जीवन के उलझे रास्तो पर
मैं मंजिल नयी बनाता हूँ
हर कोशिश में कुछ पाने की
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
कुछ दोस्त मिले कुछ चले गए
कुछ रह कर भी अपने ना रहे
हर रस्ते पर हर मंजिल पे
मैं नए दोस्त बनाता हूँ
कोशिश में पाने की दोस्त नए
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
कभी जशनो में मैं मिलता हूँ
कभी सूरज सा मैं ढलता हूँ
जैसा मैं सबको पता हूँ मैं वैसा ही बन जाता हूँ
हर दिन एक रूप बदलने में
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
कुछ हैं जो मेरे अपने है
कुछ सच है और कुछ सपने है
कुछ खुद आकर मिल जाते है
कुछ से मैं मिलने जाता हूँ
हर सपने को सच में बदलने में
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
कभी तूफानी बरसातो में
कागज की नाव बनाता हूँ
कभी आंधी और तेज हवाओ में
मैं दीपक नए जलाता हूँ
इन दीपक की लौ के उजालो में
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
कभी बिलकुल स्थिर मैं रहता हूँ
कुछ सुनता हूँ कुछ कहता हूँ
कोई नया लक्ष्य जो मिला मुझे
मैं नदियों सा बह जाता हूँ
बहते बहते रुकते चलते
मैं खुद से ही मिल जाता हूँ
Friday, January 15, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
I Quit
I had heard a lot about him. Most of the people told me bad things about him but I noticed that he was very good friend of many. I used to wonder how come everyone knows him. First time, I met him around 6 years back. I never thought that he will become my friend but somehow I started liking him. With each passing day our relation became stronger. It has become my habit to meet him 4-5 times a day. He was well adjusted in my circle and his presence had become necessary in all our gatherings.
My life with him was going great and suddenly one day things started changing. I was returning from my office and as usual I decided to meet him. We spend good time. While returning, suddenly I started feeling that someone is behind me…someone bad. I knew his intentions are to hurt me or probably kill me. I was afraid. My forehead was wet with sweat and my heartbeat became faster. I collected all my courage and turned back………………………..No one was there.
After that day this fear became part of my life. I started feeling the same thing again and again. I was wondering why anyone would want to kill me. Sometimes, I even noticed a dangerous shadow behind me sometimes but every time when I turned back, I found no one but a dark silence in the air. I knew something wrong is going on and I was sure I am in some big danger. I was really tensed and then I decided to meet “Uncle Sam”
Uncle Sam has got expertise in handling such cases. I went to his office which was full of big horrible machines and strange instruments. I was surprised to see the long queue of people waiting to meet him. I waited long to enter into his personal cabin. He was wearing a long overcoat and something strange was hanging around his neck. Uncle Sam asked me many questions and I honestly answered each of them. After a long discussion he gave me some instruction and asked me to go. He promised me that he will solve the problem.
I came out of Uncle Sam’s office and I felt a strong urge to meet my friend. I realized that I miss him more when I am in some kind of tension. I also realized that in such situations, his company gives me lot of support and relaxation. As I met him I again felt the same thing. Someone was definitely behind me with cruel intentions to kill me. I turned back and I found nothing. My fear was increasing day by day.
Life was moving on with same experiences till that day Uncle Sam called me and asked me to come to his office. I rushed towards his office. He asked me to sit on a long comfortable chair and instructed me to close my eyes. I knew that he has solved this mystery. After 5 minutes, picture of some past incident started appearing in front of my eyes. It was the same day when I had this frightening feeling for the first time. My eyes were closed but I was in full conscious. Whole scenario of that day started moving like a movie.
I am returning from my office…... I decided to meet him…..I am walking. I felt someone behind me….. I am afraid….I collected all my courage and turned back………………………..ohhh My God. Its you.
I cannot believe this. It was him… my friend. He had a big knife in his hand and his intention where clear….stab me. I opened my eyes. Uncle Sam was smiling.
