While I studied in Allahabad University both of us became good friends. I never considered it necessary to peep into his ancestry to find out whether he was a Chaubey, a Bansal or an Asthana.He had dropped his surname before his name got recorded in his Matriculation Certificate.The name " Ramakant" was just adequate to explain him and for our friendship to blossom.
On completion of our Post graduate course, we went back home and lost contact. After about a year, we met again, this time in a Train. He was heading to Allahabad and I was to go beyond, to Bhubaneswar. Both were returning after our UPSC interview for joining the civil service though we did not meet at Dholpur House. Maybe he had met the Interview-Board a couple of days earlier and was returning home leisurely.
The Train had left Delhi and was speeding, ignoring small and medium scale stations. We soon got lost in conversation. Someone approached us and ascertained our preference for food. It was surely a day for celebration and we both were keen on asking for the best he could offer at the next station. Each of us was anxious to play the host but he lost. I paid the man, perhaps even a little more than he had asked for and kept the piece of paper he handed me. Ramakant and I again reminisced. We recollected our friends and teachers.
The Train slowed down after a couple of hours and then halted at a busy station. Food trays arrived and passengers soon got ready for lunch. We waited for ours for some time; then got a bit worried. There was no sign of the man. It was now time for collecting the used food trays.
One of the boys removing a couple of trays from the nearby cubicle noticed both hunger and frustration in our eyes. He came closer. We described the man and menu. He smiled and pronounced his judgement. We had been cheated. "No one pays before having his food tray delivered", he cautioned. We pleaded for food; he was in a hurry and left. Ramakant was carrying a few apples and bananas. That helped.
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10th October, 2015
On completion of our Post graduate course, we went back home and lost contact. After about a year, we met again, this time in a Train. He was heading to Allahabad and I was to go beyond, to Bhubaneswar. Both were returning after our UPSC interview for joining the civil service though we did not meet at Dholpur House. Maybe he had met the Interview-Board a couple of days earlier and was returning home leisurely.
The Train had left Delhi and was speeding, ignoring small and medium scale stations. We soon got lost in conversation. Someone approached us and ascertained our preference for food. It was surely a day for celebration and we both were keen on asking for the best he could offer at the next station. Each of us was anxious to play the host but he lost. I paid the man, perhaps even a little more than he had asked for and kept the piece of paper he handed me. Ramakant and I again reminisced. We recollected our friends and teachers.
The Train slowed down after a couple of hours and then halted at a busy station. Food trays arrived and passengers soon got ready for lunch. We waited for ours for some time; then got a bit worried. There was no sign of the man. It was now time for collecting the used food trays.
One of the boys removing a couple of trays from the nearby cubicle noticed both hunger and frustration in our eyes. He came closer. We described the man and menu. He smiled and pronounced his judgement. We had been cheated. "No one pays before having his food tray delivered", he cautioned. We pleaded for food; he was in a hurry and left. Ramakant was carrying a few apples and bananas. That helped.
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10th October, 2015
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