The North East Connection - Part 3

The meeting with David went well as per Rajveer. His points of view in the presentation had been immaculate. He was able to showcase the highlights and achievements of the organization, and the benefits it could provide if the partnership works out. David seemed to be satisfied with the proposal and informed he would take it up further and revert in a few days. All in all it was a good interaction and Rajveer was hopeful of a positive outcome. He went back to his room, ordered coffee and settled down in a chair with his laptop. He was supposed to report the outcome of the meeting to his boss Aditya over Skype. Aditya came online adjusting his spectacles and looking bored as usual. Aditya had been a good boss to Rajveer, supportive in all respects. He considered himself trapped in the Corporate rat race and had aspirations of opening a Travel Café. He was an avid traveler, and a biker covering vast expanses of the country on his motorcycle, sometimes with his group of Biker friends and sometimes all alone. Leaves for Rajveer had never been an issue, since Aditya understood the relevance of breaking the monotony and humdrum of the regular life and taking a break from the mundane worldly chores. He usually wore a constant bored expression on his face which livened up when he packed his bags to leave office.

“Rajveer…just a couple of years…I am almost done with the final plans to my café. Will get out of this rut soon” Aditya often mentioned to him.

Today Aditya had the same expression. He adjusted the screen of his laptop and said” Hey Rajveer, good to see you man. How is it going? Let me ask you first, did you reach safe and sound? No issues I presume?”

“Aditya, did manage to reach. Will share the details of that at another point of time. The meeting with David went well. He was pretty convinced with the presentation. He will probably revert in a few days”

“Good. I knew the meeting would go well. After all it’s you Rajveer and I believe you would crack this too”

“I hope so too “Rajveer said” After all you know this would my ticket if it materializes, to the overseas vacancy we discussed”

“Hmmm about that….that should work in your favor I believe so, but I needed to discuss something else. Rajveer we have a site at Kolkata. There is a staff crunch since one of the potential guys suddenly decided to resign and leave. Now they do not have a responsible person who can handle the business in the interim. Our organization works out of two locations, one Gurugram and one there.”he paused. Rajveer felt a tingle in his stomach” The Management wants you to stay there and work out of that site for some time till they find a suitable replacement”

“But….but Aditya who decided this. I was supposed to be here for the weekend, finish the meeting and comeback. How can you guys expect me to accept this decision?”

“Well you know I am just the bearer of the news. This was decided by Naveen Saxena” Naveen was the business head who had a reputation of being one of the most dedicated, talented, but at the same time ruthless individual. Business needs were topmost priority for him and his expectation from the employees were to be adaptable to situations as and when needed.” You are in his good books hence he chose you to shoulder this responsibility. Consider your future prospects Rajveer. This will provide you extra leverage and seal your overseas plans”

Rajveer’s mind was not functional at the moment. He was unable to figure out how this stop gap plan would work out for him. This was an unfamiliar city, he did not have any relatives or acquaintances here, how was he supposed to live and survive and till when?

Aditya seemed to answer some of his questions.” So the plan is you find an accommodation there, preferably closer to the site, probably find a cook, and bill anything and everything back to the company. All the bills will be borne and paid by the organization. I cannot put a timeframe till when you are supposed to stay there, but would say as soon as they find a good candidate you can come back. By that time I am sure David would have reverted and you know the next plan…..” Aditya smiled “Also checkout of the Hotel maybe by tomorrow, utilize the Sunday in searching for staying options and settle down…….I know this was uncalled for, but look at the brighter side. Something would surely work out of this”

“I hope so” Rajveer muttered.

“Well if you need me for anything I am just a call away. I will forward you the details of the site address, and the contact person you are supposed to report to on Monday. Will set up a daily call to check on things. All good?” Aditya concluded.

“Okay, let see. Will keep you posted” Rajveer said and ended the call.

This was a situation indeed uncalled for. There was a knock on the door. His coffee had arrived. He lit a cigarette, the first in two years. He had given up on smoking and had been determined to kick the butt until then. He needed a double dose of nicotine to have his brains functional, he had to plan a lot of things in a very short time. He called back home and informed his father of the developments. His father initially seemed worried but knew this was a work requirement and had to be adhered to. Unfortunately he did not have any contacts in the city, but asked Rajveer if he needed extra money. Rajveer mentioned the finance was taken care of, but he required help in familiarizing to the new place. His mother was a bit hysterical but managed to control herself, and made Rajveer promise to call once in a day to update about his whereabouts.

Family affairs sorted Rajveer wondered whom should he contact and make a start. He did not know anybody in the city except probably Gurvinder Singh the Taxi driver. He did have his contact details, and for a moment pondered on calling him. He instead called for the bell boy and asked for today’s edition of the newspaper. He checked with him if it had a separate classifieds edition, catering among other things rentals in the city. The bell boy got him the newspaper. He started going through the classifieds section meticulously, there were rentals advertised but he had no inkling which ones would be the closest and the best options to his workplace. He still had half of Saturday and the whole of Sunday to finalize something.

“Let’s look through the phone contacts and see if I can find someone who might be from here and can be of help…”he said aloud to himself” Ankush, Akriti, Aakash, Ashwin….”

