VANCHINADU EXPRESS
This part starts in a cold morning.The jeep of Avarachan, the person who brings me to Mulanthuruthy Railway Station everyday,slowly entered the parking lot.Unlike the day before,the station was cloaked in mist,powerful enough to bring a shiver down the spine of even the most courageous person on earth.I remembered Stephen King's novel ''The Mist'',in which an entire city gets covered in mist all of a sudden.To make the situation worse,there are alien creatures in the form of giant gadflies lurking in the terrible whiteness.By god's grace,we know that nothing like that will happen in Kerala.Aliens have a special liking towards Americans.
The train (Vanchinadu Express) chugged into the railway station,howling its ear splitting whistle.Een in that darkness,I could see the mist,which was neatly parted by the first coach.Literally,it was as spooky a day can be.I could not stop chatting with Avarachan even while entering the first compartment.Vivek was sitting,as usual,in that long blue coloured wooden seat.Seeing his surprised face,I asked him what the matter was.
''Didn't you know that today is a holiday?.Man,that S.F.I. and A.B.V.P. clash.''
Truth gradually dawned on me.The day before,some hot headed party hungry morons showered abuses at some other blockheads of the opposition party.I seriously doubted whether that fiasco would create anything worthy for anyone.All they managed to get was one day off. It would give them time to devise their obsessive and grand plans for social welfare.
Vivek was on his way to Changanacherry to see the room,in which he was planning to stay as a paying guest.As there was no urgent business for me to finish,I decided to assist him.
''Buddy,are you sure about this.''
I was as sure as James Bond saying ''007 reporting for duty.''
I visited the landlord with him.He was a portly man with a white dhoti tied around his pot belly.
''If you had notified us early,the room would have still been available.Now,we can only assist you to another room in a house nearby.It is down the curve.''
A retired school teacher and her husband lived in that house.The room behind their house was an annexe,which was specially built for the purpose of taking paying guests.From the look on their face,anybody could easily understand the good nature of the couple.The husband,though,was a little talkative.
If I had not seen that room,my story would have been different.Call it destiny or any other name.
The room was spacious enough.There was space for two beds and a table.The back wall contained three shelves of equal size.My heart began to long for living in that room.It would save me much time and effort in the morning.The things I would miss most will be the home made food and the comfort of my bed.Yet,my mind was made up.It will only be a matter of time before I convince my mother.
To be continued
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