The long route

One more day, so lengthy. Nitya opened the door, switched on the lights, threw her bag on the floor, and let herself fall on the couch. The digital clock on the bookstand read 22:00 hours. She rubbed her throbbing temples with her forefinger and rested her head on the cushions. Rats were racing in her stomach. "God! I can't cook now!" She said to herself and ordered a mini pizza.

Her pizza came after 20 minutes, and she went to the balcony to have her dinner. Nitya liked the light and sound show of the super busy roads from her top-floor apartment. Her phone beeped. "Congrats Nitya! As usual, achiever. It's confirmed. You are promoted! Paaarty, please. For heaven's sake don't be mingy this time. Bye sweet."

She read the long message and, without any excitement, put it back. She looked down at the busy street and focussed on the light and sound show. She wondered, this Nitya Sharma eating her pizza with pineapple topping doesn't belong here. No one in the holy earth will approve of this fruity topping on a pizza. Her soul wants to escape the chaos and crowd always.

"Yep, I am going to escape! At least for a while." She screamed to herself, got down with her laptop, and started searching for the train that covered the longest route. She wanted to flee on the longest journey.

Bazinga! The train to Kanyakumari. Luckily, Nitya found quite a lot of vacant berths in two tiers. She booked a ticket, and with all excitement, she retired to sleep.

The next day at 7:00 am, she was at the Nizammudin railway station, waiting for Thirukkural express. Though she had booked her ticket to the last station, she was unsure where she exactly wants to go. Her mind wanted an aimless journey. And she was on it.

People were buzzing around. Hawkers readied themselves to hop onto the train before the passengers. Porters placed the bags and suitcases on top of their heads to race to the berths. Some passengers were still quarreling with the porters and bargaining to get the job done for 250 bucks instead of 300.

Everything got silent as soon as the engine whistled and the train came rushing on the platform. Nitya stepped back. Today, she was in no mood for racing. She let everyone climb first. After 10 minutes, when there was no one else to board, she picked her backpack and got inside.

She found her berth and settled. Suddenly she remembered she didn't inform her boss or her mother. It was the weekend anyway, and she had two days to reach her destination. She decided to do it later.

"Appa, don't forget to call me once you reach, okay? It's a long journey, take care of yourself and stay safe." Nitya got startled and looked around. She realized that she would be accompanying a South Indian senior citizen. Till Kanyakumari maybe.

"Hello madam" The man who came to see off his father spoke to Nitya. She smiled awkwardly. "Can you please just have a look at my father? It's a long journey, and he would be alone, so..." He tailed off. "Again a duty? I am always on duty!" She thought to herself and nodded in a yes. As if she got some choice here.

"I am no child! And this isn't the first time I would be traveling alone. Stop fussing." The man snapped at his son, and Nitya giggled slowly at them. The man smiled at her and said, "He has always been an over-thinker and thinks everyone's like him. Don't worry you won't need to babysit me."

Nitya sighed with relief. She wished for a stress-free journey, not a stressful one. The son left, and after a minute or two, the wheels started churning slowly. Her journey began.

The man took out his newspaper and dived into it. Nitya focussed outside with all her concentration. With every tree and buildings and fields and cars that passed, she felt like she was leaving behind everything she has owned.

Her phone rang. It was her mom. "And there you go..." She picked up. The man peeked from the newspaper and got back to it.

"Heyy honey! It's already 9 of Saturday morning, and you didn't call. I got worried."

"Hii Maa!" Nitya replied. Much to her disappointment, at that exact moment, the train whistled with all its energy. It was passing through a level crossing.

"Are you traveling? You didn't share anything about any visit or something! Where are you going?" Her mother asked.

Nitya thought of lying, but her mind was too blank to frame any story. "I don't know!" She replied in a cold voice.

"What do you mean by you don't know?"

"Calm down Maa!" Nitya got irritated, "The last stoppage is Kanyakumari. So I have to get down there."

"What are you going to do there?"

"I am going to marry some Tamil hero and settle down there. I am in no mood for playing any quiz. I should have informed you before starting but forgot. Now I will call you only when I reach."

