The Train Goes On

By Dr. Subramonian

The Train goes on …. Life is a train where we get in at a point and get down at another point. But where you get in and where you get down is decided by the Supreme Power, God.

The human mind is quite unpredictable, and no one can predict when love will flow out of it or when it will spit out the fire of rage. Relationships are losing its importance day by day and man has become a slave of mechanised life. Circumstances force a person to commit a crime; and the question of whether all the convicted are convicts remains to be researched.

This book is the result of my observations around me, supplemented by vast reading of many other books by many authors.

My life experience with different types of people in this society also helped me to develop certain characters in this novel.

Narayanan the old man symbolises the fate of senior citizens in the current scenario who were ignored and ill-treated by their own family members.

Rajeev represents the unfulfilled dreams of youngsters who wish to become their dream role model even by choosing any way that they think is justifiable.

George is one of the characters which we can find in common as one among us or the one we might have come across in life, who has become a prey of destiny and their life taking unexpected turns and twists.

When these three were convicted for different reasons and meet in jail, their jail life and experience force them to take a vow that they should never come back to the jail.

The story unfolds with their life after jail, with several adventures and thrilling experiences and of course with a tint of love.

An interwoven story as a spider web narrating the life of three jail mates with a climax quite unexpected and unpredictable is waiting for you. The guard (God) has already flagged off the train with his green flag and the train has started its journey with no driver but guard (God).

• Language: தமிழ்
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Jan 4, 2021
• ISBN: 6580139306352

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The Train Goes On

Author:

Dr. Subramonian

Principal,

(Guinness World Record Holder)

Dr. R.V.Arts & Science College, Karamadai - 641 104

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The Train Goes On

Dr. Subramonian

I dedicate this book at the lotus feet of my Divine Mother Maa Kali who is the true author of this book.

Preface

The Train goes on…. Life is a train where we get in at a point and get down at another point. But where you get in and where you get down is decided by the Supreme Power, God.

The human mind is quite unpredictable, and no one can predict when love will flow out of it or when it will spit out the fire of rage. Relationships are losing its importance day by day and man has become a slave of mechanised life. Circumstances force a person to commit a crime; and the question of whether all the convicted are convicts remains to be researched.

This book is the result of my observations around me, supplemented by vast reading of many other books by many authors.

My life experience with different types of people in this society also helped me to develop certain characters in this novel.

Narayanan the old man symbolises the fate of senior citizens in the current scenario who were ignored and ill-treated by their own family members.

Rajeev represents the unfulfilled dreams of youngsters who wish to become their dream role model even by choosing any way that they think is justifiable.

George is one of the characters which we can find in common as one among us or the one we might have come across in life, who has become a prey of destiny and their life taking unexpected turns and twists.

When these three were convicted for different reasons and meet in jail, their jail life and experience force them to take a vow that they should never come back to the jail.

The story unfolds with their life after jail, with several adventures and thrilling experiences and of course with a tint of love.

An interwoven story as a spider web narrating the life of three jail mates with a climax quite unexpected and unpredictable is waiting for you. The guard (God) has already flagged off the train with his green flag and the train has started its journey with no driver but guard (God).

Acknowledgements

I express my sincere gratitude to my dear father Sri. Shanmugam (Late) who used to invoke the author in me by quoting the couplet from ‘Thirukural’ (Thiruvalluvar) If you are born (in this world), be born with qualities conductive to fame. From those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born.

He was the first photographer in the state of Kerala.

I thank Dr. Sreejana Sasikumar for spending her valuable time, assisting me in proofreading this novel.

I am indebted to my dear sister Prema and Rangan my brother -in-law who were sending WhatsApp messages, fuelling the engine of the ‘train’ to run smooth.

My special thanks to my dear daughters Janani and Aparna for their thumbs up in encouraging me to run the ‘train’ nonstop.

I am grateful to my publishers Notion Press for taking my story across the nation.

My big thanks to God, for the love and blessings!

