My Travel Experience

My travel experience

You meet some interesting people sometimes during your journeys.  Recently I came across such a person on my recent visit to Rishikesh.  On our return journey from Rishikesh to Delhi, we had to wait in the upper class waiting room for about two hours.  Our train was scheduled at 11pm and we reached Haridwar in the evening itself.  We spent some time watching Ganga Aarti, clicking photos at Hari ki Poudi and filling Ganga water.  Suddenly it started raining.  So we thought of going to station and waiting there.  Soon after finishing our dinner at a nearby eatery we reached station.  We entered the fully occupied waiting room.  There was musical chairs going on.  As soon as somebody gets up immediately it is occupied and never to leave till the particular train arrives.  I noticed most of the chairs say 90% were occupied by senior citizens.  I was also successful in getting hold of a chair.  My son was standing near me and we were just chit chatting.

There entered a gentle man with his wife and baggage. His age must be between 60-65.  He looked around. A young boy and a girl were sitting talking with two elderly people opposite to me in a corner.  He straightaway went to them and demanded a seat.  Nobody responded. Then he got furious and started shouting saying there is no respect to elders in this country, Youngster are lacking manners and etiquette. He turned towards the youngster and asked Can’t you give me seat? I am a heart patient. Look I have medicines with me pointing towards his pocket and took out two strips of tablets.  His wife tried to calm him.  He started shouting at her too, to keep herself away from all this.  Meanwhile the boy got up and gave him the seat. The elder couple to whom the children were talking got up and emptied the pack of medicines they were carrying to prove that they too were under medication.  After sitting this gentleman became normal and started to explain his condition to the listeners by now he caught the attention of all those waiting in the hall.  He became friendly with the youngsters as well as the elderly.  After some time the youngster and the elder couple prepared to leave.  This gentleman got up hugged them and started to apologize profusely for his rude behaviour.  Any way it is a matter of time.  One should have patience. At one point of time everybody gets seat.

At stipulated time our train arrived.  Our berths got upgraded from 3rd AC to 1st AC.  We boarded the train and lay on our berths.  We were slowly slipping into the sleep.  Suddenly there was commotion in the train and people shouting ‘ Aag lag gayi, Aag lag gayi.’  I woke up my son and we both rushed towards the door. The train  stopped and there was smoke in the compartment.  As we reached the door this gentle man from the waiting hall was near the door with his suitcase and a bag.  He looked at me and said ‘don’t worry they are drowsing the fire.  It is under control.’  I just looked at him and did not say anything.  He asked me ‘dil ki dhadkan bad gayi? Dar gaye kya?’  Kyon darte ho? Nothing will happen.’  Then I asked him “Are you not scared”? He said ‘No.  I am retired from the Army. ‘Then I asked him ‘why are you standing with your luggage blocking the gate if you are not scared? ‘He said ‘Oh! This is alertness. If anything happens, I can immediately jump off.’  His wife was peeping from their designated coupe. I thought it is useless to argue with him. We went back to our berths along with our co- passengers. I was only thinking about this gentle man.  In dire situation, he will jump off with the luggage.  What about his wife?  He told me one more thing.  There are important papers in the suitcase.  In case  they are lost it is difficult to get them again. Is he giving preference to documents over his wife?   Even in the hall when he created a scene, I could see her face turning red with embarrassment.

We sometimes come across such weird people.