27 Down

27 Down Varanasi Express is about to leave from Platform No.3

Passengers travelling by this train...

...may please occupy their seats.

Again another bridge? Perhaps it is a bridge.

How many bridges keep coming on the way...

Looks like uptil now I've crossed innumerable bridges.

People usually go from one place to another.

But I keep travelling without a destination.

People reach a place after a day or a night's travel.

But I only keep shifting my thoughts.

Don't know where am I wandering...

...why am I going, with whom am I revolting?

It usually happens with me that...

...whenever I see a calendar or a clock...

...I get a feeling that I am alive.

The beginning of life itself was unique.

What a big childhood I had.

But not a part of it is a past to me.

There was not a single day with a flash that would shine...

...and make me shine too.

Even now, my vision recapitulates the sight of a...

...morning, a bridge, a moving train with a III class ticket.

Sleep.

Since childhood Anna was like a mountain to me.

Never asked a question anytime.

Was scared to ask a question.

Who lays these tracks?

We, Railway people.

Buy lovely toys from me. Here's a train.

Akka, how does a train stop with a chain?

I don't know. Ask your Anna.

Akka, this train... - Train, train. Sleep quietly.

What? Has Bhusawal come? Come on, get up...

Hey! What are you doing?

Want to become an engine driver like your Anna?

Come on, go and study.

Get up soon Sanjay. You'll get late to School.

Get up. Don't you want to go to School?

What are you doing here? Go and play with the other kids.

You keep hanging round here only.

Chuk chuk chuk chuk goes the train.

Chuk chuk chuk chuk goes the train.

Come children, let's play a game.

Come children, let's play a game.

It runs fast on the ground.

It stops at stations with crowds boarding, and alighting.

Come kids, let us play a game.

Someone comes and someone goes.

This is a game of this world.

Bell rings at every station.

Signal will be given and the flag will wave.

Then the train starts moving.

I don't want to become an engine driver.

Thank God! Only my leg broke.

No driver could have survived this accident.

While I tried to put the brakes,...

...I lost control over the train.

I kept chanting the name of God...

...and the accident took place.

What a sight it was!

God bless you Sanjay. Be happy.

I am worried as I didn't get any letter from you.

Everytime I tell you...

...that you should write one letter every three days.

It might be monsoon now in Bombay.

Don't sleep in open air at night.

Monsoon winds tend to make a man's body frigid.

Use a bed sheet also at night.

There might be mosquitoes at night due to the rain.

Close the window at night, if it has no grills.

Days are very bad. You won't understand that.

But a son is like a vision to his father's eyes.

Don't unnecessarily spend money.

Don't eat that Bhelpuri sold in the market.

Your stomach will get upset due to that.

Go for a walk in the morning.

Also do surya namaskar.

Health is wealth.

People keep roaming out till late night in Bombay.

But you come home on time and go to bed early.

Early to bed and early to rise...

...makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Had your Akka been alive today...

...I needn't have to worry at all.

I never thought that you would leave Bhusawal...

...and go to rot in Bombay.

Now it is all God's will.

Yesterday I had shown your horoscope to Joshi.

He was saying that everything was fine but for...

...Mangal, due to which you went to Bombay to study.

I am even trying ways and means to...

...make your life comfortable.

O.K. Take care.

Skip your lunch and reply my letter immediately.

Blessings, Anna.

Yes, what is the matter?

Sir, I want to go to Bhusawal for a few days.

But you've just now returned after your holidays.

I have a telegram from my father.

Is everything O.K. there?

Don't know sir. Father's one leg is paralysed.

Perhaps there might be some problem.

O.K. But return soon. This is your final year...

Or else you will be lagging.

Filled up the form for your job?

You won't get this chance again.

I have already spoken to the Superintendent.

He will set right everything. I know him since long.

Suppose tomorrow someone else comes, then?

But Anna? - What's there to hesitate in this?

You've to work now and in future too.

Then why don't you start working today itself?

But allow me to complete my studies.

You can study later also.

What's there in education these days?

No one gives a job these days even for an M.A.

Other than railways, I can work elsewhere also.

Else where? Why? What is wrong with a job in railways?

How many facilities are there?

Free quarters, pass and even coal is free.

Your Anna too was in the railways.

I am lame now without any courage.

God knows what will happen tomorrow.

I want to see you settled while I am alive.

Had your Akka been alive today...

...it would've been a different story.

I am not all that strong now.

You've written 2 names of your birth places.

How is this possible? Did you take birth twice?

No sir. Actually I was born in a moving train.

My parents were going to Bhusawal from Chalisgaon.

Between Manmad and Shirsoli, I was born in the train.

So, you were born when the train was at Manmad?

No sir. It had already left Manmad.

Then, were you born at Shirsoli?

No, I was born before the train reached Shirsoli.

As such the train was neither at Manmad or at Shirsoli.

I was actually born when the train was...

...running between Manmad and Shirsoli.

I don't know all these things.

You should write only one name in your place of birth.

Take this.

Look, this is Railway, not a joke.

Like the railway tracks...

...we have reached here today with great difficulty.

You also make a habit of walking on tracks, from now.

Then only, you can become something in life.

O.K. sir.

Are you on some other duty, these days?

Sanjay Babu, where were you all these days?

This letter is lying here since four days.

I have come to know everything from Pandurang.

He says that, when you are not on duty...

...you sleep and eat in the train itself.

Don't you like this place?

Nothing like that uncle.

So what is wrong in staying there itself?

Not only food, but everything is available there.

Then, why do you pay rent every month?

My letters should have an address to reach.

Oh God! What is wrong with the boys of these days?

Is there a bridge again?

Looks like the tune, of my life too has changed like the train.

Sometimes on a bridge or on a level ground...

...sometimes on an ascent or on a descent.

But now I should know one thing.

How many places have I left behind me?

Let someone tell me how much time have I left behind me.

In reality where have I spent my life?

Have I just grown up to 1, 2, 3, 23, 24 years?

I heard the first noise of train when I was an year old.

When I heard the noise of engines and compartments...

...joining together, I was seven years old then.

I have heard Anna chanting shlokas from Gita...

...and I have thus grown my beard.

If reclining on the berth of the train I try to...

...recollect the length of my past nights...

...I gather that I am 24 years old now.

Why didn't you board the ladies compartment?

It is more crowded there.

You could've boarded the First class then.

But I have a third class pass.

So what? Do they check tickets daily on locals?

My both the hands were engaged.

I feel as though...

...I am standing before that marble statue.

Both had no hands.

Keep them both in your bag and keep your one hand free.

It may be useful to you.

Did you get lost with her in the crowd?

Nothing like that. Poor thing, she left her box behind.

Don't worry. Stand at the gate in the evening.

You can meet her there. - Let us see man.

You... - Your box.

You were in such a hurry then that you forgot your box.

You might have starved the whole day.

No I ate in the Office.

Instead I was worried that you may worry about my box.

I had kept it safe and now I have brought it for you.

Didn't you open it even?