It is 4. 45 AM. The wheels of Coromandal moved heavily. The engine honked. It was all dark and foggy. Varsha and Agastya sat in the opposite seats at the window. It was cosy in the compartment. Varsha is going to Madras University to participate in a literary program. Agastya was going to meet his mother Meenakshi who works as a music teacher in an international school. Out side the compartment Basava was standing at the window. It was cold. Basava had bag in his hands. He had something in the bag. Agastya could not guess what is in the bag. The platform was clear and clean. The engine honked again. The wheels gained momentum. Basava was walking brisk. He gave the bag to Agastya through the window. "Hot coffee for you on this cold morning" He said. The train gathered speed Basava stood waving his hand. Varsha and Agastya were waving their hands through the window. "As the train moves the image of Basava is growing small , but his image in their hearts is growing bigger and bigger day by day" Coromandal has left Visakha.
Coromandal is my dream train. It is the poor man's flight. said Agastya. Varsha smiled. It is one of the earliest Superfast trains in the history of Indian Railways. Most people going to Chennai prefer Coromandal. This train traverses the total distance of 1662 km in a total time of 26 hrs 10 mins with the maximum speed of 130 kmph. "This train is usually jampacked but looks empty today." said Agastya pouring coffee into paper cups from the flask given by Basava. Varsha was amused to see flask in the bag. "Basava turned a new leaf" he said with a deep sigh of relief. Agastya smiled "There is a sea change in his behaviour. He is a typical Andhra man, a hard core foodie and a free food monger offering flask with coffee, a great surprise!!!"
***
It is an hour since the train has been running smoothly through the morning haze , amid the fields. The newspaper vendor came. Varsha bought newspaper and buried his head in the newspaper. After Vishakapatnam the train stops at Rajamundry, Tadepalligudem,Vijayawada and Chennai Central at 5.00 PM. The train is popular for limited stops and speed. said Agastya. Varsha did not respond. He did not lift his head from the newspaper. Agastya poured coffee into two cups and gave one to Varsha. Varsha finished coffee and newspaper too. " I am going to my mother after a long time. Agastya was a bit nervous. Varsha did not notice, he remained silent. Varsha took a book from his bag and started reading. Agastya gave him another cup of coffee and emptied the flask. hasn't twitched. His head was stuck in the book. Varsha Varsha looked like a statue. "Book is to Varsha is what food is to Basava."thought Agastya. There is nobody in the compartment. Everything was deathly still except for the train sound A few moments passed Agastya was bored. He rose from the seat and went to the door. He stuck his head out and saw the wonder in the sky.
The rising sun cast orange hue in the sky. The golden shafts of the sun light are breaking the lazy grey clouds floating in the sky are slanting through the train window and softly touching Varsha. Agastya looked at Varsha who sat still like a stone. " Book worm! He said loudly and pulled off the book from Varsha's hands. Varsha smiled and stood up. He walked to the train door. Agastya stood beside him enjoying the beautiful sunrise from the moving wheels. "The cool breeze is touching us carrying the fragrance across the fields. It feels like the wind, the host, giving us the touches of sandal wood cream. The dew drops sprinkled by the morning weather feel like the holy rice showered in Indian marriage. Look at the marriage ceremony in the sky and wind was the host. Said Varsha. Agastya was delighted. "Wow! Poetry is the real catalyst that helps us feel the scene but I am not entirely pleased with simple romantic description"
Varsha Continued
"See how the orient dew,
Shed from the bosom of the morn
Into the blowing roses,
Yet careless of its mansion new,
For the clear region where ’twas born"
Agastya : Well said
Varsha: 16th century English metaphysical poet, Andrew Marvell, a friend of John Milton said these phrases. He is the politician who perfected the art of verse satire and won reputation for his satires
Agastya : A politician writing poetry!
Varsha : That should not surprise you so much! If you have heard of Srikrishna devaraya, the regal poet. It is hard to imagine that a king who wired sword and waged wars wired pen to creating masterpieces like Amuktamalyada. The king was equally dextrous with pen and sword.
Agastya : You are equally dextrous with English and Telugu. What is metaphysical poet?
Varsha: Let me tell you what meta means. Meta means after, so when you put the words meta before physics, it gives the meaning ...
Agastya: After physics , Am I right?
Varsha : hha.. hha,, ha .. after existence
Agastya : Oh my .. my .. what is the use of such poetry?
