It is said that blood is thicker than water….absolutely it is….can
anyone disagree? But then there is something else…something difficult to
define.. which adds to the charm and
beauty of such relations….I have a few such experiences which have reinforced
my belief in that something undefinable… and the last I had a week ago. I was on my way to Chandigarh to
attend a meeting scheduled the next day. Tired and bored after the long journey
from Ferozepur….I was dozing off intermittently…extremely short sessions of
sleep I stole…as subconsciously I knew it was criminal to occupy the front seat
next to the driver and sleep even if it was for a few seconds. I had reached
Ludhiana and was caught in the mad and reckless traffic of the city. My vehicle
had crawled towards the Samrala chowk and I was slumped in my seat…desperately
trying to keep my eyes open by engaging in some conversation with the driver on
how much time it took always to cross the city…..on how many years it would be
before the unfinished under construction fly overs would be operational regulating
the traffic flow and reducing the congestion. I craned my neck to stare at the
driver of a passing vehicle only and only when the driver attempted something
too daring…some breathtaking manouvers,
otherwise I let it rest in the sleep mode I was in. But I don’t know, out of a
sudden impulse I straightened up and looked at the driver of the neighbouring
car who was driving in his lane if there was any…in perfect order….and I was in
for a pleasant surprise…it was my younger brother at the steering. Though I
knew I was driving through the city where he lived but seeing him in traffic and
that too at a time when he was expected to be in office was puzzling. I
immediately rolled down my window and like a child shouted his name….and can
you believe… I might be too childish….foolish and sentimental but he too saw me
at once and rolled down his window…In the honking traffic we were in I could
easily ask where he was going but as he was driving, he asked me to stop at a
stop a little ahead…..and then I asked the driver to give way to his car…and
follow him….till we reached the decided stop. Once there, we had a brief chat, …
ten minutes in all …..I had no time to stop over at his place for lunch …. …but
the happiness and the energy that I felt afterwards is beyond words. For the rest
of my two hour journey I was cheerful…upbeat..and wide awake….lost in thoughts…of
time gone by…of our childhood days and also wondering what was that invisible force,
that impulse that made me suddenly peep out of the window at that juncture…in
that crazy traffic where there were 6-7 rows of vehicles of all kinds trying to
overtake each other….I am still looking for some sensible reason….but I would
be happy …even if I don’t find any…some things are beautiful…when they remain
unresolved…
