I went to Shillong

I went on a holiday to Shillong

Why I went all the way to Shillong cannot be explained logically. It wasn’t in my bucket list. I feel it was decided for me, but by whom and when I don’t know. I only decided the dates and my travel plans to Shillong. I was not the decision maker in who all accompanied me in this trip.

Everything – the coordination, the planning, and the schedule – fitted together so well as in a puzzle, without any great effort on my part. And our holiday together went off like clockwork - no hitch, no issues, no conflicts. We were fully occupied, totally involved with the everyday happenings and enjoyed what the place had to offer that we did not miss reading the newspaper or watching TV.

We had an excellent host couple who took care of planning our everyday activities in such details, that we didn’t have to tax our brains at all. None of us had any special requirement, demands or separate agenda. Whatever the day brought was fully acceptable to all of us. This by itself was extraordinary, considering the differences in our individual personalities.

Everyday something unique happened, but what happened on my return journey from Kolkata to Chennai is the most extraordinary experience.

When I boarded the plane I was planning to just relax, close my eyes and go to sleep. I said Hello to the lady who came to sit next to me, without any special interest in her. (I don’t like sitting next to somebody for 2 – 3 hours without even a word or a nod of recognition. Later I got to know that the lady too doesn’t like that uncomfortable feeling.)

I started glancing through the newspaper and reading the news about Anna Hazare’s fast. After the plane took off my companion started the conversation with “Where do you live? What do you do?” etc.

When I told her I write and I have written in Mangayar Malar, she recognized me as the person who was crowned in the magazine’s silver jubilee celebration. That was amazing. It was 5 years ago and there was only a small black and white photograph of me in the magazine.

What happened further was more amazing. In our exchange of information about each other she told me her name is Radha; she lives in Kolkata; she grew up in Mumbai (where I grew up); studied in SIES School (the school I went to) and her father had a tailor shop in Wadala (where I lived)and his name was Pandian. Hearing that name I got goose pimples. Pandian became our family tailor soon after we moved to our house in Wadala in 1957. I have had my blouses stitched by him for nearly 20 years - through my stay in US and Australia. He gave me a paper pattern for my blouse so that occasionally I can try making my own blouses while I lived abroad.

He was from Thirunelveli. He set up a tailoring unit in a small shop in Wadala with two assistants. He was simple, gentle, extremely polite and cultured. His language was so polished and kind that we never could get upset with him for not delivering the finished garments on time. During my periodic visits to India, he has told me that his eldest son has become a doctor and he has bought a flat in one of the suburbs. That was no mean achievement for a tailor. It is his hard work, frugal living and determination that could have helped him to give his children a good education. I lost touch with him after my return to India and while living in Bangalore. He has sold his shop.

Is getting to meet Pandian’s daughter predestined? I had an Economy Class ticket. My brother got it upgraded to Business Class just that morning. Radha said her ticket too was upgraded only that morning. In that flight we were the only two people in the Business Class. There is no logical explanation to our meeting that morning. I have no idea of the probability of such an occurrence. I wonder what is the reason for bringing us both together now.

Radha told me that after her father passed away they found a notebook in which he had written poems. I told her if she could find it I would help her to get it published.

We talked all the time, got each other’s contact details, hugged while saying ‘bye’ at the baggage claim and promised to keep in touch.