Unlucky-no time for Luck???

Once again, I was running with a bag hanging on my shoulder and a detail-case(can't call that a brief-case) in my hand. It had already been an ordeal from my home to Railway station, since it took 45 mins instead of 15 mins. Thanks to these never ending political rallies, I was on target of my Dad's 'verbal gun'(believe me its more 'dad'ly than AK-47).I had heard that over a 999 times,"you should always keep some buffer time for contingencies,but you...)....this was the 1000th!

Anyways, experience always pays and hence I boarded my crawling train in an inebriated state. I thanked God, not just for train but also for saving me from boxing gloves of my Dad! And as usual, I felt the depth of his words once again, but....I just couldn't avoid these 'just-in-time' circumstances, they have become an integral part of my life. Moreover, I concluded that "never trust Indian Trains" because when you reach in time,they always come late and when you take them for granted and reach late, they would be just leaving or would have already left. Infact, its a perfect analogy: Trains and Girl-friends!

I looked for my berth# 7 and it was right there, where it should have been, not an inch left, not an inch right, just beside the toilet. The stage was set for a purrfect"one night stand"; side lower berth(soft target for daily commuters), 2-3 small kids around(for surround sound) and a neighboring toilet, I couldn't have asked for more! I opened the window to force some fresh air into my lungs, but yuck..it was far more worse than inside air, may be the train was passing an industrial area. I felt like a cheated child, who was given a low-grade lollypop after being promised for a chocolate. I started cursing them all, my friend-turned-foe, who had advised me to save money and go in 2nd class sleeper, the person on booking counter, who gave me a side-birth instead of my "near 6 feet physique.I cursed doom for the politician organising the rally, and last but not the least, my own luck or rather bad-luck.It was not for the first time, that I felt like that I had never ever in my life won a Lucky draw or something of that sort. And I always wanted to feel lucky at least once in my life, even if it were in a "Unlucky Draw".

I had just settled in my berth, when another hell broke loose. I was startled by a voice,"Excuse me Mr. this is my berth". I opened my eyes to see a guy staring at me. "This is my berth",he exclaimed again. Although I was in no mood, his chiselled brutal face and biceps peeping out of his tee, forced me to smile."There must be some mistake", I said. "I have just confirmed it on mobile", he said in a voice so firm & oozing of baritone that I found it difficult to deny. Acting wise, I looked for my ticket, Oh gosh! it was not there in front pocket, not even in my purse. I was losing the battle without even fighting. But, I was damn sure I had it....perhaps!

"There you are.....", I pulled out the ticket that was hiding in the side pocket of my bag(probably it was also afraid of the stranger). I checked it myself once, Coach S2, berth# 7 and handed it over to other guy, with a sarcastic smile as if it was his termination letter and I were his Boss. He had a look at the ticket & to my dismay, didn't move a bit instead handed his mobile to me. I read the msg, "Coach S2, berth# 7" How is it possible??"How could they allot one berth to two people?? And that too-to-two males! However, if it were a cute-looking girl-next door, I would have definitely proposed adjustment. But in this case, No...Never....! I was smiling at my own wicked thoughts, but my smile disappeared as soon as my competitor sat on berth rather my berth. Relaxed and unperturbed, "We ll see once TC comes",he said and I nodded in yes, in fact I had to....I had no choice.

As usual, I was fighting with my own luck or rather bad-luck as I said earlier. It has always been like that only. I did never compete with anybody else for anything I wanted. It was always my Luck, who instead of pushing me, always pulled me back. Although I have also learned to live with it but still I hated it & I bet it felt the same. But, I had decided I would fight, after all "It was my berth-right, and I shall ve it".

At last TC arrived. He caliberated his specs on his pointed nose and looked at my ticket, then checked the reservation chart, "This berth belongs to...". The gap between to..and name resembled "...and the Best Actor goes to.."at Filmfare Award Function"to.... Vikas Joshi. You are Vikas?", he stared at me questioningly and I shrugged my shoulders and said, "No". "It's me!", the guy said in a tone cheerful yet cold". Now it was his turn, he smiled sarcastically. I wanted to punch right under his nose but... I had another question buzzing, "What about me??" I almost jumped at TC with anxiety but he kept turning pages of his stupid chart. I was packing my belongings when I heard, "Mr. Chaturvedi, berth#14, A-2". I turned back and asked, "What??". "Your ticket has been upgraded, enjoy young man", said TC and winked.

AC 2nd class! Woopiee..I wanted to do that Naa..na..na..na..naa dance to tease the other guy but I altered my plans when I saw his drooping jaw and his eye balls jumping out of sockets. Poor chap, was all I thought and moved towards my new compartment. No.7 had proved Lucky .... indeed !

Me, Myself & Divine

I always wondered, what does God looks like? Everybody told, "only people with a pure heart can see him". So, I had no chance whatsoever as nor I bathe regularly neither I wear laundered clothes. And how could a pure heart reside beneath such unhygienic conditions!

But now I can imagine of his looks. He should be a middle aged man with rugged looks, an unshaven face, unkempt hair, wearing a crumpled tee with worn out jeans. Chucking his half-dead beedi in an empty cup of Irani Chai. And flaunting his gold teeth while grinning. However, I am not sure its golden yellow or tartared-yellow because of tobacco! In short, he should be somebody like Jaggu Dada.

Although, I do not know much about him, but I know that he does not cares for me and so, I do not like him either! I remember when I was 3-4 yrs. old, my mother used to take me to his home. And I yelled hysterically because I hated going there. People there, never behaved properly. Although draped in neat and tidy attires, they uttered filthy words to my mother and me, words I did not understand then!

And I bet, God is not what he pretends to be at his home: gentle, caring and rich with a persona so pure and mesmerizing. It is all fake and I did realize it early. Once, when Baniya was robbing us of our cow and utensils, I asked my mother,"why?" and she said,"God wants it this way!". It rooted a belief in me, deep inside that God is heartless and fearful character since Baniya, who is himself a ruthless and notorious figure, fears him and obeys his orders! Still my mother says,"God treats us all as equal and cares for everybody". If it were so, why did not he pay our debt to Baniya if he were rich(as I have seen him fancying diamond and gold ornaments at his home!) and cares for us too.

However, I think I have resolved the mystery. Now, I have all the answers. I know who God is! He works for a Theater company and uses the fake jewelery and costumes to fool people at his home. But why does he do that? Its simple, to pretend he is rich! And since people present gifts only to rich, he gets all those boxes of sweets and milk and much more. Nevertheless, he never shared even a bit of those with me. Even when he knew that many a times I had to sleep empty bellied, as my mother says, "God knows everything".

I have decided, I will fight him once I grow up to take my father's revenge. God or may be his wife killed my father because he had mustaches and God's wife doesn't likes mustached-men. I have seen her photos killing a mustached man with Trishul. Just imagine, how cruel one has to be, to kill a person just because he has mustache!!! My neighbors say, my father died of consuming excess liquor. But I know that is not the truth. They say like that because they also fear God. But I am not a coward, I am not afraid because I know I am safe until I grow old and have mustache!

Do you still think the same way, that God is omnipotent, the savior??? He is not...... in fact, he is indifferent, sadist and a bully. He deprived me of what I had because he is poor, and so am I !