Ever since I read Chetan Bhagat’s “One night at the call Center”, I long for the
same fortunate incident befalling, each time I travel on trains . This time was
no different. I was travelling from Hyderabad to Kolkatta- two cities known for
their mesmerising beauty.
I boarded the train
as quickly as I could, and in anticipation went on to enquire the reservation
chart. To my surprise and excitement I found few gals near my berth!
All these time I kept on feeling jealous of Chetan Bhagat,
who found a young and beautiful lady on a vacant train-A journey that made him
prolific and earned him millions. A vacant train is of course a tale of the
past. Of late the railway has earned a dubious reputation of mismanagement.
It has been almost 10
years, since I am travelling on trains, but never could I find a young and
beautiful lady in and around my berth. Aunties with kids are my all time favorite !
Still there is always a meek chance –That’s the beauty of human psychology! One doesn't lose one’s hope until and unless a conclusion is met. I, being one of
the optimists, kept on hoping for that magic to bechance.
I was waiting in anticipation to have a glimpse of my
companion, when suddenly I saw a couple of lady approaching toward me.In no time they were seated beside my birth. Thank god I had
a side birth which guaranteed luck together with safety-if in case I find it uninteresting!
One of the ladies among them was mentally challenged. I
could not stop myself uttering Burfy.( The lead character of a recent Bollywood movie)- Whispering just as loud to be heard by
me. And that’s how my journey started.
The next few hours I was completely lost in her world of
fantasy, truthfulness and freedom blended with her incapability and challenges.
For the first time I realized it is easier to take care of a newborn child than
the kind I was looking.
Her life was still like, that of a new born child, except
that she was a bit grown up physically. Her emotional part was quite evident
and I wondered why god has given her, that side of the human quality in plenty.
At one moment she was happy like a Princes and the very next moment she was sad
and remorseful, sometime crying out loud and complaining to her mother. She was
completely indulged in her own world. Once I had heard a friend describing why
she needs a pack of drink before she goes in a pub. If she has to be believed, People need it
(drinks) to swipe out the worldly concerns and get rid of the thoughts of what
people might think. And when they are drunk, they are in the state of eternal
peace and with a carefree soul. Burfy
had this privilege by default.
As the journey commenced further, I slowly started losing hope
for any miracle to happen. I started browsing my FB account, where I came
through an interesting post. It said “The Indian railway uses an algorithm for
berth allocation” I could not stop myself smiling, when suddenly I noticed a well
equipped and beautiful (I should say that) probably in her mid 20’s taking the
seat opposite to me. Well equipped because I could notice a lot of accessories
adorned on her body. She wore a pair of long earrings, big translucent goggles
revealing her beautiful eyes, Lot of fancy finger rings with colored polished
nails and a pearl necklace hanging between her things, almost trying to
infiltrate through. From the moment she came, she had her mobile phone hidden
within her dense curly hairs. The train sped up, and I wondered which network
she was using, that she kept her conversation on and on with ease. My mystical
smile looking at both the ladies and the FB post would definitely have
flattered her.
Wondering what
algorithm would have been used for this strange allocation, I went on the upper
birth and felled asleep until a coolie waked me up at the Howrah station.
I came out of the train and looked for my companions around.
At one corner I found Burfy delighted
to meet her relatives, just then my eyes caught the attention of my other
companion still busy with her cell phone. This time I gave a more distinct
smile and walked away, wondering what I would think of while boarding a train
next time.
