Story I - The TRAIN

I struggled with the heavy bags as we entered the Nizammudin Railway station in New Delhi. Dad followed me into the station. We fought our way through the crowd.

The summer vacations had started and the station was filled with people who had come to see off or receive relatives and friends.

Indians congregated at stations and airports to prove their love for relatives and friends. Various initiatives from the government had done little to reduce the congestion at stations.

For every person who boarded the train there were on an average two to see them off. The desire to see off your loved one at the station or airport was imbibed deeply into the Indian culture. You could go further and say that it was genetic.

‘2432 ---- Trivndrm Rjdhni ---- 11:05 on time’

I looked up at the board indicating the arrival and departure times for the trains.

Thankfully our train was on time.

‘I don’t understand why you always insist on getting in so early at the station?’ I hollered at my dad over the noise. I was still struggling with the heavy bags.

Heavy bags are another common problem with Indians. Irrespective of where we traveled, farther or closer home, we loaded the biggest available bags with everything that could fit in. We rarely ventured out of our homes without bags that were bursting at their seams.

At airports it is common to find Indians requesting the aircraft officials to make allowance for the extra weight of their luggage.

I and dad had three bags which were close to bursting, making it even harder to carry them. Constantly trying to ensure that the straps held their fort without breaking was making the task harder.

We finally made it to platform number ‘5’. It was 10:15 AM in my watch. I looked around for an empty place on the platform to keep my bag.

It was a hot summer day. I was annoyed at my dad for having insisted that we got to the station nearly an hour before departure.

‘Wait here while I confirm where our coach will stop’ said dad as he walked away without waiting for my reply.

I looked around helplessly venting my frustration on the bags.

I had succeeded in finding some empty place on the platform next to a family with noisy bunch of kids. The youngest of the kids, a little boy of about three pulled out his tongue, making a face at me. I stared angrily at him before responding to his antics, just as his mother looked up wondering what had gained her little damsels attention.

I looked away sheepishly hoping to get even with the little brat next time round.

I felt sweat trickle down my forehead, it was extremely hot and humid. There was no sign of dad yet.

I was starting to feel an urge to visit the restroom. My bladder always seemed to fill up at the wrong moments. I silently prayed that the train arrived sooner so that we could get into the air-conditioned comfort.

I also prayed that the little brat got into a different coach from ours.

I noticed a few people throwing things onto the track. I grimaced before thinking how some people considered the entire country, except their homes to be nothing more than a dustbin.

The little brat standing next to me also watched in anticipation, his inquisitive mind getting better of him. He rushed ahead and threw his water bottle onto the tracks.

I smiled as I watched the commotion caused by the little brat’s mother. I was happier still when she spanked him.

The train finally arrived good twenty minutes after we had reached the station. I anxiously searched for dad as the train entered the platform. There was still no sign of him. The train slowed down and then stopped.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

Rajdhani’s are special trains introduced by the Indian railways to run between state capitals.

If you aren’t lucky enough to get a ticket on the Rajdhani, you could travel on one of the million ‘Super fast express’ trains. To provide equal opportunity to every citizen of the country the Indian railways has rechristened all the long distance trains that weren’t ‘Shatabdi’s’ or ‘Rajdhani’s’ as ‘Super Fast Express’.

So, irrespective of what train one took he or she was sure to be traveling on a ‘Super Fast Express’ train. Remember, ‘Rajdhani’ and ‘Shatabdi’ are ‘Super fast’ by virtue of their special status. The rechristening did little to improve the quality of service or the erratic schedules that the trains followed, but it ensured that none of the millions traveling by trains felt left out.

It dawned on me as I stood there on the platform; the rechristening of trains was like the new Reservation policy. This was ample proof that the India was a true secular country where every effort was being made to keep everyone happy.

Dad rushed back jubilantly with an air of triumph about him.

‘I have found the coach’ he shouted.

I seethed with anger but said little.

Dad like millions of our countrymen found solace and happiness in the discomforts of Indian life.

Who could deny that happiness was nothing but the state of human mind?

We picked the bags up and struggled through the medley of people trying to board the train.

