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SUMPTUOUS JOURNEY | Mystic in Rajdhani
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It was a journey my husband and I will remember all our lives. We were travelling from Guwahati to Delhi on the Rajdhani Express. A key element in a peaceful journey is your co-passengers. We heaved a sigh of relief when an old couple and two other elderly men walked in. But we were hardly a few hours into the journey and the two elderly men occupying the lower berths got down. Again, our anxiety started. Dinner came but nobody arrived.
It seemed we had two more berths at our disposal. But our joy was short-lived. Just as we decided to hit the sack, the train stopped. A tough-looking man came in and said curtly, "Get up, these are our seats." What followed was a tempest. Dozens of men stormed in with bags and cartons. Chants of `swamiji ki jai' reverberated in the air. We strained our necks out. Lo and behold! In came a saffron-attired clean-shaven swamiji with impressive height. Equally impressive was his gigantic, sumo wrestler-like belly. Luckily for us, the disciples left and only one man remained to take care of swamiji.
As we watched, the disciple started making his guru's bed. As swamiji lay down, his disciple prepared his dinner plate. "So, that's the secret of his tummy" hubby whispered. My eyes popped out. "15 rotis," one counted. After having the lion's share, swamiji handed over the plate to the disciple, who finished it off. After dinner, swamiji took out a box of medicines. "Well, he has to digest all that," hubby grinned. Next morning, swamiji got up early, did his morning puja and it was time for breakfast, which was as elaborate as dinner.
As we watched, the disciple started making his guru's bed. As swamiji lay down, his disciple prepared his dinner plate. "So, that's the secret of his tummy" hubby whispered. My eyes popped out. "15 rotis," one counted. After having the lion's share, swamiji handed over the plate to the disciple, who finished it off. After dinner, swamiji took out a box of medicines. "Well, he has to digest all that," hubby grinned. Next morning, swamiji got up early, did his morning puja and it was time for breakfast, which was as elaborate as dinner.
Swamiji's itinerary basically consisted of food, food and more food. The rest of the time he lectured us on social evils, Indian economy and just about everything else! Hubby deliberately argued with him on everything. But not once did he frown. By the time the train reached swamiji's destination, he became friends with hubby and invited us to his ashram. "So", I looked at my husband as he bid adieu to swamiji. "Well, you can't judge a book by its cover." hubby said. One thing is for sure, despite his penchant for food, swamiji sure was something special. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a huge fan following.
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