Nostalgic Memories of Childhood - Bareilly Days

BAREILLY

Childhood Memories

By

VIKRAM KARVE

One winter morning a few months ago, while on a walk in the misty hills of Girinagar with my pet dog Sherry, I don’t know why, but while I was admiring the glorious spectacle of the sun rising from behind the mighty Sinhagad fort, suddenly, out of the blue, my mind harked back to my childhood days and I was filled with nostalgic memories of my days in a place called Bareilly where I lived for a few years in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

I mentioned this to my evening walking partner Kapil, who told me that he too had lived in Bareilly.

 

Later in the evening, to continue the Bareilly connection, my darling wife also recalled her days in Bareilly in the mid 1970s.

Quite a coincidence, isn’t it?

So, I thought, why not hark back to those memorable days, tickle my memory, and write a few lines about what I remember about Bareilly and tell you about it. And hey, dear reader and fellow armchair traveller, I am talking about Bans Bareilly, mid-way between Delhi and Lucknow (and not the other Bareilly east of Lucknow, the celebrated Rae Bareli).

Those days, in the 1960s, at least for me, it was quite difficult to reach Bareilly, but since I loved travelling by train, I thorougly enjoyed the rather long railway journey with many interruptions for changing trains on the way.

From Pune, early in the morning, we caught the Deccan Queen to Mumbai, got down at Dadar, walked across to the Western Railway, took a local to Mumbai Central, and put your luggage in the Cloak Room. Then you took a train Churchgate and spent a lovely day enjoying the delights of Mumbai – a movie, good food, window shopping on Colaba Causeway, a stroll on Marine Drive at sunset, a quick dinner – and then returned to Mumbai Central to catch the Frontier Mail which left around nine at night.

Next evening, around tea-time in the evening we got down at Mathura Junction for catching the connecting Metre Gauge train to Bareilly.  There was a long wait at Mathura. Mathura was a busy station and while our parents relaxed in the waiting room, we kids pranced around the platforms and overbridges watching the trains go by, hauled by black smoke-bellowing steam engines – trains like the blue coloured Taj Express from Agra to Delhi and other express trains heading south.

After dinner we crossed over to the Metre Gauge North Eastern Railway platform to catch the Agra Fort – Kathgodam Kumaon Express which would reach Bareilly junction early in the morning. I remember once we had a terrible train accident in the middle of the night near a station called Rati Ka Nagla when the train derailed at high speed and were rescued from our coach which had toppled over.

My journey during my school holidays to Bareilly all the way from Lovedale near Ooty was really long – four nights and five days – the toy train down the Nilgiris to Mettupalaiyam, the Blue Mountain (Nilgiri) Express to Chennai (then called Madras), a day loafing in Chennai, the GT Express to New Delhi, a full day window shopping in Connaught Place in Delhi, the late night Lucknow Mail from New Delhi which reached Bareilly around 2 AM, then wait till dawn to catch a cycle rickshaw to Izatnagar where we lived. And if you wanted an even more ardous journey the you could travel by the Delhi – Bareilly passenger which chugged along at an excrutiatingly slow pace and took all night.

Bareilly was an important Railway Junction, where metre gauge and broad gauge met, the main line between Howrah and Amritsar and the metre gauge network from Agra to the east, the hills and the loop lines. I remember the decent refreshment room there and the Railway station was an important landmark in town.

We stayed in the outskirts of Bareilly Town, near Izatnagar, and every Sunday we would drive down via IVRI, Shamatganj and Civil Lines to the Bareilly Club, where we would start our day with a swim in the covered pool. Then the elders played Tambola while we kids read books in the Library and this was followed by a delicious lunch of Chana Bhatura. Yes, dear reader, this was the place which introduced me to this scrumptious delicacy and Bareilly Club, in those days, served awesome Chana Bhatura – soft luscious Bhatura and yummy lip-smacking Chana with a sprinkling of fresh onions, corriander and green chillies. (My wife tells me that when she lived in Bareilly a few years later, she too was a regular at the library, swimming pool and games at Bareilly Club and even won the May Queen contest held at the club). I wonder if the Bareilly Club is still as beautiful and lively now as it was back then, more than forty years ago,  and do they still have the Tambola and Chana Bhature routine on Sunday mornings.