Uncle Sam: This is why everyone says he is a bad guy. Whosoever becomes his friend initially likes him but he kills many of them….slowly.
I had understood everything. In past 6 year he had become part of my life but now the time has come to take a big decision. Uncle Sam was looking towards me and I knew that he wants to ask that what I am going to do.
I said: “I QUIT”
“We don’t smoke the cigarette. Cigarette smokes us. We are just suckers”
Cast:
Me: Anyone who has quit smoking
My Friend (and the killer)- Cigarette
Uncle Sam: Any doctor you can think of
[The Idea of this story was given by my friend Kirti Singh. I am writing his name to avoid any kind of controversy (like 3 idiot-Chetan Bhagat) incase this post becomes super hit.]
My life with him was going great and suddenly one day things started changing. I was returning from my office and as usual I decided to meet him. We spend good time. While returning, suddenly I started feeling that someone is behind me…someone bad. I knew his intentions are to hurt me or probably kill me. I was afraid. My forehead was wet with sweat and my heartbeat became faster. I collected all my courage and turned back………………………..No one was there.
After that day this fear became part of my life. I started feeling the same thing again and again. I was wondering why anyone would want to kill me. Sometimes, I even noticed a dangerous shadow behind me sometimes but every time when I turned back, I found no one but a dark silence in the air. I knew something wrong is going on and I was sure I am in some big danger. I was really tensed and then I decided to meet “Uncle Sam”
Uncle Sam has got expertise in handling such cases. I went to his office which was full of big horrible machines and strange instruments. I was surprised to see the long queue of people waiting to meet him. I waited long to enter into his personal cabin. He was wearing a long overcoat and something strange was hanging around his neck. Uncle Sam asked me many questions and I honestly answered each of them. After a long discussion he gave me some instruction and asked me to go. He promised me that he will solve the problem.
I came out of Uncle Sam’s office and I felt a strong urge to meet my friend. I realized that I miss him more when I am in some kind of tension. I also realized that in such situations, his company gives me lot of support and relaxation. As I met him I again felt the same thing. Someone was definitely behind me with cruel intentions to kill me. I turned back and I found nothing. My fear was increasing day by day.
Life was moving on with same experiences till that day Uncle Sam called me and asked me to come to his office. I rushed towards his office. He asked me to sit on a long comfortable chair and instructed me to close my eyes. I knew that he has solved this mystery. After 5 minutes, picture of some past incident started appearing in front of my eyes. It was the same day when I had this frightening feeling for the first time. My eyes were closed but I was in full conscious. Whole scenario of that day started moving like a movie.
I am returning from my office…... I decided to meet him…..I am walking. I felt someone behind me….. I am afraid….I collected all my courage and turned back………………………..ohhh My God. Its you.
I cannot believe this. It was him… my friend. He had a big knife in his hand and his intention where clear….stab me. I opened my eyes. Uncle Sam was smiling.
Uncle Sam: This is why everyone says he is a bad guy. Whosoever becomes his friend initially likes him but he kills many of them….slowly.
I had understood everything. In past 6 year he had become part of my life but now the time has come to take a big decision. Uncle Sam was looking towards me and I knew that he wants to ask that what I am going to do.
I said: “I QUIT”
“We don’t smoke the cigarette. Cigarette smokes us. We are just suckers”
Cast:
Me: Anyone who has quit smoking
My Friend (and the killer)- Cigarette
Uncle Sam: Any doctor you can think of
[The Idea of this story was given by my friend Kirti Singh. I am writing his name to avoid any kind of controversy (like 3 idiot-Chetan Bhagat) incase this post becomes super hit.]
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Perception
It was chilling evening and I was moving on a long straight road. Half constructed apartments were trying to register their presence in my mind but I was more interested in the loneliness of that road. No vehicles, no shops, no crowd…just the sound of chilling air, which was penetrating my skin to reach the bones of my body.