Nitya was about to disconnect when her father took over, "At least let us know which train it is. We can guide you on how to come back."

The old man was intently listening to her conversation, and Nitya caught his glances.

"No, I won't tell you in which train I am and exactly where I intend to go. I am no kid anymore. I am 26, and you don't need to babysit me. Bye." Finally, she disconnected.

"Hahhaha" The man started laughing. Nitya looked at him in irritation at first and then smiled.

The ticket checker came and asked for tickets. "Ms. Nitya Sharma." Nitya held her phone and showed the screenshot of the ticket and ID card. "Mr. Krishnan Iyer" The man showed his ID card, folded his ticket, and kept it in his pocket.

"So you are a South Indian!" A passenger from the side berth asked Mr. Iyer. He stared for a minute and then answered, "Yes, I am South Indian. I belong to four states at a time. How wonderful, isn't it!"

The passenger took an entire lifetime to understand the sarcasm and, with a sad face, turned to his side of the window. A super wrong start to the conversation it was.

"So, in a mood for a rebel, young lady?" Mr. Iyer asked while turning the pages of the newspaper.

"Sort of. Escape actually." She replied.

And that was the starting of the actual journey Nitya was going to have.

"Why this train, young lady?"

"It covers the longest route, and I could have the longest journey."

"I understand you are in no mood for playing a quiz, but if still, I can ask. You just intrigued me, you see?"

Indian manners and courtesy don't allow anyone to be rude to their elders, especially strangers. Nitya had to resign. She easily hanged up on the same questions with her parents, but she couldn't elope this man.

"Yes, uncle. You can ask." She replied with zero expressions.

"What brings you here on this long journey?"

"I don't know exactly. I was tired and wanted to be somewhere. I know my parents are worried about my safety, but I don't have the energy to explain. Home feels like a hostel, and office still feels like a school." Nitya said the entire sentence while looking outside.

Mr. Iyer pulled out his duffle bag from the seat below. Nitya helped him. He took out a big packet of banana chips and gave it to her. Nitya suddenly realized she had packed absolutely nothing food for such a long journey.

She cursed herself for her previous notions about the man.

"Thanks," She said.

"For the questions?" He smiled.

"No, for sharing. I didn't even remember taking food with me." She shyly replied.

"Ahh! That! Food is always meant to be shared. That's my bag stuffed with food only. As I told you, my son is an absolute overthinker. He packed world's every snack. You can take anything any time." He tore the packet and gave it to her.

"What if I steal?" Nitya smiled.

"Thank God, you are not that depressed and grim." The old man laughed, "I am carrying no diamonds and gems. You will find nothing except for these wafers." He winked.

"It's indeed a long journey. You will reach exactly after 48 hours. Do you think you will have the patience for an aimless journey?" He asked.

She got thoughtful.

"So, am I supposed to be scared?" She asked.

"No, not at all. It means I can't resist without having a conversation."

"I don't mind!"

They stared outside the window for a while.

"Take a break but don't escape." Mr. Iyer started.

"But I feel monotonous now. It's so easy to get yourself lost in the city. It's kind of a maze no one can come out of."

"But you did. Or else, you wouldn't have been here."

"How do you deal with tiredness?"

"Like every man in the decade of 70s-80s, I aimed to crack the government exam. I cracked in 3rd attempt for IAS."

"Wow! You are an IAS retired." Nitya said, surprised. "You must have traveled to many places?"

"Yes, I did. I met many people and worked for them. It has been a fulfilling experience.

Now, your question, how do I bring peace, not exactly how do I deal with tiredness, right?"

"Yes," Nitya said.

"Do you like seeing the sun when it sets?"

Nitya tried to imagine an evening sky. She didn't remember when was the last time she looked up at the sky. She forgot how nature looks. This time would be the busiest time of the day when she starts wrapping up and still would get free only by 9.

"I think I like it." She said.

"See that serenity on your face." He smiled.

"Okay, next! Do you like the greenery outside? What do you think the leaves say to the tree?"

"What do leaves say to the tree? That's too poetic, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is, but you ought to think." He said firmly.

