The Train Friend

Travelling in Mumbai is one of the ardous tasks for the commuters be it in trains or buses especially in the dreaded Rush Hour. It’s always as if we have no time for any person and every person is interested or let’s say self-centered that he/she seeks the best and comfortable way to commute the distance between the place of residence to the place of work. Most people prefer to catch a particular train and therein lies the magic of bonding between people.
You tend to meet the same set of people amidst the same preferred compartment of the train and a casual smile of recognition is shared with persons apparently with similar traits and personalities.
This however is short term and long term friendships are a rarity as one is susceptible to change his work place and also the mode of travel.
I like many others always travelled solo with the commuting distance barely touching 15 kms.and hardly ever interacting with fellow travelers.
Circa 2009: A group comprising of 6/7 people used to come in the 7.32 local train and exchange words of wisdom amongst themselves and the decibel level used to soar like anything with their loud bouts of laughter. Slowly I too got used to the chatter box attitude and one of the guys named Shwetal introduced himself to me and the other people in the group. The amalgamation with them was so smooth that within a few months I thought we were all childhood friends. Every one used to look forward to the early morning friendly banter and within no time the group had over 14 very active members.
Somehow 5/6 people ventured out later due to time constraints and other reasons best known to themselves.
Shwetal however made it a point and ensured that all like minded members meet atleast once a month to share and express their views and pleasantries. He used his pep talk to motivate others and encouraged positive thinking whenever he sensed something was amiss in someone’s life.
Shwetal quit his job in 2010 March and went on to do business of his own. The morning banters suddenly became less vivid and chirpy without his effervescence but he ensured that we meet at one's own convenience once in a while.We got acquainted with each other families and even they were surprised that this Friendship- trail was started in a local train.
In March 2012 twin tragedies struck – I lost my mother and Shwetal his sister. Shwetal’s sister succumbed to Lung fibrosis. Perhaps destiny had something more sinister rolled up in its dirty sleeves.
In Jan 2013 Shwetal suddenly used to feel weak and tired and remained confined to his residence more often. Travelling even a short distance would take a heavy toll.The initial reports showed nothing but doctors were appalled of the dwindling capacity of his lungs which were rapidly losing their basic function. His sister too had showed similar symptoms earlier. The dreaded DNA factor in the family perhaps had begun its ugly game.
Dec 2014- It was a double whammy. Shwetal’s wife was diagnosed with acute leukemia and chemo was being given to halt any progress of the dreaded disease. Jan 2014- Shwetal could barely speak and was in and out of Hospital. We were looking for a miracle and hoped that his positive approach would win the battle against all odds.
27th February – Shwetal all of 48 years,left his family-his aging mother, an ailing wife and 2 smart level headed kids and a brother not to forget all of us -his beloved TRAIN friends.
There were no words to express as between us we desperately contacted one another to gather for one last glimpse of Shwetal and consoling his loved ones. His lifeless body was serene and calm perhaps totally exhausted from the vicious allopathic medicines that were gulped down, the artificial oxygen that was pumped into it and the mental anguish of his wife’s fragile health that was perhaps eating into him.

Coming back from the electric crematorium, for a moment I wished I never had met shwetal in my life so I could not have felt so lonely and forlorn on that mournful and unpleasant day when we lost him.
There is a place for cremating the dead on wooden pyres too at the place where I saw 3 more bodies consigned to the flames. Death is inevitable which we all know but only when we lose a close person do we realize the importance of time which is very short and ticking away merrily and no one knows how much time do we have at our own disposal..

Time has come to move ahead forgetting the grief of losing a close pal like Shwetal who lived life on his own terms never ever complaining or discussing anything affecting his life at any point of time. He always had a positive approach even when his health was failing on him and I personally think that never at any point of time did he even contemplate in his wildest dreams that the shadows of death were lurking amidst his cheerful and sparkling desire to live.
Though his heart wanted to continue,his lungs took away his breath eventually choking him and us in grief.
His family respecting his last wish donated his eyes and skin and thus Shwetal continues to live on bringing cheer to those unidentified recipients of his sensory organs.

We all know that Shwetal is breathing a lot more freely now and is in a ‘’better world’’ free of all human bondage and all earthly pressures.

RIP – Shwetal and thanks for all the sweet albeit, short memories that we had toghether.We will certainly cherish the fond moments spent with you..We will continue with your prized ‘’Train Trails’’ as you called it missing your short gasped laughs and witty comments!!