Varsha : When you can not go to America by bus you take airplane. when science can not answer the questions of existence we have to take the help the metaphysics. Johnson Samuel in his book Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets like John Donne, George Herbert, Andrew Marvell and the like between 11 and 17 century and placed them together. however that these poets didn’t even know they wrote this genre of poetry Samuel here in his own analysis and understanding saw some shared characteristics that these poets seemed to possess and then grouped them under what we all know as metaphysical poetry. Agastya looked dazed at the speed of recalling. Then Varsha said " I think I must make it simple. He continued " Look Metaphysics is dealt by Indian poets. They are not politicians but sages or sanyasis like Madvacharya born in a Tulu speaking Brahmin household, he was named VÄsudeva. Later he became famous by the names Purnaprajna, Anandatirtha and Madhvacarya. The metaphysical reality is plural, stated Madhvacharya. There are primarily two tattvas or categories of reality – svatantra tattva (independent reality) and asvatantra tattva (dependent reality). Ishvara is the cause of the universe and the only independent reality.
Agastya: You have mastery of weaving one subject with the other literature with science and spirituality. The train journey seems to be a spiritual discourse.
Varsha : Yad bhaavam tad bhavati ( sanskrit)
Agastya : I don't understand the meaning of the sanskrit words, I can tell you that your brain has developed by leaps and bounds since you started literary discourses(Avadhana programs). Off course I too participated as quizzer (questioner) I could get the light but not the speed. I think that romantic description of is enough to enjoy the train journey.
***
It was 7.00 AM. Coromandal express stopped at Rajahmundry. A few passengers got into the compartment. Agastya asked for tea. You have consumed so much coffee in the train. Now you are asking for the tea. Its seems that you are in some tension." Off course I have tension, because I am going to my mother. Varsha laughed and they both got down from the train and had tea. (The train stops only two minutes here) and looked at the train. The train was moving. They ran to their compartment. Varsha got in first and Agstya got in later. but he dashed a girl while getting in. Her first rotund breast touched his chest. Her bossom felt like the train buffers (shock-absorbing pads ) that are pressed in when vehicles are coupled. yes, exactly her breasts pressed in when his chest dashed them. He went in and sat beside Varsha. The train left the station. Agastya was silent, engaged in replaying the shock on the flatform. His eyes started searching for that girl. Did she get in ? Where is Agastya became a muted TV until the train reached crossed Vijayawada. He was basking under the heat of his own body. The heat produced by the friction of young girl. At the age of 20 he had the first touch.
The train is presently running at a speed of 120 kmph. The track was shaking. Agastya was on cloud nine giggling from time to time. Varsha raised his head from the book and smiled at him . All the passengers around were in slumber.
"The run of train gives me the thrill, by the by can you describe the run of the train?"
Varsha: Oh describing the atrocity is not poetry.
Agastya: what ??? Describing run of train is atrocity !
Varsha smiled and said "Do you know what is the meaning of the word run of train?" when multiple men have sex with a woman one after the other without her consent it is called run of train. Explained Varsha and smiled again. Agastya did not smile. He was in a shock. He was dumb-stricken. He recovered after a minute and asked him " Describe the run of Coromandal express. Varsha laughed and said "Okay, If it interests you" and began
Lullaby
Oh what a lullaby on fast running wheel
What sweet slumber that passengers from world steel
with your music's breath you give them mirth
Oh what a lovely experience the train on earth!
You gave me many a friend
before the journey's end
I can't see light at the tunnel bend
journey's joy always on you depend
No tension to travel without reservation
we just see our growing population
I'd with many a friendly traveler relation
who live far and wide across the nation
If I lose them don't blame the train in vain
Because I travel in train again and again
After two minutes came the second sonnet from his lips while still Agastya was enjoying the first. There was no sound except the rhythm of the train which worked like a background music to his poems. The train was shooting past bridges. The nature is lovely, Varsha started another sonnet
The Comet
With burning coal and smoke
Running on rails is not a simple joke
The pistons move stroke after stroke
carrying the luggage and the folk
While on the platform he looks like a giant
Across the fields he is soft like a saint
The whistling wind knows for sure
that he always whistles de jure
On the bridge he sounds hallow
many travelers his rhythm follow
During day when the track is straight
He flies like a kite soon goes out of sight
At night he shines like a comet
and commands travels' respect
Now the train is shooting like an arrow throuh Yellow bells the trumpet-shaped flowers. The track goes through the fields. either side of the track there are evergreen shrub with slender, gray-brown branches and clusters of bright yellow, perennial shrub in the trumpet vine family. The train trumpets when he saw the trumpet flowers. Koo.. koo.. The next scene was a group of children playing in the river sand in the morning sun. The train is passing over the bridge . the children form a chain and play koo.. chuk. chuk.. koo
The Cuckoo
koo kooo - He sings like a cuckoo
the poet sat by the window writing a haiku
While he dashes on the bridge gently quiver
I looked down and saw the river
That was shining like sheet of silver
the cold breeze makes me shiver
I saw the young couple in the boat
Through my mind passed a musical note
Morning he pulled me through greenery
and showed me unforgettable scenery
Bridges and houses and towns and shops
the cattle in the fields and lush green crops
Moving like a museum on wheels
Beautiful sights he served like meals
The train reached Ongole at one O' clock. A dance group of thee men and three women wearing colourful traditional dresses - long skirts and short blouses with mirrors all over. They have entered the train like a flash mob. They are wearing beads and artificial flowers around their necks. They have mascara on their eyes. A man with green dhoti and orange sleeveless silk jacket with violet piping appears smug. He has thick long hair up to the shoulders. He has a flute in his hands. The dancers never looked for seats They preferred to stand. when the train moved they the man started playing a small drum. The girls started dancing. Varasha came out with another verse. A sonnet that describes their performance.
