A local train, a typical Indian railway station, we ran dragging our luggage along the length of the train looking for a place to sit. I find one and scream and wave to others. In our attempt to stay together despite looking in different directions for a place to sit, this was the best I could try to capture their attention. I run inside rather than waiting for others to arrive, and lug my baggage on the seat to claim its occupancy. The other two quickly follow, one climbs in while the other throws in the luggage. Once both are aboard, they quickly drag themselves along with the bags and we settle in the seats.
I gaze out of the window, I feel I have been transported back at least 20years. A lady carrying two plastic bags along with her two kids sits on the seat diagonally opposite mine. Smeared in red nail-paint and lipstick, she squeezes in to find ample place so that she can accommodate her little daughter on her lap, while her son sits opposite her. They play with a tiny circular object tied in the center with a string. I smile at the innocence and abhor myself for judging the lady negatively at the lack of her make-up sense. My heart melts when I see the mother playing with her children, I look away disgusted with my sense of judgement.
A song plays on, I don't even remember when I had heard it last, when I was in 4th grade, maybe 5th. The speakers of whichever device the song was emanating from appeared as if it would die out any minute. Still I loved the song, the sun was setting, we crossed one tunnel after another, on my first trip I had attempted to count them all. I don't try it any more, and no I don't remember either how many tunnels were there.
I miss my past, but, this present too is so ghastly like the past! I won't know, in future whether I will miss the past or the present which felt like the past.