For a moment I was hypnotized by what appeared before me. Looking at her answered my question – "where I can find out such a calm and nice sage, in today hectic life?" I forget that just before twenty minutes ago, I was about to miss my train. I forget my office work and did not want to yell on Indian railways. I was an eyewitness for a new life transformation in me and her. I completely opened my closed heart and poured out my odyssey to the girl, turned in to a monk, sitting in yoga. She forced me to leave the philosophy of – "live fast and die young" life style. I was also getting my inner harmony and lasting mental peace. She was unaware that I was stealing her knowledge and harmony to make my life full with more joy, happiness and purposes.

"God! My urge grant my prayer"

God! Never give her a dark night

Like "You" have given it to me

It’s very difficult to wait till dawn

Never may it happen she be alone

Full her life with million people

God! My urge grant my prayer

Give her mind a very good thought

Accept her all thoughts as Prayer

Bless her power to take decisions

Accept her all decisions as Prayer

God! My urge grant my prayer

May her dreams which last never

Accept her dreams as a prayer

Bless her soul with "Your" holiness

My Lord! Bless her "Your" eternity

God! My urge grant my prayer

Give her life a good destination

She may go on her life path safe

May she be like the train Engine

She can take every one with her

God! My urge grant my prayer

God! May she sleep very well

She listen music in track sound

It’s too cold make weather warm

May she feel as good as heaven

Almighty! Everywhere "You" exist

God! My urge grant my prayerOnce my prayer was over I thanked God. I asked His forgiveness for staring Susmita, when she was unaware of it. My eyes were closed and first time I was able to see some things which were not seen to me ever with opened eyes. A realization of the power of Almighty was felt by me. I felt His closeness. I thanked Him for everything which He has given to me like – Power, Gift, Thoughts, Action, and Virtue and whatever I possessed. I realized my life is like these passengers, who will be leaving this train, once they will be reaching to their destinations. I will be also leaving once reaching to New Delhi, my destination.

Life comprehension was beyond my mind’s thinking ability and wisdom. For a moment my thought that I will be leaving this world one day made me uneasy. Everyone fears the death and so I, when thought came in to my mind. When thing come to death the world look very beautiful and we don’t wanted to leave it. In such situation my mind was flipping the memories of pages of the world famous book "The Alchemist" written by Mr. Paulo Coelho, which talk about the ‘Destiny’ in life. In my situation book like "The Alchemist" has astronomical effect to let flow the thoughts the way it want. I felt the tight grip of "The Alchemist" on me, but I left myself free to let my mind think whatever it wants. I asked myself ,– "Do I have any destiny in my life like this train?" Once train will be reaching its destination New Delhi, I will never complain about the bad facilities of Indian railways throughout journey. Once my journey will be over, I will be just leaving the train with full joys of reaching my destination.

My life must have a destiny so reaching at my destiny, I will never complain about my throughout life journey. I thought too many "Destiny" for myself but none of them looked ultimate probably because I was full with emotion of "Death" and leaving the world one day. Every destiny was looking complete vain to me and myself was getting inclined to something else, though it was reinforced. The "something else" towards which I was getting inclined was probably "The belief of God everywhere". I think that was the moment, myself was closest to the "God" and belief in ‘His Excellency’.

I don’t know when I slept just sitting and realizing God presence in my life. When I opened my eyes then found even I was not taken out my glass. I took out my glass and kept in my pocket. It was a very beautiful dawn and sun was rising. Sun rays were falling on Susmita face coming through train side window. Her face was glowing with sun light. Her black and silky hairs were covering her face partially. Her glowing face was looking like the sun rising in the dark cloud with her black hairs as an illusion of clouds. First time in my life, I witnessed of rising two suns at a time. From air passing through window her hairs were slightly sliding from her face and it was giving a feeling of rising sun from clouds. I was a witness of two suns rising same time one in sky in dark clouds and one as her face glory being uncovered gradually by fast airs coming through train window from her black, dark and silky hairs.

