It was 24th November 2005, Thursday, I, Ashis and Jyoti were taking meal in restaurant in Bhubaneswar. It was 21:10, I was in hurry. I have to proceed for Kolkata by Chennai-Howrah mail from Bhubaneswar railway station. My train was at 21:35 from Bhubaneswar. I rushed to Bhubaneswar railway station. It was 21:25 I reached to Platform and trying to locate Howrah mail, but I couldn’t find the train in the platform. I rushed to the Display board, but there was no information in the display board about the Howrah mail. Then I made contact with the enquiry counter. It was written in the board in the counter that Howrah mail expected to come at 1:30, I got relaxed as because I was not late but 1:30, what I will do in the platform, but I decided to remain in the platform and will wait for train. I was sitting in the chair in front of main gate of the platform.
Station was crowded by passengers; there were seven trains in duration of next one hour. Basically passengers were waiting for the following trains Chennai- Howrah mail, Pursottam Express, Tapaswini Express, Utkal express, Puri- Howrah Express and Jaghnath Express. In the mean time one person who was sleeping in the platform number 1 in crowded place and suddenly started to sought “mai Chattisgarhi Hoo, Adivasi hoo, Bhagwan ka nam nahoo liya to kiya liya, 1,2,3……., Ka, Kha, Ga, parkar Kya Kiya, agar bhagwan ka nam nahoo liya to kiya liya”. In the mean time Purshottam express arrived in the platform, passengers for the train boarded down and chattisgarhi man bow down to the floor and wished all the passengers while saying “Bhagwan tumharo yatra safal kare”. Train signaled and departures from the station. Once again he started soughing. This time he was more in aggressive manner. Three people waiting for the train standing just to the “Chattisgarhi man”, all are in the age between 20-30 years. They were young. One person among them rushed to the “Chattisgarhi man” and started to kick him with his boot without saying anything. He kicked seven times by his boot. Chattisgarhi man trying to protect own self but nobody came forward to protect him. Chattisgarhi man ultimately falls in the ground. Four ladies were just sitting to the spot and told “Bas kar yetne kyu marte hoi” That naughty man stopped to kick and return to place. That chattisgarhi went away from Platform and became out of the seen. In the mean time Tapaswini express arrived and the passengers boarded in the train.
Ashis had also to proceed for Tatanagar by Utkal express. But his train was at 22:30. Ashis arrived in the platform and asked what are doing here, your train! I replied it was late, he suggested me to go hotel and take rest, when train will come then you come to the platform but I replied no I will be in the platform and wait for train. Utkal express arrived in the platform and Ashis boarded in the train. Utkal express went away from the station. Now it was the turn of Puri- Howrah express.
There were seven boys sitting together in one place and reading some magazine. A person carried two polythene bags in two hands and wore half paint and shirt, suddenly stopped where the boys are reading the books and song “Roop tera mastana…, Papa Khate hai beta nam karega…………..” boys didn’t reply anything, Person went to another place where 5-6 families were standing for train and song “Pardeshi, perseshi chor kar jana nahi……………,O janewala, thora rook ke jana……………..” like this he is roaming in all the platform. For the time being he disappeared. After some time person was seen with TTE. He was talking with TTE and enjoying, TTE was also laughing. Ultimately TTE told him, don’t disturb me please go. PURI- HOWRAH express arrived in the platform passengers boarded down.
Now platform was almost vacated, only the passengers of Jagnath express was remained there to take their seat in the train. In the mean time I also changed my place and shifted towards the room of Station master. As Jaganth Express departured from the railway station, just after 2 minutes a person wearing half paint, T shirts, Liberty black show with black shocks and goggles in upper pocket, holding one brief case in the right hand. He collided with the station master door and turned down, starred to the passengers who are sitting in the chair waiting for the Howrah mail in the platform and entered in the room. Few minutes latter he came out from the station master’s room and started to move in the platform. His steps are not moving as the movement of normal man. He was over drink. Came to the RPF counter and argued with the police man that “I failed Jaganth express, see I am holding tickets, why train leave me in platform, I was in time, why”? Everybody in platform is looking towards him. RPF didn’t respond him. He came towards the passengers and asked them look I have ticket and I failed train, this is due to railway man, they signaled train before time. People are enjoying the drunken man dialogue and everybody is laughing.
