Train to Hazaribagh

"May I have your attention please, train no 14423, New Delhi to Hazaribagh via kanpur, Allahabad is arriving shortly on Platform no 1."As soon the announcement hit, Sumit hang up the phone and rushed towards the waiting area for his luggage. He took all his baggages and staring at his ticket moved towards the platform. He was carrying a sleeper class ticket and was looking for his coach.

Hazaribagh, 1100 km from Capital is a historic town in Indian state of Jharkhand. Ruled by Akbar in ancient times and the spot of Internment camp for Germans during World War II.

But Sumit did not know it, neither he tried to know. He was extremely excited to board the train not because he was boarding a train for the first time, but because he was about to meet his distant relationship partner in Hazaribagh.

Sumit, a 19 year old boy, skinny, tall but extensively intelligent. "Padhaku", a pet name for every Indian in India, who holds a book for more than 2 hours continously was his sole possession in his hostel.

It was his first year of preparation. He was send with loans on head.

"Dude, do you have a girlfriend? " this was the first question, Sumit was asked in the hostel. Sumit belonging to a rural outskirts didn't had a chance to say yes.

"No", an out burst and obvious answer from sumit.

"Try Tinder", "or Try Viagra" advised Rohit, his roommate. Sumit was extremely ashamed. Sumit had never exposed himself to such environments.

But someone has rightly said, " One fish messes up the entire pond". Within few months Sumit had tinder, Insta, Fb, Snapchat everything active on his smartphone, his father bought him out of extreme hardships.

And after 12 hours of preparations and 12 months of distant relationship, he was about to meet his "Soulmate", he saved her contact with that name, as per suggested by Rohit.

Honked, the train. Sumit quickly settled down and put his baggages around and quickly whatsapped to her "Soulmate".... Arriving in 17 hours.. 

Sumit's phone rang. It was his father. 

"Whats going Sumit? " Dad said from the other side. "Nothing dad just leaving for the test dad, I'm getting late, I'll call you later. Bye.. Bye.." 

" Ok, o.. Ok".. 

He sat off his top berth and prepared for his long journey. 

Suddenly, than a local vendor passed by selling tea. Sumit was not fond of tea now, but when the vendor had passed, he thought he should have one. 

He waited for minutes. Surprisingly, the Vendor came again, Sumit took a tea for 10. But after a moment Sumit felt something, but then resisted himself and lay down. But something was going around in his mind now. He was waiting for the vendor again. 

And, to the surprise the vendor came again but this time he was not echoing for his tea. He came to Sumit's compartment, saw sumit, stood and left. 

Now, Sumit was tremendously shaken, scared and feeling sickly. He turned unstable. 

"Something was wrong with the vendor".. Sumit said to himself. He came down. Put on his slippers and turned towards the coach end. He passed on his coach, the next one, third, fourth and now it was the pantry car. 

The same vendor, in the vendor compartment was crying brokenly. Sumit couldn't believe his eyes. He had never thought of it. It was something which had shaken himself completely. He lost all his strength at once. He wanted to enter the compartment but couldn't hold his legs. 

At last, he did. He sat near the vendor's foot. The Vendor was in tears. 

"I'm sorry dad", Sumit said to the vendor. 

"Why did you lie, son? " Father asked. 

Sumit was in tears now too, he never knew his father was working as a tea vendor to pay his fees. 

"Why are you doing this? " "Why didn't you tell me this?" Sumit questioned. 

"I had no options left. You were the only one" Father replied with gloom. "But, you lied to me, son". Why? 

"I'm sorry, dad". 

Sumit had the millions thoughts in his mind full of shame, repentance, sadness, pity and guilt. 

"Get, up dad and drop his attire now." Sumit asked. 

"But, Why this is only thing which earns us". Father told. 

"No, its not". 

Sumit and his father, unboarded the train at Kanpur and took a bus to deoria. Sumit decided to stay with his father, study in his hometown with his father. 

The Train no 14423, reached Hazaribagh station but with a passenger and a tea vendor short. 

Ten years later... 

Train no, 14423 was on the platform at New Delhi Station. 

"Rush, the Sir is waiting." The railway officials were in hurry. The new Station Master was about to take the charges of the station. He stepped down from his car. 

But, along him, an old man stepped too. The officials were in surprise to what protocol they need to follow for him. 

The Station Master did not sit on his chair in his office but the old man. The officials, "Sir,..." 

"He's my father." 

The label outside office displays Mr. Sumit Singh, Station Master. 

And, train no 14423 departed.