Achronology: 002
Start Date: May 4, 2012
End Date: May 15, 2012
(Dates are only …..,)
I loved Bangalore from my school days. Our school organized a tour to Bangalore the charge was very limited. At that time I studied in Don Bosco (Vysarpadi, Chennai). Many of us turned out but eventually it was cancelled (that is one great joyous moment as we assembled only to be disappointed, I will write that separately). Instead we were taken a tour of Velankani and returned. Or it may be my mind is now clouded it might be the little Velankani in Santhome Chennai. However I remember or still believe that I missed my first chance to Bangalore.
The second was when we were in IXth standard again the plan was to go to Bangalore. This time I moved to a bigger school Don Bosco (Perambur, Chennai). But the program itself got cancelled. The third time I missed Bangalore was when we were in XIth in the same school. But instead we went to Octy a very memorable event (should write on that too).
So having missed the three trips to Bangalore made me more anxious, when I got the first opportunity to go to Bangalore I felt that I was a kid once again. I was sent by my Company Coromandel Prodorite at that time for an inspection activity. So I went by bus in the night and reached Bangalore. We never plan our return ticket as long as I was in Coromandel that was the basic thumb rule. You know your onward date normally it is either today or it should have been yesterday or even could be the day before yesterday. That is what my SMO ALS (Mr. A L Subiah) told me once when I requested him about my travel plan, he simply replied well prabhakar (my name is prabhakaran, but many use to miss that soft guy called “an”) you should have been there in site day before yesterday.
So I went to Bangalore and met the supplier made the first MOM in my whole life. I am just kidding; in fact I raised the issue you know like a very big inspector / surveyor. I proclaimed to minute the days activity. The other person who happens to be the MD of that company called upon his secretary. Then he looked at me pointedly and said will you give the note or can he take up the same. I was clean bowled, and I just gestured as sort of a good will and replied why not please go ahead. I know damn well that if I have done the minutes on that my career would have been on ruined on the same day. To be honest I did made one correction after all it is my call and I am there to audit my supplier.
So having done all the work I made a request to my customer if he can drop me at the railway station so that I can catch the train to Chennai which leaves by 14:00 hours. Indian Standard Time. Here I must salute the Indian railways that follow IST especially at the commencement of the journey. Unlike most of our guys who always looks for an excuse to start our daily work, that extra 5 minutes to punch in. So I take this time to salute my Indian railways I am really so proud of you. I always mention railways whenever I take training on subjects related to punctuality.
I came to the railway station got a ticket, went into the station. There was board which said “May I help you”. I reached that place and found that it was confirmed ticket booking on wait list or so I thought. The person who was sitting in the open railway corridor looked at me and asked do you want ticket. I showed him my open ticket which he took it looked into his papers and given me a confirmed seat. Wow I am in heaven now, confirmed ticket on the very last minute so I happily walked into train and sat.
So far I thought I was kid once again and enjoying my day in Bangalore but not for long. The train started to move out the railway station and people started waving to their friend’s relatives. An elderly person who must have retired couple of years ago sat just opposite to me. The train moved out of the railway station and the visitors and started to speed up. I was enjoying the view through the window as it is a day train and I got a window seat.
The total travel hours are about 6 hours so I settled down to enjoying my travel. I love to stand at the door in a speeding as it is a super fast express I went and stood at the door.
As the train passed I saw kids who cheered and waved to the passengers in train. They are quite delighted and joyful in their act even better than those who waved off their friends and relatives at the railway station.
But as you all by now know that I am a grownup who never wishes to cry when my Grandpa passed away. I just looked on them and kept watching through the window. After some time I went and sat in my seat opposite to that little old man. I saw that little old man (little old because he must have just retired) was waving his hand enthusiastically back.
I just wondered on what is happening around. Kids normally wave at train and even to air planes which flies way above your head. I have done exactly the same thing when I was a kid. But now, I was just wondering.
But this man he waved to every single kid quite merrily and quite happily. Probably that is the reason why so many kids are waving at the train. He was more cheerful than those kids who are watching this train go by. I am not very sure whether the kids can see this man waving them back, returning their joy, happiness. Probably the kids can see his hands which he kept outside the window and started waving.
Trust me he kept waving till there was no kid on the other side. The train started by around 02:00 p.m. from Bangalore and he was quite cheerful and waving. He did not failed to wave back not even to a single kid who happens to be watching these trains go by. In fact he even waved to kids who did not responded, but he did not mind it.
But I can see some happy faces on both side of the window a little kid who just retired and enjoying his life. Many kids who loved to wave at a passing train and for a change the train waved them back through a little kid. Most of the kids would have seen him waving because their waving gesture increased by seeing some response.
My mind once again recollected my travel time. The last time when I ever waved at a passing train, passing air craft. My mind was blank. The last time I really felt happy about Christmas, leaves, Sundays, hopping, singing while walking. No nothing came out. That little kid in me died long time back, but not in everyone.
Even today I do not wave not as cheerfully as that little old kid. But I do, if I see a kid who happens to wave when I travel I wave back a bit. The little kid in me should grow to become a real kid who can forget about everything and enjoy life as it is. I still have 20 years to get retired as per Indian standard so I wish, hope and pray that I will become a kid once again.
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