Happy Journey

 

Vikram boarded the train and looked for his seat. He found his window seat and sat down. It was hot and humid and that seemed to bother him. He looked up to realise the fan was off. He turned it on and sat down once again, grumbling all this while.
“It’s so hot,” he said to himself. “One simple instruction he cannot follow.”
He took his phone out and called someone.
“Listen, let this be your first and last mistake. If you make one more mistake, I will fire you,” he yelled and hung up before the person on the other side had a chance to speak.

Ahmed, who was sitting in the opposite seat, was watching this, albeit a little amused. Ahmed was a young Muslim sporting a beard and a skull cap. The train started to roll and slowly pulled out of the station. Vikram still looked irritated while engrossed in his phone.
“Hello, my name is Ahmed,” he tried to break the ice.
Vikram looked up with an expression that portrayed he wasn’t interested in a conversation. “I’m Vikram,” he said and dived back into the virtual world.
After a brief silence, Ahmed spoke again. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” replied Vikram without looking up.
“You don’t seem so,” said Ahmed. They did not speak for a few minutes.

“You’re right, Ahmed,” said Vikram. “I’m not okay. You see, I had asked my driver to book a seat in the AC compartment and yet here I am. It’s so hot and my driver is so careless!”
“Yes, it is a little warm but don’t worry, Vikram. Once the train crosses the city limits it will be really pleasant.”
“I hope so, but I rather doubt it. If only he would have booked the right ticket,” said Vikram.
“Why do you suffer the past?” Asked Ahmed.
“I suffer today, right now. What do you mean, suffer the past?” Asked Vikram rhetorically.
“Yes you face the heat today, but it’s because of a mistake that was made yesterday, right?”
“That is correct.”
“What is done cannot be undone. So, instead of suffering, why not make the most of now?”
Vikram looked outside the window pondering upon what Ahmed said. The rattling train was speeding through the city.

“Tea or coffee, sirs?” Asked a tea vendor onboard.
“No, thank you,” said Vikram looking at the vendor with disgust.
“One tea for me,” said Ahmed.
The exchange of money for tea was done in no time. As Ahmed sipped on hot tea, he turned to Vikram again. “You must try the famous train ki chai.”
“No, thank you.”
“Oh the rattling train, cool breeze and hot tea, what a pleasurable union. It is sure to make one happy.”
“Good for you,” said Vikram. “I’m just waiting to reach my destination; then I’ll be happy.”
“What if you’re not?” Asked Ahmed sipping on his chai.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, what if you don’t feel that happiness when you reach your destination?”
Vikram was quiet again. He looked outside the window and realised the train had left the city behind. It was cutting through farms and villages now.

“If I reach where I am supposed to, why won’t I be happy?”
“Let’s just say that arriving and being happy are two different things. You may arrive, but being happy or not is a choice.”
“Then I will choose to be happy,” said Vikram.
“Doesn’t look like you’re choosing that now. What makes you sure you will choose it then?”
“I think I should be able to do it then.”
“It’s also a matter of expectations,” Ahmed continued.
“Please do explain, Ahmed.”
“You have a picture in your mind of the place that you are headed to. What if it’s not as per your expectation? Like, you were expecting air-conditioned travel, but you got this and you choose to be unhappy!”
“What can one do?” Said Vikram and gazed outside the window.

“Choose to be happy now. Look for joy in the little things. This cup of tea, the cool breeze, a new friendship, these are the little things that make a difference.”

The train was now running through forests and mountains. The pleasant view caught his attention and the cool breeze caressed his face. He slid his phone into his pocket as a smile appeared on his face. Ahmed noticed his new friend was finally living in the moment and did not disturb him. A few minutes later, the train pulled into its first stop.
“Thank you, Ahmed. You were right, it’s very pleasant now.”
“You’re welcome. We often suffer the past or the future and miss living today. Life, my friend, is like a train ride. The scenery will keep changing. All you can do is make the most of where you are now. If you introspect, you will realise we always desire to be somewhere else, don’t we?”
“True that,” replied Vikram. “This journey is going to be better than I expected!”
“I’m sure it will be.”
“Tea or coffee, sirs?” A tea vendor asked.
“A tea for me and nothing for my friend,” said Ahmed.
“Why nothing?” Asked Vikram. “A cup of tea for me too.”
Ahmed smiled, “Welcome to the gang.”
“This cup of tea is on me. I know it’s not much but let’s just say it’s a token of our friendship.”
“Thank you,” said Ahmed.

While they enjoyed their tea, the train pulled out of the station. The silence of the compartment was broken only by the rattling of the train. Vikram sipped on his tea as the train meandered through the mountains. A sudden whiff of cool breeze made him happy inside.
“This truly is happiness, my friend,” said Vikram holding his cup of tea high.
“Indeed it is, my friend. Happiness is right here right now. Happiness is in the journey, not in arriving. What if you’re not happy on reaching your destination? Then the entire journey seems like a burden. And we don’t want that, do we?”
“Not at all!” Replied Vikram. “The journey is certain, arriving never is!”
“Very well said, my friend,” said Ahmed. “You can never be sure of that.”

“Thank you, Ahmed. This has been an enlightening journey.”

“You’re welcome, Vikram,” replied Ahmed. “It’s been an enriching journey for me too.”

Quietly they sipped on their tea and gazed at the beautiful scenery outside, as the train rattled along towards its destination.