my frnds,my enemies???

people around me seem
to be my worst enemies
unknowingly,
praising my frail frame of
flesh,bones and blood.
Feeling voice of cuckoo,
in my tired & lost voice,
calling me kid when i am
ready to feel the 'meaning'
of life,entered the 2nd phase
with pretty good looks,
keeping me always on
the holistic"hooks"
how should i exhibit
my aspirations for shower
of eternal ,unending
flow of love
entering my pious soul
piercing my heart and
melting the hard snow
frozen by my self-imposed
imaginary fears,settled
through some childhood "tears".
My prayers are falling
on deaf ears,making my
inner cries crushed and
shorter.
Do'nt be deceived by the
broader colgate smile,
hidden behind burning eyes,
weeping within,
dying inside,
yes, I am ****sha.

The Daily Passenger

Seth Gian Chand, as he was referred to, in the social circle of the town, called Palwal was a wholesale cloth merchant. He used to run the business under the name of M/S.Ganga Ram Gian Chand. He used to purchase all kinds of coarse clothes from the cloth markets of Chandni Chowk,Delhi and Surat in Gujrat. That being the begining of new businesses, every transaction was carried out in cash or through the bank where the purchaser had to retire the documents sent by the seller by paying the amount of bill to the bank.On receiving the payment,the bank had to handover the bilti,as it is called in local dialect(delivery challan). After presenting this challan to the transport company, delivery of goods was taken to one's shop or godown.

Gian Chand had employed four cloth cutters for cutting the rolls of cloth in different sizes of shirts,kurtas and pyjamas. Vests were also made with a pocket in front to keep the money safely and near to one's heart.Two more persons were employed to stich these clothes into readymade garments.A first floor near the shop had been taken at a rent of Rupee five a month to keep the stock of clothes.Four sewing machines and ten scissors were there for the cutters and tailors.After stiching and folding, the garments were sent to the shop to be sold in bulk to local retailers and smalltime shopkeepers of nearby villages.Retail sale was not done by Gian Chand keeping the interest of local dealers in mind.

First floor was having four portions of almost 10"*12" each. The first one was kept empty for using it for random,second portion was used by employees,third one was used as small godown and fourth one was reserved as a reception cum restroom.This fourth room was used by Gian Chand for taking afternoon nap and receiving business visitors from Surat and Delhi for an overnight stay.There was a neem tree behind the building which kept the first floor cool and airy.

After taking the lunch,as he was preparing to leave the shop for his regular nap when the postmaster called him to take call from Agra.He was delighted to hear the news of becoming father.He happily gave a one rupee note to the postmaster which he took with folded hands and lot of thanks.Gian sent Nebha Ram,employee of the shop,to his home to inform his parents.He also asked him to bring sweets from Shankar Halwai( sweetmaker) for distribution to all the shopkeepers nearby.After this he began to plan bigger celebrations when his first sibling will set foot in his hometown,Palwal.

The Daily Passenger

It was 11 a.m. now.

The hospital was witnessing growing number of patients as the day was progressing. During 60's medical facilities were not as commonly available as are today.Even the wealthy and influential people had to visit the Government hospital for their common deceases. But one thing that separates the modern times from that era is absence of calmness in patients today. Everybody wants a magic drug/medicine to get cured in a day. Kishan Chand was waiting at the reception with such calmness that he did not bothered to inquire about the condition of Leela even after a lapse of two hours.

At around 11.44 a.m., a nurse appeared at the reception and called the name of Kishan Chand.

Kishan nodded positively to her and asked," What is the matter?"

"The God has gifted Mrs. Leela a baby boy". told the nurse to him.

Kishan Chand thanked her a lot and offered her a tip of 25 paise which she hesitatingly accepted.He was happy that she had delivered a boy. It was a great news for everybody in the family.He was getting eager to share this news with his brother-in-law at Palwal. As Laaj, his wife, was with Leela, he asked the duty nurse at the reception to take care of belongings for use of newly born and Leela. She happily agreed to his proposal.

After leaving the reception, he picked his cycle from the cycle stand and started for the Post office to telephone his brother-in-law, Gian Chand about the new development in his life. As he turned towards Sadar Bazar, he saw his younger brother, Hari coming back. He congratulated him and instructed him to take care of Leela and Laaj until he returns. Hari was also delighted to hear this news. He booked a Trunk Call to Palwal Post Office. Luckily, his call was succesful in half an hour. The shop of Gian Chand was in front of Post Office in the city. As soon as the call from Agra materealised, Postmaster called Gian to his table where the telephone instrument was lying.

