Earlier this year I made up my mind to move out of my hometown. It was a rather tough decision indeed. But I was determined to do it.
I hoarded all my school and work certificates, clothes, books, my big ol’ smelly pillow, and everything I thought I’d need to start a new life far away. I was sick and tired of having spent 24 years of my life in the same place.
Changing the place, I thought, would allow me to look at the world through a new lens.
So, what then? I Packed my bags, and off I went.
While on the train, the mental images of me killing it in the new place, and living a stress-free, independent life all flashed in my mind. I imagined how I would concentrate on my work while enjoying the serenity and beauty of the beaches.
All those things happened, of course, except for the killing part. I had to be back home for a family emergency. What was supposed to be a stay of at least 6 months ended in just five days.
Well, if I had tried I could have settled the issue without having to leave the new place. But homesickness was kicking in on one side and so I took advantage of the situation to leave the place, once and for all.
Train Timings announcement in Hindi…
It was around 8.30 pm when I was waiting for the Chennai train at Vasco-Da-Gama railway station, Goa. After locating my platform number I settled on a stone bench.
“What’s the time, bro?” a guy next to me asked. Somewhere in his mid-twenties, he had a cane in his hand.
“So, you are solo traveling bro?” I asked.
“Yes bro, I’m. You?”
“Yeah, me either.”
“Where are you from?” he asked.
I said Chennai and in return I expected he would be from somewhere near Goa. But I was shocked when he said Vizag (which is around 1300 km away.)
I knew I wasn't supposed to be asking him this question but out of curiosity, I blurted, “That’s really awesome, but how? Don’t you find it difficult to navigate to places?”
“Yeah, it is not that easy. But there is some adventure to it as well. And the thing is, I’m not completely blind. I can see but only partially. Maybe 15% or less now. And with each passing day it’s depleting rapidly. In a matter of just three months I would be going completely blind.”
I went dead silent. I didn’t quite know how to react.
After a brief pause he continued, “...and that’s why I’m traveling to as many places as I possibly could. So far I have traveled to 12+ locations across India by train including Manali, Coorg, and Ooty. And in the next three months, I’m planning to explore as many places as humanly possible. Because that's all the time my eyes have got.”
When I proceeded to enquire what had happened to his eyes, he replied, “Back in 2016 I almost lost my vision in a bike accident. My bike collided onto a lamp post. Over the years I somehow managed to see partially, but a couple months ago doctors called me to inform that even that vision would be gone in five months.”
What surprised me the most about this guy was how he was smiling all the while saying this seemingly tragic story. I don’t know if that’s because of accepted fate or optimism or he didn’t want me to feel sorry for him or might have just gotten used to repeating this story to many, but he looked calm.
(We had a lot of conversations about his personal life which I don't want to share here. I understand that he is anonymous in this article but I personally don’t feel like writing about it. That is all.)
At one point when I asked him how he liked Goa, he said, “Bro as I said, my vision is so dim that I couldn’t see anything clearly. Wish I had come here sooner.”
He further added, “But the point of my travel is not solely to see places, bro. More than that it’s the conversations I have with the strangers I meet. Their stories. About their lives. About their relationships. About their adventures. That is what makes this whole traveling thing exhilarating to me.
But one thing that really hit home for me was when he said that he wanted to be a stranger in everybody’s life.
I couldn’t recollect exactly how this conversation came up, but he said this, “I want to be a stranger in everybody’s life bro. Not only to the people I meet during travel but also to my friends, family, and everybody. I would prefer to stay somewhere in people’s minds as an indistinct memory. Yeah… like a traveller.”
A few minutes later I guided him to his coach. I forgot to ask for his name, and neither did he mine.
That’s about it.
By now, he should be completely blind. But I highly doubt that that disability would have ever stopped him from traveling and meeting new people. Chances are, you could meet him somewhere along your travels. When you do, out of unimaginable probabilities, ask him if he remembers the guy he met at Goa railway station back in February 2023.
And don’t try to ask for his name or number, he won’t give. Because you know… no connections… traveler... remember?
Now, I’m definitely not going to go on explaining the different symbolic meanings of the story. I will leave that job to you.
But I would like to leave you with one final thought:
“Aren’t all of us travelers, eh? You know, traveling across the far spectrum of life, only to be an indistinct memory to everybody someday?”
Felice Viaggio
-a fellow traveler
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Nice article bro