I love to travel. Since I am based out of Gurgaon, and Delhi being the Rajdhani, I have been availing the Railways quite a bit. And my choice is ofcourse The Rajdhani Mail, wherever possible. This blog is all about a journey from Mumbai to Delhi via The Rajdhani Mail.
Day 1
This time my co-passengers were a sardar family of four, husband-wife with 2 kids. And 3 Haryanvi men. And ofcourse myself and my daughters. My parents, sis and niece had come over to see us off, and as usual my niece was in tears to see us leave. The first dialogue came from the sardarni. Ice-breaker you see. "Apni teesri betti ko chhod ke kithhe jaa rahe ho ji...kudi di le lo".......Come on! Is that even possible!!! I replied saying the lil one is my niece and I can't possibly take her along with me. As my niece's howling gained intensity, the Sardarni again implode me that I should take her along. Clearly, she wasn't convinced!
The train departed.
After a while, one of the Haryanvi shifted next to me. His looks was giving me that "Golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai" tune. After a few friendly questions, he became more and more inquisitive. Initially, I obliged him by answering whatever I felt I could. But his friendly gestures were too much to handle."Golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai" tune once again rang in my ears!!!
He tried to show utmost care by keeping the food tray down, play with my lil one, giving me those endearing smiles and mushy looks. Aarrrgghh!!! Weirdo!!!
Day 2
The romeo again shifted next to me giving those irritating cupid looks!!
Meanwhile our sardar parivar was having a super time with their breakfast. Sardar Paaji ate heartily finishing his own portion and his kids share too. He didn't leave a sauce or jam pouch either. Ate all!!!
Reminded me of Bakasur! Naah! His structure is too thin!!
I was wondering how things will get adjusted in his poor tummy! But he adjusted I guess!
He then opened his pagri and let his Rapunzel hair come out! He started combing vigorously as if he was combing after decades! Dandruff started flying everywhere like snowflakes (complete Hollywood Romedy scene)!! God knows even lice may be!!
There were hair-fall everywhere. Finally I had to intervene politely, requesting if the hair could be accumulated and thrown in the dustbin. And he obliged but not without those hostile stares from his better half.
Side by side, the Haryanvi was totally taking all his chances to impress the mother of two daughters, me in short.
Hariyanvi: "Aap toh mummy lagte nahi ho ji...ye aapki hi betiyaan hai?"...I ignored him.
"Aap ki bachpan mein shaadi hui thi kya?"
"Aap ki aawaz rasgulle jaise hai ji"
"Aapke husband government employee honge!!"
I had enough by then.
I retorted, "Kyu, mere matthe pe likha hai kya yeh sab"
Hariyanvi: "Nahi jee, aapko dekhke laga!
Now this is an art. People predicting your husbands profession by looking at you. He went on and on. I stopped looking at him. Two of his friends from the side berth were calling him, but no one could uproot him from my berth.
I kept looking the other side just to avoid his questionnaire but he would find some ways to keep irritating me! The journey felt so long!!
Finally it was time to get down. And with it came the ultimate question.
Hariyanvi: "Aapka naam kya bataya tha aapne??"...
"Maine apna naam aapko bataya hi nahi, batana bhi nahi chahti"
Hariyanvi: "Ji koi baat nahi, mera naam puch lijiye" .......
"No thanks"...and I started walking away with my kids.
Hariyanvi (loudly) : "Aare apna number toh dete jaiye, kabhi baat kar lenge.....mera le lijiye"...........
"Tu mera lelle Thane chalke...." There arrives the GRP.
Hearing that I turned around to see the GRP pumping him.
I grinned. "He who laughs last laughs longest".........remembered the phrase.
Wanted to sing the song for him instead "Golmal hai bhai sab golmal hai".
