Once, not very long ago, somewhere in Andhra Pradesh, two friends, Peddodu (Big Man) and Chinnodu (Small Man) were sitting on a stone bench of the platform in the local railway station. The two friends found it very blissful to sit here, with no work, with nothing to do, under the more than hundred-year old banyan tree, and watch all the express trains go by without stopping.
Around mid-morning however, there was the Kurnool Passenger that stopped here for about twenty minutes. The silent and vacant railway station was then transformed to a very noisy and busy market-place sort of location.
The Kurnool Passenger was late today, by about an hour. The hawkers, vendors, porters and taxi drivers had already assembled and were waiting. Everyone knew each other, as they were all from the same village. They were all here with a purpose -- to sell, supply or provide something to the passengers. Peddodu and Chinnodu were the only two persons on the railway platform without any purpose or work.
The two friends passed the hour, waiting for the delayed train, as though they were passengers themselves. They had tea, idli-vada chutney, coconut water and curd rice. In time, the Kurnool Passenger came in and the peaceful railway platform burst into extreme activity.
Peddodu and Chinnodu watched all the hustle-bustle and were at peace, in the noise and shouting and running around. It was like watching a movie. They were like undisturbed outsiders watching the scenes go by.
Suddenly, a passenger came running up to the two friends, with his baggage, looking very distraught and hassled. He said, "Ayya (Sir), you both look like you are from this place. I need your help. I think I got on to the wrong train. I have to send a telegram from the station master's office. Can you please watch my luggage for me? I will send the telegram and get back to pick it up."
Chinnodu nodded in agreement and pointed out the way to the station master's office. He asked, "what will you send the telegram about? Do you want them to stop a coming express train here?"
The passenger nodded impatiently, as though in agreement and rushed away to the station master's office. Peddodu was excited at this sudden development and spoke to Chinnodu, "Entraa (What, man), did you realise that finally we have some mission when we sit here at the railway platform. We can also start sending telegrams to stop all express trains at our place."
Chinnodu nodded in agreement, and said, "Avunu, avunu (yes, yes), we can do that. If all express trains stop here daily, they may begin to think that this is a regular stop. With this idea, our village will soon become a big city like Mumbai or Delhi."
Thus, very soon, Peddodu and Chinnodu became busy planning the growth of their village, with larger railway stations, new highways, 5-star hotels and airports. The passenger returned from sending the telegram and collected his luggage to get back on the train.
Peddodu greeted him, and told him, "Anna (Brother), we are grateful to you. Our village will soon get an airport here because you got on the wrong train. Thank you."
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