Rajdhani & the monkey's herd

On the roof of Indian Coffee House, oblivious of the noise and chaotic run on the road, he was quite and relaxed. He looked at the beautiful orange sun, growing darker every moment, turning into deep Red. His eyes peered at the glowing balll, going down every moment, through multiple branches full of colorless leaves, of the peepal tree, which was on the western corner of the building.

He was lost in his own thoughts, that a group of monkeys –two adults and two babies appeared, running and demonstrating their acrobatic mastery. Few persons sitting close to them flinched and hesitated. But the group, without giving a care for the people, started eating the bits of food scattered on the floor.

He turned his attention at this sudden invasion and looked at them carefully. The way, they were picking the fallen pieces of the food from their almost human hands. They must have roamed carelessly for about ten minutes, that the waiter chased them away, using a stick to scare them.

That morning at Guwahati junction, some ten years back, flashed back to his mind. He had gone there to appear for his engineering entrance examination. He had stayed in an army cantonment, where his elder brother was posted. That morning he had to leave for Patna.

It had rained all night, and the drizzle continued till the morning. The sky was clear, and Guwahati, surrounded by mountains covered with greenery, looked a glittering landscape. Everything bright and clear.

But as soon as he stepped down from the army bus, he felt if everything was defiled. The road was covered with a filthy blanket of mud and the footpath was filled with stinky drain water. As he carefully made his way towards the entry gate, he saw some railway sweepers, disposing off hundreds of plastic plates smeared with leftovers, in an open field.

Just like these monkeys, a group of semi clad men and women, accompanied by some emancipated children, appeared from nowhere. They entered the field and started collecting the leftovers, stuck to the plates.

Seems Rajdhani has arrived. His elder brother said.

Why? How do you say this? He enquired with genuine innocence.

Whenever Rajdhani arrives, these people come here to collect the food from these plates. His brother replied.