Suddenly, my legs stopped in front of a small park. Something forced me to move towards the park and I saw some kids playing in the park. Few more steps and noticed a little girl sitting on a wooden bench at one corner of the park. Something attracted me towards her. As I was approaching her, I noticed that she is not older than 5-6 years. I could not see her face because she was wearing a red woolen cap and looking downwards. At first instant I thought she is sleeping but then I realized that she is in deep thinking mode. Her small legs were stretched over the bench making a small part of her leg hanging in air.
As I sat on the same bench, she lifted her head and turned towards me. For few seconds, I was just lost in the cuteness of her face. Dark black eyes, small round face with pinkish white cheeks. The red cap covering her head and ears was making her even prettier. She was quite and did not speak anything; rather she closed her eyes and moved her head downwards again. I dint know why but a thought came in to my mind and I started a conversation.
I: Why are you sad little girl?
She (in sweeter than her face voice): I am not sad, I am thinking
(Impressed; this wasn’t the kind of answer I was expecting.)
I: What are you thinking?
She: I am thinking about a friend of mine, actually, the best friend of mine.
I: Ok. So he/she is not with you and you don’t have anyone else to play with (I made a guess)
She: I have lot of friends but I don’t want to play with them. I am waiting for him and if he comes, we will play otherwise I will go home (she said in her careless voice)
I: So where is your friend? Why did not he come? Where does he live? (I was wondering why I am asking so many questions to this small kid)
She: I don’t know. I met him here few days back. He was alone and he was white. When I saw him, he was hiding under that bush. Probably, he was afraid of something. Then I helped him to come out. He was small and he also had a cute small tail. He was not dirty like other doggies on the street. I gave him my toffee and he kissed me on my shoes. Then, we became friends and we started playing. Everyday, in evening, we used to play for hours and then I stopped playing with my old friends.
(I was not expecting that she is talking about any puppy or dog but I did not change my expressions, rather, I became more curious.)
I: Then?
She: We had become best friend. We enjoyed each others company. I even left playing with all my friends. Then one day, I went to my grandmom’s place for few days. When I returned, he was not here. I searched for him but I could not find him. I was sad and I cried. Every evening, I came here to search him. Yesterday I saw him playing with some other kid. I went to him but he ignored me. I stood there for many minutes but he did not come to me. When I returned to home, I cried again and mummy told me that she would bring me another puppy. But now, I don’t like any other puppy.
I: hmmm, that is sad. But how can you consider him your best friend when you know that he left you and now he is playing with someone else?
She: He is my best friend because I like him. May be, he left me because of some reason. May be he was hurt because I left him for few days or he met with some problems when I was not here. Right now I am thinking that whether I should go to him once more or not. May be he will recognize me this time.
This was a strange explanation which I could not understand, probably because I can not think like a kid…..pure and honest. I was not even sure what I should say to that kid. I just smiled and get up to move. I noticed that the girl has again made the same gesture in which I saw her when I entered in park. Many thoughts were moving in my mind but I could not figure them out.
Suddenly, my legs stopped in front of a small park. Something forced me to move towards the park and I saw some kids playing in the park. Few more steps and noticed a little girl sitting on a wooden bench at one corner of the park. Something attracted me towards her. As I was approaching her, I noticed that she is not older than 5-6 years. I could not see her face because she was wearing a red woolen cap and looking downwards. At first instant I thought she is sleeping but then I realized that she is in deep thinking mode. Her small legs were stretched over the bench making a small part of her leg hanging in air.
As I sat on the same bench, she lifted her head and turned towards me. For few seconds, I was just lost in the cuteness of her face. Dark black eyes, small round face with pinkish white cheeks. The red cap covering her head and ears was making her even prettier. She was quite and did not speak anything; rather she closed her eyes and moved her head downwards again. I dint know why but a thought came in to my mind and I started a conversation.
I: Why are you sad little girl?
She (in sweeter than her face voice): I am not sad, I am thinking
(Impressed; this wasn’t the kind of answer I was expecting.)
I: What are you thinking?
She: I am thinking about a friend of mine, actually, the best friend of mine.