He kept browsing alphabetically. His fingers paused. He looked at a name with a smile and a question on his face. He had paused at “N” and the name he had stopped on was Nilanjana. Would she be able to help, and would she be willing to? He had known her for the last 20 hours or so. They had been generally familiar on the train discussing topics from weather, to movies, sports, Bollywood, and others. Rajveer did not consider her as a friend but was willing to ask for a favor. He had to, his options were limited at this point of time!

There was a slight hesitation before he pressed on the call button. The phone rang for a sometime and got disconnected. Let’s give it another try he thought. The phone rang a couple of rings and was picked up.

“Hello” a familiar voice sounded.

“Hi Nilanjana….Rajveer here…err...I don’t know if you remember me. We were on the same train….”

“Ah yes, definitely. How can I forget you? I did not expect you to call….so tell me…how are things going?” she seemed a bit busy.

“Well actually Nilanjana I need some help” Rajveer explained the situation to her. She was silent for a minute and then laughed.

“So they seem to have dumped you here and you want me to help you search for a reasonable place and a good deal….how much is my commission?” she laughed again” Hey jokes apart I can help you out of this mess. So where is your office site?”

“That I am yet to be confirmed. My boss will be forwarding me the details”

“Firstly that needs to be confirmed. Tomorrow as I had mentioned I have a concert in the evening, and I have to be home by afternoon and prepare for it. That leaves the morning unoccupied which I can devote to your search my friend” she said.

“Friend” Rajveer thought. So she did consider him a friend.

“I will call my boss and get the details today. So where and when can we meet tomorrow morning…?”

“Let’s meet at Exide More, at let’s say 9 o’clock. Will that work?”

“Err… where exactly is Exide More?” Rajveer was puzzled.

“Oh Ma…apologies” she laughed. She did have an infectious laugh. Rajveer felt a bit better” I forgot you are new to the city and would not be knowing the locations. So where are you putting up?”

“The Oberoi Grand”

“That’s nice. So your company put you up in Grand and then dumped you. Not bad. So I can meet you at the lobby at 9 and then see where we can go”

“Sure. Hey listen….thanks for helping me out “Rajveer said

“Not an issue. Anyways I had to return you a favor” she laughed. The same infectious laugh.

Rajveer got up early the next morning. He set the agenda for the day sipping his cup of coffee. He would have to finalize his stay, come back to hotel to check out, and carry his belongings back again. He also would need to buy basic necessities and probably new set of clothes. His wardrobe consisted of a pair of shirts and trousers, a pair of jeans, some T-shirts and undergarments. His phone lying on the bed rang, it was Nilanjana on the line. She was leaving home and would be reaching the hotel in approximately an hour. Rajveer took a shower and got ready. He was there at the Hotel lobby as per the scheduled time. He picked up the newspaper and browsed through the events. He had a habit of running through the paper every day to catch up on the latest events and developments in Delhi and NCR. It strangely felt different to have to check on the happenings in Kolkata and around Bengal, he kind of did not relate to the news published. He saw Nilanjana approaching through the driveway. Her appearance was different from the casual hiker style which she was wearing on the train. She was dressed in a salwar kameez, and had traditional ethnical accessories on her ears, and wrists. She walked up to him and smiled taking off her sunglasses.

“So Mr. Hooda it seems you have been waiting for some time. Apologies I got caught up in rush hour.”

“That’s okay. I was actually trying to catch up on the events” Rajveer said folding and keeping the newspaper down.

She raised an eyebrow and said” Kolkata news. How much do you know about the city?”

“Just a habit. It seems to check on the news in my region, I will have to depend on the internet or probably TV”

“Better get used to catching up on the local news here. Since you would be spending some time in the city, it would be beneficial if you know the local flavor”

She put her handbag down and sat on the empty chair across Rajveer.

“Did you check on the location of your company’s office here?”

“Do you want to drink or eat something? We can order” Rajveer offered.

“No I am fine, I had a filling breakfast since I assumed it would be a long day for me.”

Rajveer took out his phone and read through Aditya’s message” The company premises are at Salt Lake, Sector 5. We will have to find the exact location once we reach there.”

“Okay, so we can either take a bus, or a taxi from here. Which mode would you prefer?”

“Let’s take a bus. It’s been a long time since I have been on one. Rajveer said.

They walked out of the Hotel onto the bustling Dharamtala Square. It was busy with office goers rushing for work. The footpaths were crammed with people hurrying across to make it on time. The hawkers were busy trying to capitalize from the need of the hour, shouting at the top of the voices and pitching their sales. The bus to Salt Lake would be availed from across the road. Rajveer looked around for a footover bridge, but found none. There were vehicles of all shapes, sizes, and categories zipping across and Rajveer was averse to the idea of crossing the road in this melee.

“Hey come on. What are you looking at? “Nilanjana said” You would need to dodge your way across this. Just look at the vehicles, gauge their distances and take a step at a time”

With a deep sigh Rajveer started. As instructed he measured the distances between him and the vehicles and followed a stop and go routine. Unlike Delhi where pedestrians were at the mercy of the drivers, here they were used to people crossing across, hence they had their own mechanism of dodging them at the same speeds they were travelling, there was no scope of hesitation! He let out a sigh of relief once on the other side. He looked for Nilanjana. She had already reached the bus stop and beckoned him over.

