A Tale in the Train...

What is the first sight you catch when you enter a local transport to reach your destination?

I find people with their earphones living in a different world. Don't you think the pairing of music and window seats is an overhyped notion? 

Recently I travelled to Trichy and found out that 80% of passengers in the train compartment were engrossed in their phones with good noise cancellation earphones. I acknowledge that it is a form of entertainment, but occasionally keep your ears wide open to hear incredible stories of people.

A pose in Tanjavur

Along the journey, I met a few people on the train whose stories are realistic yet inspiring about life. I met two old women on my way back to my place from Trichy. One woman reminded me of "Rajamatha" from Bahubali since she was dressed in a red saree and had a large red "bindi" (sticker) on her face. The other woman is in a yellow saree with "no bindi". They both are sisters and Muslims by birth. I did not ask them their names, rather addressed them as "aunt". Let's call the women wearing red saree "Aiza" and the women wearing yellow saree "Warizah" to refer to them.

Aiza fell in love with a Hindu guy, married him and converted her religion. They had a daughter together and amazing life until Aiza's husband said he wanted a son to carry forward the lineage. After having a daughter, Aiza was unable to conceive, and her husband married another woman. They had a son together. Aiza revealed that following her separation, she experimented with many occupations to find methods to live her life on her terms, and she felt at ease in her role as a hostel warden.

Aiza's daughter is married and she is an employee in a private firm. Aiza added that she loved her stepson and that he was married to her niece. Aiza's younger sister is Warizah. Warizah wed a Muslim, but the couple never had kids. Warizah claimed that she lavished her sister's kids with all of her love.

Aiza and Warizah decided to visit the pilgrims all over India irrespective of religion. They did make it happen and along the journey, they learnt Tamil and Malayalam. I was surprised when they said Telugu is their mother tongue and can speak Hindi. On this voyage, they went to Madhurai and Kanyakumari. They claimed to have had a great time and seen some wonderful Shrines while travelling throughout India. They added that they bought gifts for their family while shopping in Madhurai. When my dad asked about the religion they believe, they replied that they are grateful to receive blessings from every God who ever existed. They said they wish for a peaceful death and do not want to get bedridden in their last days.

Aiza in Arabic means "replacement" or "substitute". I used that name to describe the woman in the red saree, not to imply that her husband had taken her place, but rather to suggest that she had discovered a new source of fulfilment rather than clinging to the past. Warizah translates as "joy," which I thought accurately captured the character of the woman in the yellow saree. Personally, I admired them after listening to their tales. They gave me the courage that even if life doesn't go as planned, one deserve all the happiness.