After lunch we went for a movie. I remember seeing my all time favourite comedy film Padosan at the Old Novelty and then Johny Mera Naam and Mera Naam Joker at the renovated Novelty cinema – and Purab aur Paschim and Inteqam at Jagat, Pehchaan at Imperial, Sawan Bhadon starring Rekha and Navin Nischol at Kumar and I think there was a cinema theatre called Hind also where we saw a Rajesh Khanna movie called Joroo Ka Ghulam. I really wonder whether these old world cinema theatres exist now or have they been replaced by swanky multiplexes like in most other places.

Those days, the most posh restaurant in Bareilly was Rio. At Rio’s the food was superb – I still recall that Rio served the excellent mutton dishes like Rogan Josh, Do Piaza and Korma and a yummy Chicken Masala too. I think they served continental cuisine too as I have fleeting memories of having relished melt in the mouth chicken a la kiev. I faintly recall savouring tea time snacks at Rio too – sandwiches, pastries and cold coffee, but maybe I have forgotten. Then there came along another restaurant called Shadows but I do not have distinct memories of the food out there. In the heart of the city there were places which served mouth-watering delights like samosas, jalebis and chaat.

For our favourite books we went to the London Book Depot in BI Bazar which had some other shops and, I think, a bakery too where you got delicious non-veg foodstuffs like patties, cold meats like ham, salami and snacks.

My small sister and her friends travelled all the way from Izatnagar to Maria Goretti School in a cycle rickshaw and later I too ventured out on my new Atlas bicycle to the city and various picnic spots like Ramganga bridge etc. There was the famous WIMCO match box factory, and Camphor, Turpentine, Chemical factories at Clutterbuckganj and a Tomato Ketchup Plant where you took your tomatoes and they made fresh ketchup, kasaundi and sauce for you.

The nearby hills of the Kumaon, nestling the beautiful hill station of Naintal, beckoned in Summer, and they said that you could see the snow clad Himalayan peaks on a clear day.

That’s all I remember about the Bareilly of yesteryear, etched in my memory, the Bareilly of the 1960s and 1070s, more than forty years ago. A lot of water has flown down the Ramganga since and I wonder how the city of Bareilly is now. Do the places mentioned still exist? Or has everything changed. Will someone be so good as to enlighten us…!

PS - I did not find a Jhumka in Bareilly ke Bazar...!!!  Did you...???

 

VIKRAM KARVE
 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". A collection of his short stories about relationships titled COCKTAIL is being published soon and Vikram is currently busy writing his first novel and with his teaching and training assignments. Vikram lives in Pune with his family and his muse – his pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

 

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile of Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve  

 

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com  

 

Foodie Book:

Appetite for a Stroll 
http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

http://shopping.sify.com/appetiteforastroll-vikram-karve/books/9788190690096.htm

 

Short Stories Book: Cocktail
Cocktail - Short Stories about Relationships :  
http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?pages#!/pages/Cocktail-by-Vikram-Karve-APK-Publishers/177873552253247 

 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 
 

Book Review - Optical Fiber Transmission

Book Title : Optical Fiber Transmission

Compiled and Edited by E E Basch

ISBN 0-672-22301-5

1.            This book is altogether a collection of 16 papers written by different experts on the topics related to the Optical Fiber Transmission. The content of all the chapters presented in this book is intended to provide the fundamental and practical engineering principles of Optical Fiber Communication Principles to its reader in a plain and simple language.

2.            In chapter I “Introduction to Fiber Optics”, the reader has been provided with the important key milestone including past and the future of the optical fiber as transmission medium.

