The Tunnel Incident

 


The train suddenly entered the tunnel and momentarily it was pitch dark.  Some of the coach night lights, the deep blue ones were on, but the sudden shift from bright sunlight into darkness blinded everyone.

2.      Inside an AC compartment, we do not feel the change as many of the lights are on due to the tinted glass windows.  There we are insulated against changes.  This time I was in the sleeper compartment and could feel the difference in many ways.  The book I was reading, my hands holding the book and all the passengers just disappeared.  The temperature changed and there was a dank smell also accompanied by diesel exhaust at times.  There was screaming and shouting mainly from children glued to the windows.  Well, the elders also became children momentarily and joined in the commotion under the cover of darkness.  Everyone should get a chance to become a child, occasionally at least.

3.     The girl sitting across raised an alarm that she can’t find her handbag.  All others started looking around and under the seat to find the bag.  The old man could not find his mobile.  This made everyone take stalk of their belongings fearing the worst.  The boy in the next cubicle screamed.  His laptop was also missing.  Adding to the confusion, the train entered the next tunnel.  No one anticipated.  Now, instead of the happy whistling and screaming, there was panic.  Passengers were desperately trying to save their belongings and, in the darkness, they were groping each other creating further panic and irritation.  We were back in bright sunlight, momentarily blinding us.  No further loss registered. 

4.     Someone near the toilet caught hold of a small boy who was sweeping the floor with his only torn shirt and seeking some ‘baksheesh’. The passengers pounced on him with a pent-up vengeance.  The poor child was whimpering and in tears.  His pleading fell on deaf ears.  Some threatened with dire consequences and some even raised their hands. The few small denomination coins that he had scattered and rolled away between the luggage, the feet and the footwear.  He was crouching into a fetal position.  The old man who lost his mobile came to the child’s rescue.  He spoke with authority, very slowly that there was no way the mere child could hide a lady’s handbag and mobile and a laptop in such a short time. The passengers who had lost nothing reluctantly moved back from the unearned morsel. 

5.     It was indeed a mystery.  Who could have stolen these three articles in a split of a second and hidden them without a trace?  The glint of suspicion was in everyone’s eyes and the surreptitious looks could be seen at every angle as each tried to recall the incident in their minds.  The hot vadas and samosas were no distraction and our friendly vendor had to pass through without any sales.  While the mourners cried over their lost treasures’ others were busy running and re-running the entire episode through their mental TV.  That’s when the small child said that the uncle with the briefcase on his lap has been missing.  The train slowed down and came to a stop at Lonavala. 

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