Chapter Five: A Funny Train Ride
I feel extremely sorry not to have introduced myself to you as yet. I'm a globetrotting monk who is always on a journey here, there, and everywhere. I like collecting and experiencing educative events and stories, then analyse them at leisure in order to learn new life lessons, and, most relevantly, try to share them with you at my earliest convenience. The present fiction offers you some of such invaluable lessons taught to me by my nonstop unlimited travel during the last 20 years, but its 'fantastic' presentation is no doubt the fictitious product of my fanciful and imaginative brain, after all.
Another point I would like to make here is that you may have noticed my use of 'we', instead of 'I' in the course of the storytelling. 'We' means 'you' my dear readers and 'I' the author combined together. Actually, the intention was 'as if both you and I are witnessing the events in tandem'. However, from now onwards, I will not make the said use of 'we' in the similar contexts for ease of clearer narration and description. I will address you as 'you' when or if necessary.
Well, let me get back to the main story. Okay, after the great magician and his party disappear, the villagers sadly return to their respective places. Ravin's miserable family go on lamenting like anything. I shouldn't stand here any longer--I'd better set out for the Himalayas. There lives my Guru in a perilous cave. I believe he can definitely advise me what to do now--should I go on a journey to the netherworld? That'd be a most dangerous one undoubtedly--a life-threatening adventure. I make for the nearby station without delay.
Three days later, when I reach the holy feet of my nonagenarian Guru, He blesses me by placing His right hand on my head while saying in a soft voice, 'My son, remember that Knowledge is Truth, Truth is Bliss, and Bliss is Knowledge; these are Absolute, Infinite, and Eternal; these are the three aspects of THE ONE. Any knowledge or any bliss or any truth that violates these cosmic rules is the root of our misery, is the cause of our failure, and is the instrument of our bondage. Whatever you do and wherever you go--if you sincerely adhere to these principles--you will never deviate. I know why you have come to me. Okay, my son, you go and help unravel the mystery to reveal Truth so that others can be disillusioned and enlightened.'
I join my hands in prayer and beg to be told how to reach the underworld. He kindly whispers the directions and cautions and precautions in my ear. I bow down and take leave in order to make the necessary arrangements for the great journey.
My first destination is Patal Forest, situated in Madhupradesh. Now I'm travelling by train. It's early morning. I'm sitting comfortably in a second class compartment. I usually travel light. Just one medium-sized bag--that's all. I can easily enjoy sightseeing. But one of my co-passengers has long been busy attending several large pieces of luggage--as if not a single minute is available for him to pay attention to anything else. He looks so tired of the job but can't help it--his wife sitting on the other side is annoyingly reminding him of his sacred duty almost every few seconds. He must be either a great sage with infinite patience or totally deaf and dumb. At last, disgusted with the whole affair, I can't but ask, 'Hari Om! Where're you bound for?' He doesn't give any answer at first. Reasonably, I put it again more loudly. This time he grudges, 'Where the hell should I be? For the netherworld, of course!' Surprised, I beg, 'What did you say, sir?' He clarifies with a wry smile, 'The people like us who are out of work have only two places to visit--one is the netherworld and the other is the father-in-law's. More unfortunately, both are equal to me. You won't understand the significance since you're a monk. And I'm a monkey with not only a burnt face but also a burnt future.'
The train is calling at my station. As I'm getting ready to get down, the gentleman politely asks, 'Where are you going, Swami?'
I murmur, 'To the netherworld. Please don't tell anyone. Goodbye! Hari Om!' He starts laughing at my words heartily (ho-ho-ho-ho!) and then humorously comments, 'Wherever you go--even if it's the veritable netherworld, you'll be happy and carefree, because you rely on permanent and assured spiritual relations with God; on the contrary, wherever we go--even if it's a veritable heaven, we'll be unhappy and anxious, because we rely on temporary and unpredictable material relations with humans. All right! Goodbye, Swamiji!'
I, too, raise my hand in farewell. The train leaves the station; I keep standing on the platform for a little while, reflecting on the importance of having spiritual relations--the greatest bonds of true love and trust, the omnipotent feelings of life.
However, realising the crowd won't let me stand like a monument here in the middle, I begin to walk forward and look for a vehicle. Another ten miles still to travel before touching the feet of Patal Forest, which can be metaphorically deemed a colossal monster lying on his back. Anyhow, I soon come in sight of a taxi. Being told about my destination, the driver remarks, 'Not less than 200 hundred rupees--the road is very unfriendly.' I get into his car and feel cosy in it. The driver puts the key in the ignition.
Now I start thinking, 'I don't know how, when, and where I shall be able to see the magician again. After reaching the netherworld or even before somewhere else? On the previous three occasions, I came across him and his amazing feats by accident or by divine intervention only. ' Oh, I'm very sorry, readers, that I'm only speaking to myself--I decided, in fact, to relate to you something really engaging on the way to the Forest. And this is a great deal of personal information about Mag B. From our first meeting in the lupine forest (where I was spending the night in a tree) to our third in the village of Bengal, I succeeded in amassing a good many facts and stories about him from various sources. Please pay heed to the following--you'll be enriched, I'm sure. Here I go.