“So how did it feel? “She asked.

“I was moments from letting it out in my pants “Rajveer smiled.

“You will get used to it. This is how the city runs. Each one of them is used to the mechanism. We can take the State Bus which will reach us faster.” She said and shaded her eyes with her hand and looked out for the bus.

“State bus?”

“It’s like what you have as DTC in Delhi. It’s the Government run bus.”

Rajveer looked around at the buses which were plying. Firstly he found the number of buses on the road as compared with the other vehicles higher in density. Second he found them in all shapes and sizes. There were the small buses which looked as if they had been chopped in half. They came in a combination of red and yellow colors with the destinations written in Bengali on the sides. Then there were buses which seemed to have been covered with a sheet of aluminum with small wooden windows.  Some of them had chrome toppings on them which shone in the sunlight. The State run buses were of regular shapes but seemed to be rattling from years of negligence in maintenance. All of them had the destinations declared in the local language which Rajveer could not make headway of.

“You better learn to figure out the destinations written on these buses” Nilanjana said noticing his observation. “Though the conductors will keep on shouting the route but you should know which bus goes where.”

“I think I will have to get used to it. Am not really sure for how long I am stuck here. Better to know the routes and destinations since I would not have you guiding me always” Rajveer smiled.

“I can….but it would be chargeable” Nilanjana punched him on his shoulder” So there is our bus. Get in queue”

As soon as the bus stopped people tumbled out, and he was shoved from behind into the bus. He looked around for Nilanjana. She was a couple of steps to his right. The bus was packed as a can of worms. He could feel elbows digging his shoulders, and his hands which were holding the top rung were crowded with others trying to grab a piece of the same. The bus lurched forward and he lost his balance for a second and was about to fall on the guy sitting across with a huge stuffed bag on his lap.

“Bhains ki taang!” He exclaimed.

“Ore Baba what is that. You don’t seem to be from here. Better get used to the motion of the bus and learn how to balance yourself, and at the same time take out your wallet and pay the conductor. It’s an art. If you do not master it you will find yourself sprawled on the floor”he said and smiled. He had a couple of upper teeth missing possibly repercussions of the tobacco which he was chewing.

Nilanjana signaled that she had paid for both of them which spared him from learning an ancient art which eventually he would have to get used he reckoned. The bus plowed through the crowded streets of Lenin Sarani, onto Sealdah station depot and further. Looking out of the window he saw another British heritage – the tram, making its way slowly across the traffic. He had heard rumours that the trams were so slow that you can alight from them, have a plate of “Phucchkas-Gol Gappe what you call in Delhi” and make a quick sprint and climb abroad. He made a mental note to ride one of them when he had ample time. He felt a tug at his sleeve. The guy with the missing teeth gestured that he was about to get off and him to come and stand near his seat.

“You see Sir….There is a system of getting a seat. The person which is standing next to your seat is the one who gets it. You stand right here and when I get up slide yourself in” He smiled again with the signature gaping hole.

Rajveer thanked him and tugged at Niranjana’s sleeve” Hey come here. This guy is about to get off. Take this seat.”

Nilanjana moved across and Rajveer made some space for her. The guy with the missing teeth looked at him and then at her and said” Ki Didi, very chivalrous…good, very good!”

He made a flash of his brilliant smile one last time and trudged ahead. Nilanjana slid and settled down.

“Rajveer I can hold your bag for you”

“No that’s okay. I think I am managing it well.” He said. The bus came to a halt. A couple of intense shoves from the passengers alighting, and Rajveer felt he would be swept along with the tide. He grabbed the pole in the middle and weathered the storm.

“You are doing good” Nilanjana smiled at him.

 The North East Connection Part - 2

 

The rest of the journey for Rajveer was spent in making negotiations with the new Ticket Collector at Mughal Sarai who had to be greased a fat amount but finally gave an empty top berth which was unoccupied all the way to Kolkata. Rajveer slept like a log waking only the next morning as the train screeched to a halt a Howrah station. He and Nilanjana said their goodbyes with him promising to try his best to make it to the concert. He had to wait in a long queue at the Pre-paid Taxi Stand finally getting hold of an old rickety Ambassador with an Orange Turbaned Sardarji at the wheel. He was thrilled to know Rajveer was from Haryana. He was from Karnal and had been living in Kolkata for the last 20 years. He had arrived in the city to sort a property dispute but fell in love with it and settled here. He still had part of his family in Karnal and shuttled between East and North. His name was Gurvinder Singh.

His hotel reservations had been done at The Oberoi Grand an iconic hotel in the city. Gurvinder weaved his taxi through the traffic heading onto Howrah Bridge. Unlike Delhi and Gurgaon the first thing Rajveer noticed were pedestrians, who were visible almost everywhere he turned his head around. In New Delhi or matter of fact in Gurgaon or at Noida you would not find much pedestrians. Either they are too scared they would be run over by the humungous SUV’s plying all over, or they might be picked up by cops mistaking them as either vagabonds, mentally challenged, or suicidal candidates. Here he saw people from all walks of life busily moving across the roads, or on the pathways, their destinations set and their feet confidently moving forward. Gurvinder Singh moved the taxi onto Howrah Bridge which Rajveer till now had only seen in school textbooks, or postcards available at the local shops. The structure was magnificent and imposing. It was a landmark of British engineering which held strong till date. There were all kinds of vehicles plying on it from buses which came in all shapes and colors, to the yellow and black Ambassador Taxis, they were accompanied by hand pulled carts pulled strenuously by weak and frail looking men, who wiped the sweat with their chequered towels and heaved them at the same time.