It was almost 23:45 all the shops in platform are nearly closed down and one phase of light switched off by the railway. Accept few all the passengers of the Chennai- Howrah mail went inside the second class waiting hall. Sales boy were cleaning their shops and closed down their shutter. Sales boy of all the shops got free from their duty and they are taking their dinner after finishing their daily job. They all entered in the second class waiting hall with their bedroll to sleep. I was in the platform till now to get more stories in the platform. Dogs in the platform also finished their dinner and started to bark “Ooooooooo………, other dog as well Oooooooo………….Discussion, debate, laughing was already continued with some passengers and railway staff with the drunken man. I was just sitting 10 meter far from the “Majlish”. It was completely 24:00, crow started Coa, Coaaaaaaaaaa………, Birds started chirping Chi, Chi Chiiiiiiiiiiiii. But they stopped after few minutes. I was looking towards my watch and thought what accuracy by the animal. In the mean time an old retired man come towards me and sit down adjacent to my seat. He was waiting for Howrah-Yaswantpur Express. He told me that drunken man seems to be Bengali and he is 50% active and 50% in drinking mood, but he is not disturbing, he is soft, he is educated and perhaps representing to rich families, he might be in higher post, but he has taken too much. He failed his train.
Drunken man entered in the Asst. Manger’s rooms and shouted “sota hai, duty karo”. I requested to old man, please look after my luggage just I am coming. I went to Asst. Manager’s room and saw that drunken man was sitting in the chair and Asst. Manager was standing in front of him. Drunken man showing his ticket and saying to the Asst. Manager please cancel my ticket. It was tatkal and 2 AC Ticket in Jagantah Express. Asst. Manager responded sorry not possible. Drunken man asked why? Then you write here that ticket will not be cancelled. Asst. Manger was in dilemma what to do what not do, he requested drunken man please go don’t disturb, it is railway, what railway, you are sleeping and don’t know the rules and regulation, cancel my ticket and refund money. Asst. manager was totally confused, he started to ring telephone and asked suggestion from higher boss, in the mean time drunken said call your officer I will talk with him. Asst. Manager dragged him out of the room and rush towards the RPF. Drunken man once again entered in the room and sit down in the chair. Drunken man take out “Gold Flake King Size Ciggaratte packet from pocket and take out one cigarette in finger” RPF came asked what happen why you are smoking cigarette. Drunken man responded who are you? Show your card, why government told you to walk in the platform, yes tell me. You know this is cigarette, if I will burn it and smoke it then you will demand Rs.200/- fine but I am not burning just taking smale without burning “nasa hota hai”. RPF went away and drunken man comes out from the room. Actually he was arguing with everybody in the platform but no body get angered. RPF man went away to other side of platform and return back. This time drunken man once again asked to the RPF man “O Mooch bale kya karta hai”, RPF became annoyed and soughed “tum apne aap ko kya samcata hai, IPS bolta hai, IPS Darru pee ka galli deta hai, onder ker denge samcjh me aa jayega, jayo bhago, sala jo acha karta hai uasi ko galli deta hai, sub saman kar loot ker lae jayega, kuch nahee bolte hai to kiya socha hai” drunken responded “nice, sorry, please don’t mind”. I went to the enquiry counter and found that Chennai- Howrah will come at 4:00. I returned to my place.
In the mean time other drunken man also joined with him. New drunken man was seems to be ordinary man; he was a rickshaw puller in the town. New man told to drunken man “sir aap mayish kiyo hote hai”. He replied “dut sir bolta hai, Janto ho bade jhothe hote hai, lekin kosise sache hote hai and therefore I am trying” Drunken rickshaw puller started to say English like “hassssss, busssss….., England, under………..st……, Student, rev………….Xxxxxxx……., Mmssssss…………quail………” all the passengers, RPF and railway men became stunt for the time being they couldn’t understand what both the drunken man are discussing. After few minutes all of them laughed loudly but Asst. Manager were till now in confusion and watching both of them very interestingly. After few minute both of them went out from the sight.
I was sitting in the platform and watching the railway clock when Chennai- Howrah mail will come.
It was 4:00 there was no announcement, I went to the enquiry counter, and they told me that train will come at 5:45. Platform was totally silent. I went inside the second class waiting hall, because I was getting cold. As I entered in the hall got the smale of wine. Just I turned I saw the drunken man with his briefcase was discussing with a man and his wine bottle was broken and spread in the ground he was taken wine without water and after losing the control his bottle was broken. Just near to him one person was sleeping, he kicked him in his back and told” darru pee kar botel phor kar so gai” man stand up and got confused and went away from there. I was also become tired and got sleep in chair, just after five minutes a gentle man told me “Dada aopner train aesa gecha, platform number 4 te”. I rushed to platform number 4. I saw it was Howrah- Chennai Mail going towards Chennai. Once again I saw the singing man he was in the AC compartment gate and singing” samene bali khirkee me chand ka tukra…, O babu derhe chalna…………” Passengers told own self he is mad.
I returned to platform number 1 and waiting for 5:45 next morning. Train arrived at 5:45 in platform number 4. Display board of the platform displaying the name of the train Chennai-Howrah mail and time 21:35(actually 21:35 was the right time but it was late and come to the 5:45 next morning). I entered in the compartment and got slept.
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