Contents

1. Rudra Tandavam

2. Vanavasam

3. Love alone is permanent

4. Desires unlimited

5. Rajeevam

6. The ‘Little doctor’

7. Narayaneeyam

8. Shadows of the past

9. The world of George

10. Man proposes God disposes

11. Roses and thorns

12. Deception in the smiling lips

13. Experiments with the truth

14. Blood relations or bloody relations

15. In search of humanity

16. Angels of God

17. Dreams come true in dreams

18. Shadows without colour

19. Reality is merely an illusion

20. Life is like that

21. Haunting Memories

22. Jailmates

23. Treat or treatment

24. Beware of bends

25. Everything is fair in friendship

26. The train goes on

1. Rudra Tandavam

Huts and tiled - roof houses were alternately present in that road. It looked like a person wearing a bright shirt and a torn dirty dhoti at the same time. His inner mind was in search of somebody, but some unknown forcefully prevented him from asking it, perhaps his inborn inferiority complex that was preventing him from asking. He wants to ask and not to ask at the same time.

An old woman with a dirty kerosene bottle in her hand, came in his way. Hey, did you see the kerosene cart coming here?

I don't know, ma’am. I am also looking for someone, he replied.

Who are you looking for? she asked. His name is Narayanan. He works as an officer in a bank. he answered.

I don't know, the old woman replied and went off.

His face withered in disappointment.

The boy, who was plugging the cobblestone into his pocket, touched the elder man's bag and asked, What are you selling?

In the opposite side of the road, a rickshaw wala was taking a nap on his rickshaw, that was parked in front of a tea shop. After overhearing the conversation, he asked, Sir! A man, who has a light skin tone and tall, are you looking for him?

Sir!

How long has it been since someone addressed him respectfully like that! For a moment, it carried him away to his past.

Yeah, exactly, he replied.

And a girl at the age of six or seven will be there, right?

Yeah!

They shifted to another good area as they did not want to live in this area. What relationship do you have with that man?

He did not answer. Sweat dripped from his face. Then he staggered and sat upon a box that was in front of the tea shop. He asked for a soda and drank in a gulp.

The rickshaw wala said, Do one thing, sir, go straight and take left. There will be a Ganesha temple. In the side alley, you'll find a school. The kid was studying there. They would not change her to another school in a mid-year. You can know the details, if you inquire there.

Thanks a lot. It's time to leave, the elder man replied and started to walk.

Sit in the cart. I will drop, the rickshaw wala thought to ask. But, He will not be having any money! Death craving! This thought occurred in his mind, so he remained silent.

The magical sound of the school bells, little footsteps as the children ran, stunned him. The innocent sounds of laughter, the smell of the school bags, notes, books and pencils and the dream world of color socks, slippers, ribbons, and shirts, tears rolled out of his eyes not of grief but of sheer happiness. In his thought that the world is full of evil and darkness all of a sudden, a sparkling streak of light shed light into his dark heart.

He was wondering how he was going to identify that child. Suddenly, he saw a young man and shouted, Gopalakrishna... Gopal!

He was waiting with a scooter to pick up his child. He turned back with a shock when he heard the sound.

Dad!

He stopped saying anything else after that, as if he said what he said out of mind.

It seems like you have vacated the old house. That's where they told me to look for you... I sent a letter, did you get it?, he asked Gopal.

He can’t even find one percentage of his happiness on his son's face.

I thought you would have gone to the village, he said.

I had to... go to the village... But how will I be there... Gopal? Everyone knows... They will ask too many questions...

Suddenly, a voice banged in between. Daddy! What dad, you came by yourself today?, the child asked her father.

Gopal tapped the dust in the girl's skirt.

Lalitha, you have told your mum that walking from school to home makes you tired, right? That's why I am here. Hereafter, I will come early from the office and pick you up in the scooter. Okay?

Super! Super! she exclaimed.

The elder man was staring blankly at Lalitha. She is my granddaughter. This small, excited bundle is my son's own child!

Did you buy Harry Potter DVD daddy?

Yeah, I kept it at home.

And that Barbie doll which was broken?

Oh, that... we can buy a new one Lallu. Repairing old one...

Go dad, she waved her hand. She noticed that there was an elderly man only after her hand had slipped on him.

Who is this uncle daddy? I am not uncle my love! I am your grandpa! Your father's father! He lifted her up, hugged, kissed her. She felt shy and her face turned pink as her friends surrounded and watched this scene. Touching her shoulders, he said, At your age, your father was also like this.

Gopal started his scooter, Come, sit Lallu. It is getting late; your mom will be worried.

