Naini is the first stop which is hardly any distance from Allahabad. We were joined by a group of local people who were going to Mughal Sarai, a place more known for its railway station than any other thing. Some more commotion followed but thankfully no more jostling for any seat. My restlessness was pretty obvious to people around but why would anyone care.
“Going to Patna, beta?” a deep baritone in chaste English without any trace of accent surprised me. I turned to find it was the old man in kurta-pajama who was eager to know my destination.
“No Bhagalpur”, I blurted, knowing for sure that at least in UP, my home-town is not as renowned as Patna.
“Oho another six hours from there”, this man sure knew his “time and distance” stuff and obviously geography.
I was in no mood for any conversation but in the Hindi heartland if someone starts off in English, without any local accent, it generates a sense of curiosity. And that too in SL class of Indian Railways. Did someone say “India shining”?
“I am going to Patna”.
Wow!! Even this train is going to Patna!!! Not interested can’t you read SIR.
I have never been to any foreign country - being a software engineer for more than three years and not touching overseas shore is a shameful act, at least in India (anyway who gives a rat’s arse) – but I am pretty sure this conversing with uninterested people is prevalent only in India.
“You are from Bihar?” We, Indians, are good in converting an assertion into a question by just changing the tone. I was just trying to appreciate his effort for conversation and this is what came out of me.
The man gave me a toothy smile and I could see it was a false teeth set, not fitting his aged jaw line. “No”, the baritone responded. So he is well traveled at least to know the timings to various stations or may be he has some connections.
Was he smiling on my wrong guess or was it my English?
“You see, I feel more like an Indian than belonging to any particular state.” Impressive words, suits the baritone.
The man who was sitting on my side of the window started making some movement. He squat on the ground and started pulling out his luggage from beneath the berth.
Oh great!!! - Another encroacher of seats. He has no reservation and still was occupying the window seat.
“Going to Patna, beta?” a deep baritone in chaste English without any trace of accent surprised me. I turned to find it was the old man in kurta-pajama who was eager to know my destination.
“No Bhagalpur”, I blurted, knowing for sure that at least in UP, my home-town is not as renowned as Patna.
“Oho another six hours from there”, this man sure knew his “time and distance” stuff and obviously geography.
I was in no mood for any conversation but in the Hindi heartland if someone starts off in English, without any local accent, it generates a sense of curiosity. And that too in SL class of Indian Railways. Did someone say “India shining”?
“I am going to Patna”.
Wow!! Even this train is going to Patna!!! Not interested can’t you read SIR.
I have never been to any foreign country - being a software engineer for more than three years and not touching overseas shore is a shameful act, at least in India (anyway who gives a rat’s arse) – but I am pretty sure this conversing with uninterested people is prevalent only in India.
“You are from Bihar?” We, Indians, are good in converting an assertion into a question by just changing the tone. I was just trying to appreciate his effort for conversation and this is what came out of me.
The man gave me a toothy smile and I could see it was a false teeth set, not fitting his aged jaw line. “No”, the baritone responded. So he is well traveled at least to know the timings to various stations or may be he has some connections.
Was he smiling on my wrong guess or was it my English?
“You see, I feel more like an Indian than belonging to any particular state.” Impressive words, suits the baritone.
The man who was sitting on my side of the window started making some movement. He squat on the ground and started pulling out his luggage from beneath the berth.
Oh great!!! - Another encroacher of seats. He has no reservation and still was occupying the window seat.
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