The Winner

As he settled down in his seat, Ramesh looked at his watch. There was still five minutes left before the train's departure. The Chennai weather was sultry. Though it was drizzling ever so slightly, due to high humidity, it was unbearably hot.  He felt relieved to be in the comfort of an air-conditioned coach. 

  

He was alone in the AC first class compartment when, suddenly, the door was yanked open and the coolie brought in two heavy bags and put them below the front seat. He was followed by a middle-aged man dressed in woollen jackets and sweating profusely.   

   

Ramesh could not see the man's face as he had turned his back to him and was arguing with the coolie about the money. Ultimately, the coolie relented and left, muttering under his breath. Satisfied that his belongings had been properly put away, the man sat in his seat, wiped sweat from his forehead with a spotless handkerchief and looked at Ramesh.

 

His eyes lit up in recognition: "I cannot believe it! You must be Ramesh! Aren't you?"    Ramesh looked at the man and suddenly realised who he was. 

 "My God! It is you, Arun!"

 The two old school and college friends, who had met after a gap of seventeen years, spent the next few minutes in small talk. As the train sped by, both friends relaxed and took stock of one another. 

 

Ramesh looked at Arun who had put on a lot of weight, had grown a goatee beard and wore horn-rimmed spectacles. The paunch, now clearly visible, and bags around his eyes indicated that he might have taken to drinking. The head was virtually bald save for a few strands of hair at the back.  Arun felt that Ramesh hadn't changed much. In fact, he looked as if he had not aged at all, even at fifty!

 

"Tell me, what are you up to? Are you still stuck up with the same organisation?" Quizzed Arun. Ramesh nodded his head and tried to say something but Arun continued. "I know your type. You always believe in old fashioned loyalty. Look at me! Remember we were in the same organisation? Today, after the completion of my PhD and a stint abroad, I am well respected and, moreover, a well-paid consultant”.  

 

“Let me guess", Arun added smugly, "if I am not mistaken, you must be still in the same rank, aren't you? And how much do they pay these days?"

 

Ramesh simply smiled but did not say anything. This cannot be the same Arun? It was like yesterday. He and Arun were inseparable and very close friends that everyone envied in school and college. The movies they saw together and the hard work they put in towards the end of the semester to get good marks were unmatched in the college. Ramesh joined the same college as Arun despite protests from the family.

Arun refused many good work opportunities to work after college because Ramesh was not accepted such was their friendship. Finally, they both joined the same bank.  After the initial euphoria, Arun became disillusioned and wanted to quit.

 

The only saving grace was Arati, their colleague at the Bank. Arun was madly in love with her. Despite his arduous efforts, she rejected him.  Arun, crestfallen, even contemplated suicide. It was Ramesh who saved him and brought him back to normal life. Ramesh lost touch with Arun as he moved abroad. "Where were you, my friend? You seem to have been lost in thought? You haven’t improved at all." chided Arun before continuing. 

 

"You know while doing my PhD in America, I lost many of my inhibitions, and understood the value of money. But to tell you truthfully, more than the money, it is their professional way of dealing which I liked and imbibed. That is something which we Indians are million years away from learning."

 "Don't discount everything Indian my friend because...." Ramesh could not finish.

 

"Oh come off it". Intervened Arun, “In this country, nothing will improve. You can only imitate the West, you cannot live like them. Nothing has changed nothing! Life is as bad as it was 15 years ago."

 The train chugged along while, on the intercom, regular announcements were made about the historical values of the places the train was passing through. 

 Chuckling loudly, Arun Said: “They still goad each other about the freedom struggle, don’t they? What have we achieved in the last seventy plus years?" 

 

Ramesh studied Arun once again. Why has he become so cynical? Despite the brave face, he was putting on, Ramesh thought that all may not be well with his friend. The nervous twitch on Arun’s temple and shrunken eyes did indicate he was not the happy man he was pretending to be. But Ramesh refrained from commenting.

 

"Tell me, my friend," Ramesh asked instead, "apart from money and fame what else you have gained from America?"   

 "What else do you want? Arun riposted. "After all, is there anything that money cannot buy?" Arun replied.

 "What about peace of mind, what about happiness or love?" Asked Ramesh.      

 

Arun was about to answer him but was interrupted by the waiter who brought breakfast and the two men ate in silence. "I believe, that at some stage, money does not matter.  It has its usefulness, but beyond a point, as they say, money is what money does” Said Ramesh, continuing from where he left off. 

 

"I disagree with you”. Arun almost shouted, “Look at you! How much you have saved?  What have you gained? In contrast, I have made enough money to last at least for two more generations." 

 

"That reminds me, how many kids do you have?" asked Ramesh and suddenly felt sorry. The once beaming face of Arun immediately lost its colour. "No kids. I separated from my second wife too.  Paid hefty alimony you know, but finally I got rid of her. Now I am virtually happy, free and alone."

 

Ramesh studied his friend's face; the pain was evident but he was trying to put up a brave face to hide it. "What about you Ramesh? I did not get even your wedding card. Did you get married or not" asked Arun. "Oh, it is something that happened suddenly. In fact, I could not call all my colleagues at the Bank either. I have a son aged thirteen and a daughter aged eight." Ramesh added with pride.

 

The time passed by as both friends chatted away.  Arun, who had lost the colour on his face when questioned about his family, returned back to his arrogant self and teased his friend. Ramesh just kept his cool and most of the time just smiled without replying.

 Ramesh looked out of the window and saw that Bangalore station was approaching.  How time had passed, he thought.  Arun too showed urgency. "How long you are staying in Bangalore?" Asked Ramesh. 

       

"Oh, only today. I am being invited to lecture at Mumbai on Sunday so, I shall be catching tomorrow morning’s flight." Replied Arun.

 

"You mean you are not coming home? Come on old friend, we are meeting after seventeen long years and I wouldn't let you go so easily". Said Ramesh with genuine feelings. 

"Some other time, my friend. Today, I have lots of engagements. But I can drop you at your place, a car will be waiting for me, you see” replied Arun. 

 

"No need dear friend, I will catch a rickshaw but I am really disappointed that you cannot make it to my home. Moreover, my wife, Arati would be elated to see you. After all, she was our college in Bank and you knew her, well didn’t you?" Said Ramesh. Suddenly, Arun's face blackened and he turned his face away.

 

As the train approached the platform, the sun broke out of the clouds and the bright light lit the atmosphere. 

 Whistling softly, Ramesh got down from the train and walked briskly towards the rickshaw stand with a smile on his face.