Narayanan suddenly remembered that he did not ask anything about his daughter – in - law. How is Rudra? Is she fine?, he asked.

Hmm, Dad you go and stay in some hotel, I will come and see you there, he looked upon his father and said.

What is this daddy? Why are you telling grandpa to stay somewhere? Let him come home, dad, holding his Grandpa's hands tightly, she said.

In front of Gopal's house, in the small fenced garden, Janu was reading her college book. Her eyes crawled across the street frequently.

When she heard the scooter sound, she looked up and howled, Sister! Someone is coming with uncle! Keep the cooker in the stove.

Who is he bringing without prior information? Gopal’s wife, Rudra murmured. After seeing the person sitting behind his husband, Oh God! How did he get here?, she was shocked! Who's that sister?, Janu asked. You go inside. I will tell, she sent her in.

Lallu, who was sitting upon grandpa's lap, jumped down from the scooter. Come grandpa, she held his hands in her own and said to his mother, Our grandpa, mom! Do you know him?

Rudra looked at her husband ferociously. He acted as if he had lost something precious and was searching for it in the scooter.

A rope bed was laid in the backyard. Narayanan was spreading and unrolling a blanket. The ropes of the cot were very loose. He thought he could lie on the floor itself. But Rudra may feel insulted if he does so, he spread the blanket on the cot.

Lallu was standing and staring at her grandfather and was closely observing what he was doing. Narayanan who turned around accidentally saw Lallu. Who is this? Is this my Lallu baby?, he bent down and lifted her.

Didn't you go to sleep? It's already late, dear. Have you been studying for so long?

Lallu didn't answer him. She looked upon the dark gloom place and asked, Why did you come here, grandpa?

Why. What is lacking here? The breeze is wonderful. I am an old man, right? Will have to go to the bathroom often. This place will be comfortable for me.

There's a nice room upstairs grandpa. Bathroom is also there. Get up grandpa!

Okay. Tomorrow I'll go there. It will not be good if I shift now, disturbing everyone in the house, he consoled and made her to sit beside him.

She asked him, Where have you been for all these days, grandpa?

His eyes fluttered.

I was in Mumbai

Oh, are you working there in an office?

Yes, dear!

Is that a big office?

Yeah! Very big one.

Won't they give you a leave?

Why? They do

Then why have you never been here before?

He sighed.

That's my own office. How does it feel if the owner himself takes leave frequently, dear?

No. he should not, she agreed.

Narayanan bent down and took something in the other hand. It was her a broken Barbie toy.

They broke this while shifting the house, her face curled up like a plucked lotus.

I saw it in the evening. I have taken it so that it can be repaired. I will stick and fix this for you

What is this grandpa! You are the owner of a big company. Then why do you repair my doll?, she smiled.

What if I'm an owner. Should I not do these kinds of jobs? I've learned this from an office where I have worked for earlier., he said.

The bedroom lamp that was on the head side of the luxurious cot, let the light till Gopal's chest. The shadow spreading beyond that.

The sound of closing doors of neighboring houses and the sound of some night beggars singing songs with beating in rhythm the tin cans in their hand made a background score for the lonely night. Janu seemed to be busy in turning off the light in the adjoining room.

Gopal was busy in reading Professor’s Diary, an autobiography of a teacher, lying on the bed. Lallu was sleeping next to him. Rudra was walking crosswise in the narrow bedroom in full roudra bhava.

I didn't think you'll do such a non-sense! Why did you bring him here?

How can I expect, when I started the scooter, he was already there in pillion seat. Are you telling me that I have to push him down?

I'm not telling you to push him down. But you could have at least expressed yourself by saying a few words to hurt him, right?

Even if I say four thousand words, it will not hurt him, and he will never mind it.

Gopal reluctantly kept the book he was reading at the side table. It fell on the back of the cot.

We vacated the old area and shifted to come here, because the child may adapt the bad habits living in a slum area. Now, we were glad that she'll be growing well here. You spoiled that too.

The fan above was making sound as if it didn’t like this conversation. With their dreams being lullaby and improper planning as a pillow, slowly they went in to the laps of deep sleep.

Suddenly, Rudra woke up to the sound of two cats fighting and screaming in the street. Like all mothers, quite natural, her hand searched for Lallu. She was not there.

Where is Lallu?, she shouted