‘A haunting journey’

That was on 2^nd June 2009, I wanted to travel in the Trivandrum express which was scheduled to depart from Chennai central at 15:25 hrs standard Indian railway time. I was rushing through the platform towards the third class compartment after realizing that the reserved ticket of mine was not confirmed. I had no other choice than travelling in the third class compartment as the next day was chosen for the ‘Griha pravesam’ of my newly built house. The compartment was so crowded that I couldn’t even place both my feet together on the floor. I just had a look at the people those who were sitting in the nearby seats. An old gentleman was just looking at me and we both exchanged one simple smile.  The ‘Vibhoothi mark’ on his forehead was saying that he was a hard Hindu devotee. The train started moving and the old man also started speaking with his neighboring passengers. He was kindly requesting the co-passengers those who were sitting to adjust themselves to accommodate one or two more in the seats. Thus, three more could sit in that row and they exchanged their kind thanks to the old man through their pleasant smiles. I was still standing just beside him and he asked me to move adjacent to the man sitting opposite to him as he was about to get down in the next stop. Thus I too expressed my sincere gratitude to the old man through my smile. He was laughing and said some slogans of ‘Bhagavath githa’. He was very talkative to everyone sitting in that entire row. He mostly spoke in Tamil and was capable of translating things to Hindi and English too. He said that he was a railway employee and started speaking about the benefits for the railway employees. Though he said many things to me, I just shook my head and never opened my mouth. At last he succeeded in his attempt by asking me whether I am a Malayalee or not.

                I could not keep my mouth shut for quite a while as he started speaking in Malayalam. He said he was a native of Kollam and was on a journey back to Kollam after 40 long years of stay in Chennai. He again started his old times stories to everyone with convincing quotes from all religious texts. He showed a few bills to everyone to convince us that he was still getting 50% discount from all railway canteens and some other bill was to convey that all his luggage and things were coming in the luggage carrier bogie of the same train. He also asked my help for the next day morning to collect all his things from the Kollam railway station. The train was then about to reach Jolarpettai, after which the train would not have any stops during the next two to three hours of its journey. The old man advised everyone to get their food from Jolarpettai as it was already 6.30PM. Suddenly he started collecting money from everyone and said that he was going to get food from the railway canteen for 50% discounted rate and would collect food for everyone. At last, he came to me also and I just refused his offer saying that I had bought bananas and biscuits for my dinner. The train was about to reach Jolarpettai and suddenly the old man came closer to me and asked for 1000 rupee’s change. I said sorry as I did not have more than 500 rupees in my purse. He once again requested me to check for how much money I had in my purse. I just opened my purse with great distress and it had one 500 rupee note. The old man was very happy to see that 500 rupee note and he requested me to give that note and he guaranteed its return soon after his arrival after getting the food. I just hesitated to give the money. The old man was still hopeful on me and I just had a flash back of all his conversation with us. My hand slowly went inside the purse and touched the 500 rupee note. My brain said “No….No…..No” but my heart said “How will you say ‘no’? He helped you to get a seat and more over he is an innocent fellow”. I just listened to my heart and gave him that 500 rupee note. He just got down at Jolarpettai and slowly disappeared into the mob. The man sitting beside me asked “Will he come back?”. Every one kept silent for a while and suddenly the train’s loud horn broke all the silence. Train slowly started moving. I felt my heart beating louder than the train. I was still looking at the platform. Slowly Jolarpettai station and my innocent hopes were swallowed by the darkness. Everybody looked at each other and said “He was a genius”. I just opened my bag and took one banana and started chewing that slowly to cover up my mixed emotions. They once again said “He was a genius in his own profession”!!.

                                                                                                                                                    

- Akhilesan.S