across the time line

1982 +++ (Scene 1:)

A fat guy is walking into the railway station platform with a shoulder bag and breifcase. (its me :-)

He has a habit of reaching station 1 hour before the train arrival time (not one day!) thanks to his father’s training. Then he keeps starring at the perspective meeting point of the rails, expecting the engine; that day was a total surprise to him!

When he is climbing the steps, train is already there in platform no#6. You know how long our railways staircases and platforms are there normally. He rushes and gushes as much he can.. just a couple of steps to clear.. BUT.. KOOOO.. the train has started already. By the time he finally lands in platform no#3, the train is GONE! He stands helpless there, with his luggage strewn on the floor!

All of a sudden, I woke up from THIS DREAM, sweating and suffocated! What a nightmare(!) it kept recurring while I was with you all in PSG.


1994 (Scene #2)

Life has totally changed after studies, job and marriage. There is absolutely no time to dreams… good or bad!

As a part of our family expansion program, radhika and I were blessed with son Aakash. I joined office after a week of spending time with Radhika in the hospital(Caesarian!).

Bosses have the knack of choosing wrong people at wrong time. My boss is also no different from this golden rule. He told me “Bala, you need to go to Nepal at the earliest; our canadian consultant needs YOU there to give approval for Tris Aqueduct project! Every day we used to go home by 9pm those days, atleast night at home; that also under threat? I did’nt say yes at that time. But the next day, I obliged after Radhika and FIL brainwashed me to go; quite ambitious people! (Later they did the same to launch me to gulf :((

I reached Delhi by train; then my first ever flight journey took me to kathmandu, flying across the shining snowy himalayas! 10 days stay in Nepal was fruitful, Canadian consultant asked only one question frequently to his Nepali counter part.. “Siami.. is there any catastrophy in design? If not.. approve. Everything got approved (Hope there is no catastrophy till date :-) Thanks to many tamil mamas+mami’s of our company in Nepal, food was no problem; in fact I could even celebrate(?!) my first anniversary in the absence of my better half.


On my Way back (Scene #3)

Return journey was dito.. Kathmandu – Delhi by flight; connecting train from Delhi to Chennai was in the night. Having achieved the approval victory, I was already in cloud nine and reached the company guest house, just short of some one taking “Harathi” and welcome. Till evening everything went on fine; a couple of hours were left for the train journey. Between the train and me, there stood a monster, other wise called.. DINNER. All these years in life, I might have missed doing many things/ regular or irregular on many habits; but a thing never missed or never compromised is 3 SQUARE MEALS a day (without counting the Norukku Theeni :)) That day was no different; the hospitality of chef, topped by the pleasant aroma of the chappatis and Khorma, mesmerised me and I did’nt know how the time slipping into my stomach, along with the delicacies. At last, I parted with the dining table and left the guest house, in an illfated AUTO.

In the first look, the auto driver looked very much like a typical villager from north india. He kept driving the auto into the congested streets of old delhi, kept driving and driving passionately(?!) I sensed some how that delhi railway station is no where in our road map; I started conversing with him in my butler(!) hindi and confirmed that he is in fact a villager and as old or as new to Delhi as I; we both started asking people around, stopping at every road junction/circle about the delhi railway station, as if we have lost it a couple of hours ago. Every great journey needs to end some where; ours too ended finally in Delhi station, probably an hour later than it could have been. I pushed rupees into his hands and.. started rushing and gushing towards .. realising my good old NIGHTMARE!

Climax

Yes, by the time I collapsed into the platform, I could see the Tamil Nadu Express, leaving the station in Barathi Raja’s style of slow motion. Never missed anything so far in life, not even a meal.. but the train.. its gone.. poyindi.. poye pochu.. chalgayache!!!! I felt for a moment, the world stopped spinnning; the clock stopped ticking and I was in a frozen time frame! Gathering my courage and confidence, I approched the ticket office; the grey matter in me started working – the untravelled first class ticket was surrendered and exchanged for a second class ticket for a later date ; a fax to office and a call to home restricted the damage done! I didn’t dare to return to the guest house out of shame; a nearby dusty lodge was a better choice.

Having realised my haunting dream of my life, I was completely relieved after that; the particular dream NEVER EVER returned in my life. Dear friends, I came to an understanding that unfilled wishes or baseless fears keep showing up in our worries when we are awake and in our dreams during sleep. In reality, if they happen one day, we do digest or accept them and come out of the situation and stand up with bruises and blushing. It is the fear or insecurity that keeps daunting us than the real failure.

2009 (Post production scene)

Now a days, I prefer to go to stations, in empty stomach. After all, pongal/idli/vadai/bonda will be available; if not a green banana or biscuits will temporaily relieve the appetite (only to be careful with biscuit offering co-passengers !!)

Thanks friends for joining my journey across 15 years in time line!