"Jeeja Shri,(Dear brother-in-law) congratulations. you have become father of a boy today. Both are in excellent condition". Kishan told Gian Chand. "Thank you. I also reciprocate the same. Do you need any kind of help for Leela?" asked Gian. "No, thanks. I will take care of Leela. Please congratulate your parents on becoming Grand Father and Grand Mother." "Yes. I will communicate to them. Please take care of Leela and the child." Gian said lovingly to Kishan and disconnected the telephone.

The Daily Passenger had put his first step in the world for his lifelong journey.

The Daily Passenger

"Doctor sahib,Kishan Chand told the nurse sitting at the admission bench,"I want my sister to be admitted".

"What is the problem?" she asked in a peaceful tone which was the part of her profession. Kishan Chand hesitated to answer her question and instead asked Laaj to tell the nurse about the position of Leela. These were times when men and women were supposed to maintain a dignified distance while moving in the society. Laaj told the nurse about the pregnancy of Leela.
"Oh! I see." she chirped and handed them an admission form to fill. As Kishan Chand was fifth class passed, he easily filled the admission form printed in hindi, the national language of India(Bharat).
After this formality, the nurse directed Laaj to take Leela to Dr. Vijaya Verghese, gynaecologist posted at the hospital, in room number 3. As Laaj accompanied Leela to meet the doctor, Kishan Chand waited at the reception.
After about five minutes ,Hari, his younger brother reached the hospital. He was still unmarried and was working with Military Engneering Services, (M.E.S.) of Indian Army in Agra. Kishan Chand instructed him to send a telegram to their brother-in-law at Palwal informing him of the admission of Leela at hospital. After enquiring about the health of Leela, Hari left for the Post Office situated at Sadar Bazar, Agra.
In the room number 3, Dr. Vijaya Verghese examined Leela, who had started crying in a low voice due to increasing pains. Doctor felt the position of the baby by touching the lower parts of her body. As there were no ultrasound and other advanced scanning machines available at that time, only experience of the doctor was the sole barometer of decision regarding the time and mode of delivering a baby.
After examination Dr. Vijaya ordered the attending nurse to shift the Leela at Bed no. 31 which was very near to Labour Room. Doctor Vijaya also instructed the nurse to get ready for the delivery in next two hours.Leela was shifted to bed from Examination room,now crying little loudly with Laaj, her bhabhi,(wife of one's brother) touching her head in a loving gesture and constantly advising her to pray and calmdown.

The Daily Passenger

It was a wet and humid morning on the 20th of August'61. These were the days of heavy rains in all over the northern India. Dry land was soaking the entire water splashed by the God of Rains called "Indra". This process in turn was creating humidity,which was irritating for all living creatures. Rains had just stopped and the people of Agra, a town situated at a distance of 230 kms. from Delhi, were coming out of their homes to take care of their business,unfinished works and household purchases. It was around 9 a.m.
Kishan Chand Chawla, a dry fruit merchant at Naulakha,Sadar Bazar,Agra was also getting ready to go to his shop when her wife, Laaj, told him that his sister, Leela, married to a cloth merchant of Palwal in Haryana district, was in pains of first delivery and needed to be taken to a hospital. Leela had come fifteen days back to deliver her first child at the request of his brother at Agra. In olden times it was almost the practice to deliver ones' first child at parents home. Kishan immediately called his aide, Nandu, waiting outside to bring cycle rickshaw for taking Leela to Agra Medical College situated at a distance of 3 kms from their home. He also instructed Nandu to inform his brother, Hari Chawla about it. Leela and Laaj started for A.M.C. alongwith some old clothes and items necessary for after delivery situation. Kishan Chand also followed them on his cycle to take care of the admission of his sister in A.M.C.,Agra. After crossing the Hari Parvat area they reached the hospital in about half an hour. Kishan Chand paid the rickshaw-puller 75 paise and parked his cycle in a makeshift cyclestand after paying 5 paise to a little boy deputed there for the security of cycles. He then picked up the bundle of clothes etc. brought by her wife and headed for the registration counter alongwith Leela and Laaj.

