferring the call. I gave up.

The train stopped at Manmadh station, and now these buggers wanted to have some more food - after all you need something to accompany you for the party, right. It was an open bar, with the management staff co operating so well. So they have been drinking, abusing, bragging for almost 3-4 hours now, with no sign to stop and sleep.

At Manmadh station, two cops entered our coach, and I saw them coming while I was getting my wife and daughter our of their seats to take them and sit down or sleep whatever is possible in my family's(mother/father/brother) seats.

I told the cops about everything, and they were kind enough to get the railway police superintendent to our rescue. He confronted the drunk goons, and they blatantly refused every charge of drinking. I realized it is only 3-4 hours to Mumbai, and dragging it further might complicate life, as I am with a family, and these buggers have nothing to lose.

So the cop warned them, and told them that they would keep checking to catch them red handed. Well, if not anything at least the party ended for them with this police intrusion. They returned to their seats, finished some more munching, and went to sleep. If not for me standing up against them, only God knows what they would have done the rest of the night, to keep their spirits high and filthy excitement alive.

I am proud of my self that I have the courage to voice my views and confront the wrongdoers, which I only hope others also showed. These goons - their behavior and open fearless display of such actions proved that they have been doing it in the past too - but no one would have challenged them.

But the positive side of this incident - I have bid my final goodbye to Indian Railways. They are not making a cent more from this Indian citizen.

And for all of you - if you are planning to take this train with your families, better stay at home. Even now thinking about the safety of my mother and daughter in those hours gives me a shiver. Trust me - it can happen to anyone. .