After what was a long walk we reached our coach.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

The train coaches in India are divided into cubicles of eight seats each, six seats on one side and two perpendicular seats on the other, separated by an aisle in between. This unique design allows for all the passengers to sleep when they wish to do so. The arrangement though not very comfortable is much better than having to sit throughout the journey.

The luggage is usually stored below the lowest berths on either end.

We finally found our designated berths only to discover that the place below the lowest berth was already taken. We spent good fifteen minutes struggling to squeeze in our luggages into the little space left.

After pulling and pushing the bags successfully into the empty slots, I looked up annoyed at the only other passenger in our cubicle. I wondered how a single person could have carried so much baggage.

The train had started moving. I pulled out the news paper and took the window seat, trying to find the latest toll of deaths and marriages in India. Dad meanwhile had started a conversation with the fellow passenger.

‘I am a doctor studying at Manipal, uncle. I am traveling till Udupi’ I heard the despicable young man say.

‘I assume you are carrying stuff for all the needy people of Udupi in those luggages’ I volunteered unable to hold my annoyance at bay.

Dad raised his eyebrows meaning for me to shut up.

I buried myself into the paper digging for more news about whims of film stars.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

The lower berth on the side where we were sitting belonged to dad while I was allotted the middle berth diagonally opposite just above the doctor’s.

The three other berths at our end were empty.

The two perpendicular berths across the aisle were also occupied.

Dad would take a few more hours before he involved the two men sitting across the aisle into a conversation, I thought.

Trains till recently were the only mode of transport for the not so rich of the country, the cheap flights had started changing that.

Journey by trains had a special attraction to them. The twenty eight hours we spent traveling between Delhi and Udupi took us through various terrains. You could spend hours watching outside the window without getting bored.

The air-conditioned coaches did take some of the fun away because of dark tinted glasses, but it was a compromise that one had to make in exchange for comfort.

When we traveled by train, time seemed to stop.

The beauty of the journey lied in the fact that there was nothing to do other then watching people around you or involving them in a conversation.

The stops at stations on the way were like advertisements between soaps on the television. They woke you up from the stupor. The journey by train also provided one with an opportunity to complete a book or play a game of cards if they fancied it.

It had been an hour into the journey. The attended had just finished serving our bottles of mineral water along with a tray filled with two biscuits, sweet, fruit juice and sandwich.

Everyone got busy exploring their trays.

The train always seemed to make me ravishingly hungry. On the train I was constantly munching one thing or other.

The munching helped me while away the time.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

‘I am traveling from Sikkim, I work with the border security force’ I heard the passenger across the aisle tell dad.

‘There is so much activity across the border these days. You will be amazed at how fast the Chinese are developing roads and transports on their side of the border, while we Indians are still trying to save the government in Delhi.

BJP was much better; Congress either wants to please the communists or is too frightened of angering the Chinese. One of these days the China will just walk into our country and we will be helpless’ the military man added.

I knew little about politics but could not agree more with him about how congress government had stalled all the construction projects that were once making India proud and shining.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

I excused myself and walked to the restroom.

As I passed through the aisle I glanced through the other cubicles. Most of the people, like the doctor sitting on the berth opposite to us, were having their afternoon naps. I never understood how some people managed to sleep so much.

I opened the restroom door only to be wafted by a smell that usually is common on the trains. I entered into the restroom and shut the door behind me. The washbasin tap was dripping. On the wall opposite to the washbasin someone had made an elaborate diagram depicting one of the famous scenes of an Indian scripture.

I hated people who did not bat an eyelid before defaming public property. The beautiful forts of Jaipur still bore a testimony of such vandalism.

I washed my hands and attempted to secure the leaking tap in vain before walking back to my seat.

The doctor was still asleep. The army man had brought out his pack of cards and was busy playing with his partner. Dad had opened his laptop.

I hated it when dad used his laptop in public; I sometimes thought that he was trying to flaunt it.

I am an introvert who is conscious of all the surroundings while Dad is an extrovert who cares little for what people around him think.

