Love in the time of Railways

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For a long time (really long) in my life, I had never seen the insides of a train. Totally devoid of the experiences of the world within the world of which I caught a glimpse through the crowded-platforms. Now when I avail the services of the Indian Railways, I am mostly fascinated. Every journey- irrespective of the hours spent in the dabba is distinct. All that remains constant is the set within a set found in the trains.

Continental-seeking: This tribe is pained to witness the phenomenon of missing continental cuisine in the train. And when the railway worker politely laughs the request away, he is taught the history lessons (even i did not get the relation). The worker still keeps the bewildered smile.

Know-it-all: Brace yourselves for this species. "After all they have experienced the world, already" and you still are immature. After evaluating you from your sex to the profession, they do not fail to pass judgments. No, don't dare argue with them or you will have be taught the sacred lessons of morality.

Mom away from home: Almost missed the train and hence no food supplies for the night or you just don't have the appetite! Dont worry in either case iff you are lucky, you will get the food- home cooked poori and aloo ki sabzi. Showering motherly love the aunty won't be able to see your loneliness. Her heart will melt and even if you dont want to, you would have to "accompany" them.

X-Ray machines: Cliché but nothing else would justify their activities. Right from the time you boarded your train to the point their eyes shut because the massive hard work involve, they will scan you. And no, not just the men but women have a busy day at work too.

Phénku: They were created for entertainment, to ensure that you keep half-a-mile smile right through the journey.  They will be full of interesting tales. Tales you have always heard before-just from another pheku. From ghosts to famous people, they have seen them all.

The Nerd: My favorite people. They won't bother anyone. Umm or
maybe they would. But to those only  who want to prematurely doze off . This is because you see they are accompanied by this interesting novel whose suspense-drama has killed their sleep cells ( are there any sleep cells?)

And the last who may or may not be a subset of the above sets is the "in-love" couples! They are still the same: lovey-dovey! Even when the world sleeps, they are busy because of things they best know of!

When I questioned myself...

Things in life are divided in two categories. While some are desired, others are loathed. But, fortunately for some and unfortunately for the others, some things in life are complementary. And at that time, we either see the half-empty or the half-filled part , based on our perception or need at that point of time.

Journalism is that one thing in life, at present. When the decision to pursue journalism was taken, it was very well known to me that it would not be a cakewalk. The shift from the desk to reporting as an intern was indeed amazing. But little did I know that an untoward incident would force me to question the career choices I made in my life and the bubble in which I was living would burst, juxtaposing me to the ruthless realities of the society.

A few days earlier…

After working on the assignments during the daytime, I came back to the office to file the stories. By the time the stories were filed, the clock had already breached my curfew timings. In an attempt to not bother my guardians, I decided to avail the service of an auto. I was still some 100 feet away from home when the auto driver dropped me 'safely'.   

Relishing a chocolate-Marie cookie and analyzing events of the day, I  started walking towards home in a carefree manner. Just around 25 feet away from the house, a man stealthily came from behind on a bike, took advantage of the dark place (defunct street lights in a community park!) and snatched my bag. With the bag, he took away everything. From my wallet which had debit cards, identification cards to my prized possession-my gadgets.

The incident shook me from inside. Never before, had I experienced such a terrible thing when the probability of 'anything could have happened to me' was at its peak. The authorities are surely to be blamed for their irresponsible behavior. But the incident posed some questions in front of me.

Its when I questioned myself...

 

Why did this happen?

What if there was a serious assault?

Have I taken the right decision to follow this career?

Can I accept the complementary things that come along with something I cherish?

After days of self introspection and analytical dissection, I am trying to accept the complementary things. The incident has sadly left a deep mark on my mind but then the fact that journey would never be a cakewalk was always known. Maybe this was the way the bubble had to burst. Only time will tell if this was for better or worse!

The journey has just begun..

   I can’t help but pull out the cliché card from my pocket to describe the beginning of a new chapter in my Book of Life. “And how time flies!” Even though it is used metaphorically but in the ten ‘short yet long’ months at my journalism school, I think I actually saw how time flew. No, not joking. The clock in its different forms, shapes and sizes haunted me forever reminding me of those rigid contours of the deadlines. Did you think who really cares about deadlines? Oh! A journalist, irrespective of the fact if it’s a student or a professional can surely enlighten you with the real value of time (timeliness).

