More often than not, we keep hearing about a lot of train accidents happening due to various reasons, causing an unfathomable loss to human lives, nature and property. Sometimes, there is no way it could have been prevented, although people play a blame-game in the aftermath only to cleanse their hands. I am writing this story in the wake of a recent train accident that happened only recently. When such incidents happen, sadly, people measure its badness based on the number of people killed and injured. But isn't a loss of life, a loss of life after all? It is so weird that people who die in bomb blasts (common man) are remembered more often in the media than the people who die in accidents (also a common man) ! Is the value of our life decided by how we die? Why then, a differential treatment exists? Through this story, I shall make an earnest attempt to bring out the various feelings and emotions that run through people when, like a bolt from the blue, they are in the jaws of death.
It was going to be a big day in his life. He had to go to Cochin for a meeting with a client to propose and sign off a deal with his company. If it came through, he would be richer by a million rupees and so it was an all important one and perhaps, the biggest opportunity he had ever got. He had worked a lot on it over the past few days and barely talked to anyone. The meeting was in the evening and so he had decided to leave by the first train in the morning, which was at 6:30. He had slept very little, thinking and probably even excited about the new turn that the day might bring to his professional life. He had kept all the required things in order, on the previous night, to ensure he wont miss out on anything at the last moment. Before leaving home, his wife gave him a hug and wished him luck. "I will come back with good news" he smiled and said, his voice filled with confidence. He looked at his young daughter and kissed gently on her forehead, so as not to disturb her sound sleep. He waved to his wife as he hopped onto a taxi to the railway station.
The train left sharp at 6:30 and he was seated comfortably in his compartment. Since it was a weekday, it wasn't over crowded. He was surrounded by 4 more co passengers; two of them were a young couple with a small baby, a senior person and an young man. Half an hour into the journey, the people selling food from the train's pantry started coming by and everyone took the choice of their food; it was a long journey of nearly 12 hours and one had to depend on these sources for food, no matter how good or stale it is! The young man sitting beside him looked lost in thoughts, staring blankly outside the window for a long time. He looked at him and asked "Are you a student?", casually. "I completed my degree an year ago and am looking for a job. Am going now for my 15th interview!", the young man said coldly, avoiding eye contact with him. "Why are you looking sad?", he asked . "How would it matter to you?", the young man said, spontaneously and rudely. He was taken aback by that kind of reply from the young man. True that it was none of his business, but it gave him all the more reason to believe that he was under some distress. You do come across such people, who cant ignore a person in grief and dont mind crossing their limits to make him or her happy. He was one such kind. "You will lose nothing by sharing it with me. I am no one to you and we might not meet ever again. But trust me, it will help you feel little relaxed. So please do speak of it" said he. The young man started in a tone of melancholy; his was a story like most of the cinemas. A poor family, his father spent all his earnings on his education and had led a retired life. His mother was ill and with him being the only child, he had the responsibility of earning and taking care of family. However, things had not turned out as he had wanted and he had to bear the pressure of the societal tag - 'unemployed youth'. He further went on to say that all he wanted was a simple job that would give his family the basic needs and that he was, deep down the heart, hopeful, that he might reach it one day; There are people who aspire to reach the moon, and then there are people who are happy to even simply look at its reflection in water. Listening to the story, the old man who was sitting opposite to the two men added "Never lose hope, son. Believe in destiny and believe, that God will always lead you on the right path. You may not realise it now, but one day you will surely look back and feel the greatness of the path that you walked", as if to share a thought from his own experience.
Meanwhile, the couple who were seated in front of him and beside the old man, were in their own world, speaking ever so softly, giggling often; as if dreaming about a colourful future. The baby that the lady was holding was asleep all this while and woke up suddenly and started crying, until it was pacified by the mother and it flashed a toothless smile. Everyone looking at it, smiled too. A baby's smile is truly infectious :) He had forgotten all about his meeting and the all important deal. He saw what an irony life was; he had seen all the phases and faces of life in a small compartment of a train! His train of thoughts wandered off to God, misery, karma, love, life and destiny.
There was s sudden jerk, as if to wake him up from his dreams. The train began to lean to the right, and everyone began to hold each other's hands, panic stricken. Before they could realize what was happening, the train tumbled to its right and due to the speed with which it was travelling, it crash landed heavily onto the rocks beside the track. The impact was such, there was a big smoke of dust rising up and the two sides of the compartment had almost compressed into each other! He lay on the ground, unconscious, didnot know for how long he had been there; someone had pulled him out of the debris His eyebrows were profusely bleeding, and it pained to even open his eye. His vision was blur and he couldnot stand, he had badly twisted his ankle. He saw the young man, dead. There were no signs of the old man. The couple had miraculously escaped with very little injuries, but they were inconsolable as their baby was no longer alive. The cries of many people echoed in the air. There were many villagers from nearby places who had rushed into the spot and were pulling out people from within the train. They brought in water in buckets and pots and also called up ambulances. Despite all the diversity that exists, when in crisis, humanity always unites! He did not know who had rescued him. He was still dizzy and his last memory was of him being carried away on a stretcher.
