Kicker: Dear expats, keep your worries aside, and board this train to reach the destination of success 

As always I was enjoying my wait for the train at the railway platform. Spirited voice of passengers was competing with the constant honking of vehicles from the street behind. The white-jacketed food sellers are met with a chorus from nearby street vendors din. As usual, I was blaming myself for not reserving a ticket in advance. And of course, it was a festival season.    

The train was not late. And I explored my gymnastic skills to get into before it stopped. To my surprise, the compartment was vacant with a few passengers.      

Lighter drizzle brought a cool breeze turning the general compartment into an air-conditioned one.  

As the train roared forward, I stretched myself on the metal bench, cherishing the unexpected luxury.   

But that luxury was short-lived. An imposingly tall man greeted me. "Hello". It was a clear instruction to get up and give space to him and his family members. The train was getting filled as well.     

The man was a perfect model for a salon; a rubicund figure with a handlebar moustache. His fine-tailored curly hair with a wide beaming face resembled a cartoon character.   

Before settling down, he seemed to be in a hurry to kick-start a conversation. "Are you working in Bahrain?" 

I was taken aback. "How does he know the country of my residence?" 

"How's life there after drop in oil prices?" the next question followed.

 "It's fine," I answered. 

"Hasn't the life become expensive after the removal of subsidies?"

I was wonderstruck. "How would he know these latest developments in the Kingdom?"  

Before I could think, he gave me the shock of my life with his fourth question. 

"Where is your son studying now?" 

I was losing my cool; firstly he invaded my comfort zone and he is now bombing me with a set of questions. 

"Do you think expats can save any money once VAT gets implemented?" 

He seemed to have no intention to leave me free. 

Since the best form of defence is offence, I decided to counter him. 

"What are you doing sir?" I asked him with a bit of curiosity. 

"I am an astrologer." His reply was quick. 

"Do astrologers have mind-reading skills?" I asked myself. 

"Not exactly, may be they are keen observers!" 

Airline tag on my suitcase would have helped him discover the country of my residence. And a calculated guess on the picture of the teenager on my mobile screen saver turned out to be right.    

By then, the train was almost full with passengers. Our conversation got into an intense mode until the train reached a major station. 

I kept my suitcase on my seat (it's a popular method deployed by passengers across India to secure sitting space) and got out to get my food packets. 

I struggled back to my place only to find that two women have invaded the space, pushing my suitcase. However, they were merciful to offer me a little space to sit.          

The astrologer did not seem to happy with the new crowd, but his wife had begun to befriend the 'new guests on train'.  

More and more people got into the train as it passed from one station to the other. I was afraid of being literally "suffocated to death". 

But things simply went against my perceptions. I could see the passengers forming different groups; while one group found solace in conversing about politics, the other was busy singing latest Bollywood songs; a third group was engaged in a game of cards. All of a sudden the compartment had become a place of celebration; celebration of minds. 

I could discover a new wave of happiness in me, which was totally unexpected. 

As the 12-hour journey came to a close, I would realise that I was nurturing unnecessary elements of fear, for I had a wonderful journey without even reserving a ticket. 

The fear that invaded my mind, is, for sure, giving sleepless nights to a good number of expats in the Kingdom. They are really worried about successfully completing their 'train journey' here. 

"VAT, subsidy cuts, oil price drop and low economic growth. What will happen to my job? my family? my standard of living?" 

I can tell you such worries are unfounded. The expats started flowing to the Kingdom since sixties and since then they have seen all kinds of ups and lows.

The Kingdom's leadership has protected the expats, just like its citizens and now it's time for the expats to give back to their home away from their home.  

Expat businessmen have a great role here, like those singing groups in train, to cheer up the economy and create new jobs. Young expats can spread positivity around, like chirpy birds on trees. 

Let's all have an unreserved pleasure trip to discover the true essence of happiness. Of course, we don't need an astrologer to forecast the future; I am sure common sense will offer answers to all our apprehensions. Have a great journey!