Falling sun rays on her face were kissing her. She was unaware of it. She was simply sleeping quietly. Sun was stealing her beauty of lovely face. I thought it will ridiculous to complain about this robbery to the railways officials. They will think I have gone mad.

It was 7.30 am and sun was now more young and having hot rays. I saw Susmita face and found a feeling of uneasy on it. She opened her eyes and said "Good Morning" to the old couple but she did not open her eyes completely. Urban Monk opened her eyes slowly and sudden came out of the world where she slept in to a new world. It was passed only five minutes she opened her eyes, a PC service boy requested –"Madam, would you like to have tea or breakfast?" She replied ‘No’. She took tooth paste and soap and went to the hands wash basin.

When she returned back her jet black hairs were opened and face to die for. She asked if she can get a coffee stopping one PC service boy. He replied – "Yes Madam, please wait for five minutes." In less than five minutes he brought one cup coffee for her. She sipped at her coffee, more out of desire to drink it than out of a habit. The coffee was too hot; it burnt Susmita lips leaving a little red mark. Susmita began to chew nervously her finger nails and finger the spot where the coffee had burnt her lips. Old lady looked on her lips and made her sure it is ok, don’t worry. Susmita looked at her half drunken plastic cup of coffee and decided, after a moment thought to leave it that way. She threw the half drunken cup of coffee out of the running train window.

Old couple took a relief as they were very close to reach Bhopal, but kept themselves busy in chat with Susmita. When train reached at Bhopal railway station it was 10.30 am. The old couple was reached their destination. Old couple said good bye to Susmita and she said Namaste to the couple. She had a very cute smile on her face but it was hiding some sadness in it. I felt like there was some affection which was formed between the old couple and Susmita during the journey. Susmita felt cheerless and was licking her lips and sometimes biting it. All those who had reached to their destination Bhopal were happy and cheering, and others were hoping to reach their destinations safe.

May be it is life journey or a train journey someone left us and someone join us. We think about those who left us for some times and don’t mind who joined us. But as time passed we accept the people who joined us. Probably same thing was happening to Susmita also because she did not notice that one young couple joined her as a fellow traveler who has a teen boy with age around 8-10 years. The new young couple adjusted their luggage below their respective seats and sat down very calm way, probably because of all other strangers.

Train crossed Bhopal after halt of ten to fifteen minutes. I noticed it was 11.00 am; there was not any talk of Susmita with those young couple except ‘Ok’. That ‘Ok’ she said when they asked to shift her bag from upper berth in after noon so that their child will sleep on it. She was not in mood to talk any one. She was quite and probably she kept herself quite to not talk to anyone. Young couple boy was naughty but because of fear of his mother he was also quite, but he was looking at Susmita.

I don’t know how mother know the will of their children, it’s really one mystery. His mother embraced the boy and asked if he will like to have some chips or biscuits to eat. Boy agreed immediately and took one chips packet and one biscuit. His both hands were full. His mother asked if she can feed him. He started crying but he was looking at Susmita.

Susmita has a cheered smile for the boy. She looked in the eyes of the boy like she wanted to embrace and love him. The boy found her fascinating and jumped on her seat against the will of his mother. For time being the boy was feeling uncomfortable with her but later he started playing with her. Susmita engaged in physiological games learned in her childhood. She took the child in her arms and gave him a positive and caring touch. She patted him very gently and child was very happy.

The boy’s parent had smile on their face but I felt as his mother was feeling a bit jealous to Susmita. She was looking on the boy with an intention to come him back but it was complete vain. The boy mingled with Susmita and for a moment forgot his parents.

I was amused thinking the statement of the William Shakespeare – "A baby is the father of a man." So, this boy is going to be father of a man and this thought gave a mysterious smiling on my face. Fellow passengers were surprised, why I am smiling. Susmita looked at me with suspicion then I looked outside train window, just to disguise her like nothing more, I was just smiling.

