Strangers with memories

We meet many people in real and virtual world every day. Some strangers turn into friends. Some are forgotten. In pre-internet era, we often used to lose track of the people we had met during a journey. Strangers open up to us just as much as our friends, sometimes even more for whatever reason. I came across some wonderful strangers during my travel who left mark in my mind.

I used to travel from Howrah to Asansol, my home town, every alternate Friday during my graduation days in early 2000.  This used to be six hour long train journey. I loved to watch the scenic beauty of rural Bengal from the window of the compartment and feast on snacks and tea. Some days some co-passenger used to catch my attention. 

One day I met a middle-aged woman who was unnaturally silent and almost oblivious of the surrounding. Few hours passed. Slowly she regained her composure and noticed my curious stare. We started talking. After few pleasantries she opened up to me. She lost her younger sister the previous week. She described me her inability to manage her sister's infant daughter. I did not have any word to heal her pain. I kept listening. Her destination arrived and she left. Some days passed and we met again on the same train. This time she was accompanied by her little sons. She noticed me in the compartment and started interacting. I was about to buy some hot samosas when she stopped me. She stated the ill effects of such fried snacks on body. I could not reject her affectionate gesture that day, though I broke my promise in the very next trip.

I met a family during another trip. Two girls of my age were travelling to their relative's place with their father. The man was keen to know how I prepared for West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination. Later we four played game of cards and antyakshari. 

I run into a family of three while travelling one day. The wife was cuddling her little baby and crying inconsolably. The husband was not making any effort to calm her down. The other co-passengers left one by one as their destination arrived making me the only co-passenger of that family. The wife asked me if I mind exchanging the seats. I did not. She sat near the window holding the baby wrapped in a white towel. Then she unwrapped the baby and I suppressed a scream! The size of the baby's head was twice the size of a football. It was born with some rare disorder. She told me doctors are unsure about its life! The couple had been running to different hospitals and temples since the child's birth. I asked them to have faith in God.

One day the compartment was heavily occupied. One old lady boarded with three suitcases. Her daughter arranged a seat for her somehow and got down once the train started. The old lady was visibly uncomfortable and was asking people the name of the station at every stop. I found a seat nearly two hours after boarding. Finally her destination arrived and she stood up. But it was impossible for her to make a way out with her luggage. I asked her to walk through the crowd and I carried her suitcases. She stepped on the platform and I handed her bags to her. I was about to board the train again when she hugged me suddenly. She put her right hand on my head and said I will make my parents proud one day!

I remember one day I was returning from my home town and was feeling upset.  Few boys were on the train. They were playing with ball and discussing about their upcoming match. One of them noticed my silence.He offered me some snacks. I politely denied. He told me he used to feel down while travelling back to hostel after vacation. They shared details about their classes and weekly matches. I felt at ease with them and talked about my classes, professors and sports and cultural events. I shared snacks with all of them.

On one such a trip I met a young woman and her four years old daughter. They were very happy and talkative people.  Her husband was in Indian army and he did not visit home in last one year. The woman seemed to have no complain about it. Rather she was happy that her kid was very obedient. She shared her travel plans and asked about my plans in Durga puja.

I joined a job in Kolkata after completing my graduation . My trips to home became less frequent due to long working hours in office and the usual risks associated with travelling late night. Still I used to grab every possible opportunity to travel home. I ran into an ailing old woman in the morning train one day. She wanted to know about my job profile. Assuming I have many contacts in a big city like Kolkata, she asked if I know any good dermatologist. She was having some nagging skin problem. I could not give her any contact. I remember my mother used to apply neem and turmeric oil on my body whenever I had any skin infection. I suggested her the same. She blessed me for my comforting words!

One year into the job , I received the chance to fly to USA. I remember I was searching for life jacket during pre-flight safety briefing. One co-passenger noticed my nervous demeanor and assured me of safe flight. He introduced himself as an executive of Berger Paints. He told me he has a son of my age and he is well aware of the anxiety of people visiting foreign land for the first time. We chatted a lot during the entire flight and he guided me in choosing food from the menu card. He complimented my eyes and predicted that I would analyze and learn a lot from this new country and would return as a wise person. He gave me his business card before departing and asked to call him if I ever face any difficult situation in USA. 

 I was travelling to New York few months after that. A co-passenger observed my cautious food selection from menu card and told me about a patient who used to throw up voluntarily out of guilt after heavy meals. He was a psychiatrist. He mentioned majority of his patients are drug addicts and how family can play vital role in rehabilitation of such people. While in New York, I lost my way to home one evening. I boarded a wrong train and I was not carrying my cell phone that day. I was scared as hell. A black lady in the train helped me. She drew a map of the route on a piece of paper and kept consoling me. 

Years passed and I was not nervous anymore in taking flights to new destinations. I met a wild life photographer on a Chicago bound flight. She described how she used to wait for hours in the woods to catch glimpse of wild animals and birds. She seemed to have interest in Indian crafts. She showed me a piece of fabric she bought during her trip to Rajasthan.

Time flew fast. I kept meeting interesting and kind hearted people during my trips.  In 2015, I was travelling to Brussels from Luxembourg and my train was late. By the time I reached Brussels station, it was dark and drizzling. It was very difficult to locate the hotel which was supposed to be within few kilometers from the station. One railway stuff was leaving the station after the day's work. I asked him the direction. He did not only led me to the hotel but also place me under his umbrella.

In 2016, I was travelling from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum on a bus. My migraine made a sudden comeback. One old couple on the bus caught me off guard. The bus halted at a food joint for refreshment. The old couple enquired me of my health. I took medicine, but I was not able to take food. They insisted me to have some idlies and paid my bill. We reached Thrivandrum bus stop around 10 p.m. They wished me safe trip back home. The guide in the bus accompanied me till the local auto stand and hired an auto for me. 

This summer I visited Mangalore. I was interacting with the local artisans inside the heritage village in Pilikula Nisarga Dham when I met 'Teacher Sir'. He was in his early sixties. He took me to his workshops where villagers learn the art of pottery, carpentry and many other skills. He told me international tourists arrive at Mangalore port and roam around the city during their stay. Many of them stop over this heritage village and place order in bulk. He mentioned Netravati and Phalguni are the main rivers that keep the city green. The cuisines and building architectures of Mangalore are influenced by Hindu, Islamic and Jain culture.

Someone said strangers are just friends waiting to happen. My trips are testimony of this truth. I am grateful to these strangers for making me believe in mankind. I pray for their good health and happiness in life. I am looking forward to run into some interesting stranger in my next trip.