I: Ok. So he/she is not with you and you don’t have anyone else to play with (I made a guess)
She: I have lot of friends but I don’t want to play with them. I am waiting for him and if he comes, we will play otherwise I will go home (she said in her careless voice)
I: So where is your friend? Why did not he come? Where does he live? (I was wondering why I am asking so many questions to this small kid)
She: I don’t know. I met him here few days back. He was alone and he was white. When I saw him, he was hiding under that bush. Probably, he was afraid of something. Then I helped him to come out. He was small and he also had a cute small tail. He was not dirty like other doggies on the street. I gave him my toffee and he kissed me on my shoes. Then, we became friends and we started playing. Everyday, in evening, we used to play for hours and then I stopped playing with my old friends.
(I was not expecting that she is talking about any puppy or dog but I did not change my expressions, rather, I became more curious.)
I: Then?
She: We had become best friend. We enjoyed each others company. I even left playing with all my friends. Then one day, I went to my grandmom’s place for few days. When I returned, he was not here. I searched for him but I could not find him. I was sad and I cried. Every evening, I came here to search him. Yesterday I saw him playing with some other kid. I went to him but he ignored me. I stood there for many minutes but he did not come to me. When I returned to home, I cried again and mummy told me that she would bring me another puppy. But now, I don’t like any other puppy.
I: hmmm, that is sad. But how can you consider him your best friend when you know that he left you and now he is playing with someone else?
She: He is my best friend because I like him. May be, he left me because of some reason. May be he was hurt because I left him for few days or he met with some problems when I was not here. Right now I am thinking that whether I should go to him once more or not. May be he will recognize me this time.
This was a strange explanation which I could not understand, probably because I can not think like a kid…..pure and honest. I was not even sure what I should say to that kid. I just smiled and get up to move. I noticed that the girl has again made the same gesture in which I saw her when I entered in park. Many thoughts were moving in my mind but I could not figure them out.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
BREAK-UP
Every story, whether it is long or short, good or bad has an end. Important factor is that, how it ends. Fortunately, I have lot of friends, all of them having different characters and different way of thinking. More importantly, I got chance to be the evidence of many love relations of many of my friends.
Those who got a chance to be in love know that it is a beautiful feeling which can not be expressed in words. But many of the love relations have a serious negative outcome which is called “BREAK-UP”.
Break-up Type I- Male driven break-up: I am starting with this kind of break-up because this has been the most dominating since past especially in Tier II and Tier III cities. Guy starts the relation as a time pass element and girl (mostly simple girls of middle or lower middle class) becomes too senti. Girl starts thinking about the name of their unborn kids. But suddenly guy starts feeling that “yaar ye to chipak gayi hai”. OR he gets a better looking girl. BREAK-UP. Poor girl cry a lot and for really long time. She calls up the guy many times and asks “what wrong did I do”. Well, you did not do anything wrong, rather you did the right thing with a wrong guy. In simple words, he is BA*T*RD and does not deserve to be with you.
Break-up Type II- Female driven break-up: CAGR of this type of break-up has been around 20% in last 5 years. Future market is also very promising. Mostly happens when a smart, Tier I city girl gets involve with a simple guy. The guy goes to pick the girl every day from her coaching, driving 20 k.m. on his bike. One day when he reaches the coaching, he sees the girl moving away with a guy having car or at least better looking bike. BREAK-UP. This time guy cries a lot (mostly when he is drunk). In many cases, guy calls up the girt and tells her that he will kill her. He he he, boss, you are not going to do anything like this. If you really want to do something, find a right girl for you
Break-up Type III- Selection driven break-up: Both love each other but the problem is that they are not compatible. Problem starts when no one is ready to compromise. Fir kya….Roj roj ke jhagde. Some examples:
“See, I don’t like you talking to guys, have you ever seen me talking to other girls” ( hmmm over possessive)
“Ofcourse I love you but this is very good opportunity for my professional life…cant you wait for few more years” (The sensitive and the ambitious)
“Nooo I don’t talk to her now. She was my past. (Shak…what the F**K)
In such kind of break-up, they unite many times after saying “Its over” but ultimately they separate.
