The Red Book!

That day when I was traveling in a train, and it had been a while since I had read something meaningful, I laid my hands on that something! On the seat in front of me, somebody had left a red book! A red book, well read could have reddened my journey all the more!! Thinking that, I started flipping through the pages.

After a curious glance, I realized that it’s a story of a lone traveler sitting in a train, trying to break the recursive loop of puzzles in his life. And right when the traveler’s mind starts sorting everything out, he lays his hands on a red book, right on the seat in front of him.

Inside that red book that the traveler goes through, there is a story of one gentleman sitting on a bench on a crowded platform reading a red book.

With so many red books all around, physically and mentally, I decide to take some time out!

I look out of the window to read the name of the station where the train has just halted and I see an old, disheveled man restless, sitting on the platform. Looking at his restlessness, with the red book in my hand, I get down at the station and head towards him. He rises from the bench and gives me a familiar smile, saying – “I was waiting for you Sir! Can I have my red book back! I have been reading it on this crowded platform since I was ten.” I say “but I haven’t completed it.” He says “That’s your destiny Sir, You were supposed to read it till here only!” Just when I think of continuing the argument, I notice that my train’s just started whistling away! I run hard, get back to my seat and head towards sleep, straightaway!

By the time I get up, I am two stations ahead , with neighbors on the seats all around! I look at all of them and suddenly notice a familiar face smiling at me. I tell him – Sir, Ive seen you somewhere. He says – “With parted hair and a neat trim, I always look much familiar.” I see a red book in his hand, and out of an already thriving curiousity, ask him – “Sir, what is this red book about?” He tells me – “It’s the journey of an old man who used to read a red book on the bench of a crowded railway platform from the age of ten”. I shake my head to check if I am dreaming, and I suddenly get up from my sleep. I realize I am four stations ahead and the neighbourers are still sitting all around, with just one member missing! But he sure does leave the red book for me to read! What would that red book be about? Is it going to be a story of an average bloke, a commoner who forgets a red book in a train?

With much curiousity and the realization that it has been a long while since I have read something meaningful, I lay my hands on that red book on the seat in front of me. After all, a red book, well read could redd my life all the more………….