Call Of The Howrah: Chapter Two (excerpt)
It was three forty five when the train reached Howrah station. As their compartment was close to the exit door, the Mehtas conveniently moved with their luggage out of the train. Once getting everyone out, Tia’s father, Alok Mehta got back to their compartment to check if they had left something behind and found out that the careless little Kiara Mehta, Tia’s younger sister had left her teddy bear, owing to her being in a state of sleepiness. She never went anywhere without one of her ‘favourite’ teddies. As it was platform number 19, the Yatri Niwas or the railway guest house was nearby. They had to walk a lot before reaching the place where all the platforms met. Then they moved inside the passage which led to the guesthouse. They reached the door but only to find it closed. A passer-by, who looked like a local resident, said that the guesthouse would open only by 6 AM.
“But it’s only four now”, said Mr. Mehta looking at his watch.
“You’ll find a lot of hotels nearby”, said the dhoti-clad man, somewhat comfortingly. Then they quickly moved out of the station after thanking the man.
After walking for about twenty minutes, they came across a hotel which was closed as well. Outside it there was a board which read: HOTUL 6 O’CLOCK OPAN. Tia started to giggle at the broken English of the sentence, knowing that its meaning was understood. Then she stopped at the thought of all the people in India who can neither read nor write English, of all the people whom she had spoken for at different debate competitions. She had started feeling bad, like she was somewhat neglecting all the values she had been taught, “oh, I shouldn’t have laughed at this, at least they’ve tried”, she said to her mother, Mrs. Rashi Mehta.
“No problem dear”, she replied with a smile, that smile suited her round face.
It was really cold at that hour of the day and they had already checked every hotel nearby, they were either closed or didn’t have any vacant rooms. “Listen Alok, everybody is tired of roaming around this place. You have already exhausted Tia, didn’t you think how she is going to give the exam now!” Mrs. Mehta said with a big frown on her face.
“I’m okay momma, I’m not tired. But I think we must go back to the station and check if that guest house is open now or not “
“But Tia ,it’s only four thirty now”, said Mr. Mehta.
“ I had told you to book the hotel beforehand, how can you expect a hotel to be vacant in such a big city and that too, in this age of online booking”, Mrs. Mehta fired at Mr. Mehta.
He was feeling guilty and promised himself and everybody that he would do all the preparations beforehand for any trip from then on. As everybody was tired, there was no option but to walk back to the station. Just half an hour ago there were many a taxi stopping and asking for hire, but now there were naught. So they waited there for about five minutes.
“I think we’re only wasting our time by waiting for a taxi here”, said Mr. Mehta, wearily.
“Yeah, we should try to get to the station on foot; we might get a taxi on our way, too.”, said Tia enthusiastically.
“Okay”, Mrs. Mehta said warily as she nudged Kiara who was staring wide-eyed at a poster advertising the latest Barbie dolls available at some mall.
" I think there's a hotel over there", Mr. Mehta said while pointing towards an empty street.
"And how do you know that?", Mrs. Mehta inquired as she crossed her arms.
"My instincts"
"I think we should go and check if dad's right"
"Okay, let's get going then"
The family started moving towards the empty street.
Mr. Mehta was right. There was a hotel at the end of the street.The only problem was- it was close.