I pulled out the latest novel that had caught my fancy ‘The autobiography of a Yogi’ and started reading. I only managed to get through the first page before being pulled into my thoughts about the happenings of the previous day.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

I sat by the window, in the taxi. My hand feeling heavy with all the glass bangles I wore. Everything that had happened lately was nothing more than a dream. I was still trying to get hold of myself. It was like, yesterday when Yogesh had come to my house to ask my hand in marriage.

We had now been married for a little more than twenty four hours.

The marriage ceremony was held at Tivoli gardens.

I stood along with Yogesh on the stage, watching all the friends and relatives walking around. I was too frightened to move or talk. I felt a little elated and also a little unsure about what was in store for me.

Yogesh had introduced me to few of his friends but all I could do was manage a feeble smile in response. None of their names had registered.

The last few days before marriage had been very tense.

Yogesh’s parents had informed us that his grandmother was seriously ill and if she passed away before the marriage we did have to cancel the ceremony and move it to another day. My dad had already spent a fortune on the arrangements. He had paid an advance for the venue, decorations and caterers. All the money would be lost if the marriage had to be cancelled now.

I prayed to lord Krishna wishing that nothing happened to the old lady.

I and Yogesh talked for hours at night and he assured me that nothing awry would happen.

Thankfully everything went according to plan.

I had not slept for the last few days and was very drowsy as we drove towards Yogesh’s house at early hours in the morning. We had just entered the house when the news about his grandmother’s death came in. I felt tears gushing down my cheeks. I did not know why I was crying but it was a great relief to be able to cry. I broke down shamelessly, crying in front of all the new faces around me.

I felt a pain well up inside my throat, I was soon gasping for breath before everything was black and I fainted.

It was dark when I woke up. I was alone in the room.

I rose unsteadily, and looked around in the dark for the switch. I must have inadvertently knocked down something because the door suddenly opened and Yogesh rushed in.

He switched on the lights and smiled at me.

‘Are you hungry’ he asked me with compassion.

I shook my head and rushed into his arms.

I did not know this man till yesterday but today he was everything I had. The unknown surroundings and the new faces had brought us closer to each other.

Yogesh had his arms around me as we walked out to the living room. The room was filled with people.

In India it is common for all the relatives to congregate on every occasion. There were women crying and children running around, the whole house wore a sad look.

I ate silently, while Yogesh sat beside me holding my left hand.

‘Yes mama I have booked you and dad on a flight for tonight, I and Vandana will travel with didi and the kids by train tomorrow. Only two flight tickets were available for tonight’ I heard Yogesh replying to a question from his dad. I was lost in my thoughts to catch the question.

I guessed they were talking about traveling to the place where Yogesh’s grandmother lived, to perform the last rights. I mechanically ate the dinner without realizing or caring what it was.

Yogesh cleared the plates while I washed my hands.

Yogesh walked me back to what I thought was our room.

‘Why don’t you have a bath, change and go to bed. I will drop mom and dad at the airport. Their flight is in another few hours.

You look very tired’ said Yogesh as we entered the room.

I looked up meekly before replying.

‘I will come to the airport too. Should I help in packing the bags or get something ready for them’ I was worried about the image I would create in the minds of Yogesh’s parents and relatives.

It is a hobby among relatives to find fault with the new bride.

Yogesh smiled and kissed me on my forehead.

‘Don’t worry, go to bed. I know what you have gone through. No one is going to say anything. You can start helping tomorrow’ he said before shutting the door and walking back to the living room.

I locked the door and sat down on the little stool in front of the dressing table.

I looked at my face in the mirror. My hair was all over the place, the makeup had washed away from the crying.

I still wore my wedding dress. I slowly opened my earrings and brooch letting my hair fall freely for the first time since last night. I stood up, letting the sari fall to the floor before walking towards the bathroom.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

I was in deep sleep when Yogesh got back from the airport.

I was woken up by the bright sunlight trickling in from the window across where we slept.

I slowly opened my eyes to the new surroundings. It would days before I could forget my room and get used to the new surroundings.

Yogesh was still sleeping. I heard him snoring softly. He must be really tired I thought. I stood up and walked towards the bathroom.

