Sahasrasagun

Part 1

[All characters in this story and the story itself are absolutely out of my imagination and any resemblances to anyone, living or dead is purely coincidental. This is not even my experience. This is a common love story seen everywhere]

Sitting at the window seat, Sagun could see the world outside going fast behind him. He was about to get himself into the world of thoughts enjoying the nature outside. The train was going fast and it had been an hour since the journey started. Its Dusk and Sagun could see bright reddish orange colored sun reaching his destination on the west, while black clouds were quickly conquering the sky from the South. There are resemblances between Time and Train. Both move fast and both add good experiences to life. Both life and train have people entering and leaving. He thought of telling this point to his wife Pavithra, who was sitting opposite to him in the side lower berth of the Sleeper class reservation compartment. Accidentally, she told him the same point at the same time!

“Ticket please”, requested the TT. Sagun turned to his right and noticed a man wearing a black blazer and his white shirt tucked in so tight that it showed his paunch he then saw his buck teeth and the eyes which looked magnified because of the thick glasses he put on. “Ticket please”, asked the TT again in rather a harsh tone. Something struck Sagun’s mind after seeing the TT and he sat staring at him. “Hello, can you show me your ticket? I am not going to dine with you”, the TT was impatient this time. “Sagun, show him the ticket. What happened?” told Pavithra in a low voice. As far as Sagun could recollect, apart from his responsibility, it was also TT’s mannerism to ask tickets while he was speaking to others and checking the tickets. He wanted to prove himself about his recollection and he asked the TT “Sir, do you remember me?” The TT answered in a flash “It’s not my job to remember everyone I travel with nor do I do it with passion. Tickets please! I am just doing my job.”, he immediately turned towards the other passengers and said “Tickets please”!! Again he turned towards Sagun “Mister, are you going to show your ticket or get down? Tickets please!!”

Without making further discussion, Sagun displayed his ticket to the TT with an extra energy level than required and while the TT was checking the ticket, he again asked him “ Sir, are you sure you did not see me earlier? I think we met earlier”. TT replied “Hey, I agree I saw you somewhere, but I do not remember, here is your ticket. There is absolutely no difference between the details printed on your ticket and details on my sheet. (Looking at other passengers) Tickets Please!! No difference and waste of time.” Sighing with a little smile on his face he said in a low voice “I would have earned some money if there was any difference”. With this he stepped forward and checked the other’s tickets.

After few minutes, Sagun could hear those two words from the other end of the compartment “Tickets Please!!” Pavithra was somewhat curious on seeing all this and she asked Sagun “Do you know the TT earlier?” Sagun was lost somewhere in his thoughts and Pavithra repeated her question. “Hmmm, yes. He gave me berth in this train earlier many times. We used to quarrel sometimes but I thought he would recognize me.” There was a minute pause and he continued “Let it be, give that walkman. I want to listen to music for some time.” He started playing songs in the player. While outside the window, although the sun was no more visible but there was still some sunlight and it had started drizzling. Against his will, his thoughts went into the past because of the environment currently he was in. He stood up suddenly and told Pavithra “I will be standing near the entrance door of the compartment" and did not listen to what Pavithra was saying, probably because he had earphones plugged into his ears. The door was not far, just couple of berths away. He sat at the entrance, resting his feet on the footsteps of the compartment. The drizzle was touching his feet and he could see couple of hills at a distance. The black clouds were so dense and low that they covered the roof of those hills and it was looking as if the hills were cut and a bridge was laid on their tops. Coincidentally, he was listening to ‘Kuch na kaho’ from ‘1942, A Love story’. He did not expect that this wonderful moment reminds him of his own love story, year 2000.

Kitne Gehre Halke Shaam Ke Rang Hai Chhalke
Parvat Se Yoon Utre Baadal Jaise Aanchal Dhalke
Aur Is Pal Mein Koi Nahin Hai
Bas Ek Main Hoon Bas Ek Tum Ho
Kuchh Na Kaho Kuchh Bhi Na Kaho

(to be continued..)