Shri Nathji had often amused the children with the simulated sound of the train. He would say:
“Guavas-amrood are sold in Lucknow at six paise each, i.e. at the cost of chhe paise per amrood. However, they are sold cheaper at Allahabad, where two guavas are available for that amount. Thus one gets double the number of guavas at Allahabad than at Lucknow for the same amount.
“It is said that when the train passes through Lucknow, the sound of the train is something like this:
“Chhe-chhe paise, chhe-chhe paise,
“But that when it is nearing Allahabad, the sound changes to:
“Double-double, double-double.”
The manner in which Shri Nathji said “chhe-chhe paise” and “double-double” was a perfect mimicking of the sound of the train.
There was a record that Mateshwari had purchased in Mussoorie in which there was a song:
“Duniyaan ye duniyaa Toofaan Mail,
Jiske pahiye zor se chalte
“This world is like an Express Train,
Whose wheels roll on with great haste”
Shri Nathji had himself likened the journey of life to a train, saying:
“Some get off in our presence while we get off in the presence of others!”
“Kuchh hamaare hote utar jaate hain, aur kuchh ke hote ham utar jaate hain!”
Shri Nathji was humming a ghazal in Persian as he stood by the side of the open door of the compartment, as the train sped rapidly towards its destination.
There was greenery all around, because the monsoon season had set in. Shri Nathji was watching the scenery fly past. He was enjoying the brief period of anonymity on the train. He was enjoying the freedom of his informal dress – the loose fitting kurtaa and pyjama, in contrast to his tight fitting turban, achkan, and chooridars, which he had removed.
Shri Nathji said to the boys:
“This rainy month is considered to be very pleasant. Peacocks are said to dance in this weather.”
“Vaise to ye saavan kaa maheena barraa suhaanaa maanaa jaataa hai. Mor naachte hain inn dinon.”
The other family in the compartment did not know who Shri Nathji was, and they were too absorbed in themselves to notice Shri Nathji. The family consisted of a boy, who was of the age of Pran Nath and Priya Nath, and his parents. The mother of the boy saw Pran Nath and Priya Nath wearing the hot woollen blazers in the heat of July and unwittingly asked Mateshwari: “Aapke bacche beemaar hain kyaa? Are your sons sick?” This made Pran Nath very angry and he told her to mind her own business.
The atmosphere in the compartment became very tense for a while, till Shri Nathji changed into his formal dress. The mere sight of Shri Nathji, majestically dressed in his turban and achkan, overawed the fellow passengers, and they at once became very polite and respectful. Shri Nathji spoke to them but briefly, without disclosing to them his real identity. Perhaps their souls were not prepared for such a revelation. They got off soon enough en route at Shahjehanpur. They would never know that the fellow passenger they had been travelling with in the train had been God Himself.