I looked around the room realizing for the first time how beautiful it was. There was a beautiful couch and a Television on one corner, the room also had a huge walk-in closet. My suitcase was placed next to the closet. I walked to the suitcase and opened it hoping to find an appropriate dress for this morning.

The light blue walls of the room sparkled as the sunlight hit them. I looked up at the ivory colored ceilings wishing for the hundredth time that I was back home, with my parents. I pulled out a sober colored saree along with the matching blouse and petticoat. I slowly walked to the bathroom to have my bath.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

After my bath I walked back into the bedroom.

Yogesh was still sleeping. I looked up at the sun and prayed to lord Krishna before walking out of the room towards where I thought the kitchen was.

I struggled looking for the ingredients before finally succeeding in making my first tea in the new kitchen.

I carried the tea back to what was now my room in the new house.

Yogesh was still asleep. I contemplated about waking him up. I must have stood there thinking when Yogesh opened his eyes and looked up at me with a smile.

‘Tea’ I said meekly.

‘Oh! I forgot to tell you, I don’t drink tea in the morning. I usually don’t have anything till I have finished my exercise. Why don’t you drink it? ‘said Yogesh sitting up on the bed.

I looked around helplessly not knowing what to do with the tea. Yogesh seemed to understand my predicament because he stood up and took the cup from my hands before placing it on the stool. I felt tears welling up inside my eyes but held them back.

‘Come here and Sit down’ said Yogesh as he pushed me towards the double bed

I felt my knees buckle before I helplessly fell into the bed. I felt the first drop of tear trickle down my cheeks. I quickly wiped it off hoping that Yogesh did not notice me crying.

Yogesh smiled, before walking into the bathroom.

‘Why don’t you have something to eat? I am sure there must be something in the kitchen. It will take me about an hour to complete my exercise’ Yogesh said before adding

‘Ah! I forgot, we are going to Goa tonight by train. Why don’t you pack your bags? We should be back in a week.’ I heard the door to the bathroom close.

I sat on the bed and cried, for the second time in my new house. I wiped my face and walked back to the kitchen with the cup of tea.

I rummaged through the kitchen hoping to find something for our breakfast. I remembered how mom had insisted that I learn cooking before marriage.

Mom had ensured that I cooked dinner and breakfast for the family in the month before marriage. I and Dad spent hours laughing about my experiments with cooking.

I remember one morning when I had made Parothas for breakfast. I had added a lot of salt into the mashed potatoes by mistake. The Parothas were a little burnt and were also unshapely. It was my first attempt at cooking something up for the breakfast. Dad ate silently without a complaint. I realized my folly when mom started her breakfast. Mom laughed out loud, at me and dad but said nothing more.

I and mom had spent the next few days learning and relearning how to make Parothas.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

I found some atta in the closet. I put the potatoes on boil.

I was very careful about the amount of salt and chilly I added this time. I did not want Yogesh to find fault with the first breakfast I served.

An hour later I had arranged everything on the dining table.

I waited anxiously for Yogesh to complete his exercise.

I carefully looked around the living room for the first time. The front door entrance opened to a Diwan that was decorated with small pillows and armrests. In front of the diwan was a orange sofa set. There was a showcase with a Television greeting one when they entered the house. The dark brown color accentuated the showcase.

The room had light blue walls, just like the bedroom.

There was a waist high glass shelf separating the living room from the dining area. The glass shelf held various cups and saucers. I had found a cup for the morning tea from the shelf.

The other end of the dining area opened to a balcony that was separated from the living room by a glass sliding door. I stood up and walked out into the balcony.

There was a mango tree that grew close to the balcony. One could touch the leaves when the wind blew in, bringing the branches closer to the balcony.

I looked down into the alley leading to the front gate of the house. A black car was parked in the alley. I assumed that the car belonged to Yogesh.

I noticed a few birds flying from the tree. I heard birds chirping. I noticed a nest on the branch further away from where the birds had flown. I concentrated on the nest hoping to get a glimpse of the little ones.

‘What are you doing?’ said Yogesh as I recoiled in fright.

