I was sitting on a bench on the Doons Side station, waiting for a train to Paramatta. Tired, exhausted...completely drenched of agony...with the summer sun hitting me hard. I was waiting for that day to end soon.
“Hello Dear! What’s the time?” I heard a small voice coming from a distance. “Can you tell me the time?” This time the voice seemed to be more nearer to me, yet it was very low. I felt as if I was somewhere far away, in some lonely place, in a desert, struggling and searching to find some water to drink, and there was this person, I couldn’t make out whether a man or a woman, asking me time in a dry, barren desert. I wanted to blast back,”What the hell do you want to do with looking into a watch and checking time? Better go and check for a way out!” But somehow I couldn’t utter even a single word. I struggled for a long time to speak out, I felt as if I was going dumb. A creepy feeling came over me, and I became numb for a second, and then was engulfed in deep desire to dive deep into a river!
Suddenly something inside me pushed me and I opened my eyes to see a face very near to mine. I woke up with a start only to hit my head against the person’s head who was asking me time! It was then that I realised that I was sleeping on the bench, with a big suit case near my left leg left unattended. I adjusted myself on the bench to make sure that I seemed to be in my senses.
“Drink some water, you will be alright then!” I looked to my right hand side. There was this lady, wearing a black top and white pant...gazing at me. She had small eyes, button eyes, a big firm face, thin lips and short black hairs. She was wheatish in colour, exactly like that of an Indian or an Asian.
Medium heighted and middle aged...may be somewhere in her forties!
I opened up the bisleri bottle and drank up to my satisfaction, thanked the lady for that. Then looked at my watch, and to my horror, the time was 10:30 AM. I had missed the 10 AM train! I was frustrated again! I tried to calm down, without showing frustration on my face. I told her that it’s 10:30. She smiled at me and thanked me for telling her the time. Then she asked, “Are you going to the City?” to which I nodded yes. “Do you know at what time is the next train??” I said, “Yes, it’s at 11:00 AM”. “It’s a long wait!” said she, to which I nodded again!!
The Station was quite a small one and the day being a Saturday, it was completely empty! There were only two Australians on the station besides us! It’s quite different from India, where most of the crowd is outside on the streets on Weekends! Here people usually prefer to stay in their homes and spend time with their families on Weekends rather than going out. “It’s a hot day today!”, said she. I nodded again.
She: “Where are you from?”
Me: “M from India”.
She: “Oh India! I have heard a lot about India. There are many Indians here. ”
Me: (Astonished by the fact that she didn’t say that she was an Indian! Couldn’t show it on my face though.)
She: “I m from South Africa!”
Me: (Shocked by this revelation.. a fair to wheatish,,,lady,,, that too SA? Still why was it that I had a feeling that this lady is an Indian??)
She: “I came here twenty years ago with my children.. I have two sons! Are you married?”
Me: “Oh ok! No I am not.”
She: “What’s your age?”
Me: “Sorry? Ahmmm it’s 24!”
She:”24? Really?? You don’t seem to be like a 24 year old!! You look quite young!!! What do u do?”
Me: ”Ahmmm thanks!! I work here, I am a software engg!!”
She:”A software engg,,, you work on computer?”
Me: “Yes, I do!!”
She: “Nice! I was a nurse... Now retired! I just go around to some places here and there to spend my time!! So I was telling you, I have two sons, one is getting married next week, he is 28!!! So I am busy in the preparation.”
Me:”Oh nice!!!”
She: “We have lot of customs, my mom is going to come. You know mangalsutra?? It’s like the chain you are wearing.”
Me: “This is an ordinary chain. I am not married!!”, just to make my side clear.
She: “Yeah yeah! But something of that kind. We tie that..during marriage... an old custom. My mom is quite old fashioned. She still wants to follow her old culture!!! ”
Me: (Shocked, surprised, astonished.... How come South African’s follow Indian culture?)
I think she saw the big question mark on my face....
She: “Our forefathers were Indians! Our roots belong to Rajasthan. Our forefathers had settled in South Africa many years ago. I was born and brought up there. But then I came and settled here. I have not been to home since then. I don’t like going there. I am happy here.”
Me: “Ok.”
She: “This chain, the way u r wearing it outside is ok here. Not there. If someone thief sees that then he will flee away with that. There is no law and order there to protect the people there! It was good when the White govt was there. After Nelson Mandela took charge, the crime rate has increased!!! It’s not a free country today also.”
Me: (Shocked again to hear that White govt was liked by people in SA.)
Indians had settled in South Africa during British rule. Mainly sent there as labourers. Some settled there as traders too. There was a lot of discrimination at that time, we have all read about Apartheid in our school education. So her statement was very intriguing.
She: “I like Australia. It’s calm and quiet. No pollution. Good weather. It’s a very nice place to live.”
Me: “I agree!!”
She: “You like Australia?”
Me: “Yes, I do! It’s a very good place. Neat, calm, quiet and no interference in personal life.”
She: “I was telling you about my sons. One is getting married. My second one is 26. Good looking, works as a consultant. Why don’t you come up to our place sometime??”
Me: “My pleasure! But, today I am returning back to India. My assignment has ended here. Otherwise I would have surely shown myself up someday.”
There was a sound from a distance. The train was arriving. My last train travel in Sydney.
She: “Oh ok! Not a problem.” And she smiled.
Me: “What’s your name? I forgot to ask you.”
She: “Yasmeen!!”
Me: (Surprised again)
Something in her smile made me feel more attracted towards her. After that conversation with her I forgot my frustration completely. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to talk to her more. The train arrived and I got in. I searched for her again; thinking maybe we can continue our talk inside the train. But couldn’t find her. After sometime, I saw her sitting next to another old lady and talking to her. She got down two stops later. Waved her hand at me and said “Goodbye, have a nice journey!!!” I wished her goodbye.
