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Sonu and Golu

...content in Chhattisgarh.

The train was about to leave Bilaspur. I sat in the first class coach, empty but for me and the finely bearded, formally turned out Muslim railway ticket Inspector.I was on my way to Pendra Road thence, to Amarkantak and the origin of Narmada. I had been restless since reading Gita Mehta's 'River Sutra' and this trip had to be 'done'.

On the deserted platform, hastened a lovely couple: a young man and a girl. Both in their late teens and strikingly good looking. They boarded my coach , entered my cubicle and greeted the railway man with much familiarity. He responded likewise. 'Must be family friends', I said to myself.

I found it hard to avoid staring at the lovely girl. Buxom and rosy cheeked, she wore her long, glowing hair loose. Her large eyes were light coloured and her lips were full. Staring into my book I took in some information. He was her younger brother. Their father was the Inspector's colleague. They were going to Anuppur.

I looked up and smiled a greeting. The boy smiled back and she smiled vaguely not looking at me. The Inspector glumly but politely asked for my ticket.

They chatted on about common friends and relatives. The girl was effervescent. The Inspector left to begin his rounds. I closed my book, looked out of the window at the beautiful country for a while and then asked them innocently: "Do you live in Bilaspur?" They were excited at once, that the ice was broken: "No, we live in Anuppur. Our Grandmother lives in Bilaspur!"

He was Rabindra Verma known as Golu and she, Rashmi Verma, known as Sonu. Sonu leaned back relaxed, legs swinging in the air and her hands playing with her soft, long hair, grooming it, knotting it, shake it loose again, humming a tune softly, the while. The boy edged forward in his seat with evident eagerness: "Where are you from, Uncle?."

"Chennai", I said and apologised that my Hindi was rather fractured. "Oh doesn't matter... keep talking and you'll get better". They giggled.

Then began a friendly journey of over an hour. They lived in the railway quarters near Anuppur station, and were very happy with their life there. They were proud and fond of their school, teachers, parents, neighbours and friends.

"But my kid brother here, is the only problem", she teased coquettishly. He blushed. "He doesn't even fight back when I punch him", she went on. "He is too obedient and wants to be known as the better child!" He continued to smile indulgently. "But I shall miss him when he leaves home in about three years," she added.

"Where are you going ", I asked him.

"Fauj", he replied simply.    [NEXT PAGE]