The vast landscape that my eyes could decipher through the window of side berth recedes as the train made its headway towards its destination. While my eyes were engrossed on the picturesque scenery outside, I heard that voice;
I shifted my gaze towards the direction the voice came from. He appeared
to be a man of my age. Along with him was a lady, perhaps his wife. They seemed to be newlywed. A bright
yellow mangalsutra adorned her neck.
“Yes”, I replied quizzically.
“Side upper is allotted to us.
Our other berth is side lower, but two coaches away. If you don’t mind, can you
exchange your seat with ours?” he requested.
It doesn’t make any difference to
me. The vast landscape will still be visible, perhaps a moment later. I accepted
his polite request, packed my contents and reached the other side-lower berth.
The window view continued to delight my eyes. The vast greenery indicated that the monsoon season had just
ended. My eyes took turns to devour nature’s beauty on one side while keeping an eye
on fellow passengers.
An older man was adjusting himself on the adjacent
lower berth, trying to settle down. A young woman accompanied him. She must be his daughter, I guessed.
“Do not worry Dad. I will be in the next coach. I will come here and watch out
for you now and then. Now take some rest”, she tried to console him.
The older man, while half-listening
to her daughter, fixed his contemplative gaze at me. With a hesitant voice, he
asked,
