Train journey in India

Unlike other countries travelling in Indian railways is an all together different exprience.People donot talk with one another in other countries but in Indian Railways compartments friends are made and some times one finds a life time partner(wife).Here is an experience of a lady who was travelling alone in a train.
Time pass

The other day when Ms. Anita was traveling by a super fast train from Bhubaneswar to Balasore his co passengers were mostly teachers who were returning after a “dharana” in front of secretariat. They travel to and fro with a monthly ticket of four hundred and some odd so coming for this purpose did not cost them any extra bucks.

(Due to this over crowding of teachers)As Anita reached little late the office commuters crowded the ticket counter and Anita was about to miss the train but for her presence of mind she could board the train with a platform ticket. For three hours doing nothing was a really a boring affair but to her good luck her co passenger(s) were a young mother and her ten year old son. Ms Anita had taken some snacks for her in case she feels hungry or the train gets late; in either case it can be used as a time pass. No sooner did she open the Tiffin the young one looked at her as if to say ‘I need some of it’. Hesitantly she asked the mother of the child if she could share her Tiffin with the young one.
She told her not to do so; as the child was over weight. She told her one more puree and some Gobi fry will not cause much problem plus she was not a robber to give stupefying poisons to a child. She smiled and told Ms:Anita, she too felt like sharing the snack due to the aroma of the Pickle.
She had packed the Tiffin with more than required amount for one person that too for a short journey. On one side two ‘steam sandesh’ were neatly packed in a polythene packet. After the eating was over the young boy became very friendly with Ms:Aita as if she was his grand mother.
She asked him about his studies and how he was doing in exams? His mother immediately told her in one breath “that he is very naughty, hardly reads, spends most of his time in front of TV or playing cricket but gets the highest mark in all the subjects”. It appeared as if the lady wanted some thing more from her son.
Ms:Anita was holding the news paper which was almost sixteen hours old. She could hardly read it due to the shaking in side the boggy and improper light, but every time she boards a train she would purchase some news print of some glossy magazine which are used mostly for non reading purpose .. The young fellow took the glossy one from her and started scanning it.
Anita asked him ‘What he would like to be’.
Prompt came the reply “a politician”
‘Why?’
“Don’t you read the news papers or watch TV?”
‘Yes I do.’ said Anita
“But you shouldn’t have asked me this question if you are update on current affairs!!” said the young one.
‘Every young boy or a girl interviewed tell the same- would like to be a Doctor, IT expert, Engineer ,IAS or IFS but no one tells that he or she is going to be a politician or a teacher or an artist !!’
“But all of them will be under the mercy of the politicians?” replied the boy.
“You know they decide their own salary, pension, security, foreign trips, qualifications etc”
‘But becoming a MLA or MP is a tough job?’ .
“So what” People with all sorts of criminal records including murder are our MP or MLA The film stars and ex cricketers who never go to their constituency after the election are our MP of Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha!! So if the next generation does not contest election then what will be future of our country?’
‘He knows more for his age’ murmured Ms. Anita.
“That was what I told you” said the young mother.

“Madam, Do you know one can become CM or PM for six months in India with out becoming a MLA or MP?? How funny, once I become a MP or MLA my three generation don’t have to bother about their future”
The train came to a halt; mother and the child had reached their destination. The topic ended as fast it started. The lady and the smart guy slowly disappeared in the crowed platform as the sun was setting in distant horizon.

Dr.Sanjoy Kumar Satpathy.
BHUBANESWAR.ODISSA, INDIA