Atithi... Tum Devo Bhava!

There are some things in life that happen unexpectedly and you feel lucky enough that you could witness them. I was witness to one such thing.

My parents are planning to go one a religious tour in the month of May. So I was told to go to the reservation counter to get tickets for them. I was at first put off by the whole ordeal but studying in a college in Pune, I'd got very well used to the concept of standing in lines for ages. In college we used to stand in lines for everything... Getting the form, Submitting the form, attesting documents, paying fees, getting the library card, getting the ID card, getting the Report card etc etc...

So I'd prepared myself for the long wait. Surprisingly, when I reached the place, there was not a soul in sight. I was wondering whether I had come to the right place when the guy from beyond the counter called out to me. He asked me whether I'd come for a reservation to which I said Yes and went towards him. Frankly speaking I was not expecting such kind of hospitality from a govt. employee coz we rarely see some of his kind these days. 

I once went to a bank where they had a strange way of giving direction by pointing noses towards the counter. If you asked for a certain person they'd just turn their head toward a certain direction and tell me to go over there. I'd have understood that their hands were tied up with work I could see but one of their hand was busy holding a cup of tea. Why can't you tell me the friggin counter number? Reminds me of those Pointer dogs that I saw in cartoons... (The ones that go TOINGGGG!)

So back to the reservation counter... This fellow asks me in detail where I want to go and further goes on to tell me the fares and answers all my stupid questions with utmost patience. Now its really freaking me out. C mon man... I'm not used to this stuff. He is supposed to make random noises, spit some paan, take breaks and do all the stuff that people of his type love to do. I continued eying him suspiciously...

Just then this Firangi guy (am I being a racist here?) comes for some inquiry. He wanted to know the times of the train to a nearby hill station. To my utter bewilderment the railway karmachari starts referring to books and schedules and gives the correct info to the Atithi! I'm staring with disbelief, unable to breathe, blink or do anything else. Further the firangi asks for change and hands over a 1000 Rs. note. Railway babu gives him all possible denominations and even asks me if I have 2 fifties. Now I'm almost choking wondering whats wrong with him. Reminds me of the Good Day advert about the railway station. I check around his table but there are no Good Day packets around. Its early in the morning and this guy has given up all his change. The firangi thanks him and does the 'namaskar' thing that they like to do to 'get in'.

Now I'm staring at the railway guy with a wicked look. Coz now if I (son of the soil) don't get change with my tickets, all hell is gonna break lose! But it was not to happen... He digs deep into his pocket and comes up with the change. I thank him with a sweet smile and wonder if I should tell him that I'm gonna write about him...

Concluding the post by repeating the first line...

"There are some things in life that happen unexpectedly and you feel lucky enough that you could witness them"

Kya yeh Mamata ki Mamata hai?