3.            In chapter II “Properties of Optical Fibers”, the author J C Daly and S Lakshmanasamy discusses the general properties of Optical fiber including the bandwidth, dispersion mechanism and attenuation properties. The author has nicely brought out the model classification and properties of Multimode, Single Mode, Dispersion Shifted and Single Polarization Fibers. Attenuation properties like material absorption, linear and non linear scattering, waveguide attenuation, leaky modes and effects of ionisation radiation are also covered in an efficient manner.

4.            In chapter III “Single- Mode Wave Propagation in Cylindrical Optical Fibers”, the author D Davidson provides a clear-cut concise picture of Model- Field behavior of the important single propagation mode that takes full advantage of the extremely low intrinsic losses found in today’s best fibers. Particular emphasis has been given by the author to the various methods that have been employed to find solutions for the fibers with rather arbitrary refractive index profiles, as might be encountered in practical fibers.

5.            In chapter IV “Fiber Design Considerations for Optical Telecommunications”, the author Arnab Sarkar has clearly outlined the evolution of fiber designs for the onset of the technology in early seventies followed by the Chemical Vapor Deposition Processes used to manufacture high quality optical fibers. The paper also gives knowledge about the material and structural consideration for glass fiber including polymeric coatings used to preserve the Optical/ Mechanical characteristics of the fiber and design considerations of Multimode and Single Mode Fibers, currently being used in telecommunication systems worldwide. The author has also covered the emerging fiber designs that are expected to be used in the industry in the future.

6.            In chapter V “Fiber Optic Cables: Design, Performance Characteristics and Field Experience Considerations” written by P Bark and D Lawrence, clearly brings out the key factors including fundamental properties and behavior, that must be known, when designing an optical fiber, to meet exact requirement and conditions of specific applications of telephony, computer utility, government and military applications. Various issues like Optical Cable Testing Techniques, Cable Placement Techniques, Splicing and Connection Techniques have been nicely addressed by taking examples from some transmission system subsystem performance information.

7.            In chapter VI “Optical Fiber Measurement”, the author M L Dakss made an appreciable attempt to cover recently developed techniques for optical measurement on fibers, separately for single mode and multimode fibers. However various issues like measurement of geometrical properties of fibers, refractive index profile measurement , mechanical, birefringence and polarization properties of single mode fibers is not covered in details for better understanding.

8.            In Chapter VII “Non Linear Optical Phenomena in Single Mode Fibers”, the author H Winful has brought out the Non Linear Optical Phenomena in Single Mode Fibers by reviewing the underlying physics and point out the key experiments done in 1.0 to 1.6 micrometers spectral region by considering the Raman and Brillouin Scattering Phenomenon. The paper also gives an exposure of dependence of fiber’s refractive index on light intensity, including Self Phase Modulation, Soliton Propagation and Intensity Dependence Polarisation Charges and various parametric processes.

9.            In Chapter VIII “Passive Optical Components”, the author J Straus and B Kawasaki made a great attempt to cover recent advances in the various categories of passive fiber optic components from the point of view of structure, performance, packaging and applications. More recent areas being stressed are the use of single mode components as interference base devices and in components which are constructed of specially processed optical fiber.

10.          In chapter IX “Optical Sources for Light Wave System Applications”, the author N K Dutta has briefly covered the principle of operation, fabrication and performance characteristics of different types of semiconductor lasers. The author has given due emphasis on laser fabricated using the InGaAsP material system and operating in the wavelength ranges of 1.3 to 1.55 micrometers. The concept of Simulated Emission, calculation of Optical Gain, Radiative/ Non Radiative Recombination rates, fabrication and performance characteristics of Single Frequency Lasers and various Real Guided Lasers Structures have been covered for the easy understanding of the reader. The degradation mechanism of Semiconductor Lasers covered by the author gives an eye- opening requirement of development of suitable reliability assurance strategy of application such as Submarine Optical Fiber Cable, which is also discussed by the author in this paper.

11.          In chapter X “Modulation of Optical Sources”, various methods of imposing information on Optical Sources for use in Communication System including Modulation Techniques has been elaborated nicely by the author S M Stone. The author has also brought out various factors which limit the information bandwidth in Directly Modulated semiconductor Lasers and LEDs, supported with the results of various research and development to optimize their performance along with the examples of devices which has been developed to optimize their characteristics.

