Eighteen
Are trains ever on time?' Mama's loud voice interrupted us while we were at
work. Ish dragged out a heavy box of wickets from the godown.
'Mama, you here so early?' Omi said.
Mama kept two pink paper boxes on the wicket box. He had a tikka from the
morning prayers on his forehead.
'I had bought hot kachoris for my son and other sevaks. Their train was
supposed to reach at 5 a.m. But it is five hours late. Now what to do? Thought I
will have them with you,' Mama said and took out a kachori.
'So leftover breakfast for us?' Omi said and laughed.
'They are absolutely fresh. I'll get more when they come. Eat them while they
are still hot, come Ish, Govind,' Mama said.
'Didn't know you boys come here so early,' Mama said. The shop's clock said
eight o' clock.
'Had some work in the godown,' I said and took a bite of a kachori. It tasted
delicious.
We ordered tea and sat on the stools outside the shop.
Mama talked to Omi about their relatives. Ish and I discussed the delivery plan
for the day. The shop didn't open until nine. We could eat in peace.
'Third round of tea? Ok? Yeah good,' Mama said and called for the tea-boy
again. I had two kachoris and felt full.
Mama stood up to leave at 9.30 a.m. I wrapped the boxes back for him.
'Keep them,' Mama said, 'I'll get more anyway.'
'No Mama, we have had enough...'
Mama's phone ring interrupted me. Mama picked up the phone. His face
became serious. His mouth opened and his eyes darted around.
'I don't know the coach number, why are you asking me?' Mama said.
'What's up Mama?' Omi said.
Mama put his hand on the phone and turned to Omi.
'It is a junior party official in Ayodhya. He put our sevak team in the train the
day before. Now he wants the coach number. And he isn't telling me why,' Mama
said.
'Wait,' Omi said and went inside the shop. He came out with a notebook.
'Here, I had noted the PNR number and other details while making the
booking,' Omi said.
Mama took the notebook and spoke on the phone again.
'Ok listen, they were in S6 ... yeah, it says S6, hundred per cent S6, hello listen
... why are you praying while talking to me? Hey, hello...'
The person on the other end hung up the phone. Mama tried to call the
number back but no one picked up. 'What's going on?' I said.
'I don't know. I have to ... I'll go to the station,' Mama said.
'I'll come with you?' Omi said. 'No, it's fine. I had to go anyway. I'll find out,'
Mama said and left.
Two hours later the whole country had found out.
'Stop flipping channels," I screamed at Omi, 'they are all showing the same
thing.'
We stopped at NDTV. The newsreader repeated the news for the tenth time.