Compromise is an important part of relation. Words like perfect match do not exist, perfect relation does.
Break-up Type IV- Destiny driven break-up: We were the perfect match but…..
Whenever I think about love relation, I consider 4 factors which make the relation successful. Love, respect, understanding and compatibility. This couple has it all but there are some other things which affect a relation. In most of the cases this thing is “parents”.
They always had an option to run away but somehow they could not do it. Some experts (including me) don’t like to use the word break-up for such kind of end but that does not matter.
Life of both ends becomes difficult and only time heals the pain. Although, in their hearts, the relation lives forever.
“Hum dil de chuke sanam” and “Rab ne bana di jodi” becomes their favorite movie because they try to relate them selves with the characters.
What ever is the kind of break-up, life becomes difficult for some time (unless you have advance degree in flirting). Jagjit Singh suddenly becomes the favorite singer and watching space becomes favorite sport. Public gatherings become torture and many of friends become enemies. Many of the acquaintances (some friends also) make fun of their break-up and feel like winner. “Dekha….maine kaha tha unka relation nahi chalega”
Some friends, who understand the situation, become close during this time. Most among these friends (the intellectual or nice ones) do not speak much, they just hear. Some speak also: “Dood I understand you. When I broke-up with my girl, I did not eat for 10 days”.
I feel that life always gives you some reasons to restart. Bad things come and go in life and the only thing which remains forever is “Memories”. You will always find a reason to smile if you want to. One of my favorite lines says that:
KAHANI KE ANT ME SAB THEEK HO JATA HAI AUR AGAR THEEK NAHI HUA TO SAMJHO KAHANI ABHI KHATAM NAHI HUI HAI”
Those who got a chance to be in love know that it is a beautiful feeling which can not be expressed in words. But many of the love relations have a serious negative outcome which is called “BREAK-UP”.
Break-up Type I- Male driven break-up: I am starting with this kind of break-up because this has been the most dominating since past especially in Tier II and Tier III cities. Guy starts the relation as a time pass element and girl (mostly simple girls of middle or lower middle class) becomes too senti. Girl starts thinking about the name of their unborn kids. But suddenly guy starts feeling that “yaar ye to chipak gayi hai”. OR he gets a better looking girl. BREAK-UP. Poor girl cry a lot and for really long time. She calls up the guy many times and asks “what wrong did I do”. Well, you did not do anything wrong, rather you did the right thing with a wrong guy. In simple words, he is BA*T*RD and does not deserve to be with you.
Break-up Type II- Female driven break-up: CAGR of this type of break-up has been around 20% in last 5 years. Future market is also very promising. Mostly happens when a smart, Tier I city girl gets involve with a simple guy. The guy goes to pick the girl every day from her coaching, driving 20 k.m. on his bike. One day when he reaches the coaching, he sees the girl moving away with a guy having car or at least better looking bike. BREAK-UP. This time guy cries a lot (mostly when he is drunk). In many cases, guy calls up the girt and tells her that he will kill her. He he he, boss, you are not going to do anything like this. If you really want to do something, find a right girl for you
Break-up Type III- Selection driven break-up: Both love each other but the problem is that they are not compatible. Problem starts when no one is ready to compromise. Fir kya….Roj roj ke jhagde. Some examples:
“See, I don’t like you talking to guys, have you ever seen me talking to other girls” ( hmmm over possessive)
“Ofcourse I love you but this is very good opportunity for my professional life…cant you wait for few more years” (The sensitive and the ambitious)
“Nooo I don’t talk to her now. She was my past. (Shak…what the F**K)
In such kind of break-up, they unite many times after saying “Its over” but ultimately they separate.
Compromise is an important part of relation. Words like perfect match do not exist, perfect relation does.
Break-up Type IV- Destiny driven break-up: We were the perfect match but…..
Whenever I think about love relation, I consider 4 factors which make the relation successful. Love, respect, understanding and compatibility. This couple has it all but there are some other things which affect a relation. In most of the cases this thing is “parents”.
