Part 12 Jalaun Journeys

January 10th 2011
Monday
4 PM Onwards
New Delhi Railway Station
Delhi-Kanpur Shatabdi....

Radhika: I will be FINE Papa!
Zips, unzips, re zips her Ralph Lauren tote bag, her mirror work skirt is flowing all over the platform bench. She is wearing a scarf in a completely unrelated color, using it to tie her hair down at the back
Her Dad is still in his work clothes, first day of his new job, his 5th job in as many years
Sushil: You think so?

Radhika, I know so, apne office ke do log ja rahe hain mere saath. Kiski himmat aapki beti ko tang kare? I have taken so many self defence classes remember? Sab yaad hai mujhe. Bus Papa aap mera kaam mat bhoolna. I need that name in the Ministry of Rural Development. Mere contact se koi kaam nahi ho raha

Sushil tries to interrupt, but the gal has taken off quite like the Shatabdi Express she is waiting for
Radhika: Kal main UP Jal Nigam ke employees se miloongi, Parson, us band tannery ko survey karne jaayenge. Uske baad main aapko call karti hoon, kyon ki much of the rest will happen on foot, you know....
Sushil: Radhoo beta
Radhika: Ritwik, ko mere kamre mein enter mat honey dena. He will go thru my music and my books
Sushil: Radhoo beta, meri....

Radhika: Maa ek hafte ki chhutthi karengi shaayad, chaliye kahin lambaaaaa ghoomne nikalte hain?
Sushil: Meri baat suno beta!
Radhika jumping up from the bench "Oh Bhayya, neeche bacha so raha hai, aapko dikhta nahi?"
Yells at a porter who is about to trample a young sleeping toddler.
Toddler starts to wail, porter grunts and continues on his path....
Radhika: Aap usko na mere bench par sulao, main yahi khadi hoon
Her Dad shakes his head at his daughter's behavior
Sushil: Roz atleast 4 baar call karna. Raat ko bahar na niklo to achha hai
Radhika: Papa main Prabha Dubey ji hain na jo SEWA mein hain, unke sister ke yaha rukoongi, she is so nice she is letting us all stay with her

Sushil has no clue who teh woman is, is visibly worried
Radhika: Aapko yaad bhi nahi Prabha ji, Papa (she begins again)
He knows her Shatabdi will reach Kanpur if she starts to explain her Prabha connection
Sushil: Send me a picture of where you are staying
R:Aur kuch papa? Aapke liye kya laoon? Kanpur se?
Sushil: Kuch bhi nahi
R: Papa how about Hathras ka paan?
Her phone rings, just as the train rolls by to a slow halt
Her Dad goes off to look for her coach

She looks for her ticket, for once quiet....

Sushil: I told you to fly. You dont listen, dont let any body speak
R: FOUND IT!
Zips her mirror work hand bag clumsily
Her Dad retrieves a wad of bills from his pocket and hands it to her

R: Maine to Ritwik ke wallet se Rs.10,000 le liye (grins)
Sushil smiles.
He points to her coach, they start to walk
She boards, dumps her stuff in the overhead tray.
Sits down, it fills up slowly
Sushil: I want you to be safe
R: Yeh mera kaun sa trip hai?
Sushil: PEHLA!
R:Haw Haw haw, Papa you have an awful memory its my 14th trip!
S: Beta dhyaan rakho. Tumhare dost kidhar hain, jo kaam se aane waale th?
R:They are booked in two diff coaches (smiles gleefully)
S: Station par so mat jaana
R:Jee Papa, aap log mere ko chhodkar celebrate karne mat nikal jaana,  Mere aane ke baad chalte hain Ritu ko ghar par hi chhod denge.
Sushil Tum dono ladna kab band karoge?
Answers it himself
Sushil: When I find a husband for you?
R:Dhoondte rahiye (grins)
--------
10th January Monday
T1 Terminal IGI Airport
Jet Airways check in clerk: Sir are you checking any bags
R: Nope!
JA: Can I see your ID please?
He fishes his wallet out and shows her his Driver's license
The gal smiles, he is impassive
JA: You have LONG hair (shocked, handing it back to him)
R:Thanks! (short)
The gal hands him his boarding pass
He takes it just as his phone rings, its Pavan Chachu
R:Jee?
P: Have you checked in?
R:Yep!
P:I think our lawyer is not getting in until later tomm
R:You told me
P: Did I (smiles)
R waits....
P:Meet Usman Ali, he knows where the documents are, he has been to the Kanpur office of UP State Indl Dev Corp a dozen times
R grunts
P: Usman has been meeting with the owners, when they last visited from Muscat
R:Hmmm
P: Ateendra is going to the Minsitry of Company Affairs tomorrow, we should know
R:Fine
P: You dont have to stay more than whats needed
R:Ofcourse!
P:The Agriculture Minsiter's secretary should meet you at the airport
P: I am not sure if he is going to Madhogarh with you tomm, you might want to ask him, bus.... that is it... I think
R:Jee! (softly)
Follows a 20 something air crew with his eyes, she bends to retrieve her badge from her luggage. His eyes rest on the parting between her legs, her tight chignon sticks out of her head as she bends, her red skirt has a slit on the back....
P: Raghav?
No response
P: Are you there beta?
R: Abhi tak to...
P: Make sure you dont fall in love (laughs out loud)
R: I will try! Not to I mean....
Click!