Thursday, November 17th 2011, I was running around the shop floor as usual. Shouting at my boys, motivating the senior workers, convincing the complainers and going through the quick development of production pit stops. My boss was also roaming around for a while. I decided to take a break and settle down for a while with my facebook account and new mails that might have been dropped into my mail box, when I was away. In the middle of some advertisement mails, I noted a mail from accounts department. It was all about the due payment with my customers. That time, it was of my best interests as the salary dates are due. There was a customer at north, who owed more than 10 lakhs. I picked up my phone to ring the contact person, which was of no use. I was about to alert my boss about this and there was a call from him on intercom. He asked me to meet him and in another 10 mins, the decision to meet the customer at his office was fixed. I could book a ticket to Pune for 22nd November. The very idea of starting my new blog gave life from this incident. Now, that I am sitting in an abandoned waiting room at Shoranur Junction, Expecting Poorna Express to arrive in another 2 hrs, decided to spend time on this…I started my journey from Palakkadu Town station. Ticket counter was totally crowded. I was waiting patiently for my turn to come. A local guy came in and tried to take ticket directly from the counter, instead of being in queue. One old man, who was waiting in the queue, questioned him where other members didn’t care to stop him. The guy took the ticket, neglecting the old man. He then moved out of the main gate. Within a few minutes, three persons accompanied him to the ticket counter and attacked the old man. He was of no help and all beaten up. Everyone including me was dumbstruck and didn’t react to the situation. Some guys standing nearby used this opportunity to take their ticket bypassing the queue. The poor old man was lying there, crying for help. All these happened in front of a policeman who was least bothered about the happenings. Finally, when our so called “heroes” left to catch the train, one man helped the victim to stand up. He moved out without any complaints and caught an auto back home. “IRREVERSIBLE INSTINCTS”
I was comfortably occupied a single seat near window, thinking of the incident. Why didn’t help him? Why not others? Because, we are all keralites, we are all educated, we are all selfish. How many of you dare to say, that you might have helped the poor old man? Instead, like some others witnessed the incident, we might have been saying aloud “What was his problem? Kelavanu mindathirunnal pore? Randennam kittendathu thane. Nannayippoyi.” I was unable to separate the good from the bad.
As I continue to listen to my mp3 player, I was totally lost in the visualization of my new assignment. Looking out of the window, I noticed a middle aged lean guy, with muddy outfits walking on the platform, with a paper in hand. Two youth, looks like the seeds of a brand new generation, approached him. I could sense something from their facial expression and switched the MP3 player off. I could clearly hear them talking to this guy. They were in a mood to tease and provoke him. They asked him the whereabouts and then, about the train stationed in the platform. Not knowing the fact that, he is being harassed, the guy replied. But, his reply states that he’s mentally handicapped. They then asked him something about sex, which I couldn’t hear properly. But, this guy got angry on them and scolded them hard. Meanwhile, two others, who were passing by, intervened. They were looking more like some executives with tucked shirt, polished shoes but lack a tie. They talked to the youngsters and judged the scenario. And in no time, these educated, cultured fools started arguing with the man. He got angry and spit on them once. One of the two idiots ran to grab a pole from near the yard to hit this poor guy. He felt wrong in that and slowly walked away. Our teasers had no choice but to proceed for their next target.
Ok, now I thought, the journey’s a real script writer. But, later on I realized that, such things are happening in our everyday life. Only thing is that, we are too busy to listen, watch and assess the frames. This very thought made me observe the surroundings with which, I could make a hell lot of observations and listen to a real but unbelievable story.
As I was going through each and every face passing by, there was an average looking girl, dressed sexy, and easing the spectators to measure every dimensions of her. Her father was along with her, looking through every window for an empty seat. Even with me being a silent rapist for such explicit situations, observed other members of the train and those who are standing outside. I am not alone in this business. Every male eye was opened to the view beside. Admiring beauty is right to every Indian, I believe. But, I don’t believe in comments. I could hear the worst comments about her dress and physique. She was hearing this too. Her facial expressions proved that, she’s as normal as every Indian girl, and so can’t enjoy this eve teasing. Her father was also helpless against a group of educated slums. I have been to different parts of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and even foreign countries. Kerala is the worst place for a modern girl. Being alone in a Kerala city at late evening in a sexy dress is all about her being targeted for the next day headlines. Even, there was a girl, pushed out off a running train, injured all over, raped brutally and killed cold blooded recently in a Kerala city. We were spectators for the show. I am not sure, how many of the co-passengers ignored this for the sake of selfishness. Someone could have saved the life of a poor girl. But, none did. “IRREVERSIBLE INSTINCTS”.