12.          In chapter XI “Detectors for Optical Waveguide Communications”, the author G E Stillman has nicely covered the various fundamentals of Semiconductor Photon Detectors and also explained how these fundamentals limit the sensitivity of Photon Detectors. The structure and limitations of the performance of Photon Detectors including Photoconductive Detectors or Avalanche Photo Diode were also covered for the better understanding of the reader.

13.          In chapter XII “Receiver Design of Optical Fiber System” written by T V Muoi, the basis of Optical Receiver design has been presented in a unified theory, where in noise modeling and sensitivity analysis of high impedance and trans impedance receiver amplifiers are combined into one single theory. The effect of receiver requirement like wide dynamic range, bit pattern independency, bit rate transparency; fast acquisition time on receiver design has also been covered in a befitting manner by the author.

14.          In chapter XIII “Communication Theory for Fiber Optic Transmission System”, the author J W Ketshum has covered various aspects of designing, efficient and reliable communication, so as to overcome the fundamentally random nature of the communication process as well as many non ideal aspects of any practical medium. The contents of the paper which includes general model for both signal and noise and various methods of analog and digital communications has been covered in such   a simple language the it can be understood even by the reader, who is unfamiliar with these concepts.

15.          In chapter XIV “Digital Optical System Design”, the author H Carnes, R Kearns and E Basch has explained how individual components of Optical Communication System interacts and how their characteristics determine the design and performance of a complete Optical Fiber Link including special emphasis being given on synchronous digital point to point transmission link.

16.          In chapter XV “Design of Multichannel Analog Fiber- Optic Transmission System”, the author M F Mesiya has covered various techniques for transmitting a number of analog signals over optical fibers. The degradation of system performance due to intrinsic noise, linearity and bandwidth characteristics of the system components are also analysed in an appropriate manner for the better understanding of the reader.

17.          In chapter XVI “Introduction to Coherent Fiber Optic Communication”, the author E Basch and T Brown has brought out the basic principles of Coherent Fiber Optical Communication System by connections, wherever possible, with standard techniques in RF and Microwave Communication for better understanding of the reader. Also an appreciable effort has been made to acquaint the reader with concepts in quantum optics which is currently being researched in connection with coherent optical communication.

Reviewed by one of my students S K Khare

Book Review - EMP Radiation and Protective Techniques

Book Review - EMP Radiation and Protective Techniques

EMP Radiation  and Protective Techniques

by LW Ricketts, JE Bridges, J Miletta

A Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1976

1.            Nuclear weapons can have devastating effects. Usually, one thinks only of the blast, thermal, and radiation effects as they relate to the human body. However, considering only these factors ignores some of the other devastating effects. One such effect is that of the nuclear electromagnetic    pulse   (EMP).   The   effects   of   the   nuclear electromagnetic pulse must be considered and calculated when preparing for a nuclear war.

2.            Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is now recognised as one of the most important nuclear weapon threats. EMP from a weapon detonated many hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres away is capable of disrupting or damaging electronic equipment, especially modern digitally controlled systems. Equally important, in many cases EMP is not accompanied by any other prompt nuclear weapon output. These conclusions are supported by a considerable number of data developed from both sophisticated analyses and non-nuclear-threat-level experiments on electronic equipment.

3.            The importance of EMP is now clearly established, and a considerable amount of information is appearing in the open literature. Much of this information, however, is processed exclusively on a single topic and often does not address problems that are of immediate concern. Moreover so much “good” information has now become available that it is often impossible to extract the essentials and lay out a meaningful hardening program.

4.         The book shows how quantitative data on EMP pickup, component susceptibility, and hardening performance can be developed and integrated into EMP hardening requirements for specific electronic components or subsystems. These hardening requirements can be stated in a form (in terms of EMP pickup currents and voltages) readily understandable by various system design specialists. The book also describes the management aspects necessary for long term EMP hardening.

