From Tracks to Triumph: Why This ₹30 LPA Techie Chooses Trains Over Flights
In India, it’s commonly believed that flying is far more comfortable than taking a train, though often more expensive. While flights offer speed, covering vast distances in just a few hours, trains provide a more affordable but time-consuming alternative. It’s rare to see someone with the means to fly choosing the railway instead, but an X user named Chirag Deshmukh recently shared a story that sheds light on why a high-earning techie continues to prefer train journeys over air travel.
Chirag Deshmukh took to social media to recount a surprising encounter he had with a software developer during a train journey. This developer, despite earning over ₹30 lakh per annum, was traveling by train, a choice that piqued Deshmukh’s curiosity. The developer worked for a major company, so naturally, Deshmukh couldn’t help but ask, “With that kind of money, why aren't you flying instead of taking the train?”
The techie’s response was both unexpected and touching. He revealed that after finishing his education, he struggled to find employment. It was during one of his train journeys that he had a fateful meeting with a stranger who ultimately helped change his life. The stranger’s brother referred him for a job, and that referral landed him his first role in the industry. Since that life-changing encounter, the techie made a promise to himself: he would always travel by train, except in emergencies, as a tribute to that pivotal moment.
“He smiled and said, ‘After college, I had no job and was struggling. One day, while traveling by train, I met a person whose elder brother helped me get a referral that landed me my first job. Since then, I decided to always travel by train—unless it's an emergency,’” Deshmukh shared in his X post.
The story quickly went viral, resonating with many social media users who shared their own experiences of serendipitous encounters on trains. One user, Prakhar, commented, “I can relate, my first internship offer was through a guy who later became like family. We met on the Ahmedabad Rajdhani.” Another user, Sourav, recalled a similar experience, “Many conversations happen during long train journeys. I once spoke with a tech lead who introduced me to cloud technologies back in 2015. That conversation got me hooked on AWS.”
The tale was even dubbed a “Peak Indian Railway Moment” by another user, encapsulating the unique camaraderie and unexpected connections that often bloom during long train rides in India.
While some skeptics questioned the authenticity of the story, Deshmukh stood by his account, insisting it was true. Whether real or simply a heartwarming anecdote, the story highlights the unexpected ways in which life’s paths can intertwine, and how the simplest choices—like taking a train—can lead to life-changing opportunities.
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