Stranger in a train
It’s been one year since I identified ‘the traveller’ inside me. Instead of asking leave for a month, I preferred to quit my job and began my journey. It’s a blessing to have friends across the country.
Ahmedabad was my first destination. It was Diwali day. My friend picked me from railway station, freshened up and he took me to his travelling gang. We began a road trip to the coastal area of Gujarat. I was surprised by the variety of topics we discussed. Everything under the sun came in our conversations and I was a silent listener. Others had opinions and views about everything. All well informed. Walk in the sea in low tide, sleep in the beach camp, boat ride to see dolphins, etc were first time experience for me. And the main mantra I learnt from them is ‘journey matters, not the destination.’
From there I went to Goa to meet another friend. I carried e-ticket and a checker asked for my id proof. I showed copy of driving license. He asked, “Can you travel in flight if you show copy of your passport?” I said no. He said he want an original proof. I showed him my press id. He didn’t mind it. He was ready to put fine on me. Most of the money I had in hand ended to him. A family next to me knew my situation.
Later in the night I had no money to buy food. I bought some cheap popcorn. A man in that family asked me whether I had any food. I said I am on a diet. He laughed and went to the pantry, came back with rice and chicken curry. I couldn’t say no to it. I was hungry and didn’t feel to reject it. Next day, when I was about to alight in Goa, he asked me whether I had money for auto/taxi. I said yes. The good thing was he and me never asked names. To give food, or offer help to an unknown person is not a small thing. That stranger in the train taught me a lesson of humanity.
