Risk Of COVID-19 Infection Is Why I Choose Not To Go Home Despite Train Bookings Being Open

For those of us who could not travel within India, it was some relief when Indian Railways started online bookings from May 11 and services to major cities from May 12. Of course there are new rules like mandatory masks, packaged food, hand sanitisers and no linen at all. But nonetheless it is as closest to normalcy as one can get in this situation as India, like rest of the world, combats coronavirus.

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Now under normal circumstances, this is a good chance for someone like me to go home. For over 9 years Delhi has been my base, while I originally hail from the city which used to be the capital once, yes am talking of Kolkata. Just for the record, I live alone. No roomies, spouse, partner or even a pet. While it does sound sad, my social life is pretty active and thankfully am not one for whom office and home are the only two pillars of existence. Of course, due to the lockdown, social life has taken a hit but thanks to the internet, life is not a total bore.

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But I digress, back to the issue of going back. A recent conversation with mom on the phone was to book a ticket and come home. Logically it makes sense. Rental cars are available to go to and from the station and it's a matter of around 16 hours in the train. However, I choose not to go. Why? The risk of infection. The situation is not much different in Kolkata and the exposure to the virus is not impossible on the train. There will be other passengers and despite whatever precautions are taken, that fear of infection will poison the entire journey. One thing worse than coronavirus itself is the fear of being infected. It has made people do crazy things.

A small clarification here. Had flights been made available, I might have considered going. Why? Because the duration is less and the odds of being infected in 2 hours is not as high as that of 16 hours. The less time I am out in the open, the less paranoia I am bound to get. Now many might say it's my preference towards flying that is talking but let us be clear, I have nothing against by train. In fact when I shifted to Delhi in 2011, I came by train and used the same mode of transport to go home at least 4 times. The first time I took a flight to go home was in late 2015 and that was actually my first plane journey since 1996. So it's got nothing to do with the mode of travel, it is the probability of getting sick.

So as of now, I am staying put. Things will get better eventually and I shall go home at some point. But it won't be now and it certainly not be by train. Of course if an emergency arises to go home then there's no choice in the matter. However, that's an exception. As things stand, discretion is better than valour, and there is no need to show unnecessary bravery and risk my health by boarding a train.