Over-bridge of mulund station.It was a noisy place where crowd was never stationary,we were waiting there for announcement of our train to LTT.To my left there was a group of youngsters chit chatting about latest trends,movies etc.As my sight shifted loitering amongst the crowd and passing through "criss-cross"metal wire fencing of the over-bridge ,it was brought at rest at the incompletely laid railway track where 4-5 people were busy aligning the flower "mogra" to form a gajra (jasmine garlands used by Indian women for decorating there hair bun),they hardly exchanged a word with each other and were busy with their work.Crowd was at its usual unrest and the noise was the same,comprising that of footsteps,chattering,announcement of trains etc,i felt a bit uneasy and turned around,my sight was now shifted to "end of that incompletely laid track".The track ended under the concreted shade of a flyover parallel to the railway over-bridge.There were numerous colorful "gatthars" placed under that bridge and the iron track had an abrupt end over there!.
Two elderly ladies were seated on those "gatthars",wearing burka but having there faces disclosed.Also there were two dogs sleeping besides them.By the elderly's gestures i presumed that they were into some conversation,but on a closer glance i found out that the two ladies were dumb as the lips barely exhibited any movement,gestures were the only scope for communication between them.
Just then the arrival of our train was announced and disregarding the temporary halting observations i was again a part of the very same "ABSURD CROWD".
scene 2
I was going through the story "Mulberry tree" by khushwant singh,laying myself at ease on a reserved seat.There was a saint (sadhu baba ji) sharing the next reserved seat of a gentleman on an excuse that he lost his ticket and will be getting off just after three stations.The saint was being an on way fore teller to the gentleman by boasting of his sixth sense and face reading skills,in the meantime narrator of "mulberry tree",who was a true atheist was clutched by the prophetic charm of some "Shani baba".The gentleman on the next seat to me was spell bounded by the saint,they continued with each other and so did i with the story.At the climax of the story narrator realized "shani baba" dealt with his 100 bucks in a very clever manner,narrator was disgusted as shani baba took an advantage of his emotional dilemma. I smiled and turned towards the next seat for current scenario,the gentleman was giving a Rs.50 note to the saint with a broad smile of satisfaction on his face.I burst out into a loud laughter but ended up looking into the pages of book that convinced the gentleman as well as saint that i was no one but a "too lost reader".
scene 3
Don't remember the station's name,i was just peeping out from the train window then.On the platform there were 2 fellows busy with their cellphones,following walk when you talk idea.Both of them took near about 5-6 steps and then a around turn,it was a consistent procedure since last few minutes i was noticing.Coincidentally they turned around at the same time,eyes met and they waved happily to each other.One of the two was about to disconnect his phone call for proper meeting but the other fellow was through his consistent steps so turned around.First one felt offended by this behaviour of his acquaintance.After few seconds other one was about to disconnect for the very same reason that the first one had but expectedly even he got the same response.In all both were offended and continued entertaining their telephonic acquaintances.Surely distances are closer now a days.
scene 4
Fire-flies are very common in India esp. in dark regions like jungles and farms.12 AM,darkness was prevailing outside and inside as well,train was passing by a region of fire flies that were uncountable and beautiful.It seemed as if they were the stars on ground.Somehow by the wind a pair of fire-fly got inside the compartment,one got dead the moment it was blown inside but the other survived.The light given out by the living one could hardly be ignored.That particular fly was totally insignificant till it was in lost in millions but once into the compartment it was one in a million.It is not about how you shine but probably it is about how you survive to shine at the best place meant for you.
sometimes delays are best that can happen....
ReplyDeletefew years ago I had experienced a delay, me and my whole family including my grandma were heading to Nasik, we were so much involved in each other that we hardly noticed the train being stuck at same place from last 8 hours....
But just a few days ago, I was moving to Rajnandgaon to visit my relatives, I started hating Indian Rail for a one and half hour delay..... in a two hour journey.. ;) :)
sometimes this and sometimes that :)
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