Yogesh broke into a hearty laughter. I was annoyed at his laughing.

‘I have made some Parothas for breakfast’ I said once I had regained my composure.

‘Wow, I just love Parothas’ said Yogesh heading to the dining table.

We had just started eating our breakfast when I felt Yogesh’s hand brushing my left hand. I smiled and looked up at him.

‘Vandana I know I should have told you earlier but I don’t want to wait any longer’ he said before adding.

‘There are times in life when you are helpless. Times when you cannot change things, those are the times when people make mistakes. I know how you will feel once you hear me out but I don’t think it is right to wait any longer’ Yogesh paused for a while. He took a deep breath before continuing.

‘Vandana, I will not question your decision. I know it would be worth little but I promise to abide by everything you lay down following this conversation’ Yogesh looked away from me. He seemed to be ashamed about what he had to say. I had stopped breathing and felt my face burning.

What did Yogesh have to say?

I did not move my hand, it was still brushing Yogesh’s hands. I had an urge to pull it away and run back to my parents.

It took supreme effort to hold back my feelings.

‘I have a son’ said Yogesh before breaking down into tears.

I heard the front door bell ring.

None of us moved.

The bell rang again after a while but this time it continued to ring without stop.

I rose to open the door. Yogesh held my hand.

‘Please don’t tell this to anyone. You can do what you want once I had an opportunity to tell you everything but please not till then’ Yogesh added.

I walked to the door and opened it. It was Yogesh’s sister and her two little kids.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

As we drove towards the station I wondered how life had changed in just a few weeks. I was no longer the little girl who could find solace in the arms of my parents. All my decisions from now would follow me for life. I had to make a call sooner or later. I had to think of everyone around me. My life was no longer mine, but involved my parents, the new family and Yogesh. Yogesh was a part of my life, irrespective you how despicable what he had to say was.

I had spoken to my parents a few times since the morning but was yet to tell them anything about the incident. I had contemplated discussing it with Yogesh’s sister but could not bring myself to do it. I finally resolved to waiting till I had heard his side of the story

I noticed our car approaching Vadodara station. It was about 9:30 in the night.

‘2432 ---- Trivndrm Rjdhni ---- 22:30 Delayed’

X ------------------------------------------------- X

‘Mummy can I take the car along, please?’

I was very excited about visiting my grandparents at the village. I loved my grand parents. We visited them every summer when the schools closed. I also loved the train journeys to Eranakulam.

From the time I remember we have been taking the train to Eranakulam every summer vacation.

I loved shrieking when the train passed through tunnels making it suddenly dark inside. I also loved when the train made a funny noise passing over the bridges. The stations were always exciting because each was different in a unique way. You could spend hours at station watching people walking around and doing various things.

I loved disembarking the train at the station and walking to the window where I could see mom inside our coach.

Mom was anxious when I got down from the train, she always thought that the train would start and leave me behind at the station.

I was busy helping mom pack the stuff we were going to take to the village. I asked mom if I could take my new remote control car along with us to the village. I wanted to show the car to my granddad. Mom did not want me to take the car because she felt the kids in the village would spoil it. I promised mom that I would be extra careful with the car but mom did not relent. I finally gave up trying to convince her hoping that I could somehow sneak the car into one of the bags when mom was not watching.

I heard Sanu calling for me to play in the park.

I did not want to go down for playing that evening. Not only did I have to sneak the car into one of the bags but I also hated Sanu for what she had told me the day before. Sanu had told me that our school had decided to detain all the students who had not been regular with their homework’s. Sanu was prompt with her homework; she was among the top three in the class while I barely managed to scramble through the day to day toil. I hated school and the teachers just as much as the teachers hated me. I loved staying home away from school and would have done just that if mom and dad had not insisted on me going to school regularly.

‘Why don’t you go down and play with Sanu while I pack the bags?’ suggested mom. I always seemed to annoy mom even when I was trying my best to help her. I finally gave up trying please mom and walked out to the balcony to answer Sanu’s calls.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

I felt a waft of air hit me as I walked alongside dad into the railway station. I could smell the iron rails and the train.

