83 YEARS YOUNG.

This is my experience with an 83 years young man that I came across on my way to Chennai (back to college). In the hustle of boarding my train at Trivandrum railway station and in the chaos of kissing and hugging out goodbyes and see you next time Dad and Mom and Brothers talk, I barely noticed this man. I had booked Upper Berth seat 70 and kept my bags on it; but was amused to see the sleeper class to be so crowded like general compartment. Those where the working men and women and college students who were all waiting to reach their homes as soon as possible, after maybe a very busy day. The tiredness in their faces was clearly visible. Some were already fast asleep. So seeing their ailment I chose not to boss around and decided to take my all time favourite position- near the door. I mean who doesn't love to see that amazing world outside- as raw as it is; like the way I watch Instagram stories, the places and faces went behind me very quickly. Watching this calms my mind and I do not know why. I always loved those contrast between nature and man-made buildings and then a few people patiently waiting for the train to pass by, believe it or not, for me that's the best ever roller coaster ride of emotions. So beautifully made and designed by fate, so amazingly crafted by destiny, I always feel that these are just meant for my own satisfaction.

As the train reached Parassala Station, all those people who took my seat departed, I claimed my seat. I am a reserved person, so chose the window seat, as usual, even though it wasn't mine, hoping that I will get some peaceful travel mates. Even then I didn't notice this young man sitting at that RAC portion, 2 seats beside me. As I was alone, to pass the time, I opened my Any books app to read the book Less written by Andrew Sean Greer and started reading that. I don't know when but after a few stations, my fellow mates have arrived, one is Mr. Benny who was headed for Tambaram and his companion, whose name I didn't ask. Benny was a black Tamil guy, with specs, was wearing the typical white mundu and white shirt, like some kind of a politician and came with an awful lot of luggage. Now it is when times like this my brain goes into panic mode, and makes me believe that I have some kind of claustrophobia. Later I realised that he is some kind of businessman and who travels all around the country. Along with them came the most undisciplined military man that I have ever come across. A well built man, with proper trimmed hair and a well groomed moustache, he too came with some heavy bags and without even asking whose seat was what, he kept his luggages on my berth and sat next to me. Now I must say, I was really pissed off. As the journey continued, I came to know that he was headed to Arunachal Pradesh as he was deployed there, after just a 15 days holiday, which was the 1st holiday session of the total 3 holiday sessions of the year; comprising of 1 month, 15 days and again 1 month. Then came another man, of our 6 seat sleeper class, quite tired and with an angry face, carrying a school bag, sat at the aisle seat. The 6th traveller was a young middle age musician (which i came to know when i saw his guitar) and he was already dosed off to sleep barely noticing anything going down below. And finally a young mallu guy came, wearing blue Jeans shorts and a red college cricket jersey whose seat was above the seat where the old man was seated. He is Renjith.

This is when i actually started noticing that old man across our seat. He was so furious and was disturbed when he saw that all of us have arrived and since that whole place was crowded, he wanted Benny to keep his bags elsewhere and said that with a smile. Even Though Renjith was busy in his phone and Bluetooth headset, that old man felt he must tell him that he will get down at Dindigul Station again with a "please let me sit here until then" kind of a smile. Now this rings a lot of bells in my head and I confirmed that he was having a general compartment ticket. Renjith assured him it's ok and went to stand near the door.

Benny as I understand is a very kind man. Well he was the one who introduced himself and asked everyone except the old man and the sleeping musician about their whereabouts and where they were all heading. The funny part is, accidently; he asked the same question to the military guy. And from that moment till Benny started to ignore him by making up talks with his companion, he told us about his job, his wife, his brave life, his point of view about life, why he loves chappathi, why he doesn't like his job, his own things and quite a lot more which I can't recollect at the moment. I smiled at Benny indicating you shouldn't have done this. He smiled back maybe showing yeah your right. To all this long talk, all that Benny said back was that he was a businessman and he had a 16 years old daughter.

Now things started to heat up when we reached Nagercoil station where 2 young tamil guys, probably in the mid 20's came with yet another lot of luggage. They were having some camera equipments and stuff. Now the problem was it was at their RAC seat where the hero of this story was sitting- the 83 years young trouble maker. When they said it was their seat, he politely, again with a smile replied I will get down at the next station and asked them to occupy other empty seats in the compartment. I don't know why but both said ok, and went away after keeping their things below their seats. But the next station was gone along with a couple more and the S11 compartment was getting crowded. Now this is where we all came to know who that man was and what he was up to.

Those 2 guys came back and asked him to move elsewhere as it was their seat and the old man too didn't seem to get down at any station. He kept his phone for charging and hung his very old plastic cover with some clothes on the window hanger and took several minutes to stand up and come and sit at the aisle seat which was meant for the young musician who was still sleeping above. As we all know that there is no limit to Benny’s kindness and interest in knowing about others- which I really do not possess: asked the old man who he was and where he was going, since we all saw him standing up with difficultly and adjusting his ear piece and finding it very difficult to sit down.