The Daily Passenger

A nurse was constantly monitoring the condition of Sanjay in the ICU. At 2 a.m., she began to take the rate of heartbeat, blood pressure and temperature of Sanjay in her treatment sheet. Suddenly, Sanjay felt uneasiness in breathing and told the nurse by pointing towards his nose. The nurse immediately checked the oxygen tube and cylinder valve for any malfunctioning but found everything in order. But as she observed the mouth of Sanjay opening for inhaling the oxygen, she instantly called the senior resident doctor over the intercom and told him about the condition of Sanjay. As the doctor reached in the waiting hall of ICU, Vivayk and Shyam saw him going towards the room of Sanjay. As they were both talking about the Sanjay and his life, they were awoke at this hour. After examining the Sanjay, doctor immediately instructed the nurse to prepare for angiography. He also called the Cardiologist, Dr. Anupam Singh living in the staff accomodation provided within the hospital premises. Before Dr. Singh arrived there , all the necessary equipments and support staff were in place. Kamlesh was also awoke now and started praying for the wellness of Sanjay. She again found herself in emotional stress. Vivayk, Shyam and Kamlesh now were standing outside the ICU, all praying to the almighty. Inside, Sanjay was thinking about the past life, good and bad times, about relationships, friends,family and the God when he lost senses and mind allowing him to race back to memories of his entire life.

The Daily Passenger

When they reached the intended room it was almost 10.30pm.But Sanjay was waiting for his family as the nurse had told him about their arrival.He was finding it difficult to keep awake.Kamlesh,his wife,entered as a first visitor of family after wearing special cloth shoes kept there for entering in the ICU of the hospital.She felt her heartbeat rising as she saw the different tubes of oxyzen and glucose clinging to her husband's body.Slowly and steadily she moved towards the bed and called her husband softly by his nickname "Sanju".Sanjay opened his eyes and tried to smile.He muttered some words which were unaudible for Kamlesh.She pushed herself closer to Sanjay and asked,"What"? This time she heard Sanjay clearly.He was telling her that he was fine.She took his hands in her own and pressed gently and reassuringly.She was forbidden to weep inside the ICU as the patient may get imotional and risk the second heart attack.She just talked about Karan and Chavee,their childern.As she was finding it hard to see her husband in this condition,she told him about the other persons waiting to see him.He told her to request them excuse on his behalf as he was feeling tired and weak.She kissed his forehead and muttered some prayers before leaving the room.She slowly closed the door behind her.She thanked the almighty that her husband was not in a critical condition.As she entered the waiting hall outside ICU,she was mobed by Vivayk,her parents and Shyam.She explained to them the condition of Sanjay and his instructions of not disturbing him.They all immediately agreed and decided against meeting him.Everyone was at ease after hearing about the out of danger condition of Sanjay.They all decided to have tea and discussed further plan of action.Later on,it was decided that her parents shall go back and remaining three shall stay back to take care of any emegency.Nitesh Raj was also relieved after offering him lot of thanks with tearful eyes.

The Daily Passenger

As Kamlesh Chawla, wife of Sanjay Chawla received the phone call of Surender Kumar, she almost fainted. She immediately called her brother-in-law, Vivayk, living three lanes away from her house. She told him about the condition of Sanjay,his elder brother, and asked her to arrange a taxi for going to the hospital. After this she informed her parents living in Jawahar Nagar about the incidence. They told her to take them along in the taxi. As she was waiting for the taxi, someone pressed the callbell. When she opened the door, she found Shyam, a close friend of Sanjay, standing outside. He had come to meet Sanjay and then go for a stroll as a daily routine after taking the dinner. Kamlesh told her about the serious condition of Sanjay. He immediately offered himself for any kind of service towards his best friend. In the meantime Vivayk reached the home of his elder brother with an eight-seater taxi. Kamlesh took out all the money available in the house. He asked Vivayk about money required in such cases. He told her that he was also carrying some money for the emergency. Shyam also assured her about the financial arrangement in case need arises. He had some credit / debit cards in his purse which he had aquired for this kind of emergency. As Karan and Chavee, her childern were away on a school trip to Ranikhet, she locked the house and boarded the taxi alongwith Shyam and Vivayk. She asked the driver to go to Jawahar Nagar where her parents were waiting to accompany them to New Delhi. Within a few minutes, taxi reached there and they started again. It took almost two hours and fifteen minutes to reach the hospital. Vivayk inquired about the room number of Sanjay. He was told by the receptionist to first meet the Nitesh Raj waiting there for them. All of them turned towards Nitesh Raj sitting opposite the reception. He also judged them and got up. As he had never met any of Sanjay's family members before, he took some time to recognise them. After a small introductry chat he took them to third floor where Sanjay was kept for observation for next seventytwo hours.

