SHORT STORY ASSIGNMENT Group Members: Kartik Parmar, Aman Miri and Somesh Rao. Mr.

Rajaram and his Train. (Based on a true story) I quickly gulped down the last of my tea and was on my way to the engine as I heard the horn. It was an epic horn, truly one of its kinds. I had been quite excited for the entire morning, until the stationmaster informed me about my partner for the day. It was Shivratri and I could see huge waves of pilgrims boarding the train. They all looked like robots destined to solve their purpose for the day. And so was I. I expeditiously raced towards the engine and climbed it at my full tilt. Youre late. At my face the moment I stepped in the drivers cabin. He was about the age of my father. He wore a black bandana, a dirty navy blue shirt and soggy blue pants, like the ones wore by the bike mechanic living behind my house. The tag on his shirt said RAJARAM PASWAN. And where is your uniform? My mind didnt allow me to reply, as it was busy deducing the details on the character I just met. It took me a while till I replied, Sorry sir, Im new here. Its my first week. Hah, again a rookie. Its been a long time since Ive had some good company I couldnt try harder to take that as a compliment. He showed me the charts I had to fill and then pressed the epic horn to alert everyone on the planet that Rajya Rani Express is ready to go on its journey. We gradually picked up pace and moved out of the Patna Junction towards the wideopen fields and towards the people who were waiting for us at the next station. So, what do I call you sir? I was satisfied with my smart deduction of his name, but I had to do it, to break the unpleasant silence. Sir, he replied without even looking at me. I could feel the flurry of air on my face as we left behind a few million trees and huts. It was almost an hour and none of us had even spoken a word. I felt dead. He would blow the epic horn at every signal, which would bring my senses alive again. I kept myself involved in trying to figure out the working of the engines electronics. Suddenly I felt this urge to break out my voice just to make sure if he was alive and evenly making him aware that I was alive as well. The station master spoke well of you This really enthralled him to look towards me. Did he? I never thought it through before I said that. Yes he did. He commended you to be very dedicated in your work for all the time youve been working here. I just made that up to make him feel important. 20 damn years, he replied in a shrill voice. Anyways, so tell me something about you mister? I was so glad that he said something over ten words, while equally keeping the pressure on me to carry on the conversation. Still I was glad. Im SUSHIL KUMAR sir. I couldnt come up with a smarter answer then. That was the last question he asked me for the day. Maybe he thought I had some really arrogant youth personality who would just laugh at this old man for every word he spoke.

So how are you planning to celebrate Shivratri sir? I asked, taking the entire responsibility of making the conversation interesting before it could fade out into silence again. Hah, I dont believe in these Gods my friend. Even you wouldnt if you had lived my life. I doubt that sir. Maybe your life was unfair, but that is no reason not to believe in the Gods. Maybe he was offended by my unnecessary advice or he just chose not to reply. He had this bad content expression on his face, which made me feel guilty of what I just spoke. Maybe his life was really that unfair. I could still feel the dry breeze from the empty paddy fields. We picked up some extra speed. Maybe my words made him do that. My wife has this puja in our house today. This was supposed to be our first puja together, but I couldnt even be there. My daughter is getting married today he said to cut down the weight of my disappointment. Oh, thats very great sir. You should be there for the blessings sir Again, he didnt look very happy with my unnecessary advices. Its not great. She isnt there in the country. I tried my best to sympathize with him, but he hit the horn breaking my commiserations. He kept hitting it while looking outside the side window. He had the most frightening look on his face. One you would never find on such a confident and experienced man. I could see we entered a station. It looked like a small village station. He screamed through all the fifty years of his life, MOVE! He pressed the horn like it was a musical instrument. The moment I looked out through my side window, we were already over some bodies and to complete my fright we barged into some more people at over 80kmph. I could still remember them trying to stop the trains with their hands only if they could. I believe, they were the pilgrims who came to worship Shiva at the Katyani Sthan. But Shiva didnt listen to their prayers. Even the epic horn couldnt warn them away from crossing the tracks. The train didnt have to stop at Dharama Ghat Station. But now it did. I couldnt bear the incident through my eyes. Neither could Mr. Rajaram who just ran over more than 40 people. He wasnt frightened. He looked sad though. My throat didnt let me speak a word. I felt choked. RUN Thats what I heard last from him. And so I followed my orders. I thought he would come along with me, but he didnt. Rather he turned back and started walking towards the people we just ran over. I looked at him, then at the footover bridge behind him and then at the Katyani Sthan, which stood tall on the top of the hill. I couldnt get the picture of the dead bodies out of my head. I ran all the way till the next signal and alerted the railway staff about the incident. All I had in my mind was, what would they do to my partner. The next day news said Mr. Rajaram was killed by the violent mob that got enraged by the train running over pilgrims. They beat him to death and set the train ablaze. I couldnt ever sympathize with my partner. His life was really unfair. But he faced it. He didnt need any Gods. He was strong enough, stronger than all those pilgrims and the mob and only I knew that.