5.         The author has summarised information on hardening allocation in such a simple language that it can be understood even by the reader having nil experience in the field. This first involves identification of threat, the related EMP environment, and then the EMP pickup. The pickup is compared with the susceptibility to determine the total isolation required, which is then allocated to specific components of the system. The hardening isolation required can be reduced by proper component and system design. Laboratory methods similar to many existing procedures for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and RFI (radio-frequency interference) can be employed to confirm these analyses.

6.         The book is divided into three parts. Each part is further divided into chapters which cover specific topics. The author has definitely put in hard work and has covered a broad spectrum of the subject. Each chapter covers the related topics in great detail.

7.         In Part I EMP Environment and Pickup are nicely covered in two chapters. In chapter 1 the author discusses the EMP environment from a system and trade-off viewpoint. Twelve environments of significance are identified that may affect the various system design or operational mode options, and are explained with the help of a diagram. Further Near-Surface Burst, Mid-Altitude Burst and Exoatmospheric Burst are explained in detail with the help of figures and mathematical expressions. The author has covered the topics in such a way that even beginners can draw fruitful lessons from the text and other means used. Chapter 2 deals with the conversion of the EMP environment into currents and voltages that may be applied to sensitive components. This helps to give a means to the reader to understand as to how we can measure EMP in terms of quantities such as current, voltage and energy. Examples of results from calculations which are included, definitely enables the reader to obtain a feeling for the type of EMP pickup likely to be encountered. Similarly approximate formulas are presented that characterize the pickup in terms of a single lumped parameter circuit or Thevenin’s equivalent generator.

8.         Part II covers the Behaviour of Components and Subsystems. A large amount of data is tabulated in this part and also in Appendix B which covers the susceptibility tables. In chapter 3 the susceptibility on a quantitative basis of typical electronic parts, such as transistors, resistors and capacitors is discussed at length by the author. Although electronic components can be acted on directly by an EMP, the main threat to electrical components is the induced transients generated by EMP-system interaction. The chapter deals with the effects of short-duration electrical transients on electronic components. The prime attention is given to the failure thresholds of components, with emphasis on semiconductor devices. The electrical response of components to high-level transients is also discussed. All this is discussed with the help of well described graphs, diagrams and mathematical equations, which further helps the reader to understand the issue in an efficient manner. Chapter 4 deals with numerous formulas and other data that permit estimating the performance of various hardening components such as envelope shields, cable and connector shields, baluns, filters, surge arresters, transformers, chokes, disconnects, spark gaps, zener diodes and varistors. This chapter also tells how to calculate the hardening or shielding effectiveness of the various protective techniques and devices. Chapter 5 gives an insight to the practical aspects of the techniques described in chapter 4. The author has covered as to how to conduct the various laboratory test procedures required to evaluate the effectiveness of shields, vents, gaskets, cables, connectors, filters, surge arresters and chokes. This chapter shows how to setup and how to perform the various test procedures in the lab. The diagrammatic description of each procedure can be used to conduct these tests in the lab.

9.         Part III of the book gives an insight in to the System Aspects. Chapter 6 presents the management aspects of EMP hardening with emphasis on quality assurance. It also covers numerous system design aspects, including operational upset control, harmonising EMP, lighting and RFI requirements, and the development of a grounding and cabling plan. The chapter covers EMP hardening management, EMP control plan, design and development, maintenance and operations and monitoring of operational systems. The chapter also covers EMI, EMC, RFI, EMR, HERO and RADHAZ in brief. Shielding and Susceptibility Zoning Approaches, System Aspects of Damage Protection and System Aspects of Upset Protection are also covered. In Chapter 7 the author has nicely discussed one method of developing hardening allocations-specifying quantitative performance requirements for components and subsystems. The author has nicely addressed how hardening allocation approach may involve breaking the system up into various subsystems. Then the EMP hardening performance requirements are applied in a specific and quantitative way to each of these elements. This chapter also covers Buried Facility Allocations, Mobile Shielded Van Allocations and Aircraft Allocations which gives an adequate exposure to the reader.

