I was searching for my berth and Whoa .. Unforgettable Al Pacino lexicon ;-) !! One lady was sitting in my seat, side lower berth.
My dad came to see-off me, you know how perennial affection parents store for their small (28 year old) children!! The lady promptly said "Oh, I would go upto Kharagpur only", as if I would mind if she travels with me upto BBSR. My dad said "Its ok". I murmured "Its more than ok"; given this 7 hours and 30 minutes endurance test I was supposed to give on Trivandrum express.
Well, the train started rolling and as always, it proved very hard to break the ice and I started flipping through the pages of 'Desh'. A gang of eunuchs stormed into the compartment ( I always get a sinking feeling whenever they get closer to me, seems the dingy toilet the best place at that moment). One of the gang said something, I dint know what (s)he said but I nodded my head violently and then I heard this ..(slang)..bou niye jacche .. .(slang)...paysa dicche naa.. ( traveling with wife but still not giving any bucks). Well, a nice joke, at least!!
-"Even something more", I quipped.
The ice broke. I gave my silent thanks to the gang of eunuchs for the first time in life.
-Where you are going to? I enquired.
- Jhargram. She said.
-Jhargram, at this time? ..I asked, as it was a torrid time in that area, aboriginal people movement making head-lines every day.
-Yes, one of my relatives' house is there.
The conversation interrupted as her cell rang.
"..you know what, one person is with me in the same coup and those people came...oh, those eunuchs, they thought I am traveling with him.." she whispered into the cell, punctuated with giggles.
I pretended to be engrossed into my magazine and thought the person on the other side of the phone should be very close to her, the special person with whom she loves to share every moment of life..may be!!
"You know, I am first time traveling by train by myself and thats why I am bit tense". She acknowledged to me.
Well, thats the secret of so many phone calls.
"Hmm..So Jhargram, where? Some marriage-occasion"?
"No, its my future in-laws house".
Hmm .. so my guess was correct.
So you are remote-controlled by him? I asked.
Yes, he is very anxious also. He is waiting in Kharagpur and he dint eat any food till now. She gushed out.
And then we were just talking on something, the ticket-collector asked the lady to go with him, probably he would make a deal with her for the ticket.
She came back and said " You know what..the ticket-collector was saying dont talk so much to a stranger".
"It just reminded me of the 'Jab we met' "..I said.. "Akeli ladki khuli tijori jaisi hoti hai".
She smiled and gushed out "That was one of my favorite movies".
Then she said a bit remorsefully "But I dint get any call from home".
Well, it came out as her family was not too supportive to their relation.
"But my mom herself handed over my luggage to me"..she stopped and then said "that gave me the strength". Well, there are some missing links..still was not getting the complete story. But I was kind of hesitant if I ask a question, which might sound too personal.
"Then how long you are going to stay?"
"For my rest of life"..
Bingo!! All the missing links got into correct place.
She has left her home to make her home. Its such a big day for her and I am her co-passenger, whom she is sharing her feeling.
"Oh, its that great journey?"
She smiled.
The train reached Kharagpur. She said "Aschi" (Bye!)
"Bye!! Best of luck for your rest of life".
She smiled and disappeared.
PS- Well, may be it resembles a bit with that movie 'Jab we met' which touched your heart for its freshness. The morale goes "all are not as lucky as Shahid". But punch-line "Life is the best story-teller".