I looked around at the hustle bustle of activity at the station. It was dark outside.

Dad started running pulling me along. I was finding it hard to match steps with him.

‘Shanti Train is here. It only stops for five minutes at Vadodara’ he shouted at mom

We rushed to our coach and clambered in with the luggage. The musty feeling that one gets when entering the train, more because of the proximity of the entrance to the restrooms, hit us. As dad opened the door to the air-conditioned enclosure I gasped in respite. The chill felt wonderful after the warm climate outside, it was good to be away from the humidity.

We struggled, walking between seats to our cubicle. It was night and everyone on the train had slept. People on trains for some reason tend to sleep early.

We finally reached our sleeps, people in other berths had already slept.

‘Shanti there is no place here for the bags. I need to leave, the train will start any moment. Take care and call me in the morning. I will join you in a weeks time’ said dad as he walked towards the entrance. Dad kissed me on my cheeks before leaving.

I was feeling drowsy.

The train had slowly started moving. I could see dad waving from outside our window. I smiled at him unsure that he could see us through the dark glass. Mom struggled to squeeze in our bags into the little space that was left below the lowest berth. The uncle sleeping on the lowest berth moved a little. He must have been disturbed by the noise mom was making.

A family walked into our cubicle. There were two ladies and along with man and two little kids. The kids were making a lot of noise, that seemed to be troubling everyone in the coach. I smiled at the little boy.

‘The top berth is ours’ shouted one of the ladies who looked like she was recently married. I could see glass bangles that new brides wear, on her hand.

‘Yes and the one across the aisle in the next cubicle. I was able to manage only two seats. It is holiday season, remember’ replied the man who accompanied the ladies and the kids.

The kid seemed to have woken up the uncle in the middle berth while trying to climb onto the upper most one.

‘Tinku get down. We will take the seat across the aisle’ shouted the other lady who I think was the kid’s mother.

‘Mamma I want to sleep’ wailed the little girl.

‘Hey there is no place to store the bags here’ retorted the married lady.

‘Let us wake all these people up. How callous?’ She added

‘Mamma I want to sleep’ wailed the little girl again but this time a little louder.

‘Beta you could have slept long back if not for the senseless people in this country’ the married lady replied.

‘This is India’ she snobbishly added.

I looked up perplexed at mom.

The well built man from across the aisle seemed to have woken up because of the commotion.

‘Don’t you people have any sense? Do you realize it is late at night and we are trying sleep?’ he shouted.

‘Ah! You want to sleep? Even we are trying sleep. If only you had enough manners to leave the place designated for our luggage vacant’ answered the married lady scornfully.

‘Vandhana please calm down. It is ok’ the man who accompanied her said trying to calm her.

‘Oh! You are talking about manners. You don’t even know how to talk to people’ retorted the well built man.

Mom seemed to be shaken with all the happenings. I could see tears trickle down her face as she spread the bed sheets on our berths.

I climbed up to my berth and went to sleep feeling sorry for mom.

I dreamt of the red remote controlled car that I had hidden in the side pocket of the red handbag.

X ------------------------------------------------- X

Vandhana :

I was not sure why I reacted the way I did, that night. It probably was my frustration about what Yogesh had told me. It was the vented up anger that had found its way out.

After all the commotion we finally settled on the top berth. I and Yogesh sat next to each other while Tikku slept, crouched next to us.

Didi and Neha slept in the berth across the aisle, in the next cubicle.

I felt Yogesh's hand brushing my hair.

The day had drained all my energy. I sat there unable to react.

We sat there without speaking as the night progressed.

I felt the warmth as Yogesh drew closer to me.

I recoiled, but there was little place to move. I felt Yogesh’s arms moving around me. It was dark in the coach. All the lights were turned off. Only the night lamps were burning.

I was lost in my thoughts. I suddely realized that Yogesh’s hand had slowly slid into my salwar. I felt his fingers on my chest.

‘Don’t ‘ I shouted pushing his hand out.

Yogesh looked up at me sheepishly. Tikku turned in his sleep.