The traffic did not follow any particular order something which was common in all the developing, and developed metropolitans and cosmopolitans of today’s India. Each tried to dominate the other and plough their way forward. The taxi sped through Brabourne Road which towered Skyscrapers casting a shadow on the road. The sun tried to play peek and boo among the buildings which were a blend of modern and colonial structures. To some extent Rajveer found the old British era buildings of Connaught Place better restored than the buildings he saw. However they had an old fashioned nostalgic charm about them which reminiscenced of times gone by, and seasons weathered. Rajveer found the city bursting at the seams since the per capita area to people seemed not to balance out, they seemed to be teeming and flowing out from every nook and corner.

Gurvinder Singh on the occasion of having a fellow North Indian as his passenger had put on a Punjabi song which belted out of the speakers behind his head.

“Do you have something in the collection which would be from the local culture….er I mean maybe Bengali Songs?”

Gurvinder Singh braked hard almost hitting a stray handcart, and looked back.

“Paaji kya keh rahe ho! This is one occasion when I get to play my favorite Punjabi music in front of my fellow brother from North India, someone who understands the melody, and you want to listen to Bengali songs…”

“Maybe if you have any” Rajveer said.

Gurvinder seemed dejected. He let out a long sigh, rummaged in the glove box and brought out a CD which had the title written in Bengali. The CD went in the slot and Rajveer heard Kishore Da’s voice singing out

“Chiro Dini Tumi je Amaar…..”

Gurvinder lurched the taxi back in gear and moved forward. The song seemed to have a catchy tune and Rajveer enjoyed the music whilst looking at the panorama outside. He thought how different parts of the country had different flavors, each with their novelties. The cultural amalgamation of nation is what mesmerized people from other lands. They drew magnetically towards this heritage, and considered India still a land of camels, bullocks, and snake charmers. They are a bit aghast at seeing the development which this third world nation has achieved so far, but we Indians tend to spoil the impression with our cows grazing on streets. No wonder these tourists stop their buses, and take their cameras out to capture this unnatural scenario. Where in the world would you find cows sprawled in the middle of a busy intersection, with people managing their way around it, rather than move it to its designated area. It happens only in India!

“So that Sirji is your Hotel” Gurvinder said and pointed to white building at a distance.

The Oberoi Grand was an iconic hotel and landmark of Kolkata. It has been established around 1911 and the structure had undergone multiple renovations but still stood pretty robust. It was a preferred stay for overseas clients, tourists, and people from other cities wanting to soak in the legacy of the place. Rajveer’s client too was lodged in the same hotel. His meeting was scheduled at 02:00pm at “Three Sixty Three” the lounge within the premises. It was around 10:00am and Rajveer had approximately four hours to freshen up, get his presentation in place and be at the scheduled venue.

Gurvinder Singh’s taxi screeched in the driveway of the Hotel. He turned around and handed over a visiting card to Rajveer.

“Sirji these are my details. Please do contact me for any requirements. I will provide you a heavy discount after all you are my fellow North Indian brother” he beamed and flashed a smile at Rajveer.

Rajveer paid and thanked him and got his luggage out of the taxi. At the reservation counter he gave his details and took over the keys to Room 303. Out of curiosity he asked the young man behind the desk

“Do you know in which room is Mr. David Murray?”

“I am sorry Sir, but we cannot provide you confidential information of our guests” he replied.

“Just curious. I had an important meeting with him and was wondering if he has already checked in” Rajveer winked at him.

The bell boy took the luggage and shifted it to his room. After tipping him Rajveer closed the door and started unpacking his luggage. He came across a pullover and smiled.

His father had accompanied him to Ambience Mall which is one of the largest malls in India. It was a couple of kilometers from his house. His father wanted to buy a pullover for himself, and gift one to Rajveer. He took him through the shops at the mall. A simple soul in a Kurta, dhoti, Nehru waistcoat and spotless white turban on his head he etched out a figure of culture and rurality at the same time. His father felt a bit awkward and mentioned to him.

“Beta where have you brought me. This does not seem to be a place where I can get a good sweater. Mani ram at our local shop would have had excellent stuff”

“Papa just have a look at them and see if you like any. If not we can definitely but it from there”

His father analyzed and walked through the sections at the store, his hands folded behind his back and a selective expression on his face.

“Sir Can I help you?” one of the girls at the designated counters asked them.

“Ah yes…can you show us a pullover for my father”

The girl proceeded to unfold and display an array of pullovers on the counter. After feeling through around twenty of them his father found something he liked. He put it on and looked at himself in the mirror.

“This seems good. I will take it. Rajveer why don’t you choose something?”

Rajveer looked through the sections and pointed at a particular pullover.

“Can you show me the red one in the Monte Carlo Collection?”

