This one for Arun

On the 17th I reached Ludhiana station at 7pm in the evening. Because I started from Pathankot in Punjab I didnt travel the Shatabdi from Delhi which lands me at Ludhiana either in the noon or later in the evening (2 shatabdi's that ply between Delhi and Ludhiana). However, I didn't want to not look for that short guy, the tiny-autowallah (auto driver).

But for one time, I think everytime I travelled to Ludhiana by morning shatabdi i would find him (5 till date). He has this rickety, loud and polluting rickshaw, its so shabby and dilapidated that a Delhi-Mumbai wallah (Delhi Mumbai resident) would think ten times before boarding it. So the very first time he obliged to drive me to BRS Nagar my destination in the city, he charged Rs. 100 ($2.20). And that then became a standard rate. Because everytime I would come in I will find him, no need to tell him the address or give the directions. He would greet me "Babuji, aao aao bade dinaa baad aaye" (Sir, welcome glad to see you after many days) I was sold at his gesture the during our second meeting. How often you bump into such personalities, he wore a genuine smile and a genuine respect, each of 6 times I have been there.

I am sure now that he knows I take the shatabdi and am there at least once a fortnight he waits for me to emerge out of the Ludhiana junction station. I later found it was cheaper to travel a better neater auto rickshaw yet I travelled with him. The man once shared with me, his and his family's struggle to make mends with hgih costs of living "babuji, tussi dasso mai apnee kudi noo kis tarah engineering padaoon. Hune barveen mai non-medical kar legi to college engineering vaaste jaegi. Mere kol inne paise kithee hai" (sir tell me how i can afford my daughter's engineering education. If she attends the school as a student of sciences she would want to be an engineer, and I cant afford her studies.) That moved me, to the core. Man why me?! everytime why am I the one listening to these stories, I need to return to my corporate life make money and settle down. My father slogged all his life to allow a good upbringing to me but we were a little advanced family and I went onto (probably) do some justice to those efforts of his. But its not so, most indians are waging an endless battle to earn a living, educate kids and keep themselves healthy. The costs of living in India are prohibitive and extortionists at times. What lies beneath such costs is the extreme (apparent and created) shortages....especially those of land. High land costs make various services from hospitalisation to education costly. And everyone wants to make a quick buck in this country. This is an endless discussion.....

So I return to my small-tiny-cute-humble autowallah. When I landed this time, I had little hopes to find him standing in the auto parking at Ludhiana with his rickety rickshaw. But there he was, I wasn't so sure it was him. Only when I got a bit close I noticed he is the same guy, as a departure from his usual dressing code he wore a cap to protect him from heat. I pulled my hand out of my pocket and waved at him, so did he. And the same greetings were exchanged. "Babuji, bade dinaa baad. tussi shatabdi vich nai aaye" (sir, seeing you after many days. You didnt travel shatabdi this time?) I reverted "nai, iss baar mai pathankot se aaya hoo and dilli se nai" (I came from pathankot and not Delhi). Strangely he kept quiete all through those twenty minutes of the ride, I could see he was disturbed. He didnt want to share a thing this time. Overtime he shared with me his son's woes with education and daughter's career, but this time he chose to keep silent. I didnt disturb him either, but when I got down I pulled the usual Rs 100 note and handed over to him,

I asked "uncle aapka naam kya hai?" (uncle what's your name). He shook a little and said "Arun Sood, kya ho gaya babuji" (My name is Arun Sood, what's the issue Babuji". I said "kuch nai uncle, aise he" (nothing uncle, just like that).

I think it was my last visit to the town at least for the time being. And I thought I should know the name of the person (who towed me everytime), even if charging me a little extra money, for the sweet talks we had.