‘Kumbha Kumbha! Guff Guff!’ I chanted in a shrill tone keeping time with the sound made by the Grand Trunk express as it traversed the rough, hilly terrain between Itarsi and Gwalior. Usually, kids chant something like ‘Chuff Chuff! Chugg Chugg!’ when they want to imitate a steam engine. But I chanted it just the way I thought I heard it. I was convinced that my version of the sound made by the train was the correct one...