“Why do you want to buy that one? Mani Ram told me the other day he has received a new shipment of “ Montu Carlo” sweaters. He says they are of a pretty good material and would definitely sustain the winters”

Rajveer could not help smiling to himself. His father with his innocence and mannerisms was a figure to behold. But he was the support, the rock solid pillar, who had helped and inspired him to reach his milestones. He had welcomed and accepted the changes of the society and believed his child could achieve higher realms of greatness if he could blend in the modern world. He was rooted to ethics and traditions, but vouched for the advancement and opportunities which were abundant in today’s world.

He ensured Rajveer got a perfect education, and exposed him to the world outside the small village of Jharsa at a very early age. Slowly and gradually the Hookah- serving and milking of the buffaloes took a backseat to co-curricular activities and sports. Internet was introduced to him at a time when the other kids were still glued to their video games. His father had realized and recognized Rajveer’s aspirations, and left no stone unturned to pave a path for him.

A knock on the door broke Rajveer’s thoughts. He opened it to find a steward checking if he would like some refreshments. Rajveer ordered some tea and snacks and unpacked the remaining of his suitcase. He took a shower and dressed up in a neatly ironed and well cut suit, one of the few he kept for business meetings. It was 12:00 pm and Rajveer had a couple of hours before the meeting was scheduled to begin. He opened his laptop and worked through the last minute preparations on the presentations. He closed his eyes and prayed for everything to go well. He had been through numerous Business Presentations with Clients, but he could not put a finger on why he was nervous for this one. Maybe the reason was because there was an onshore vacancy which had been displayed on the Company Portal, and was also mentioned by his Manager. It was aligned to his line of business. Rajveer was one of the most eligible candidates who could get through it. He had overheard a boardroom conversation where David Murray’s name was mentioned as a very critical client, who if could be brought on board would seal a 5 year deal, churning in revenues for the company. He felt privileged to be chosen by the Management to work on this acquisition. His failure would be a golden chance lost and a question on his credibility. He sighed, he had butterflies in his stomach!

He was there at the lounge sharp at 1:45pm. He looked around and enquired for David Murray. The usher informed him David would be arriving in sometime and directed him to a table. Rajveer unbuttoned his jacket and sat down. David arrived sharp at 2:00pm. He was a tall, well-built bespectacled man with neatly trimmed blond hair. He must have been in his mid-forties but looked younger than his age. He had a charming smile which was extended with a handshake.

“Hi, I am David”

“Hi, I am Rajveer”

To be continued………………………..

The whistle of the train could be heard from a distance. The Auto rickshaw sped through the crowded roads, maneuvering between the buses and cars, on the verge of hitting anything that came across its way. It swerved from side to side, the loud blaring Bollywood hit number competing with the honking and the bustling din. The driver craned his neck outside and spat a mouthful of tobacco narrowly missing the sari of a fat lady who was busy adjusting the school bag of her son, and at the same time keeping an eye out for the bus.

“Bhaisaab don’t you worry! Main Hoon Na! “The driver said completing it with a gesture of his hand doing a semi-circle.

Rajveer was tense. He shifted uncomfortably in the backseat of the Auto Rickshaw partly due to the driver’s antics, and partly because he did not want to miss his train. He had managed to book the tickets at the last moment and was lucky to get a confirmed berth. His meeting with the client at Kolkata was scheduled for the next day. His arrangements were bound by timelines and he inevitably had to reach his destination tomorrow. Travelling by air was the best option but he had failed to avail the tickets all credits to his family travel agent.

“Sirji, without fail I will get you the tickets” was what he had promised a couple of days back. Rajveer had been extremely busy preparing the presentations and slides which were to be delivered to the client. He had assumed his agent would work his charm and get him the required deal. A day before he was scheduled to leave, the agent informed him that unfortunately due to the tourist season in full swing there were no flight tickets available, but he had managed to get a berth by train. With no options left he was compelled to delay his travel and loose precious hours.

The Auto Rickshaw screeched in front of Paharganj Railway Station. If one were to get an idea as to why India is ranked among the most populous countries in the world, one had to visit public places. They were always teeming with people stamping and elbowing to make their way forward. It seemed like the gushing waters of a dam which flowed incessantly. Rajveer jumped out of the Auto and tugged at his luggage stacked at the back.

“Main hoon Na!” the driver smiled and gestured Rajveer to step aside. He pulled at the suitcase which seemed to have found its cozy spot. A couple of tugs and the handle gave away.

“Bhaisaab nowadays these companies are worthless. Gone are the days of the VIP’s and the Aristocrat suitcases. You could stack a corpse inside one of them and they would never give up on you. Look at these products nowadays…tch...tch…tch!

Rajveer just looked at him too angry to even comment. He made one last effort and pulled the suitcase out. He whipped out his wallet and paid the driver.

“Have a safe journey” the driver said and shot a mouthful of tobacco missing his shoes by inches.

He grabbed the handle by the side of the suitcase and dragged it as fast as he could. He still had to get through security check, look at the display counter on the location of his scheduled departure, find his coach and board it. He had approximately five minutes to do all of this!

 

 

 

 

 

He heaved a huge sigh of relief sitting on his berth. He had successfully managed to reach the train on time. There were other passengers who were queued searching for their seats. A burly guy managed to step on his feet and stay on it for a few seconds. He yelped in pain but the whistle of the train stifled his screech.

