Nameste to everyone. If there is anything i can wish for then I would wish to be young forever, but is this something really possible ? I hope not as far as i am aware of the recent developments in the world of science and technology. But why old age and not poverty or something which is impacting the nation badly ?
The answer is because even if you are poor but young you can still manage things with some difficulty if not smoothly whereas even if you are rich but the bones are loosening, wrinkles are ready to come off the skin and there is hardly any energy left in you and you have lost the zeal to live, you would not think of anything but dying your own death.
Probably this story is about one of its kind. Most of the time in our life it's the small things which we do matters more than the change of a life time. Often it is those small gestures or incidents which compels or motivates you to do something. Journey of or by a train is something which can give you an experience of a world tour. I am sorry, i am exaggerating it but it literally has not only taught me things but have helped me develop a sense of understanding.
It happened to be one of such incidents where i along with my cousin was traveling from Delhi to Patna. Since it was not a planned journey and we got to know about it only before the day of travel, we couldn't get the tickets booked. Somehow i stood in a long line for a general ticket and managed to get it only after an hour, but thank god it was before the train left and we managed to get into the train.
Though we weren't supposed to get into the sleeper coach still we got in because we couldn't collect the courage to get into the over crowded general compartment. Someone has rightly said that money can't buy everything but thank god that it could buy something. We paid fine to the TTE and were allowed to travel in sleeper compartment now.
If i talk about my nature then i would like to tell you that i find it very tough to ask someone for a favour but certainly travelling on your feet for 17 hours is not feasible option either. I asked my cousin if he could get in the compartment and could look for a seat for himself while i was pushed in one corner of the gate by the crowd. My cousin managed to get in and not only he convinced someone to share a seat with himself but got one for me too. We were delighted to have gotten a seat while everyone standing here and there was watching at us with some hope.
I started interacting with people to avoid any protest about the seat. While interacting with people my eyes stopped at an old man who was sitting on the floor of the train. He was barefooted with a "Jhola" and a "Lathi". He looked 80+ with his age, wearing tattered "Dhoti" and "Kurta". Everytime someone passed from there he had to move his "Jhola" to give space. I asked him yo come and sit beside me. He said he would rather sit on the floor as it is more spacious. I took the newspaper out if my bag and gave it to him to sit on it. He took the newspaper, spread it on the floor and sat on it. After few minutes he took a packet of biscuit from his "Jhola" and started eating. He was not even carrying a water bottle. I asked him if he needed water, he did not say anything but looked at me with optimism with a dry and chocked mouth. I bought two bottles of water and gave one to him. He took the bottle, drank half of it in one go and blessed me for my wellbeing.
Baba why are you traveling alone, you are too old - i said.
I had come to delhi to see my grandson - he said.
Where does he live ? What does he do ? - i asked.
I don't know but someone in the village had told me that he has gone to delhi that is why I came here in search of him - he said.
Do you have his phone number or address ? - i asked.
No - he replied.
Have you gone mad - I shouted at him as if he was my own grandfather and i was a 3 year old kid then i was quick to reclaim my voice. I kept looking at him
In disguise and he was looking at me with helpless watery eyes.
"Baba" Delhi is too big to find a person without identity, it is not your village - i said. Where did you live as you were not able to find your grandson ? - i asked.
I used to sleep on footpath and haven't had anything for the last two days except few biscuits with water. Everyone in the compartment had their eyes reeking after listening to him.
My "Maasi" had made "Litti" for us for the journey. I gave him 4 litti's while someone offered him a cup of tea. He had two litti's instantly and kept the other two in his "Jhola". After eating, he looked more energetic and blessed us for our well being many a times. He also started sharing stories about himself and that is when We came to know that he used to be a "Wrestler" and used to do "Kushti" in his village and his age was already running over 100. Infact 105 to be very precise as per what he said, we were struck by this fact. We had some very good time after we gelled up with him and after listening to his stories. It was already 11 pm, we made some space for him so that he could sleep and by the time we woke up in the morning it was already 6 and we had almost reached patna. We collected all our belongings and packed our bags. While de-boarding the train, i gave him ₹500 and DE-boarded while he kept watching and blessing me with both the hands. This story ended in the train but the life still smithereens.
