Sekhar was trying to get some sleep in his berth in 2nd AC. He was on his way to visit a retired professor who was known to be staying in a place which the train will reach the next morning. It was evening 8 pm and Sekhar had nothing better to do. But try and relax.
Sekhar was a post graduate student in Physics. He was pursuing particle physics and was brilliant in it. The retired professor he wanted to meet was an expert in relativity and was acknowledged to have better theories than even Einstein. The retired professor was ignored by most of the Indian scientists and professors and was leading a sad life in one corner of a place. A place Sekhar was about to visit. He came to know the retired professor was staying at that particular place from a magazine which carried the article of the dejected retired professor.
Sekhar was brilliant in particle physics. He always stood second in his exams. The first position went to Tarun who was hard working and had great memory power. He never blamed Tarun for anything. He did not criticise him for using memory rather than inspiration and methods. Sekhar prided in being balanced and was supportive of even his rivals. Sekhar told himself, Tarun has his own methods of studying; I have my own; Both matters and both are following their own ways.
Sekhar had a friend in Yakub. Yakub was a school friend of Sekhar. Yakub made it big in Gulf. He had his own business and was earning in crores. Sekhar's father would often compare Sekhar with Yakub. He would say how practical Yakub is and he made crores of money while Sekhar was pursuing theories. Sekhar refused to learn a lesson from his father. He maintained that Yakub is fine in his own way. And he is fine in his own way. Both matters and both are following their own ways.
Robert was another schoolmate of Sekhar and he made it big in pop music. Robert was young and his songs were continuously in the top charts for the last five years. Sekhar's sister would often tease Sekhar and would compare Sekhar with Robert. Sekhar did not allow himself to be affected by this comparison. He maintained that Robert is fine in his own way. And he is in his own way. Both matters and both are following their own ways.
Sekhar was thinking deeply in all these issues. He felt that the AC was not effective. But then he told himself, that's how it is. He felt that the train was slow. But then he told himself, that's how the trains move here. The food was cold. But then, he cannot expect steaming hot curries and rotis in train.
Suddenly the train stopped. Possibly for signal. Sekhar looked out of the window. It was Magudanchavadi. A small village or town.
Sekhar decided to get down and breathe in natural air. He got up from his berth and moved towards the door. There was a railway police personnel who stopped him. The railway police personnel was rather harsh and told Sekhar that he must be mad to get down here for the train will move any instant.
Sekhar was hurt by the word mad. But then he remembered. He was mildly schizophrenic and was taking medicines for it.
He went back to his berth. He opened his bag. He took out a tablet and popped in his mouth and drank water. Then, he decided.
Sekhar decided that he will not meet the dejected retired professor. There was no point. He will instead get down at the next big station. And return back to college. He promised himself that he will get well.
The railway police personnel at Magudanchavadi had saved him !!
