IRONY EXPRESS

Ved’s life had reached a dead-end. Poor grades, failed relationships, low self-esteem, all amalgamated into something which made his life more miserable with every passing second. He desperately needed some time off. So, he was going home. Sitting in an empty compartment in a weekly train to Bhubaneswar on a Friday evening, Ved was busy contemplating how his life had become so miserable.

Train journeys and self-introspection often seem to go hand in hand. With the earphones plugged in, one often tends to wonder why life can’t be as simple as the flushing meadows passing by. And to add to that, the sentimental music playing through the earphones often mix with the emotions joggling inside the head to give an exaggerating effect. Ved’s case was no different. As the train chugged along, the voices inside Ved’s head too gathered momentum. The contemplation was soon approaching alarming level when he saw a tall, fair-complexioned man, probably in his early thirties; take the seat in front of him. The man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers and appeared to be from a well-to-do background.

Ved was a social introvert. On any other day, he would have continued listening to the music and indulging in his thoughts irrespective of anyone coming or going. But, today was different. He needed to vent out his emotions to somebody, preferably a stranger. He was tired of explaining things to known people and seeking advice. It seems god had listened to his inner desire. Soon, he removed the earphones.

“Are you going to Bhubaneswar?” asked Ved.

“Hmm…Yeah”, replied the stranger, sounding a bit unsure.

There was a brief moment of silence.

Then, the stranger asked, “I can sense that you are visibly upset with something.”

Ved was astounded. “How on earth was he able to figure that out barely seconds after they had met?” he thought.

“Can you read people’s minds?” Ved asked in amazement.

“No. But, I can certainly sense sadness. That is what I had been carrying throughout most part of my life.”

“Well, yes. I am passing through a tough phase. There is no point denying it. In fact, I was secretly hoping that I get someone who listens to all the tragedies of my life without having an opinion on them.” Ved said in a straight-forward manner.

“I have seen too much of life. Listening to the problems of others is not new for me. I don’t mind listening to yours too. And, as I don’t know you, I won’t have an opinion on them as well. So let’s get started.” said the stranger.

The train was gaining pace, and so was their conversation.

“I was truly, madly, deeply in love with a girl. We were in a relationship for the past four years. I spent too much time with her. As a result, my grades went from bad to worse. But, I didn’t care. She was more important to me than my grades. A few days ago, she came up to me and said that she did not want to be in a relationship with me any longer as I was “failing to meet her standards”. My world crashed. I had sacrificed everything for her and what she gave in return was pain and agony. I don’t know what to do with my life now.” elaborated Ved.

 

“I hope you are feeling better now. Sometimes, venting out is all that one needs.” said the stranger.

“Yeah, sort of. It doesn't solve the problem though. But, anyways, thanks for listening.” said Ved.

 The stranger took out an envelope from his pocket.

“I need a small favor from you. Can you post this letter when you reach Bhubaneswar tomorrow morning?” asked the stranger.

“Yes, I can. But why do you want me to post it?” asked Ved, looking perplexed.

“Well, I just remembered something. It seems that I have to get down at the next station of Palasa. Have some work there. There is no post office nearby. So, it would be great if you can post my letter.” explained the stranger.

“Ok, I will post it as soon as I reach Bhubaneswar.” said Ved.

“Ok, then. It seems I have to get going. The station will arrive in an hour or so. I need to go to the other compartment to charge my phone. It was nice meeting you.” said the stranger.

“Nice meeting you too.” said Ved.

They shook hands.

“And yes…do remember to post the letter.” said the stranger in jest.

Yeah, sure.” replied Ved, with a subtle smile.

And soon the stranger departed.

Now, Ved was back to his loneliness. He was just going to plug in his earphones and return to his world of contemplation when he saw the envelope he was holding. It was not sealed. His curiosity got the better of him and he snatched the letter out of the envelope to have a look at it. Soon, he started reading it…

Dear Stuti

I wanted to thank you for breaking up with me last year. Yes, those 10 years spent with you were fun. But, after you decided to move on, I realized how much more I was capable of doing. I learned to take nothing for granted, gave my 100 % in each of my endeavors, and stopped thinking too much about things that are not in one’s hands. Probably, we won’t meet again but I just wanted to thank you for letting me unleash my true potential in every domain of life.

Amar

Ved kept re-reading it until his eyes were tired of doing so. The words of the letter sank into his subconscious mind. The answer to all his questions lied in the piece of paper that he was holding. He had got a clear idea of how to approach things from now on and make his life worthwhile.

The night had beautifully set in and soon Ved dozed off to sleep.

The clattering of footsteps, the sunlight indicating daybreak and the huge commotion outside forced Ved to awake. Bhubaneswar had finally arrived. Ved, along with his luggage, moved out. His first duty was to post the letter lurked in his pocket. Thankfully, the post office was adjacent to the station. He sealed the envelope and posted the letter to its intended place.

He then took a newspaper from a nearby vendor and called an auto-rickshaw. The wheels of the auto-rickshaw were set in motion as Ved approached his home. While browsing through the newspaper in his hands, a particular piece of news caught his attention.

MAN JUMPS OFF MOVING TRAIN, DIES

Railway officials discovered the body of a man, supposedly aged between 30-35 years, on the railway tracks near Palasa station in the early hours of Saturday morning. The identity of the man is yet to be established but the officials have confirmed that the first name of the man was Amar. The deceased man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers. Although no suicide note has been recovered, it is being viewed as a clear case of suicide.