Looking outside the train window a thought was running in my mind –"The world is a stage where we all born as a baby and grow up and become man and woman. When we grow up then we forget our role when we were a child. Our childhood activities look like as immature behaviors or ridiculous activities. So, I am busy in my works, and never get time to think I was born as a child. It’s really sad for me. I don’t do the things which I use to do in my childhood. I don’t get time to play. I am responsible for it. Finally, I consoled myself its fine, now life will go like this way only"

I was lost in my childhood sweet memories mean while my fellow traveler enquired – "Sir, its 12.45 pm now and you have not taken lunch." I noticed all have taken lunch and getting ready to sleep. Susmita was also almost done with her lunch with bread and jam. Young couple asked her to shift her bags from upper seat. She did it and adjusted luggage under her side lower berth. Young couple asked his child to go on upper berth and sleep. I asked PC boy, if something I can get to eat. He said – "Sir, only vegetarian Biriyani you can get this time." I said Ok fine please bring one. In train, no one can expect good food but Biriyani in my lunch was a nice experience. Now after lunch all were taking rest. Everyone was sleeping except me and two fellow travelers and we kept us busy in playing cards.

Playing cards reminded my childhood memories. I was glad to remember how me and my friend use to play cards in summer holidays. Normally we all get complain from our guardians to not play cards, as our studies getting affected. I was thrill recalling, how I sneak to get out of my home while my mother slept in afternoon. In evening, when we return from playing cards, most of us get two three slaps from our parents. Our parent ordered – take the cattle in the farm and let them eat grass. We again use to play cards and don’t care where our cattle are. Cattle always enter in some farm and ruin harvests of summer season. We again get some complain from land lord at our home but next day in morning again same story started.

Once again, playing cards made me not to think how train has ran for more than two and half an hours. Train was about to reach at Agra Railway Station. It was about 3.30 pm and in the compartment a buzz was that train will be reaching Agara in thirty minutes. Passengers who were suppose to get down Agara wake up in shock. Listening to the buzz, Susmita also wake up. Everyone who wanted to get down at Agra was collecting their luggage to get down at Agra.

As train reached Agra, the young couple were finished their journey. In Agra, out of ten fellow passengers except me, Susmita and two others, all get down from train. When train left from Agra, I came on Susmita’s opposite berth and started reading news paper as there was nothing to do. Other two fellow passengers become busy in gossip.

I calculated, train will be taking four more hours to reach to Delhi. I was getting bored and Susmita as well. We were not talking with each other. I asked – "Madam, if I can get a sip of water" She said ‘sure’. When I had water then she asked me – "Up to which station you will be going?". I replied, Madam up to Delhi. I asked her, up to which station you will be going? (Although, it was known to me she will be going up to Delhi). She smiled and then replied up to Delhi and enquired by what time train will be reaching Delhi? I replied – Probably 7.30 pm because train is running late by half an hour.

A conversation started between us and that was too good. I asked why she is going Delhi. She replied Mummy and Papa are coming in Delhi and so I am going to meet them. My brothers are also there so will meet them also. I was excited, wow!!! You will be meeting your whole family. She enquired – "Why I am going Delhi?" I answered to get the details of my passport for which I applied in 2006. My answered made her very much disappointed. She murmured our system is not good. We suffer because of our system; every where is the same story. She gave judgment – Everything should be private nothing should be run by government organization. I thought discussion of our systems will be prolonged and finally no conclusion can be made, so better to not discuss on this topic. I politely diverted topic and asked – "What are her plans in Delhi?" She put a list of her plans which was longer than the railway reservation chart. She said you will become bore looking at my plans list. I don’t wanted to disappoint her so said no your plans are pretty cool but don’t spend too much money on shopping; and we laugh loudly after it.