10.       Apart from these seven chapters the author has also provided three appendices, which prove quite helpful. Appendix A contains a Glossary of Relevant Terms so that the reader can get a quick reference to various terms used in different chapters. Appendix B gives the various Susceptibility Tables, which contains susceptibility data on electronic circuits and components. Appendix C covers the various Simulation Facilities. 

11.       The book covers the activity relating to the susceptibility of electronic components and circuits used in electronic or electrical systems to the EMP environment or, more specifically, to the effects of transient voltages and currents that result from EMP energy being coupled into cables, antennas, power distribution systems, and other conductive structures. Particular emphasis has been given by the author to the margin of tolerance in the specifications of a device, circuit or subsystem. This can be a very important consideration in evaluating the degradation in the EMP environment.

12.       The book describes each topic adequately with the help of graphs, diagrams and mathematical expressions which will definitely be helpful for persons working in the field of EMP. Certain topics such as effects of EMP radiations on human body could also have been touched upon. The book also gives an exhaustive list of references and with the bibliography provided one can easily go out and enhance his knowledge of the subject.

Reviewed by one of my students Vikas Agnihotri

SUNRISE SWEETHEART - A Romance - Short Fiction

SUNRISE SWEETHEART

Short Fiction - A Romance
By  

VIKRAM KARVE  

This is one my earliest amateurish attempts at creative writing.

At that time, more than twenty years back, blogging was non-existent, and the only way to get someone to read your writings was to try and publish it in one of the magazines, and unlike today, when it is so easy to instantly communicate and blog one’s thoughts and writing, thanks to creative vehicles like Sulekha, at that point of time creative writers were at the mercy of “non-creative” editors.

You submitted your story, and waited and waited…and maybe finally, if you got a reply at all, it was a rejection letter…and sometimes, very rarely, you suddenly saw your story in print.

But as far as this piece is concerned, when I read it now, I am not surprised it was rejected.

Now, I am posting it on my blog for you to read.

If you like the story, do comment. If you don’t like it, please do send in your brickbat along with constructive criticism to help me improve my writing. I will appreciate your feedback.

I wrote this fiction short story long back, sometime in the 1980’s, when there were first class compartments in trains, and air-conditioned sleeper coaches had just made their appearance. I wonder why I never told anyone this story. 

So, my Dear Reader, you're the first one I am telling this story to... 

           
             I wondered how you said goodbye to a woman with whom you made love, for the first time.

 

            “Goodbye,” she said. “We both got what we wanted, didn’t we?”

           

            She didn’t wait for my reply, but picked up her bag and went away. I remained tongue-tied, frozen. I was too confused to react. It had been my first experience.

 

            “How was the trip to Vizag...?” asked Sanjiv, welcoming me to his living room.

           

            I started talking shop.

 

            Sanjiv opened a bottle of beer and said,” All that can wait till tomorrow morning – in the office. Anything exciting...? Any conquests...?”

 

            “Yes,” I said. “But you won’t believe me.”

            “Tell me”, he said

            I told him, very briefly.

    He listened with interest.

          Probably he did believe me.

         He handed me a beer mug as we walked towards the balcony. We sat down, said ‘cheers’ and took a long pull of beer.

 

            “Tell me everything, all the juicy details,” Sanjiv said, in an almost peremptory manner.

 

            I had no choice. Sanjiv was my boss. I had to tell him everything.

            This is the story that I told him.

 

            Sunrise, on the eastern coast, is a resplendent spectacle. I stood on the beach to behold the breaking of the sun’s upper limb over the horizon of the sea. It was a breathtaking sight – like the unfolding of crimson petals of a gigantic flower. It was my first morning in Visakhapatnam

– ‘Vizag’ as it is popularly known.

            I turned to walk back to my hotel.

            I saw her almost at once.

           Our eyes met.

           She had capricious eyes.

           I smiled.

           She smiled.

           I felt instantly attracted to her. She looked so nubile, and the same time voluptuous. I just couldn’t take my eyes off her.

          She gave me a canny look, then suddenly turned around and walked away.