They always had an option to run away but somehow they could not do it. Some experts (including me) don’t like to use the word break-up for such kind of end but that does not matter.
Life of both ends becomes difficult and only time heals the pain. Although, in their hearts, the relation lives forever.
“Hum dil de chuke sanam” and “Rab ne bana di jodi” becomes their favorite movie because they try to relate them selves with the characters.
What ever is the kind of break-up, life becomes difficult for some time (unless you have advance degree in flirting). Jagjit Singh suddenly becomes the favorite singer and watching space becomes favorite sport. Public gatherings become torture and many of friends become enemies. Many of the acquaintances (some friends also) make fun of their break-up and feel like winner. “Dekha….maine kaha tha unka relation nahi chalega”
Some friends, who understand the situation, become close during this time. Most among these friends (the intellectual or nice ones) do not speak much, they just hear. Some speak also: “Dood I understand you. When I broke-up with my girl, I did not eat for 10 days”.
I feel that life always gives you some reasons to restart. Bad things come and go in life and the only thing which remains forever is “Memories”. You will always find a reason to smile if you want to. One of my favorite lines says that:
KAHANI KE ANT ME SAB THEEK HO JATA HAI AUR AGAR THEEK NAHI HUA TO SAMJHO KAHANI ABHI KHATAM NAHI HUI HAI”
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Night & The Train
Year 2002, the city in UP where you can find more number of foreigners than cows on street, the city where you can find more number of temples than chai ki dukan, the city where you can find a university bigger than some countries (sorry for exaggerating). VARANASI.
I was there to give a try to my dream of being a doctor. My life was really wonderful and full of excitement. Wake up at 5 in the morning......study for continuous 3 hours (unless pressure of inevitability comes). Breakfast around 8 and then... study. Lunch at 1 and then.... study, coaching classes from 3 to 7 and there… study. Hear Altaf Raja’s “tum to thahre pardesi” in auto (most of the time while returning from coaching) and after reaching home.... study . I loved my life there.
One of my friends was also there for preparation. We were kind of young and energetic that time and we had promised ourselves that “Kuch bhi ho….phod dena hai”. I used to visit my hometown, Faizabad, once in 2 months and our favorite train was ‘Sialdah Express”. We used to travel without ticket in general compartment at that time and every travel was around 240 minutes fear from the DooD, we call TTE.
It was 2.45 in the morning of a December night and everyone at the railway station was looking like a moving holdall (of cloths). As suggested by the old and experienced guy at the inquiry (most sought after place at railway station), I and my friend were waiting for the Sialdah express at platform number 3. I had fought a bunch of atleast 50 people to get the information about train and so I was feeling like James Bond. The air was chilling and we were having tea keeping our volume as low as possible to fight against the winter.
Suddenly, we saw “Sialdah Express” at platform 5. There were some kind of announcement on the loudspeaker but like most of the stations in India, neither the speaker nor the loudspeaker was clear. Before we could understand anything train from platform 5 started moving. We ran towards the train thinking that the inquiry has given us wrong info. Because the train had already started moving, we took the shortcut to reach the train saving our steps from the most common stuff (in India) between railway tracks.
Somehow, we managed to catch the train and had become the part of crowd in general compartment. Train was moving and after 15-20 minutes we noticed that this is not the same track which goes to Faizabad. I was surprised and so I asked an uncle standing near me “Uncle, ye train Faizbad jaegi na”. The uncle ji gave me a weird look and started shouting at me “ pagal ladke, ye Sialdah “down” hai, Faizabad Sialdah “up” jati hai. Vo train platform 3 par ane vali thi gadhe. Bevkoof kahi ke. I was surprised. In just few seconds he gave me shower of pagal, gadhe, ullu and some other words I fail to recall.
We got down from the train at next station and it was 4.30 in the morning. We were not having a ticket and the station was really small. We were only people who came out of train at that station and it was platform number 3 again. We took stairways and were moving towards platform 1.
