The journey from 'boy' to 'man'... 2

So we stood there for a few moments, me, Sat and Maj looking around the place and at each other. Then slowly, a mischievous grin appeared on Maj's face which infected me and Sat. We all grinned, knowing perfectly well what was in others' mind. Another test, another challenge, another opportunity to prove ourselves. With that grinning look we walked separate ways, ready to make our bones and crack the nut. There was an auction going on where 'people' were sold and we had to join it. Sat got picked by a landlord, Maj by a trader and I was picked by a chef called Rudy. A chef! I had to understand a warrior's story working with a chef? I glanced at Rudy as we were making our way back to the restaurant where I'd be working. Rudy was a short, thickset man with a professional face and a very matured attitude. I instantly liked him. The restaurant was quite near the railway station and was a very busy place. 'How are the guys in the restaurant?? Are they nice?' I asked. Rudy walked on as if he hadn't heard anything. I repeated my question in a louder tone. Rudy looked at me sideways and said 'They are hard working' and carried on.

Very true, as I found out. We started at 5am everyday and closed at 11pm. It was back-breaking work. I had to do all sorts of chores - clean bins, cut vegetables and meat, wash dishes, sweep floors, do home deliveries, serve tables. I cut my finger a couple of times, got blisters, almost fainted once but kept going. The evening hours were very taxing especially and my legs would beg for some rest but none of my co-workers complained or talked much, so I just kept working. Everyday, there was work, and work, and then more work. I was slogging like a slave. But after working 18 hours everyday, the six hour sleep would be a sensational period of bliss. And I was so thankful when I ate my meals during the day that sometimes I'd be moved to tears. No gossips, no unnecessary words, it was just clean hard work, minimum food and sleep. Six months passed thus. I went back to the train and was asked for my answer. I talked for two minutes on how I'd learnt the value of hard work and not giving up. The door never opened. Cursing the train, I returned to the restaurant, but to my surprise, I wasn't sad. Now, I kinda liked this life. There wasn't much time to think or worry and we were very fit and that gave us a vitality that I hadn't experienced before. Everyone worked well and took pride in his work. There was an untold competition going on. Any bad work or complaint was a sign of weakness and consistent good work earned respect. I later learnt that this restaurant was considered the best one in the village and that Rudy had previously been a lawyer. Sometimes when we got orders for parties and weddings, Rudy's mom, aged 80, would come and help us out. I was amazed at the kind of toughness these people had and the way they never spoke much.

As days rolled by, I got used to the work and it seemed much easier now. And the guys were indeed nice and had a rocking sense of humour. They rarely talked but their eyes danced. They were also film buffs and had these interesting nick names for everyone. Rudy was called Mr.Stevens after the character in the film 'The remains of the day', the guy in the counter was called 'main man ray' from the movie 'Rain Man' and I was called 'the kid' from the movie 'The quick and the dead'. Thus life moved on, we were busy during weekdays and during weekends we watched movies over and over and over. And after a year of this I was quite efficient at what I did and also bored a bit. Now that I'd learnt things, my work became mechanical. I felt I had passed my task but didn't know whether to return to the train or settle down in this job and village. I liked my work and the people. To state the truth, I didn't want to go to another place and start struggling all over again. The thought of facing a fresh series of hardships scared me. But another part of me yearned for the sense of success and euphoria that comes every time I finish a task and board the train. I knew I wanted to accomplish many more things in my life. But that means getting out of my comfort zone. And that is a god-damn difficult thing to do. 'I can't let fear triumph over hope and live with myself', I thought, and convinced myself to make my way back to the train. I pressed the green button which opens the doors. And I was asked for my answer.

It's the right way of doing things, the answer,
Struggle first and enjoy later,
Just like the stone dropped from a hill does,
Work hard, overcome odds and live thus,
time keeps rolling and for anyone stops not,
so will you with time get better and will be a stone no more but a juggernaut.

And the beep sounded and the door opened, as I knew it would. But to my disappointment, I couldn't find Maj or Sat there. They must have been on the earlier train or must still be figuring their answer out. I never realised that these two people meant so much to me. The disappointment I felt at not finding them was more than the delight of getting into the train.

But the train moved on. After a few hours of sleep I woke up and found that the train had better seats, served lovely food and played lovely music. I deserve this, I said to myself, after all the work I did to get here. That cheered me up a little and I listened to a conversation among passengers on past tasks. I didn't participate in it but listened with interest. I guess the restaurant taught me not to waste my words. I realised that I had changed a lot. After a while I laid back and listened to the songs being played. There was only one playlist being played over and over - I heard 'nothing else matters' by Metallica and Coldplay's 'viva la vida' for 'n' number of times. Night came and with it dinner. 'And nothing else matters' sang Hetfield. Time passed and the train became silent. I could hear the mild tone of Viva la Vida as i dozed off into sleep - 'Now I sleep alone, sweep the streets I used to own'...... And then came sunshine and it was still Viva la Vida - 'I hear jerusalem bells are ringing, roman cavalry choirs are singing, be my mirror, my sword and shield, missionaries in a foreign field'.... I glanced around to see everyone packing. I had nothing to pack, so rubbing my eyes, slowly went in line to wait for the doors to open again. Another day, another task, another challenge. The beep sounded and the door opened. As I stepped out, I could hear 'Everyday for us (is) something new, open mind for a different view, and nothing else matters'!! and then I was out. The platform was neither tidy nor dirty. I glanced up at the name of the station - 'Balance' it said. Smiling to myself, I made my way to where everyone was gathering.
End of episode 2.