“I am sorry” the guy turned and exclaimed and at that exact moment the train lurched forward. He fell on Rajveer’s lap. It felt like a sack of potatoes had fallen on him.

“It’s okay. Have you found your seat?”

“Seems to be above yours where you are sitting”

“So better make yourself comfortable”

The train moved out of the station and started gathering speed. The passengers were slowly settling down. Rajveer looked out of the window and prayed that he reached on time. If for any reasons he missed this meeting, he would be seeing his next promotion and next appraisal blowing up in smoke. He was determined in clinching this deal. He remembered the days when he was a laid back kid, born and bought up in Jharsa, a quaint little village in Haryana. He had grown up milking buffaloes and serving Hookahs to his elders. His was a patriarchal family which believed and adhered to strict customs and culture. His ambition at that point of time was to become a wrestler. The sport was in his lineage with his Great Grandfather, and his Father both established wrestlers having won medals and accolades for the country. He spent most of his time bunking school and practicing in the village “Akhara”. His grades at school were provided as a compliment to his parentage, since the family had made its country proud. His perspective changed one day when a British woman rode into the village on her Royal Enfield “Bullet”. She was a regular tourist passing through on her way to Rajasthan. She had stopped to take some rest from the heat, right in front of Banyan tree where the Panchayat used to gather. The oldies with their Hookahs and turbans quizzically looked at her attire and her demeanour. She defied everything which women in the village stood for. Kids flocked to her bike mesmerized with the shiny chrome which sparked in the sunlight.

“Madam where are you going?” he asked innocently.

“Rajasthan and then I don’t know where.” Her accent was difficult to understand but Rajveer tried to make the most of it comprehendible.

“You are travelling so far all alone” he had exclaimed with wide eyes reflecting astonishment.

“Yes. It’s fun you know” she said and smiled.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from England”

“Did my father provide you any “Lagaan”?” he quizzed innocently.

She smiled and said “No that was there a long time ago. Now your father must be prosperous and does not have to follow that culture anymore”

“Can I come to England with you?”

“Definitely my love, but for that you have to grow up, be successful and you can surely accompany me there”

Rajveer smiled. He mentally decided that when grew up he would become rich and successful, and travel to England.

 

 

               

 Years passed by. Urbanization progressed all over the country. The small village of Jharsa was surrounded by another small township Gurgaon, which with the focal point of prosperity and development. Towering skyscrapers dotted the skyline, Malls and Multiplexes mushroomed in every nook and corner. The outlook of the simple folk changed with the change in the topography. Swanky cars and branded goods reached every household, people learnt to accept the change and blended themselves in ever changing and fast paced environment. With Multinational companies making a beeline to have their setup established there, the entire effect had a ripple across the neighboring villages and townships. The infrastructure extended farther across the borders, and New Delhi and its twin cities of Gurgaon and Noida were christened as National Capital Region. Jharsa fell right in the middle of this. Though the village still retained its old rustic charm to some extent but the changes were evident. The villagers learnt the art of commercializing their assets. Money flowed in from all quarters. Children were sent to pilantial schools so as to be competitive with the immigrant population, and the natives who queued for the fat paying lucrative jobs.

Rajveer grew up through all of this getting a perfect education, and an attitude to break ahead in this fast paced rat race world. His ambitions of becoming a famous wrestler took a backseat as his dreams were set upon relocating abroad, where he wanted to carve a niche for himself. He had backed a decent job with an organization whose roots were established in England. Rajveer’s plans were to shine with excellency in front of the Management, and to take an early transfer overseas. His bosses were satisfied with his performance and frequently provided him opportunities to showcase his talent.  He had been able to bag profitable clients for the organization making him one of the most seeked employees. The client he was to meet in Kolkata was an important one, whom if he could convince to partner would be his one way ticket to stardom. He was determined to clinch the deal as this was his trump card.

“Excuse me…I think you are in the wrong seat!” a voice broke his thoughts.

There was a young pretty woman standing in front of him, dressed in cargo shorts, and a loose T-Shirt with a Rucksack on her back. She was holding a ticket and looking alternately at him and the seat number behind his head.

“Hmm I think you are mistaken Ma’am. This is my seat”

“This is Coach A1, seat number 32 isn’t it?”

“It is indeed, and it is allotted to me”

“I think there is some confusion” she started getting hysterical.

“Can I have a look at your ticket Ma’am?” Rajveer said

The rest of the passengers seemed to be waiting for the drama. They were easing into  boredom after settling down initially, and the commotion created seemed to spice up their otherwise planned uneventful journey. They turned their heads, craned their necks to have a look, and with expectant eyes awaited the next set of instances to unfold.

Rajveer took the ticket from the girl’s extended hand and looked at the details. The date and seat number were correct as mentioned but it was the incorrect train.

He looked up and said” I believe you are on the wrong train”

The colour seemed to leave her face. She grabbed the ticket back from Rajveer’s hand and scrutinized it.

“Ma’am your ticket is booked for the same date and the details are correct but you had booked for Sampark Kranti Express and this is Kalka Mail”

“How can that be possible?” she said in a small voice.

The train had moved out from the Delhi and had traversed a good amount of distance. The next stop scheduled was Allahabad which was a good two hours away.

All eyes were waiting in anticipation as to what would the girl do next. Rajveer kind of felt sorry for her.