Nine months back it was all different.

   While doing the undergraduate course, sense of urgency in life had gone astray. Both the education set up in the college and mesmerizing beauty of the new city were responsible for the obnoxious carefree attitude. But you tell me, how a college student can concentrate when it’s a learnt fact that exams are only an annual responsibility, when attendance criterion exists only on the chequered-patterned pages of a register littered with dark red slanting lines and the assignments are optional. It has to succumb to adventures of the new city calling it to unravel its mysteries from every direction. And so Chandigarh ensured that the ‘deadline’ word lightened in my mind dictionary. The only time it mattered was when the scare of the strict night in-timings of the PG accommodation (Girls PG, I tell you!) sprang back to life and even a couple of seconds made a difference.

Then the J-school happened.

    There wasn’t even the basic transition phase. Life was dragged back to the track. But, this time the wind blew in the opposite direction. From early mornings aided by multiple alarms to coffee overdosed late nights, it was all hectic. Important Assignments and more assignments were the order of the day(s) in the J-school. Sometimes it was the reporting, other times the cumbersome editing. And some days hell broke loose because those days were based on photography assignments (umm..I am photographically challenged). There was never any chance of carefree attitude because there were always DEADLINES looming over our heads. Even for cutting-chai drinking sessions. As mentioned in the beginning, time used to fly. Especially during assignments minute and the second hand of clocks made every possible effort to outrun each other.

    After ten months, life has come to a full circle and laid foundation for the new beginnings. Every moment spent inside the third floor campus was worth the effort. The super fast software lessons, forcing the eyes to hear those lectures, taking turns to read the presentation slides in order to stay alert in the class, surfing and nodding during the discussion to prove that one is actually present in the class, though being virtually absent. With the lessons learnt from the past, its time to experience the STRESS in reality. Its time to learn, unlearn and relearn again.

Man up!

     Diversity is a unique feature of our world. No, I am not talking about different faces or distinct nationalities. Its the divergent intellectual mindsets that thrills me the most. I don't come across this earmarked visible category everyday. But when I meet, I am like that kid who has been taken to a fun park after a long dull break.

    Another opportunity came my way. While trying to get the background information about my co-dialogist, I happen to assemble mixed feedback. While some told me that she was a 'strong-lady', others ridiculed her style. Owing to these divergent views, I was even more excited to meet such a woman.

    Waiting in her office while she was busy, I quickly glanced through various books, novels, 'Teacher-appreciation' cards that were kept decorated in the gothic-almirah. And then a faint yet strong voice that could be easily distinguished emerged with a face. In a turquoise saree worn under a black sweater with a hot pink shade of minimal lipstick, she was stylishly dressed. It was not her dressing style that was fascinating, intead it was her persona that mesmerized me.

    To me as she herself quoted, she wasn't a "womanly woman or a manly man", she was a blend. Strict disciplinarian, she was and still is the most sough after to ensure maintenance of required standards in the Vishva vidyalya. Her eyes were testimony to the adventurous journey of hers. Her opinions on various issues ranging from quality of education to ethics in media were impressive. After a good one hour conversation, we took her leave. Though she carved a space in my mind forever.

Up till now

09 30----13 59

Lazy mornings... forceful post-mortem of newspapers ... classroom lunch sessions ... mid-time 'fauji special' chai breaks .. Butter wali maggi with excessive mirchi.. boring 'IIMCJ-knows-what' lectures ... gossip sessions.

And the clock strikes 14 00

With "Yes .. All of you all..."  arrives, The Daily time :0..Long faces ... accelerated thoughts ... awkward eye contacts ... fishy smiles .... unexpected (yes, it’s a decent word!) combinations ...  the super fast minute hand ... and the constant reminder about that haunting deadline.

...In short, my two months at IIMC. 

What a journey it has been up till now! Amazing ... Not just highs but 'gorge'ous lows too. Lessons learnt here have outnumbered those learnt during graduation. Such a pleasure it has been.  And still there is so much to learn! Well isn't is all about the cyclical process of learning, unlearning and  relearning!!