Chapters (36)
The journey stretches out, dank and torpid. Some people are polishing their shoes. Others gaze out at the landscape through the half-open door, or press against the barred windows, hoping for some fresh air, when all that pours in is the hot breath of the tropics. A man makes his way through the train reciting prayers and sprinkling water over the travellers’ heads, as a sign of blessing. A beggar sweeps the carriage floor and asks for a few rupees for its upkeep. He tells his miserable tale to anyone who will listen. He was working in the fields with his family in the north when the rich farmers came looking for his father, who owed them money. They had beaten him, broken his limbs and torn out his eyes then dragged him away by the feet, in front of his entire family. Lalita shudders at the horrific story. Smita scolds the beggar, he should go and sweep and tell his story somewhere else, there are children here.
Beside her, a plump woman soaked in sweat talks about her journey to the temple in Tirupati to make an offering. Smita is roused from her torpor. The woman’s son had fallen ill, the doctors said there was no hope. A healer had advised her to make a temple sacrifice, and her son had been healed! Today, she was on her way to give thanks to Vishnu for the miracle by placing food and wreaths of flowers at the foot of his statue. To do so, she has undertaken a journey of several thousand kilometres. She complains about the conditions of travel, but that’s how it is, she says, adding: the god himself decides whether the path that leads to him is hard or painless.
Night falls. In the carriage, people organize themselves to try and get some semblance of rest. The bench seats fold out into couchettes, but sleep is difficult nonetheless. Smita dozes off at last, hugging Lalita’s tiny body tight, beside the voluptuous woman. She thinks again about the promise she made to Vishnu before beginning her journey. She must keep her word.
And so she makes a decision, there on the couchette, in the black of night, somewhere between the states of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh: tomorrow, she and Lalita will not continue their journey to Chennai, as she had planned. When the train stops at the station in Tirupati, they will get down and climb the holy mountain to pay homage to their god. With that thought, Smita feels suddenly at peace, and falls deeply asleep.
Yes, Vishnu is waiting for them.
Her god is here, at their side.