An interesting encounter while traveling from Kettering to London by intercity train
An interesting encounter while traveling from Kettering to London by intercity train
My work took me to England several times and I was able to travel and get to know people and places. Since my relatives lived in a small town in Northamptonshire, this was a place I frequented. I loved small towns, villages and countryside more than big cities.
Once I was traveling from Kettering to London on an intercity train. Being accustomed to the overcrowding in my country not to mention the spartan amenities of trains, I am amazed at the cleanliness and comfort offered to passengers here. Of course its price is big, but it was like flying in a plane.
One thing that set it apart was the passenger. In India, meeting people from different backgrounds was fascinating, whereas in England people behaved in a very orderly manner. He spoke in a calm voice and when the train started everyone opened a book to read.
On this particular day, I had a window seat and as I settled down, another passenger took the front seat. It was a woman and she looked big with her chopped silver hair and loose body. She was wearing an ankle-length flower-patterned frock and carried a large duffle bag.
He chose to put the bag under the seat and my eyes fell on him. When he told me, “You don’t step on my bag, I was a little shocked. There are eggs in it.” I assured him that I had no intention of stepping on his valuables.
It was a wonderful English summer day and I saw the shadow of white clouds over the green meadows and fields. Cattle grazed lazily while a lone baler worked on the field. It was the perfect picture and I was fascinated.
I didn’t even realize that the woman was looking at me all the time. “Aren’t you reading anything?” He surprised me with that question. Now I look around and see that everyone is engaged in some form of reading or crossword puzzle.
I looked straight into his eyes and he had some childlike curiosity. Her weather-beaten face and hands told me she was from an agricultural stock.
My answer, “Lady, can’t you see I’m reading?”, stunned her. He looked at me in surprise. I decided to comfort her and explained, “I am reading Mother Nature’s book. Look how beautiful everything is and since I don’t come often, I am taking this opportunity to know more and more about your country.
For the first time he had a smile on his face and soon we were talking like old friends. She told me that her bag contained fresh vegetables, eggs from her farm and homemade pies for her daughter.
She was trying to help her daughter and sternly told me that the husband was a good one.
We talk about Indian family values but here an old lady was working hard to help her daughter who was living away. I realized that mothers all over the world are the same. She didn’t understand much about my country and background but we kept talking till we reached London.
We waited until everyone else had come down and my offer to help with the bag was turned down in the usual English manner. “I can take care of myself, dear,” were her words as she waved and disappeared into the crowd.