I was invited for a fresh show with a shout. Aha, today’s gonna be rich with experiences and entertainment. There were a group of youngsters, with some extra luggage, boarded the train. From their conversation, it was clear that, they were going to the capital city to work at some organization as casual labors. A lean, guy with a traveler’s bag was hesitant to board the train. I was concentrating on him as he was looking more disturbed than others. Then, a middle aged guy appeared at the door and shouted “Appu, Nee Entha Avide Nikkunnathu? Keri Vaada Nayinte Mone”. Oops, now the picture is clear. The man at the door fathers Appu, the youngster and Mr. Father is all drunk. This was Appus reason to be hesitant. His father was asking him to get him a “Kotter” (Quarter) from a bar outside the station. Appu was ashamed to reveal that, this drunkard is his father. But, Mr. Father left him no options. He moved to a dark corner of the platform and his father kept calling him for the drink, with all possible bad words in the history of Malayalam. I replaced my Mp3 player and increased its volume to the max. 
I closed my eyes with the famous song from movie “Naghakshathangal”, “Manjal Prasadavum”. The movement of the train woke me up from my dreams. Looking out, there were small slums running behind. City was giving way to its rare nightlife. Palakkad is not a big city to be narrated, nor is it beautiful (At least I never felt so). After a while, there was only darkness outside the window. I fell back to my seat with my dreams to be home after this trip. “Arikil, Nee Undayirunnenkilennu Njan, Oru Mathra Veruthe Ninachu Poyi” my Mp3 played another beautiful song to the occasion.Got down at Shoranur Junction by 23:20. Came out of the station and could locate a tea stall in front. Shoranur Junction is one of the biggest in railway maps, but the condition of the platforms and station itself is pathetic. Tea stall was fully packed and so ordered for a tea and waited outside with a cigar. On the way back to platform, I was craving for a leek and looked around. Finally, from the information counter, I was directed to the only rest room available in platform 2. Now, I am relaxed, with an empty bladder, waiting for my train, which is supposed to be in at 1.30 am. A lot of time till boarding. This very thought made me to put you, my readers to suffer with this stuff (An idle mind is a devils workshop – I know you will call me “devil”)
There was a Marathi family sleeping from one end to other. Starting from father to the Chottu. I ignored their noise to concentrate on my writing. Opened the laptop, connected to the power supply and started writing.
I finished the third paragraph and thought of connecting the phone for internet access. Logged in to my blogger id http://autobiographyofablacksmith.blogspot.com which you are familiar with and created a new blog post with the heading “IRREVERSIBLE INSTINCTS”. Then, there was someone entered the room and sat near my chair. I just looked at him and passed a smile at the corner of my lips. He was peeping into my screen and suddenly asked “which is this connection? It’s reasonably fast it seems. Is it 3g”. I replied, “oh, its Vodafone 2g. Speed is ok.” That’s all with the talk and I put my face down to the screen avoiding further questions. He might have got bored and left the room in 5 minutes. After another 30 minutes or so, I too was getting sleepy and exhausted with the day’s work. Quickly published the post and posted it in my face book account. Wrapped the shoulder bag and came out of the station for a smoke. The same guy at the rest room crossed me by the foot over bridge and asked me. “Where are you going to?” “Pune?” I shook my head in affirmative. “I guessed. Our train is right time, will be coming to platform no: 4”. Oh, he’s also moving towards Pune. Ok. I asked him for a formality, whether he smokes. He joined me and we came out of the station. Settled down near a tree, away from the eyes of law. I offered him a smoke, but he refused and lit from his pack.
We talked about 2 mins and he was going to Pune without any contacts over there, looking for a job. I was always at a helping mood in my life and this made me hand over my visiting card to him. I told him to contact me from Pune so that I can introduce some of my friends out there for his job. He was happy enough to thank me and by the time we finished our smoke, we became friends. He’s in his late 20’s and a reasonably handsome guy. When, I was about to move towards the station, he asked me about my blogging habit. I just smiled at and told that, I am a beginner in this field. I listened to his following words with a sparkle in my mind (Mone, Manasiloru Laddu Potti). “If I start blogging, my stories will be selected for a serial”. That was enough to make my blogger anxious. I asked him the reasons for his comment, for which he replied with a bit of hesitation. “Please keep this within us. I need to tell this to someone. I’m all lost. I’m actually fleeing from home right now.” Readers, now the incident is all unbelievable, but true. I could read that from his eyes.