Nitya got confused. She gave up the next moment.

"I don't know!"

"Patience, girl! Think again. Try."

"Maybe, they are proud of themselves. Nobody would look at a barren tree. It's the hues and shine of the leaves that attract others. Also, a tree can give shadow only if it's leafy. Barren tree with branches gives no relief, no breeze."

"Excellent." Mr. Iyer clapped.

"What are your memories of the rain?" He continued.

"I despise them. You get all wet. Can't even cross a road properly, and all those SUVs and Mercedes crap will bathe you with that filthy and muddy water." Nitya said with a hint of frustration.

"Fair enough. But when at home? On a rainy Sunday?"

"That's just rain. I feel nothing. I have seen folks posting romantic quotes with the Reels on Instagram."

"That's artificial and show off, I agree. But have you ever actually felt it?"

"Umm, no."

"If given a chance now, how would you like to feel it?"

These questions seemed tougher than the board exams. But she suddenly recalled something from the diaries of the past.

"My granny and grandpa! I have always seen them glow whenever it rained. I think I would try doing that now. Grandpa always used to put on a cassette of ghazals. And both would stare at the rain and enjoyed sipping coffee together."

"How sweet! See, you give yourself a little patience and time, and you will think of so many things that ain't tiring."

"But what this has to do with peace or tiredness?" Nitya asked, still perplexed.

"You learn to give time to yourself first. Just like your grandparents. You don't search for outside sources to amuse you. I call them slow experiences. These are free of cost, and you can get them anywhere. Once you are at peace with yourself, you never feel burned out."

"Bizarre, but make sense."

"Let me tell you one more story then. Of mine."

Nitya crossed her legs, now intently listening to him.

"Sir, your veg plate. And yours too." The train staff interrupted and was there to serve dinner.

Both laughed small laughs realizing that they had been talking incessantly. What Nitya thought would be the longest journey of her life, she had already covered more than 12 hours.

They both ate in silence. After dinner, they made their beds. Suddenly, Nitya sat up. "Uncle, the story?"

"Oh! That's what age does to you. I forgot. Umm, let's wake up at 5. I will tell you then." Mr. Iyer said while setting an alarm for tomorrow.

"At 5?" Nitya got scared and nervous. "Never in my life did I wake up that early!"

"If you want the story, then wake at 5. My alarm will wake us up both." He wished her night and turned to sleep.

Nitya remembered to be awake since 4 am today. Sleep finally knocked her eyes, and she snored.

The next day, exactly at 5, the alarm rang, waking them. Nitya slept early and didn't find it difficult to rise at 5. She was feeling better. Weeks are inherently busy for her, and she always makes it a point to have a long chat with her parents on the weekend mornings.

She pulled out her phone and typed a message to her mother, 'Entered AP, I think. It will be Vijaywada next around 10. I am all safe. Don't you both worry.'

"Look outside!" Mr. Iyer said.

She saw the deep sky changing its hues. Birds were all over the sky, flying out of their nests. There was still time to sunrise. The rest of the compartment was still sleeping, and the loud noise of snoring shook the compartment.

She saw the sunrise for the first time in a while. It felt serene and beautiful.

Mr. Iyer took out two apples from his bag and threw one towards Nitya. She caught it perfectly.

"Not bad." He said.

"Now the story," Nitya demanded.

"Yes, the story." He cleared his throat and started, "You can achieve everything, and still you won't feel adequate if you are not at peace. You may have little to nothing, and still, you can be happy if you are at peace.

Many years ago, I was posted to some remote village in Tamil Nadu. My office was pretty far from my quarter. I was late from the office one day, and it rained heavily in the evening. Just like you had said, I cursed it too. Adding fuel to my frustration, my car got punctured. The entire village immersed in darkness as there was a power cut. I got out of the car and got completely drenched.

I heard a faint voice echoing amid the noise of the downpour. The driver said there's a temple somewhere. An old lady held out a torch and waved at me. I got there. She gave me a clean towel, and I dried myself. I sat there inside the temple and waited for the rain to stop.