“Kaha se aaye ho ladko? Ticket hai paas me?” a voice came from behind. A policeman covered in Khaki from head to toe was coming behind us. I and my friend saw each other and next second we found ourselves running towards main exit. The policeman was also running behind us but we were much younger than him. The second reason he could not catch us was that a guy run fastest when a policeman is behind him. We came out of station and waited for 45 min to get a lift from an uncle. He was in a big car and going to Varanasi. Situation was perfect but we left the uncle ji after 15 min, took lift from a tractor, a bullock cart and finally got a cab to reach Varanasi.
We reached Varanasi at 8 in morning. That night was a real experience for me. The chilling night, the guy in the train and the train itself. But the best part was the uncle ji who gave us lift. We left his car because he was GAY. Now please dont ask me how we came to know that he was gay.
I was there to give a try to my dream of being a doctor. My life was really wonderful and full of excitement. Wake up at 5 in the morning......study for continuous 3 hours (unless pressure of inevitability comes). Breakfast around 8 and then... study. Lunch at 1 and then.... study, coaching classes from 3 to 7 and there… study. Hear Altaf Raja’s “tum to thahre pardesi” in auto (most of the time while returning from coaching) and after reaching home.... study . I loved my life there.
One of my friends was also there for preparation. We were kind of young and energetic that time and we had promised ourselves that “Kuch bhi ho….phod dena hai”. I used to visit my hometown, Faizabad, once in 2 months and our favorite train was ‘Sialdah Express”. We used to travel without ticket in general compartment at that time and every travel was around 240 minutes fear from the DooD, we call TTE.
It was 2.45 in the morning of a December night and everyone at the railway station was looking like a moving holdall (of cloths). As suggested by the old and experienced guy at the inquiry (most sought after place at railway station), I and my friend were waiting for the Sialdah express at platform number 3. I had fought a bunch of atleast 50 people to get the information about train and so I was feeling like James Bond. The air was chilling and we were having tea keeping our volume as low as possible to fight against the winter.
Suddenly, we saw “Sialdah Express” at platform 5. There were some kind of announcement on the loudspeaker but like most of the stations in India, neither the speaker nor the loudspeaker was clear. Before we could understand anything train from platform 5 started moving. We ran towards the train thinking that the inquiry has given us wrong info. Because the train had already started moving, we took the shortcut to reach the train saving our steps from the most common stuff (in India) between railway tracks.
Somehow, we managed to catch the train and had become the part of crowd in general compartment. Train was moving and after 15-20 minutes we noticed that this is not the same track which goes to Faizabad. I was surprised and so I asked an uncle standing near me “Uncle, ye train Faizbad jaegi na”. The uncle ji gave me a weird look and started shouting at me “ pagal ladke, ye Sialdah “down” hai, Faizabad Sialdah “up” jati hai. Vo train platform 3 par ane vali thi gadhe. Bevkoof kahi ke. I was surprised. In just few seconds he gave me shower of pagal, gadhe, ullu and some other words I fail to recall.
We got down from the train at next station and it was 4.30 in the morning. We were not having a ticket and the station was really small. We were only people who came out of train at that station and it was platform number 3 again. We took stairways and were moving towards platform 1.
“Kaha se aaye ho ladko? Ticket hai paas me?” a voice came from behind. A policeman covered in Khaki from head to toe was coming behind us. I and my friend saw each other and next second we found ourselves running towards main exit. The policeman was also running behind us but we were much younger than him. The second reason he could not catch us was that a guy run fastest when a policeman is behind him. We came out of station and waited for 45 min to get a lift from an uncle. He was in a big car and going to Varanasi. Situation was perfect but we left the uncle ji after 15 min, took lift from a tractor, a bullock cart and finally got a cab to reach Varanasi.
We reached Varanasi at 8 in morning. That night was a real experience for me. The chilling night, the guy in the train and the train itself. But the best part was the uncle ji who gave us lift. We left his car because he was GAY. Now please dont ask me how we came to know that he was gay.
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