A very strong comfort zone was formed between us. Our conversations become very smooth and interesting. I said – "Susmita, you look beautiful and attractive; you don’t think girl will be feeling jealous to you." She bitten her lip and replied – "Look Raj, Hundred years ago women might have compared themselves with other ten girls in the villages. Today, women compare themselves with pictures of the cream of the world wide fashion industry. These days’ girls are striving hard to look like someone who doesn’t even look like herself. It’s absurd. Raj, you don’t think the fashion industry has certainly contributed to a distorted perception of the beauty. Every girl deserves to feel beautiful just the way she is– well meaning and yet fundamentally acceptable. You can see that women believe that physical beauty will make them happy, successful and popular among the women, desirable to the men – so they pursue it with fury! Physical beauty, however, does not deliver as advertised. Even if every girl did – feel beautiful just the way she is, has real sense. Try to look like others would not bring her true joy or lasting happiness or solve even one of her problem."

I teased her – "Better, I will say you An Urban Monk rather than a beautiful girl!" She gave blink smile and strongly protested; no I am just a sweet girl and we both laughed. I teased her again, "Definitely, Susmita you look too good, and I am sure not only me but anyone can die for you." After listening it she was surprised. She warned –"Raj, don’t die for me otherwise my mother will die for both of us." and we both laughed again loudly. You know once during my college time one boy liked me, who was not of my caste; and expressed his desire to marry me. I told this to my mother and she was very sad. She said –"She will die if I will be marrying to him." And, after this I never told her anything about it.

Susmita said leave me and now it’s your turn; tell me if you liked someone in your life. This was really a difficult question for me to answer. I just said don’t worry Susmita, will send you an excel sheet of the names of girls to whom I loved and liked. We laughed like to put down the noise of the train running very fast to reach its destination.

Susmita looked outside the train window and said its evening and time is 7.00 pm. I think we are very close to reach Delhi. I nodded yes, but thought if journey is long we can talk more. I thanked Susmita for her generosity and talking with me. She said we talked so; we spent around 3 hours without getting bored. I stopped her in between and reminded her still half an hour is left. She said "yah".

Susmita! Only half an hour journey is left, we don’t know if we will be meeting again, so let me tell you something. "Starting from Secunderabad, I was having a gentle look on you. I liked you starting from my journey. I don’t know whether it was good or bad but please Urban Monk! Let me confess my crime. I don’t know if you know when I had a gentle look of you. I don’t know if you know when I cared for you when you were sleeping. I don’t know if you know when I offered my prayer for you when you were in deep sleep. I don’t know if you know the pain which I took for you thinking if ever dark night will be there for you. I don’t know you know when you were a fellow traveler for me throughout my journey when everyone was sleeping."

When I stopped saying, her mouth was opened with surprise. She consoled me – I am happy listening all these things. You have said everything honestly. I do respect you and your feelings for me. Thanks a lot for thinking me as good as honestly I am not. Don’t worry; I felt something you are doing starting from Secunderabad. Any way you are a good person. Susmita, laughed saying – Look your hairs are too long. I was thinking you to be crazy but you are more than that!! Again she laughed and I smiled.

Susmita reminded me with excitement – "Raj, Look our journey is almost over now and in five minutes we will be on Nizamuddin Railway station." I don’t know how we spent four hours talking with each other. I nodded "yah". We were happy reaching our destination. We forgot rest of the journey hassles and were full with memory of last four hours which was the best moment and memorable moment for both of us.

Once train reached Delhi, Nizamuddin Railway station, I asked if I can help her to get down with all her luggage. She reluctantly said its ok, but I felt to help her. I took her one bag and we left the train. We waited for a while and she saw her brother was on station to receive her. She was very happy seeing him at railway station. I also shake hand with him. We said "Good Bye" to each other. When we left for our respective locations from station, I looked back to see Susmita and found she was also looking at me. Wow!! My mind said – "She is stunning Susmita" but my heart protested – "No, She is an Urban Monk"

　** THE END **