“Why don’t you take a seat and we can decide what to do next” he said looking at the girl, and then at the huge burly guy who was occupying a major part of the seat.

“Can you give the lady some space?” He addressed him. It seemed as if Rajveer had asked him to loan his kidneys, he shifted across reluctantly giving back a nasty look.

“Thank you so much” Rajveer said and adjusted himself between the girl and Mr. He-Man.

“So now you have a couple of options. You can get down at Allahabad, wait for few hours and board your scheduled train, or we can see if we can negotiate with the Ticket Collector and get you a berth on this train itself. Which one would you like to choose?”

The girl frowned and thought for a moment.

“I think lets speak with the guy in charge on this train and see what options I have. Since Allahabad is still a couple of hours away I might as well take my chances” she said

She kept her rucksack on the top berth and settled down. Rajveer was a bit skeptical of the outcome but was sure it would be sorted, he would get a long rest, stretch his legs and get a good night’s sleep. He had to be focused for tomorrow’s meeting.

On the berth across sat an elderly couple. The gentleman wore a smart tweed jacket, with flannel trousers, a scarf neatly tied and adjusted between his crisp white shirt collar. He had long white moustache, twirled at the ends and neatly trimmed. The lady accompanying him wore a chic white salwar suit, with a khadi shawl wrapped. She had neatly cut short hair which was a blend of white and black. She was chewing a betel nut and looking out of the window. Rajveer assumed they were a retired army couple on their way to either visit their children living in another city, or taking a peaceful vacation far away from the maddening city life. To their right sat a lady who was occupied with controlling a child who must have been around five years old. He was mischievous and was using all his efforts in climbing the outer rung leading to the upper berth. She had disheveled hair, a crumpled sari, weary eyes, and looked on the verge of exhaustion. She was in the midst of a weak attempt to dissuade the child from his endeavor, and to come and have his meal. From the looks both of them were trying their best to succeed in their prospects. On his left sat the burly guy who must have been around 6 feet 2 inches, weighing approximately 100 kgs, he had a short crew cut hairstyle, a handle bar moustache, with a thick heavy set jaw. His muscles seemed to be ripping out and trying to free themselves from the undersized T-Shirt he was wearing. Must be an enforcer Rajveer wondered. Across on the other side of his berth sat a newlywed couple. The guy was lanky, wearing a neon-colored shirt and blue flared denims. He had a hairstyle which could be termed as a cross between Sanjay Dutt in the early 90’s and Gulshar Grover during the late 90’s. He was animatedly discussing something his wife, waving and gesturing wildly. The girl looked on furtively at him, interested and lost in the discussion. She wore trendy clothes and had a smart aura about herself. Probably one of the mismatched couples seen quite often nowadays. On the berth above them roared a tiger. He was wearing a  lungi with a white short sleeved shirt and was snoring away to glory, the sound of his wheezing and whistling trying to harmonize in tandem with the chugging of the rail wheels.

Rajveer let out a sigh and waited for the Ticket Collector to arrive. He desperately wanted to stretch and relax but wanted to sort out the berth issue first.

The girl had taken out a paperback and got immersed in it.

“So where are you backpacking to?” Rajveer asked

She looked up at him wondering whether she should answer the question and start a conversation or get back to her novel.

“Kolkata”

“Oh so you are a bong?”

“Yes”

She waited for a couple of seconds more expecting more questions. With none asked she resumed her attention to the book.

Rajveer wanted to keep himself occupied till the official came. He was exhausted from his fiasco before boarding the train and was feeling sleepy. He took out his I-Pod and plugged it into his ears. Bryan Adams flowed through his veins and he closed his eyes and mentally started jotting down the plan for his scheduled meeting. This was his one way ticket to stardom, his dreams and aspirations, everything he had meticulously planned. He knew he was destined for bigger things in life. His journey from his humble beginning at the village Chopal to the glitzy corporate life had been a struggle with traditions and ethics. He was ready to master success at any costs.

“Tickets please” the voice broke through his thoughts. He opened his eyes to find a short, middle aged guy dressed in a black coat, white trousers and shirt, a black cap on his head with a long sheet of paper in one hand and a pen in another. He wore spectacles which were perched on the bridge of his nose and with edgy eyes he looked from one passenger to another. He started off from the lady with the kid, who was nervously rummaging about in her purse. She triumphantly held up a crumpled piece of paper and handed it over to the Collector. He looked at the ticket, then at her, sighed and remarked

“It’s a wonder this did not get lost “

The accusation registered on her with a blank expression. She turned her attention back to the child who was trying to grab the cap on the Collector’s head.

“Next please “the collector said holding the cap back with one hand and adjusting the sheets with another.

The elderly couple passed their tickets to him.

“Are you traveling on a vacation? Do tell me about some interesting destinations. I would love to avail my Yearly Travel Allowance and visit some of them. As it is half of my life is spent on trains and the other half I would like to make good utilization of “he beamed at them.

The elderly gentleman smiled at him and caressed his moustache “We are actually travelling abroad. We are on our way to pick another good friend of ours accompanied by his wife. We are going to Paris”

The Collector sighed “My wife does not want to budge out of Dhanbad and here we are talking about Paris. Maybe I will have to remarry to fulfill that desire” he winked.

