When I Grow Up…

My father never takes a day off from work. Even when it rained a lot and our homes were flooded, he used to go out early and work the entire day. On such days, mother would proudly tell us that the entire city would stop if father didn’t go to work. He would come home and tell us stories from work, how he rode the train through water. I didn't believe him. He is a short skeleton of a man, how can he be the one in charge of such big metal boxes on wheels with so many fat, thin, tall, short, men and women? I think he tells a very strong big human where to go, as he is so smart about routes. He never forgets my route to school. He always walks me on time and leaves me at the same place.

I was in 1st grade when my father told me he would take me to work on a train with him. I couldn’t sleep the entire night. Early in the morning when the sun wasn't even out, he took me to the train station. I had never been to the station so early, before everyone, the station wasn’t empty but I was one of the first people here. I heard the announcements in Marathi, loud and clear. I was in my own world, looking around at the space around me, guided by my father.

He soon halted in front of the first metal box of the train. He was greeting the man who had stepped out with a big book. I peeped inside the metal box and it looked very confusing. A lot of buttons and lights, this sight woke me up! I started looking around in the box when I spotted stools and not seats. I think people would stand and travel in this metal box. I was just thinking that when my father scooped me up from under my shoulders and put me inside. That is when I got the full view of the best part… The windows! There were windows in the front like the ones in a Kali Peeli. I jumped on a stool which was placed in front of the buttons and… I could see far and wide! Possibly beyond anyone one had ever seen the railway tracks from inside the train. Definitely further than Biju, who owned the wooden cricket bat had ever seen. I was taking it all in, when I was again scooped up and was placed a little further away from the lights and asked not to touch anything. My father may have caught my eyes shining bright and he smiled with pride.

Soon another man got up on the shiny metal carriage and pulled my cheeks, and asked “Ready to go?” I almost jumped on the stool with excitement, when I went deaf for a second as soon as the horn rang. With a thud, the train started!! I could see the platform disappearing and the tracks passing. My father was beaming with happiness seeing my feet dangle off the stool as I couldn’t make up my mind which direction to look at. My father was in the same spot as where the man who drives the Kali Peeli sits in front of the big window. My father was driving the train!!

In the evening when we reached home I wanted to meet Biju and all my other colony friends. I needed to tell them about the great day I have had. Travelling the whole day, stopping at places, eating on the train with comfort. Comfortable! Yes! It was indeed very comfortable on the train and my father even bought me chocolates to enjoy along with the view.

Next week at school when we were taught the spelling of aeroplene, I started to look out the window and wonder who throws the metal box in the air or does it also fly like a bird? Well I found it a bit silly. Where would it fly if it was raining? It will get all wet. What if someone on it was hungry or wanted to buy jewellery? Would the chai seller come on the plane as well and get off after selling it? Where did the plane driver sit and eat? The teacher did show a close up photo of the plane. I didn’t see a lot of space near the door to sit and travel. I don't think it is very convenient. I don't want to drive a plane. I want to drive a train! Planes do not even have a road, what if they get lost!? I don't trust it.

I want to be a train operator!