Matter of Perspective

 

Armaan was excited for the start of a new phase of life. A new city and a new job beckoned. He boarded the train and took his seat by the window. He slid his bag under the seat and sat clumsily. The train pulled out and slowly gathered speed. Armaan was facing the direction in which the train was moving. The seat on the opposite side was empty, so he put his legs up and sat comfortably. The rattling of the train was like a lullaby. He did not realise when he nodded off.

 

The train pulled into the next station, which was in a small town where the train halted for just 5 minutes. Armaan was still asleep when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see a young woman.

“Excuse me sir,” she said. “Can you put your feet down, that’s my seat.”

Armaan quickly put his feet down and sat up straight. The woman tried to put her bag on the upper berth but it was too heavy. Armaan showed his chivalrous side and kept the bag up for her.

“Thank you,” she said and took her seat.

“You’re welcome,” replied Armaan.

The train slowly pulled out of the station.

 

The woman sat with her back to the direction in which the train was going. As the train picked up speed, the wind picked up her hair and toss them over her face. Using her slender fingers, she gently tucked them behind her ears, again and again. While she gazed outside, Armaan occasionally caught a glimpse of this beautiful woman sitting across. Armaan noticed she looked unhappy. Her eyes welled up with tears. But she quickly wiped her tears before they tricked down her cheeks.

 

“Hello, I’m Armaan,” he said after a little contemplation.

“Hi,” she replied.

“You do have a name?”

“Yes, Sonia.”

“Hi Sonia. Where are you headed to?”

“Mumbai,” she replied.

“Nice. I’m heading to Mumbai too. A new job, a new life awaits. I’m so excited. What takes you to Mumbai?”

“Job.”

Armaan realised she wasn’t interested in talking so kept quiet, for the moment.

 

Armaan, though, couldn’t keep quiet for more than a few minutes.

“Is everything ok? You look a little upset,” he asked.

Sonia couldn’t control her tears anymore. They trickled down her cheeks. Armaan offered her a handkerchief which she accepted.

“First time away from home?” he enquired.

“Yes.”

“Missing home already?”

She gazed out of the window without replying. He remained quiet too.

“These lands are so familiar,” she said, interrupting the rattling of the train. “As I move away from these farms, these trees, these houses, I am reminded of my own home, my friends and my family who I leave behind. I see myself going away from my life. The distance I’m putting, between what I call my own and me, makes me sad.”

“Away from your old life you mean,” said Armaan.

“What?” she enquired.

 

“Let’s do one thing,” said Armaan. “Let us exchange seats.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you why, but first, please take my seat,” he said and stood up.

She took his seat and he took hers. The wind blowing in from the window now threw her hair back.

“What’s the point of this?” she asked.

“Look outside, but don’t look back” he warned. “What do you see?”

“I see trees, farms and houses. But now it seems they are coming towards me!”

“Exactly” replied Armaan. “You’re moving towards a new life while simultaneously moving away from the old one. Look forward with hope and happiness. Don’t look back! Your family will always be there. Yes, you might have to let go of some things you liked, some friends you loved but that is life Sonia. Change your perspective. Never forget where you came from, but at the same time don’t lose track of where you are headed to. Don’t look back with despair, look ahead with hope.”

 

Sonia gazed outside the window, everything rushing towards her. A smile appeared on her face.

“Thank you, Armaan,” she said. “A few moments ago, I was crying at seeing the things I’m leaving behind. Now, I’m smiling with hope at all that’s in store for me. Life is such, a continuous journey from one place to another. And as you welcome the new, someone or something old will always get left behind. Right?”

“You got that right!” replied Armaan. “With everything else still the same, sometimes all you need is a change of seat, a fresh perspective! And for the people who really care, distance won’t matter. Family and true friends will always be there for you.”

“Yes, you’re right. Friends?” she asked, putting her hand forward, offering a hand shake.

“Friends!” he replied and they shook hands.

“Now, would you like to come back to your seat?” she asked.

“No, that’s ok. I will let you look ahead and dream.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll catch up on sleep, I was doing that before you came!”

“Enjoy your siesta, Armaan.”

“Thank you, and you, dream on!”

She smiled and continued to gaze outside. He sat back and in no time nodded off again.