The priest, the woman's husband came and greeted me. He asked if I am comfortable. 'Why in the lord's name it has to rain like this?' I expressed my frustration.

'Don't curse it, son.' the old lady said. 'Because of the rain, we finally have you as a visitor in our house after ages. Who doesn't like rain in this land of scorching heat?' I realized I was being selfish. That was the first time, I felt the rain with the old couple.

Blackout continued for the rest of the night. There were no mobile phones or WhatsApp to reach people. My driver couldn't find any mechanic. 'Why don't you both stay with us?' The priest suggested. Driver, being the localite, agreed readily, but I hesitated. 'I am a stranger, how can I...' I tailed off.

'That happens in cities. Here no one is a stranger. Come, son.' I had to agree. We had a simple meal. They gave me a dhoti and a shirt. We can't imagine without fans and AC in summers, but I slept peacefully that night without any fan.

I woke up with the sound of bells and chanting in the temple. I woke up and heard all of it. It had a subtle purity and positivity. My second slow experience, with the hymns and chants and songs, makes your soul pure and fresh.

I came outside. In the daylight, I saw the big banana and the mango trees in the garden. The breeze was not so hot after the rain.

'You got up? Nice.' The old priest stood behind me. 'Your driver left early in the morning to find a mechanic. Do you want to see the garden? Come.'

He took me to his mini garden. There was a small cement step, and the old lady was putting Kolam there.

He showed me the rain lilies and other flowers that bloomed after the rain. 'You don't like rain, but they do. They bloom only in the monsoon, and they wait patiently for the entire year. They enjoy every drop of it and let themselves mold into a beautiful creature like this.' I absorbed what the priest said. Touched the petals and stared at the intricacy of the white petals with yellowish touch at its center. My first slow experience with the flowers.

Moral of the story. That old couple had nothing except a couple of slow experiences and zest to be content with what they had. It had changed me. I never complained about my workload after that. Whenever I felt tired, I have these slow experiences.

I tried doing the same thing with you. Hope you too would turn out to be the same."

Nitya didn't know what to say. The day before, she was irritated with an achievement people pray for day and night. And this man and the people he talked about are happy with small things without aiming big. Maybe she should actually change, she asked herself.

Mr. Iyer and Nitya chatted a little after that and remained silent for the rest of the time. It was Nitya's turn to think where she was heading. She had everything, and yet she was never happy with herself. She saw the sun moving in different directions. She heard the screeching of the wheels and laughter and chatter of other people in the compartment. But she remained silent. The journey couldn't have got better for her.

"So, my young lady, you have successfully covered almost 36 hours of journey congratulations!" Mr. Iyer acted like raising a toast with his glass of tea. She giggled and bowed, reciprocating the gesture. She wondered, 36 hours, and she didn't for once look at her phone, check notifications every hour, or reply to emails. "What exactly I did on such Sundays? Why can't I recall now?" She said to no one in particular.

"That's what happens when you give yourself the time and not to the stuff around you. It's okay not to do anything somedays." He replied.

"What's the next stop?" Nitya asked.

"Chennai Egmore. I am going to get down there."

"I will also get down there," Nitya said.

Mr. Iyer was a little surprised. "So you are not going to complete your full-length long journey?" He asked.

"I already had my best journey. This has been the longest journey already. I got all my answers. I know now exactly who to become. I don't need to sit for another 12 hours." She wore peacefulness for the first time.

The train slowed down at the outers of the Chennai Egmore station. Nitya helped Mr. Iyer pull out the luggage and move towards the door. After a minute, the train entered the platform. They got down.

"Thank you, uncle, for everything," Nitya said with a teary-eyed. It was like she had always known him.

"That's totally fine. You gave me such a beautiful journey. Thanks for listening to my banter. Did I bore you?" He asked.

"No, not at all!" She replied.

"Generation gap isn't a true thing always then. Hahaa!" Mr. Iyer placed his hands on Nitya's head, "Always stay blessed, my girl. May you find your piece of peace always. Like this."

Nitya took the good wishes, and they parted.

Finally, Nitya's aimless journey on the long route found a destination!