I noticed Didi sitting up in her berth. She looked up at us. Didi looked annoyed; I knew what she must have thought.

After all that had happened since morning I did not understand how Yogesh could have acted the way he did. I brushed the tears away from my face and pulled the blanket around myself.

Yogesh had now moved away from me and was patting Tinku.

I will probably never forget this journey on the TRAIN

X ------------------------------------------------- X

Jar Tirma:

We had just finished eating our dinner.

The three berths on our side of the cubicle were still empty. The Ticket checker had told us that they were booked from Vadodara.

There is nothing much to do on the train once you have eaten your dinner.

Every one wants to sleep early and hence the lights need to be turned off. I listened to my ipod for a while before falling asleep in the middle berth.

I could see Dad sleeping from my berth. The doctor had done little more than sleep since the start of the journey. He was still sleeping.

‘Kind attention please!!! There is a child ill in A2. If we have any doctors traveling with us, could they please attend to the child in berth number 56. Thank you’ I heard the announcement from the speakers.

I looked down under my berth hoping that the doctor had heard the announcement and would leave to attend to the child. The doctor did not move.

The announcement was repeated after five minutes. The doctor continued to sleep.

I got down from my berth and shook him.

‘Can you not go and look at the child’ I queried.

‘I am not a pediatrician. I am specializing in cardiology’ the doctor replied before going back to sleep.

I looked up at the roof in frustration before climbing back to my berth and trying to sleep.

I had just managed to sleep when I felt someone stamping my hand. I opened my eyes to find a little kid climbing into the upper berth.

There seemed to be lot of commotion around. I heard heated exchanges between the military man and a female. I peeped out of my blanket to see what all the noise was about.

I heard a female voice arrogantly answering the military man.

From where I was, I could make out the Pink outline of the ladies dress. I could also see her hands. Her hands were covered with bangles. There was a beautiful red henna design on her hands. She must have recently married I thought. I raised my blanket a little further trying to look at her face. I could see her breasts heave as she spoke. I looked down at her legs. She was wearing a intricately designed footwear. Her legs were fair and beautiful.

The commotion seemed to grow louder, pulling me out of the trance.

From the noise around I guessed that there were two ladies and a male. I felt sorry for the military man.

‘This is India’ I heard the newly married woman in pink comment sarcastically.

I wondered if she had ever traveled outside the country. I had heard enough to start hating her regardless of how beautiful she could have been.

It was all the fault of the doctor. If only, he had not carried so much luggage everyone would have had places to keep theirs.

After about thirty minutes the commotion seemed to die down. Once everyone had settled, I climbed down and walked to the restroom feeling annoyed at being woken up in the middle of the night. It was 12:15 in my watch.

Trains were such a nightmare these days. I decided then and there that I would never take the train again. Flights were so much better.

I was even more annoyed about the journey when I learnt from dad that he had pulled one of our bags and placed in under his legs to make room for other people’s luggage.

Dad was complaining about lack of sleep the next morning.

There was little to gain from arguing with dad. After all was it not people like Dad who made the world worth living in?

X ------------------------------------------------- X

Doctor:

I had finally received a call from Manipal medical college. I was elated because now I could continue with my post graduation in Cardiology. Mom was also very happy.

Mom had been packing stuff for me to carry to the college, for a week now. Mattress, bed spreads, dresses, edibles there was so much luggage I had to carry.

I got to the station early and paid a Coolie to move the bags to my coach. Luckily no one had come to our cubicle. I placed all the bags under the lowest berth and sat down heaving a sign of relief.

The journey was such a nightmare with the arrogant boy and his dad. The uncle was kind and amicable but this boy was constantly trying to get at me.

The boy woke me up in the middle of my sleep and asked me to attend to some kid who was not well. The last thing I wanted was to get mixed up with a medical complication. I was still studying and either way, why should I have cared for a kid who was probably having nothing more than a bad stomach. I went back to sleep.

There seemed to be so much commotion that night some ladies were shouting. I pulled the blanket around my head not wanting to be involved in the fight.

It is a shame. I wonder where our country is headed, with all these arrogant people.

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