           I looked at my watch. It was precisely 6 o’clock in the morning.

 

            For the next ten days, I never missed my rendezvous at sunrise with her. In fact, it was the only event I used to look forward to. But I never made any attempt to talk to her. Don’t ask me why. Maybe I was too shy, or maybe I wanted to keep our relationship that way – beautiful, fragile.

            I felt sad when my stay in Vizag came to an end and as I saw my first love, my "Sunrise Sweetheart" walk away from me on my last morning at the beach.

           

That evening, I stood on the railway platform and scanned the passenger list on the reservation chart pasted on the First Class coach of the Express train - the night train to Hyderabad.

         No matter how many times I begin a train journey; there is always an intriguing interest in seeing who one’s fellow-passengers are. I was in coupe compartment ‘E’. The other berth had been reserved in the name of a Mr Rao – Male Age 58. Bad luck, as usual. Might as well pick up a book. I went to the bookstall and bought a paperback – ‘Great Short Stories’.  The cover was attractive and the title appealed to me. I wondered how Short Stories could be called ‘Great’.

 

            The train started, but there was no sign of Mr. Rao. I opened the book and started reading. The ticket collector entered. He checked my ticket and said, “The other passenger has not come. I will adjust you in some other compartment.”

 

            “But why should I shift?” I asked.

            “There is a single lady on the waiting list. I don’t know where to put her,” the ticket collector explained.

 

            Suddenly she entered. My heart skipped a beat. What a coincidence! It was she – My ‘Sunrise Sweetheart’. She gave me a warm friendly smile.

 

            The ticket collector stood up and spoke to her, Please sit here for the time being, madam. I shall try and shift the gentleman to some other compartment in case there is a vacant berth.”

 

            “It’s okay,” she said.  “We know each other. We’ll travel together.”

            The ticket collector looked visibly relieved, thanked her, and went away.

 

            I stood up and helped her secure her baggage. I offered her the window seat. She sat down and we started talking. I found that she was easy to talk to. I experienced a strange feeling of elation. In these moods, there was so much to say – the words simply came tumbling out. I told her everything about myself. She was a good listener. Time flew. I soon realized that she was looking at me with undisguised affection. She radiated an extraordinary sensuousness. I was aroused. But it was she who made the first move.

 

            I paused and looked at Sanjiv. His eyes were gleaming in anticipation for the juicy bit. But I was not going to oblige him. It was too personal.  

            “Did you get her address?” Sanjiv asked eagerly. 

            “No”, I answered truthfully.

            “What is her name?” 

            “I don’t know,” I lied.

   Of course she had told me her name – Anita – but I wasn’t going to tell him.

 

            “What did you do in the morning? You two must have at least talked something.”

 

            “There was no time," I said, “When I woke up she had gone to the toilet. By the time she came back, the train had reached Hyderabad . She said goodbye and got down.” I paused. Then I said hesitantly, “I managed to put the short stories book in her bag when she had gone to the toilet, as a token of remembrance.”

 

            Sanjiv laughed, “surely you must have written your name and address on the book; along with your message of thanks and love, of course.”

 

            “No,” I said. “Frankly, I was feeling quite confused and perplexed, probably scared. And I was in a hurry to confirm my reservation on the connecting train to Mumbai.”

 

            “You are a bloody dope, a clueless poltroon,” Sanjiv exclaimed with visible disappointment. “She was a long term investment. You are a real dope to have lost her. I wish I was there in your place.”

 

            Sanjiv prided himself in being a Casanova. He often boasted of his exploits and conquests. As far as I was concerned, I genuinely cherished my one and only experience.

             A man’s first love has an enduring place in his heart. I could never forget Anita; her face, her eyes, her body, the swells and peaks, the nooks and crevices, her touch, her extraordinary sensuousness.

 

            The flight from New York landed in Mumbai at the unearthly hour of midnight. I was returning to India after a longish stint abroad. Sanjiv received me at the airport. As he drove me home, Sanjiv dropped the first bombshell, “I got married last week. It was a rush affair. Love at first sight. We had to keep it low profile – opposition from both sides, the usual stuff. I just couldn’t inform you.”

