The place, the time, the moment

Moradabad holds so many memories for me since time immemorial. Ever since my childhood and the time of steam engines I have a vivid memory of Moradabad station. Our train used to pass here in the afternoon so it was where our lunch in steel trays used to come, full steaming and spicy. If the train was late then it was tea in mitti ke kulhad which I used to relish throwing on the tracks from the grilled windows in the sleeper coach while bundled up in our razais and hear them go krrrrack! More then the tea it was the pleasure of breaking my cup, and of everyone elses in the cubicle that I relished. There used to be giant, black steam engines all huffing and puffing with red hot cinders arising from the furnance and the chimney. I think Moradabad junction was the place where they stocked up on the coal keeping in mind the long halt we used to have here.
With the advent of time sleeper coaches gave way to 2nd AC, ste engines to diesel engines and kulhad ki chai to disposable storifom coke cups. After that the tradition changed to buying a 10 buck coke from the soda fountain at the station. I even bought a few brass items finally after crossing this station countless times.
Then there was the early morning of 15th Feb in 2010 which is etched in my memory forever. The mystical orange glow of the halogen lamps streaming through the tinted window panes, the snoring of the co-passengers in the 3rd AC and the red acrylic all added up to intoxicate all my three senses.
This time around I came across a temple and a mosque existing side by side which I was fortunate enough to click.
So many memories from a transit station makes me wonder whether Moradabad junction holds something special and sacred for me................