3 days later, his wife and his daughter were at his bedside when he became fully conscious. He looked at his leg and saw a bandage from knee till the toes; just a hairline crack, he was informed. "How good a news you brought me!" his wife said, with her eyes filled with tears. But she didn't let it out. His little daughter climbed up and slept on his chest, hugging him. "I want to thank God, for he sent you back safely to me!" He smiled. I have seen the other face of God now, he said to himself. Destiny, you never know!
It was going to be a big day in his life. He had to go to Cochin for a meeting with a client to propose and sign off a deal with his company. If it came through, he would be richer by a million rupees and so it was an all important one and perhaps, the biggest opportunity he had ever got. He had worked a lot on it over the past few days and barely talked to anyone. The meeting was in the evening and so he had decided to leave by the first train in the morning, which was at 6:30. He had slept very little, thinking and probably even excited about the new turn that the day might bring to his professional life. He had kept all the required things in order, on the previous night, to ensure he wont miss out on anything at the last moment. Before leaving home, his wife gave him a hug and wished him luck. "I will come back with good news" he smiled and said, his voice filled with confidence. He looked at his young daughter and kissed gently on her forehead, so as not to disturb her sound sleep. He waved to his wife as he hopped onto a taxi to the railway station.
The train left sharp at 6:30 and he was seated comfortably in his compartment. Since it was a weekday, it wasn't over crowded. He was surrounded by 4 more co passengers; two of them were a young couple with a small baby, a senior person and an young man. Half an hour into the journey, the people selling food from the train's pantry started coming by and everyone took the choice of their food; it was a long journey of nearly 12 hours and one had to depend on these sources for food, no matter how good or stale it is! The young man sitting beside him looked lost in thoughts, staring blankly outside the window for a long time. He looked at him and asked "Are you a student?", casually. "I completed my degree an year ago and am looking for a job. Am going now for my 15th interview!", the young man said coldly, avoiding eye contact with him. "Why are you looking sad?", he asked . "How would it matter to you?", the young man said, spontaneously and rudely. He was taken aback by that kind of reply from the young man. True that it was none of his business, but it gave him all the more reason to believe that he was under some distress. You do come across such people, who cant ignore a person in grief and dont mind crossing their limits to make him or her happy. He was one such kind. "You will lose nothing by sharing it with me. I am no one to you and we might not meet ever again. But trust me, it will help you feel little relaxed. So please do speak of it" said he. The young man started in a tone of melancholy; his was a story like most of the cinemas. A poor family, his father spent all his earnings on his education and had led a retired life. His mother was ill and with him being the only child, he had the responsibility of earning and taking care of family. However, things had not turned out as he had wanted and he had to bear the pressure of the societal tag - 'unemployed youth'. He further went on to say that all he wanted was a simple job that would give his family the basic needs and that he was, deep down the heart, hopeful, that he might reach it one day; There are people who aspire to reach the moon, and then there are people who are happy to even simply look at its reflection in water. Listening to the story, the old man who was sitting opposite to the two men added "Never lose hope, son. Believe in destiny and believe, that God will always lead you on the right path. You may not realise it now, but one day you will surely look back and feel the greatness of the path that you walked", as if to share a thought from his own experience.
Meanwhile, the couple who were seated in front of him and beside the old man, were in their own world, speaking ever so softly, giggling often; as if dreaming about a colourful future. The baby that the lady was holding was asleep all this while and woke up suddenly and started crying, until it was pacified by the mother and it flashed a toothless smile. Everyone looking at it, smiled too. A baby's smile is truly infectious :) He had forgotten all about his meeting and the all important deal. He saw what an irony life was; he had seen all the phases and faces of life in a small compartment of a train! His train of thoughts wandered off to God, misery, karma, love, life and destiny.
There was s sudden jerk, as if to wake him up from his dreams. The train began to lean to the right, and everyone began to hold each other's hands, panic stricken. Before they could realize what was happening, the train tumbled to its right and due to the speed with which it was travelling, it crash landed heavily onto the rocks beside the track. The impact was such, there was a big smoke of dust rising up and the two sides of the compartment had almost compressed into each other! He lay on the ground, unconscious, didnot know for how long he had been there; someone had pulled him out of the debris His eyebrows were profusely bleeding, and it pained to even open his eye. His vision was blur and he couldnot stand, he had badly twisted his ankle. He saw the young man, dead. There were no signs of the old man. The couple had miraculously escaped with very little injuries, but they were inconsolable as their baby was no longer alive. The cries of many people echoed in the air. There were many villagers from nearby places who had rushed into the spot and were pulling out people from within the train. They brought in water in buckets and pots and also called up ambulances. Despite all the diversity that exists, when in crisis, humanity always unites! He did not know who had rescued him. He was still dizzy and his last memory was of him being carried away on a stretcher.
3 days later, his wife and his daughter were at his bedside when he became fully conscious. He looked at his leg and saw a bandage from knee till the toes; just a hairline crack, he was informed. "How good a news you brought me!" his wife said, with her eyes filled with tears. But she didn't let it out. His little daughter climbed up and slept on his chest, hugging him. "I want to thank God, for he sent you back safely to me!" He smiled. I have seen the other face of God now, he said to himself. Destiny, you never know!
Well written dude , good work in bringing out emotions! Keep it up :) good luck !
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Koushik :)
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