This is an account of my trip to Shamli (U.P.) for my college buddy Tushar Garg's wedding. One of those really long journeys. Mine was the last compartment in the bogie and though I hardly had any 'valuables' with me, I was still concerned as usual; just to compliment my moon sign which happens to be Virgo. Infact I was more worried about my Samsonite bag rather than the contents inside. I could have bought a new shirt for the wedding but not another Laptop bag.
As I was travelling single, I was a bit apprehensive about my co-passengers. I wished for a beautiful co-passenger but then someone else was fortunate on this instance too. My very first co-passengers were three sportsmen, as I could see from their similar track suits. I initially mistook them for North-east Indians but subsequently learnt they were tribals from Andaman. At this moment I was shocked if not terrified. I once travelled to Maya Bandar islands at Andamans where I got punched by a 'Jarwa' tribal. As our discussion progressed, they revealed they are not jarwas and do not eat humans either! Infact they had some packed dinner (probably just trying out the spices of Chennai). They did not speak much, simply responded. One of them was boasting of high temperature, another chewed tobacco; he called it glucose and the third smiled. They were Eshaw, Campbell and Azrious respectively. Eshaw ate and slept throughout. Campbell did offer me some instant energy but I was no game for it. Azrious either looked outside the window or smiled or both.
Then came in Shravan (from Allahabad) and Suresh followed. Shravan had completed his MBA from Lucknow and worked with MRF tyres. He had come for an Induction at Chennai and was heading for Kanpur to attend some specialized training. Was wondering what MRF are up to?? He was a pretty talkative fellow and fun to speak to. He had a big gang of blabbering colleagues in the adjoining bogies and he was mostly on and off his berth. So, I duly grabbed the window seat each instance he was gone. And then, after he returned, he would have to wait till I got up from 'my' window seat. He was a kind hearted bloke.
Suresh belonged to Chennai and he worked with HCL Technlogies, Ambattur. He probably was some intellectual, or he just gave that impression as he did not speak much. Just kept to himself. I thought he was overwhelmed by the Hindi-speaking 'junta'. Not the poor chap's fault though!
Then barged inn V. Sathish from ITC. He must be cribbing the Indian Railways for the door dimensions of the A/C compartments. Evidently he struggled as he joined us at 19:14 hrs and the train promptly departed a minute later. By the time he had not even gathered his breath, he took out the Laptop and got down to send some mails, I inferred from his simultaneous conversation on the cell phone. Initially I could not figure out if his Laptop was really small or just appeared so in his huge lap. He told about the increasing number of Biharis getting into the Railways Administration and how it would collapse in the next two years because of corruption. He stressed that south Indians are very committed and may be less corrupt.
Once he finished his work, I sat next to him to view the terrorism update at Mumbai. He laughed at how effectively they were operating and to me, now he looked like a terror-mastermind. At that point I was prompted to ask for his Business card and that proved his identity. We had a dialogue at length as both of us needed to spend some time and a remote possibility being he had no one to converse in English. Post dinner, everyone 'went to berth'. I don't know when the train arrived at Nellore station and he got down. Poor fellow had to miss a 'friends' party as the train was delayed by two hours.
As I got up next day morning, I saw one Mr. Tehran on Sathish's berth. I didn't have to scratch my brains to know that he was a Delhite. He went to get freshened up and the Andaman guys wasted no time to grab his berth. He was visibly livid when he returned and asked their berth numbers. He got his window seat on his lower berth and I could see the expression of achievement on his face. One that of defeating the younger generation. Guess his daughter ran away and married someone. Anyway, as time creeped, he too opened up but not before a cup of hot water, the railway staff called it coffee. Tehran had an automobile parts business in Delhi and had travelled to Vijaywada for some client. He was a Punjabi, he told. He was highly impressed by one Mr. Modi's stance on terrorism and at one point he even suggested that India should attack Pak for this recent terror strike at Mumbai. Then breakfast followed. He being a Delhite preferred Cutlets and myself, a Chennaite, had wada and upma. After that he started bugging every passing pantry boy to send for the boy carrying coldrinks. He said he needed a Pepsi. That made me wonder was addicted to Pepsi?? He finally caught hold of one and got his Pepsi. To my surprise, he opened a bumper of Royal Stag. Post the formalities he told me he needs to sleep for an hour and duly got up after four hours.
Somewhere before Nagpur, probably Hinganghat station, Mrs. & Mr. Mathur and their two kids Atharv (4) and Vaibhavi (1) boarded. The kids kept the Mathur couple too busy to be social. Atharv jumped here and there, probably missing his nursery. The kids provided a fullsome entertainment to the onlookers throughout the day.
Everybody ordered dinner. I had two samosas to finish apart from the dinner which my friend had got at Nagpur station, it being my hometown. Tehran got another Pepsi, once the Mathurs had slept. Campbell got his glucose dose and off went the lights.
Next day morning everyone went their own way, surely not to meet again in the crowd of 1.13 billion. I love my India !!!