The Daily Passenger

Sanjay was taken to ICU (intensive care unit) of the the hospital for necessary examination and treatment.Surender Kumar completed the formalities of the hospital and took the signatures of Nikita as eye witness.He telephoned the wife of Sanjay and told her about the condition of patient and address of the hospital.He also made a call to his company and told them about the Sanjay. He had noted the telephone number of Sanjay while looking at his identity card of his company.Nitesh Raj,Chief Manager at the company received the call and immediately left for the hospital alongwith his driver.They reached the hospital in about twenty minutes and found Surender Kumar and Nikita talking at the reception of the hospital.As Nitesh introduced himself,they took him to the doctor attending on Sanjay.The doctor told Nitesh that Angiography will be done to ascertain the damage to arteries leading to the heart.The doctor told Nitesh to deposit the requisite amount on the cash counter.As Nitesh got up to do the needful and moved towards cash counter.Nikita and Surender Kumar were sitting with the doctor when a nurse informed that Sanjay had regained his senses but was feeling weekness.As the doctor rose to atteng the Sanjay,Nikita and Surender kumar also moved with him by getting his permission.They all put on the cloth shoes,kept there, over their regular footwear before entering the ICU where Sanjay was being treated.He opened his eyes slowly and saw the doctor alongwith one policeman and a girl.He instantly recognised the girl and tried to speak some words which could not be heard due to week sound.The doctor advised him to keep his motions under control as he was still under threat of full heart attack.The doctor examined his pulse,heart-beat and blood pressure.His patient had responded quite positively.He came out of ICU after instructing the nurse about further treatment.He told Nitesh about the condition of Sanjay and prescribed some medicines.Surender Kumar and Nikita left the hospital for New Delhi railway station after getting a lot of thanks from Nitesh Raj.

The Daily Passenger

Suddenly,Sunjay felt a great pain in his left arm and felt difficulty in breathing. He tried to take the oxygen by opening his mouth. He started sweating profusely. He caught the right hand of Nikita, sitting beside him and uttered some words. After this he fell on her and lost senses. Due to this sudden action on the part of Sunjay,Nikita cried so loudly that all the passengers on the platform and those sitting in the Shatabdi Express heard it. She immediately left the seat and cried again. As she left the bench, Sunjay fell on the floor of platform, fully unconcious. As the G.R.P. arrived to investigate the cause of Nikita's cry, they found the Sunjay lying on the floor. Seeing the condition of Sunjay, whose face was full of flowing sweat, Surender Kumar immediately understood the gravity of situation. It was a case of heart attack which needed immediate attention of a doctor. He immediately instructed his constable, Bhim Singh to bring a taxi. As Bhim Singh rushed to follow his orders outside the platform no.1, Surender Kumar asked Nikita about her cry. But as she saw the condition of Sunjay, she felt sorry for her fearful reaction which caused the fall of Sunjay on the floor. Instead she offered her services to help the unknown patient, if any. Surender Kumar asked about her destination and the train she had to board. As she explained the same, he asked her to accompany the patient to the hospital. It was 5.45pm and she had ample time to return to the railway station to board her train. She agreed with the man in uniform and proceeded towards the taxi , waiting to carry the ailing Sunjay. Sunjay was lifted by Bhim Singh in his strong arms and placed him on the back seat of maruti van. She sat with Surender Kumar and Bhim Singh sat where Sunjay was lying unconcious. Surender Kumar started taking the statement of Nikita about the incident. He completed this exercise within five minutes. By now, the taxi had reached the gates of Central Railway hospital. As it reached the enterance of emergency wing, a man with wheel bed came out to take Sunjay into the hospital for neccesary treatment. Bhim Singh helped the hospital staff in placing the body of Sunjay on wheel bed.

The Daily Passenger

Sunjay Chawla,aged around 56 years,wheatish in body colour as is found in most of south Asian population,wearing +2.00 eye glasses, just short of putting himself in overweight category was working as Senior Manager, portfolio management, with M/S. GLD Finance Ltd. He was looking after the portfolio management of the customers of the company having value of less than rupees ten lacs. He was handling fifty such account holders. As Sunjay was an old hand at the company,all his clients were well known to him and vice-versa. He was loved by all and sundry for his abilities to invest in stock markets. He always surpassed the target set by the company to benefit the portfolio clients by making smart moves in the stock market. He was expecting a promotion and a big jump in his pay cheque. It was a routine day on 10.10.2010 in M/S. GLD Finance Ltd. and Sunjay was preparing to leave the office after a hectic and volatile trading sessions on National Stock Exchange of India. He was residing at Palwal, an NCR(National Capital Region) town, situated at a distance of 60kms. from Karol Bagh, New Delhi where his office was situated. He was a daily passenger since 1985 and was going to New Delhi railway station for taking the local EMU train. He hired an autorickshaw for the station and reached there at 5pm. As his train was to depart at 6.10pm, he decided to take rest on platform no.1. He located an empty bench and sat there. He felt some uneasiness and sweating. He took it due to hectic and busy schedule of office today. He took out a water bottle from his bag and gulped down lot of water. Still, he felt not well. He unlaced and took out his shoes and socks also. He made himself comfortable by sitting crosslegged on the bench. He closed his eyes and put his head on the back of the bench.

