Parth Garg

Others

3  

Parth Garg

Others

Travel

Travel

3 mins
13K


There comes a day in every man’s life when he has to choose between action and inaction; when he has to choose between doing the right thing and the easy thing.


I had to make this choice at the ripe old age of 10 years; my parents and I were travelling from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) to Bangalore (now Bengaluru). The journey, while only 5.5 hours by flight, takes a total of 3 days by train and, after the initial excitement of adventure and whizzing trees, I needed to answer nature’s call.


The system of answering nature’s call in trains in India is simple: wait for the train to be in motion, and then go to attend to your business. The issue with this system is that it completely disregards a child’s small bladder, and the inordinately long time a train may stop for at larger stations.


So I had a choice in front of me. Do the right thing (wait till the train starts moving). Or the easy thing (scream till my mother takes me to the loo).


After battling with my inner conscience, I yielded to the demands of my bladder. My mother, relentless in her stand on the issue, told me to let loose right there. My tears were too much for the neighbours to take, I suppose, because the lady seated adjacent to my mother offered to take me to the loo.


I do not know what came over my mother that day; generally, she isn’t so carefree with me. But on that day, she let that lady (Mrs. Kusum as I came to know) take me to the loo.


Mrs Kusum gingerly held my hand and took me across the bogey to the restroom. In those fleeting 15 seconds (whilst being crushed and shoved and manhandled every which way), I saw glimpses of beauty and charm that could occur nowhere else:


Against the backdrop of a train station, I saw a family of four share their lunch with a lonesome student. I saw a couple quietly cuddling near a window, lost in their thoughts. I saw a group of friends excitedly talking about cricket. I saw a samosa seller arguing with a lady over the freshness of his wares.


In all of this, I saw life in all its glory. That bogey was teeming with spirit, with hope, and most of all - with the promise of tomorrow. I saw happy faces, smiling kids and reminiscent adults.


In that short trip to the loo, I saw - as though in a lightbulb moment - that travel is all about experiences; that travel is all about the love and laughter it brings, and the memories people create (or recall).


After that day, I’ve travelled on many trains, buses and even some planes.


But I’ll never forget that short trip with Mrs Kusum to the loo at that station back when I was 10 years old.


Rate this content
Log in

More english story from Parth Garg