He didn't say his name. He didn't seem to have been bothered by the 2 young guys who asked for their seat. It seemed like he was having much more priorities to think off. So maybe he didn't even know what to tell us all. By this time Renjith came and sat opposite to him. The old man began by saying his age. He said "I am 83 years old." Later he started crying for reasons yet to come. Benny consoled him and asked him not to cry. I was sitting at the corner window seat and found this to be more interesting than Andrew's Novel. The 2 young guys thought it was their fault and told all of us that they didn't see him having an earpiece (as a matter of fact none of us knew) and didn't know that he was partially deaf and apologised for their rude behaviour.

But even in his tears, that old man said that it was not his problem. The problem was that he lost his 103 years old mother!

What?? I opened my mouth in Amusement. All of us looked at each other. The young musician who was awake now turned to listen to the old man. The old man said the problem was losing his mother on the 3rd day after her 103rd birthday. And he removed his old glasses to wipe his nonstop tears running down his face, much faster than the delayed and slowly moving Ananthapuri Express. Now there I didn't see an old man. I couldn't see a man who was illegally travelling in the sleeper class with a general ticket. I neither saw his old dirty appearance nor any disturbing stranger, but I saw a son in him. When he cried saying that he lost his mother, and that he was headed for her funeral, on the very 3rd day after her 103rd birthday, I saw a child who lost his mother. His tears erased his old age and portrayed the very young heart of a son, the perfect son of his mother, a child that every mother craves for.

He continued by saying that he fed her and she fed him on her birthday, and he is missing those hands to feed him again. I was lost at this talk. Our side was completely quite except Benny (in Tamil) comforting him. I have never had any of such experience in my life probably because I am so selfish and egoistic to ask my companions their names and all and because that i always liked being left out alone and maybe because i just didn't care. At that point i envied Benny and for a second i wished i was like him.

Later, we came to know that he was accidently asked to board in sleeper as it was a very busy time and getting a late night train meant very difficult for him. We also learned that his elder brother will come to pick him up at the destination station. But again life is not easy right. I think his 83rd or maybe his 80s were the most problematic years of his life. His wife was admitted in KIMS hospital Trivandrum diagnosed with kidney disease and his daughter and grand children was with his wife. His son in law had gone to guruvayoor (at the wrong time i thought). He didn't hesitate to tell us that he was having disc problems so can't move more often and that his knees were all damaged and gone. I was thinking even after all this trouble; he chose to see his mom for one last time. To pray for her soul and to do his job as a well brought up son and to present himself, with proud, to his mom a gift thanking her for bringing up the man and the son in him.

Now we had to do something when the TTE came. He came obviously and scolded us all for keeping him there. On one side he wanted to let that man stay with us after Benny told him about his story and on the other side, he was scared of the squad who is the least compassionate and who may put his job at risk for giving consent to such an illegal transit. We were at Tirunelveli station by then. If I remember correctly, we were just a few hours away from Dindigul. When TTE asked him to go to the disable coach, i was surprised to see the millennial man Renjith stepping up to say he can't walk that much distance and that he will pay his fine and asked the TTE to give his seat to the old man and that he will go to the general compartment (this is with the fact that he was having a hell a lot of luggage). Finally he let him stay there after paying some fine (renjith and benny paid) as dindigul was just a few hours away. And i must say when it was time for us to eat, for the 1st time i opened my mouth to ask him whether he needs something to eat! And guess what i felt good. Finally i had a feeling that i was also one among these species and felt human.

When it was time to sleep, Renjith exchanged his seat with the 2 young guys and they went up and the old man was made to sit where he was sitting before. When asked to lie down he said he can’t as his back will pain and that he sleeps in a chair all the time. And when the house keeping guys came with pillows he took a pillow and a bed sheet and put the pillow behind the man's back and covered his legs with the bed sheet and sat next to me to eat. Here I saw another man. Actually a son, the old man was no buddy just a random stranger. Renjith didn’t have to give up so much of his money for paying the man's fine. He didn't have to fight with TTE sacrificing his seat and comfort. He didn't have to do anything that he did on that day. But he did, maybe because he may have realised that at the end we all are just the same- humans. I was still baffled and amazed by the things that i just witnessed.

While going to bed, i saw Benny asking Renjith if he needs anything. I saw Renjith sitting opposite to the man in a crouched position smiling back saying no he's fine. When i closed my eyes at that moment, i was happy that some power let me witness this amazing people around me.

I thank that supreme power for showing both good and bad around us. For showing me both courage and compassion through them. For showing that age is not a barrier and that love for someone is boundless. For showing that when in times of need we will all stand together and will help each other. For giving me hope in humility and humane nature. For teaching me how to be like those men around me- caring Benny, courageous Renjith and that solid brave hearted old man. For letting me have the confidence to do the same to someone else if required. For providing me the feeling of i must or i will also help if i can.

I must conclude by saying that I don't know if this is a big deal to u all when u read this. But it is to me. It really does. And i wish that Benny and his family and Renjith and his young not yet fulfilled dreams, are living happy somewhere in this world.

P.S. i really regret not asking that old man's name.