The Daily Passenger

Nikita Singh,aged 28,was an IT Manager with Punjabi Fincorp. She had joined the organisation recently and after finding a house on lease at New Rajender Nagar, New Delhi was returning to her hometown, Agra, famous for Taj Mehal, Fatehpur Sikri and Red Fort.She had taken a seven days leave to bring the necessary articles to support the daily life at New Delhi.She had also decided to bring her mother for the time being to support her in this endeavour.She had booked a ticket on Malwa Express,which was sheduled to leave at 8pm. As she was new to this area,she decided to reach early at railway station. She got off the autorickshaw,hired from her office at Rajendra Place and paid rupees thirty five as fare.She took out her suitcase and pulled it on wheels to platform no.1.It was around 5pm.As there was ample time for her train to leave,she decided to kill the time by reading poems written by herself in a diary.These poems were to be evaluated by General Manager of Punjabi Fincorp to be printed later on in their monthly magazine,'ANKUR'. She started looking for a bench at the platform no.1. Soon she spotted a bench which was occupied by an elderly man,sitting cross legged,barefooted,aged around 56 years,eyes closed.His shoes and socks were lying under the bench.She sat besides him and put her suitcase under the bench silently.

The Daily Passenger

Slowly, all the passangers were settling down as the departure time of the train was ticking away. Barely ten minutes were left and departure of the train was being announced repeatedly.The dying hour passangers were hurrying with their small luggage. The security staff i.e. R.P.F.(Railway Protection Force),travel in all mail,express and superfast trains in India),T.T.E.'s and canteen staff had entered the train to start the checking of luggage, travelling tickets and providing passangers with some snacks respectively.Everyone in the train had started feeling relaxed in air-conditioned atmosphere. The announcer had started wishing a safe and happy journey. It was 5.18 pm.

Suddenly, a girl in her thirties, sitting on the platform with a passenger, on a wooden desk cried so loudly that everyone on the platform as well as on the train was compelled to know what had happened to the girl there. The R.P.F. men on duty got down to investigate the reason of this fearful cry of the girl. The G.R.P. ( Government Railway Police ), posted at almost all the railway stations in India, to handle such situations within the limits of railway station, was informed. An S.H.O. (Station House Officer) reached the scene almost immediately as their office was nearby. Surender Kumar, as the name-plate on his khaki uniform, informed the onlookers his name. Soon a constable also arrived to help his officer. As the G.R.P. had taken over the command at the platform, the R.P.F. men boarded the waiting train again and train got its green signals and started moving slowly out of New Delhi railway station, late by 10 minutes due to this incidence. Curiosity of the passangers of Shatabdi Express remained with them of what had happened to the girl at the platform no.1 ?

The Daily Passenger

IT WAS 4.20PM.THERE WAS TOTAL CHAOS ON THE PLATFORM NO.1 OF NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION.SHATABDI EXPRESS HAD JUST LEFT FOR AMRITSAR AND THE NEXT TRAIN TO CHANDIGARH WAS BEING ANNOUNCED.PEOPLE HEADED FOR CHANDIGARH HAD STARTED TO PREPARE FOR GETTING INTO THE TRAIN. IN INDIA,PEOPLE GENERALLY DO NOT BOTHER TO FORM A QUE FOR ENTERING THE TRAIN.EVERYBODY TRIES TO ENTER THE TRAIN AS FAST AS ONE CAN INSPITE OF RESERVATION OF SEAT/BIRTH.THIS MAKES THE SCENE AT A RAILWAY STATION TOTALLY CHAOTIC WHENEVER A TRAIN IS ANNOUNCED FOR DEPARTURE.AND TODAY,IT WAS NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DAYS.PASSENGERS WERE STRUGGLING TO GET INTO TRAIN WITH THEIR LUGGAGE,BIG SUITCASES AND SHOULDER BAGS,BROUGHT BY NRIs',WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOOKED IN BREAK VAN DUE TO THEIR SHEER SIZE.CHANDIGARH, BEING THE CAPITAL OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA STATES, ATTRACTS THE GREAT RUSH OF PEOPLE FROM THESE STATES FOR PERSONAL,POLITICAL AND BUSINESS REASONS.TOP BEUROCRATS,RETURNING INDIANS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND BUSINESSMEN FORM THE CROWD AT NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION DAILY TO REACH CHANDIGARH IN THE EVENING.