Ek Duje Ke Liye……

Diwali is near & I am traveling home… home where I spent my 23 beautiful years, home where my dear parents wait for me eagerly, home where my childhood returns… With beautiful memories re surfacing, I board my train thinking of all the fun I would be having…. Missing my sister who is far far away but so very close to our hearts….
Train journeys always enlighten & amuse me, the whiffs of food from various tiffins, the non stop & untimely “chai-chai”, the bulging & peeking bags from below the seats, the long hours of games of “tash” & the soulful antaksharis …. Not to forget the different gamut of people whom I love to observe. This journey was not any different but which would be etched in my heart for a long long time.
As we were just settling in our seats & trying to cool off, an old uncle came searching… He spoke to the person opposite to me in Bengali. From what I could glean from my knowledge of the language, he wanted to exchange the lower berth. He said his wife was a patient & they had only one seat confirmed which was an upper berth. My co- traveler obliged and after some time a frail looking lady wearing a robe & holding uncle’s hand came our way. He made her sit & went again & came back with the luggage. I moved aside so that he could accommodate on the seat next to me. She looked as if she was recovering from major surgery. I felt little sad but then returned to my “Marley and Me”. “Tumhi kichu khabo ki” (“Will you eat something”). She replied in some incoherent language. He brought some health drink powder & a glass of water. “Charta hoi geche ki?” (“Did I put four spoons”), She nodded and a small smile played on her lips….. must be his usual question, I thought. She mixed it with trembling hands & drank slowly. I watched him as he wiped the spilled drops around her mouth with a napkin. Her illness had taken his toll too. His once handsome face seemed wrinkled, the worry lines prominent. He was meticulously dressed though, his salt and pepper hair neatly put in place with mustard oil. I was disturbed from my reverie by “Khaana madam”?
Some hours later train stopped at some station, & some other lady got in. “Bhaisahab yeh mera seat hai.” She said irritatingly to Uncle. She had some knee problem hence she could not exchange the seat. I was on the side berth & the seat in front was empty. They shifted there. I had my dinner and went to the top berth so that they could also rest.
I was not sleepy & hence wanted to read. But as Murphy’s Law never fails, when you have a good book to read, the night lights in (our Indian) trains never work. I smirked and still tried my luck, pushed open the light flap….and LO!! And Behold!!, Murphy won again. I decided to have an early night.
When I got up in the morning, Aunty was still half asleep but uncle was not around. She saw me and tried to get up. I told her to lie down, but she still made some place for me to sit. I had noticed at night that uncle was sitting beside her, his sleepy head swaying at the train’s rhythmic movements. As I sipped my watery coffee, I could not help but think of how much pain these people are enduring. One literal and the other seeing his loved one in pain. Even though troubled, there was a different kind of serenity in their behavior. As if both had come to terms with the adversity but decided to fight it together. Togetherness has great strength; it can lead you to conquer even the worse battles in life. And its not just love that holds you together, it’s the sense of belongingness and gratitude. People say that you need not show gratitude towards the one you love, but then you what is the use to show gratitude to some stranger?
I noticed that aunty’s quilt had fallen down and she was feeling cold. As I put it back in place, she pulled it over her chin, still in deep slumber. She looked very vulnerable & my heart went out to her. Instinctively, I put my hand on her head and stroked it. She opened her eyes and said, “Ogo, tumhi acho ki” (“Husband ,as in sunte ho in Hindi,is it you?”), getting no reply, she went back to sleep.
In my remaining one hour of journey, uncle came to check her frequently.
As I glanced at the running trees outside my window, my thoughts went to the various couples, my friends, colleagues, relatives. All young and beautiful, hail and hearty, having great jobs , some blessed with lovely kids…. But most of them having a terrible married life. Or just surviving it. They are together either because of their kids or because they cannot end it “just like that”. I thought, do situations have to be so worse just to enjoy a life together without taking other for granted, or to realize that you love and really care for the person? Well, when does one actually begin to admire & ACCEPT his partner for what he or she is? Its like when one is in deep trouble, one prays and acknowledges the presence of the Almighty. He is always there and would be there always to hear your prayers, but humans don’t live till eternity….. and maybe its too late when you realize his or her value in your life.
We are so very fortunate to have our choice of life partners. We search for “Compatibilty”… many times it’s a never ending search. Just wondered how many of our parents got that liberty, seeing that they turned out to be pretty good!
Well, I guess to know whether our choices are actually “Ek duje k liye” types, we need to be in a situation like this couple….. or may be just wise enough!