people i dont know

There are some people whom I have met in the course of time quite randomly. Due to the meeting happened or the personalities involved, I will never forget them ever.

some years back, I was on the way home as my college closed for vacation. I was, as I put it, a pirated version of a hippie. Long hair, long beard, and stoned. I went near the door to smoke a cigarette, where there was already a small crowd puffing on to lit ones. I joined them and, in my opium dream, was thinking about something which doesn't make any sense.

Then this man, middle-aged, wearing a dhothi and a carrying a big umbrella came there. It seems that he was just taking a walk from one end of the train to the other. Seeing us he stopped and started a conversation with a general statement about climate or something like that. He was able to create a rapport with the fellow passengers in no time.

I didn't take part in the conversation, but instead, started looking at him with interest. While listening to him, I was actually trying to do this stupidity which I call `psychoanalysis'. Suddenly he turned to me and asked, ``aren't you mr X's son?'' Yes I was. Now that freaked me out. I dont look like either my dad or mom, in fact, during that period due to excessive intake of marijuana, I didnt look like even a normal human being. Even then he knows me and my dad.

As soon as I said yes, a ticket examiner along with couple of uniformed policemen came there. We all threw away the fags dutifully and showed him our ticket one by one. But when this man's turn came, he said he didnt have one. No emotions, no body movements, nothing. It was as if pointing at a train and saying ``train''. The officials weren't impressed. In a few minutes, the next station came and the man was asked to get out of the train, which he did without any arguement. Not even a word.

Once he got down, I went near the window and saw him walking away. Suddenly I felt the rush of regret for not talking to the officials to accommodate him with me by paying extra. I felt all the more sad when I realised that I'll never be able to see him again in my life..