Bihu on Train.
January is the colorful season of Bihu
people on train don't know who is who
men and women filled the compartment
colorful clothes show their involvement
Young women versed in Bihu dances
filled the compartment with romantic glances
group of men and women delighting each other
have brought to the train beautiful Bihu weather
with romantic looks they delight each other
with looks they pleasure each other
watch and be watched is the pleasure
delight be delighted is the measure
Sometimes festivals are celebrated on train
whose fond memories form heart's sweet pain
While they were dancing passengers of the other compartments came to see the dance. In them a young girl and here mother were attractive. He asked When the dance group moved to the next compartment people were giving money. Agastya and Varsha were surprised but kept quiet. After they have left The mother and the daughter sat in front of Varsha and Agastya. Agastya's eyeballs grew wider. She was the girl who dashed him in Rajahmundry. "Oh this girl entered the other compartment." Agastya thought to himself.
Agastya vacated the opposite seat and quickly moved to Varsha's seat. He sat beside him and showed the mother and daughter the opposite seat. The mother thanked Agastya and sat there. Her daughter sat beside her. Agastya and the girl exchanged glances. The first thing Agastya said was " sorry , I was in a hurry in Rajahmundry station as the train was moving, so I did not see you. I am not rude or boorish." The girl smiled as if she has accepted his apology." Agastya was happy. He smiled at the girl. The mother looked at Bharatavarsha and smiled. Varsha also smiled. The train was moving fast.
"I am Bharatavarsha Telugu lecturer in Viskha college. I am going to Chennai to participate in a literary program." I am Agastya. I am going to meet my mother who works as a music teacher in Chennai. The woman said to Varsha " I have seen you on TV several times I read your articles in TTD saptagiri magazine, I read your latest English poetry." She has enthusiastically opened her bag and showed " Boat on the sea" and "Goat on the hill" Your words pull the strings of my heart. I only understand the outer meaning of the poetry , but not the spiritual meaning. I doubt there is somebody behind your work. " she spoke without a pause and choked Varsha. " You did not tell me your name" said Varsha. " I am doctor Malavika and she is my daughter Ruturagini" she said. Agastya looked at Varsha" good at switching topics" Your grasp is so good I too feel like that" Agastya supported Malavika. Varsha looked at Agastya and thought " You are good at mingling "
They had lunch in the train. Doctor Malavika was reading "Anna Karenina" Ragini was watching the fields through the train window. Varsha was reading "Andhra prasasthi" It was a great predicament to Agastya. He wanted to talk to Ragini. Suddenly the tea vendor came but none was interested in taking tea. He stopped the tea vendor and purposely delayed the payment. He stopped the passing biscuit vendor and cool drinks vendor. The cool drink and the biscuit vendor had their luggage dashed each other. They was a clash between the vendors. They quarrelled with each other for a while and went away. "Such verbal clashes and fights are plenty in passenger trains." said Malavika. Bharatavarsha said" I had such experiences in my childhood. It is really fun" Ragini said " did you hear Bharatavarsha telling a verse on the dance. Agastya reminded them of Varsha's previous verse. Malavika closed the book and said " why don't you tell us one more on the quarrel?" Ragini also pressed for the same. Varsha started.
Quarrels with Barrels
when you must to the small town go
you have the passenger but no other go
The passenger is a train with no attractions
But it is a big hub of social interactions
While the train keeps moving at a slow pace
A child sleeps in mother's embrace
A vendor walks with basket in corridor
A man stands smoking at the door
A woman comes with basket of flowers
A soldier brings in beautiful laurels
The man preaches so many morals
to the woman who brings barrels
off course barrels bring quarrels
on passenger quarrels are as sweet as sorrels
*sorrels - leafy vegetables
"Wonderful verse!" said the mother and the daughter. Have you written these verses earlier? Agastya said " No, they are extempore, in fact he has been telling verses on every spectacle that is sighted , since morning to drive away my tension. " said Agastya. Oh it is mind blowing creativity! Said Malavika. I can't actually believe that a man can tell sonnets like this. You are a Flash sonneteer!" said Ragini. Malavika turned to Agastya and said " Why tension at this age?" she asked " exam tension! " bluffed Agastya. " Why don't you study well. if you work hard it removes your tension. I do the same thing" said Ragini. Actually the tension is about my mother. I am going to meet my mother. " Agastya came out with the truth. " You must have done some mischief" said Ragini.