“So who do we have here? Brother and sister?” he turned around and addressed Rajveer and the girl. They looked at each other and then at the collector indignantly.

“Definitely not…..by the way we have a problem here and have been waiting for you to sort out the issue” Rajveer said.

“And how may I assist?” The collector adjusted the spectacles on the bridge of his nose.

“This lady here has the ticket for Sampark Kranti Express and she has boarded Kalka Mail by mistake. Now either she will have to deboard at Allahabad and wait for her train, or you can make some arrangements and find her a berth on this train itself”

“And your good name Ma’am?” the Collectors big round eyes shifted between Rajveer and her over the rim of his spectacles.

“Nilanjana Bose”

“So let’s see what have we got here” he scanned the list in his hand running a pen down the sheet “It seems we do not have any berth which can be allotted to you. Hmmmm….Allahabad…Kanpur….Mughal Sarai…seems packed Ma’am. No vacancies!”

“But Sir it is urgent for me to reach Kolkata early. I have a concert scheduled to happen tomorrow and need to reach on time”

“What kind of concert? Rock Show !” The Collector guffawed holding his belly.

“I am a trained classical singer” Nilanjana glared at him.

“That’s marvelous. Nowadays youngsters, especially your generation are more into the funky kind of music, Honey Singh etc.…Sur, Taal is Greek to them. Good to come across someone who values the culture and tradition” he said.

Even Rajveer was astonished. She did not look the part of a classical singer with her attire and attitude.

“Okay, coming back to the point, there is nothing which can be done. Ma’am please deboard the train at Allahabad and wait for your scheduled journey” he declared and folded his sheets and shuffled to move ahead.

Nilanjana had a devastated expression on her face. She sat down holding her head in her hands.

“Sirji something can surely be done” Rajveer lightly touched the shoulder of the Collector.

“Kuch nahin ho sakta mere Bhai…..”

“Please…there has to be some jugaad” Rajveer put his hand to his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

He looked at Rajveer, and to the wallet, and back at Rajveer with those big round eyes over the spectacles.  Rajveer was not sure whether he would slap him for trying to bribe him or hand him over to the Police.

“There is nothing I can do unless you can do something about it”

Rajveer was perplexed.

“You can give her your berth and maybe find a berth for yourself later on” he said.

The others stopped whatever they were doing and looked up at him. He was the center of focus with all eyes trained on him and expressions waiting in anticipation. Nilanjana too looked up at him with expectant eyes which had watered, hoping for a miracle to happen, and him to bail her out of the situation.

“Ok fine” he said reluctantly.

“Good” the Collector said and made the changes in his sheet and Nilanjana’s ticket “Problem solved”

He flashed one last smile and trudged along. He had gotten a few steps when he stopped and beckoned Rajveer.

“Look the staff will change at Mughal Sarai. I will inform the next guy to provide you a berth for the night. Just show him the green paper which you were offering me. You were a fool to offer it to me in front of everyone. But anyways I cannot do the changes now. But not to worry. Main Hoon Naa”

Rajveer gave him a wry smile.

 

 He went back to his berth and found Nilanjana settling down with her belongings. She flashed him a smile and said, “Hey thanks for the favor. You would not know how much this means to me. You can sit here in the meantime. By the time we cross Mughal Sarai I am sure something will work out”

Rajveer sat down between her and the burly guy.

“That was a good thing to do, to help this girl in trouble” he said and punched him lightly on the shoulder.

He did have a friendly smile which Rajveer wondered was probably used rarely.

 The elderly couple gave him a “Thumbs Up” gesture in appreciation.

The Lady with the Kid nodded her head and said “Good” and focused her attention back to the child who was trying to throw an apple at someone in the other berth.

The young married couple nodded their heads collectively and said” That is a rare gesture nowadays. You can have some home-cooked paranthas if you want”

The guy with the lungi on top ceased to snore momentarily conveying his part of the appreciation.

Rajveer just sighed. He did not want to lose his focus for the next day’s agenda. He had to secure a berth before sundown and get the required amount of sleep for his senses to be sharp for the following day.

“You don’t look like a trained classical dancer” Rajveer said to Nilanjana.

She wore a friendlier expression now “I know. I have been told that numerous times by a lot of people. But the art has been passed down generations in my family. My Grandfather, my mother all have been famous dancers. I am carrying on the legacy. I have a concert tomorrow which would be attended by the famous Birju Maharaj, if he likes the performance he will make me his pupil. It’s all I have dreamt about from childhood, to become a famous dancer and flourish the art in other countries and far distant lands “her eyes were lost across the barren landscape outside the window.

“That surely sounds interesting”

“You are travelling to Kolkata. Are you on a business trip? If you are available why don’t you come over and see my performance?”

“I am on a business trip but am not sure if I might be able to wiggle out time from the busy schedule. But would love to watch the performance”

“The concert is at Nandan Theatre. I will WhatsApp you the address. It’s tomorrow at 7:00pm. You can mention at the registration counter you are a friend of mine. I am supposed to provide them a list of my friends and relatives who would be there. I will include your name…..which I don’t know till now! My savior?” she smiled

“Rajveer….Rajveer Hooda nice meeting you Nilanjana Bose”


To Be Continued.................................