   

              I congratulated him. 

 

            “What are your plans?” he asked. “Any luck abroad.”

            “I am going to try and find that girl I met on the train,” I said, with genuine nostalgia and yearning, “My first love - Sunrise Sweetheart - hey, Sanjiv, you remember...?”

 

            Sanjiv burst out laughing, “I didn’t know it was that serious. Maybe my wife can help you. She is from Hyderabad.”

            We reached Sanjiv’s flat.

           The door opened and Anita stood in front of me – bold as brass.

           I froze dumbstruck and stood like a zombie.

 

           I certainly hadn’t bargained for this.

           Sanjiv and Anita...!

 

          The coincidence was unbelievable.

           As I started at Anita incredulously, I cannot begin to describe the emotion I felt, but my heart ached and my throat went dry.

 

Meanwhile, Sanjiv had taken my bag and gone inside. Then I felt a tinge of sadness. A man’s first love fills an enduring place in his heart. I looked into Anita eyes. She pointedly avoided my glance. I kept starting at Anita. She looked ravishing. Her beauty had enhanced with age. Her low-cut blouse, which accentuated the curves of her shapely breasts, made her, look temptingly desirable. Her crumpled sari and dishevelled hair added to her sensuous appeal. But there was not a trace of recognition in her eyes. We just stood there in silence, deafening silence.

           

            I was at my wits’ end when Sanjiv suddenly appeared and said, “Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you two. This is Anita – my wife’s best friend. And this,” he said pointing to a young attractive woman who had emerged from the bedroom, “is my wife Rajashree.”

 

            I cannot begin to describe the bizzare emotions I experienced at that moment but I just burst out laughing.

           

            “He is a crazy guy,” remarked Sanjiv to the ladies. “Must be the jet lag. Let’s go to sleep. Whatever is left of the night, that is...!”

 

            I looked at Anita as she walked away. There was still no trace of recognition in her eyes. I felt angry and disappointed. I would tackle her in the morning. I switched off the lights and went to sleep on the sofa in the living room.

 

            I woke up with a start. I could sense that there was someone standing near me in the darkness. I at once knew who it was.

 

            “Thanks for the book,” Anita said, and abruptly walked away, vanishing into her room.

 

            I got up and switched on the lights. The paperback on ‘Great Short Stories’ was lying on the table near the sofa. She had returned my token of remembrance. I wondered whether she was sending me a message - was there still hope or was it all over...?

 

            I slept late, almost till noon, and as we sat for lunch I noticed that Anita was missing so I enquired about her.

 

            “She has gone back to Hyderabad by the morning flight,” said Sanjiv.

 

            Rajashree, Sanjiv’s wife, spoke, “Poor thing. She had come here to Mumbai to see a boy but it didn’t work out. I feel sorry for Anita. She is almost thirty, four years older than me. And she’s still unmarried. Yet she keeps rejecting boys...!”

 

            “Maybe she is waiting for someone, maybe she hasn’t forgotten her first love” I interjected and said, “Give me her address.”

 

            “Shall I book you on the evening flight?” asked Sanjiv with a canny smile.

 

            “No,” I replied, tongue in cheek. “I prefer trains.”

 

            And I made it to the station just in time to catch the Hyderabad Express.

 

VIKRAM KARVE
 

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale, and Bishop's School Pune, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". A collection of his short stories about relationships titled COCKTAIL is being published soon and Vikram is currently busy writing his first novel and with his teaching and training assignments. Vikram lives in Pune with his family and his muse – his pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

 

Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.com

Professional Profile of Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve  

 

Email: vikramkarve@sify.com  

 

Foodie Book:

Appetite for a Stroll 
http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

http://shopping.sify.com/appetiteforastroll-vikram-karve/books/9788190690096.htm

 

Short Stories Book: Cocktail
Cocktail - Short Stories about Relationships :  
http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?pages#!/pages/Cocktail-by-Vikram-Karve-APK-Publishers/177873552253247 

 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.