Agastya was worried that he became the topic of discussion. with a grave face and wailing tone he said " Why don't you talk something?" He pleaded Varsha. Varsha smiled and said " Where do you live in chennai? What do you do doctor Malavika? I work in a media company I translate the dialogues and help the teams in creating subtitles to moves. We live in Nungambakkam. " she finished. " what do you study Ragini?" asked Varsha. I am studying medicine second year said Ragini. " I am studying Engineering third year" said Agastya. " Mother and daughter both are doctors , sounds great!" said Varsha. " I am a doctorate in English literature and she is a medical doctor. Off course she is still a third year medico" said doctor Malavika. " That is why you like English very much" added Agastya. " You have not let me read Anna Karenina, I usually don't get time I work like a clock my job is hectic. I have time to read during journeys. Sadly I have been reading this book for two months. Off course, I have almost finished it." She said. "Did you like it? " said Agastya.
Malavika: The story centres on an extramarital affair between Anna and the cavalry officer Vronsky. The social circles of Saint Petersburg forces the young lovers to flee to Italy in a search of happiness, but they had the same fate there. After they returned to Russia they had the same miserable experience. The story progression is slow.
Agastya "Yes it is. It is all psychological. It is not an action-packed"
Ragini : How do you know it ?
Agastya: I have read it completely. Anna initially marries Karenin out of a sense of social obligation. He is an aristocrat who is generally liked by everyone but he is completely passionless. There are so many Telugu movies like that where young and beautiful women go into the hands of unfit or older husbands. What happens in the end is easy guess. suicide.
Malavika: Did you like it?
Agastya: The climax is climax is perturbing ,suicide of Anna. Anna Karenina dies on the railway track committing suicide due to extramarital affair. Does it happen to every woman? He did not want to ask the question. Accidently his lips spoke out his heart.
Malavika: Anna Karenina has borderline personality disorder, she can not trust anybody suffers from insecurity problems. "All women can not have the same said Varsha who knows what is hanging on Agastya's mind. Last week he read the novel Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina since then some gloominess is hanging on his mind. Varsha wanted to change the subject. " Chennai station is coming soon. How do you go to Nungambakkam?" Varsha asked Malavika. "Nungambakkam is very near. We go by metro train." Said Malavika " That's nice, metro train looks like ivory chain. I never travelled by a metro train. but it has stolen my heart" said Varsha. "When it has stolen your heart it is visually present in your heart, tell us a verse" said Ragini. Malavika " I wonder how you describe it in a verse"
Ivory chain
Oh metro train, Are you an Ivory chain?
you look soft like a plane you are as fast as rain
your ride is pride so people your norms abide
everybody is ransacked before the ride
you look like boeing in the air
for your arrival we stand and stare
Look at the floor what a beautiful decor
All automatic , even the door
You make little noise
and guide us with sweet voice
So you are traveler's first choice
When the train reached the platform . It is crawling like a snake. Some passengers in the compartment have already gone to the door. Varsha , Agastya are opposite Dr. Malavika and Ragini. They were intently looking at Varsha. Agastya was looking at Ragini. The train was still crawling. Varsha told the last sonnet
The Queen's Ride
She crawls with wheels of steel like a huge snake
on a bouncing track that feels like a marshmallow cake
the passengers on board glide soft without any ache
When she gathers speed the earth do shake
She is the queen without crown
Hundreds wait for her in every town
She never waits more than her time
If anyone frowns she gives a dime
Rich or poor she doesn't care
Men or women at her stare
Hundreds of men guide her way
slight inconvenience they drive away
She is not a machine she is a queen
The cattle grazing near track are frightened
after her ride the track's bolts are tightened
The train stopped and the four got down from the train. Malavika melted like ice with this last verse of Varsha. She is unable to control her joy. She gave her card and asked Varsha to come to his house. While Varsha was hesitating Agastya took the card and gave her a word that he would pay a visit. He ogled at Ragini. She too threw a slant glance. Agastya felt the glance like a sword in his heart. " Mahakavi Kalidas would be glad " said Varsha. Malavika did not understand what he means. Then Varsha explained" Kalidasa said that poetry should be offered only to its lovers and you are the true lover of poetry.
Varsha bade bade good bye to them. They both walked away. Varsha with his stroller and Agastya with his bag walked out of the station.
***
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