Life Desk :
It was a regular weekday; I was on my way to work. The only exception to the rule of regularity was that it was pouring since the previous night. Trains were running late by around 10-15 minutes. I descended from the train at my destination and noticed the over-crowded platform. It had to be that way; there was a delay during peak hours in the morning. I tried my best to push my way through the people swarming all over the place. Somehow managing to worm through the crowd that thronged the railway station, I found relief at the bottom most step of the stairway. Quickly enough, I reached for the front pocket of my bag to realize that it was open. The instant reflex was to check what had gone missing. Rummaging through the pocket and reconciling mentally everything that I had put in with the things that were still there, I discovered that the purse I used to keep loose change was stolen.
This very incident triggered a series of angry emotions in me. Not that I lost a fortune in that purse…I don’t even remember how much money it had. Definitely, not more than a couple of hundreds, I guess. But the attitude of the person who flicked his fingers over my bag and got lucky got onto my nerves. I was sure the culprit was one of these youngsters who are swift enough on their feet and impeccably skilled in their art! My sister lost her mobile in a similar manner a fortnight ago. This simply added to my unwarranted fury. I kept on wondering why these people always wanted the easy way out, why some people work hard and some just make merry. An incessant stream of ‘whys’ ran in my head throughout the day. When it was time to go home in the evening, I was mentally more exhausted than any other day. My only repentance was that I should have been more careful.
I boarded the train and found myself a comfortable window seat. Not amongst the ones to sleep in a train, I leaned back in the seat and shut my eyes – a natural outcome of thinking too much since morning! Two or three stations must have passed when a faint, shaky voice made its way to my ears. Though my eyes were still shut, I tried to concentrate on the trembling words thrown into the air. Someone was making a sales pitch! My surprise turned into sheer shock as I opened my eyes to see a terribly wrinkled hand holding some artificial jewellery and trying to spell out the price. The elderly lady looked enthusiastic, although she found it difficult to hold her stance in the running train. Her voice was quivery, her resolve firm. It took me time to come to terms with the fact that a lady of her age was out in a crowded local train to perhaps, earn a respectful living! I couldn’t imagine the circumstances that compelled her to take such a step! While I was still in awe of her, others around me were faster to respond and welcome her ware. Within minutes, most of her stock was sold. A young girl offered her water. Being visibly elated for selling almost everything, she exchanged lively greetings with the ladies in the compartment. As the next station approached, I rummaged into my bag once again looking for loose change; only to be struck by the reality of having lost all of it in the morning. I hunted even more desperately this time; I wanted to buy something from her. That was the only possible way to show respect to her indomitable spirit! I didn’t find any change in my bag. The train reached the next station, she alighted at the platform and the train moved on. For the rest of the journey, she was the only person in my thoughts. She left an indelible impression on me.
Still pre-occupied with the varied emotions that day brought along, I readied to sleep. My only repentance of the day had now changed – I couldn’t buy anything from her! If only I had some change…
– ToI
It was a regular weekday; I was on my way to work. The only exception to the rule of regularity was that it was pouring since the previous night. Trains were running late by around 10-15 minutes. I descended from the train at my destination and noticed the over-crowded platform. It had to be that way; there was a delay during peak hours in the morning. I tried my best to push my way through the people swarming all over the place. Somehow managing to worm through the crowd that thronged the railway station, I found relief at the bottom most step of the stairway. Quickly enough, I reached for the front pocket of my bag to realize that it was open. The instant reflex was to check what had gone missing. Rummaging through the pocket and reconciling mentally everything that I had put in with the things that were still there, I discovered that the purse I used to keep loose change was stolen.
This very incident triggered a series of angry emotions in me. Not that I lost a fortune in that purse…I don’t even remember how much money it had. Definitely, not more than a couple of hundreds, I guess. But the attitude of the person who flicked his fingers over my bag and got lucky got onto my nerves. I was sure the culprit was one of these youngsters who are swift enough on their feet and impeccably skilled in their art! My sister lost her mobile in a similar manner a fortnight ago. This simply added to my unwarranted fury. I kept on wondering why these people always wanted the easy way out, why some people work hard and some just make merry. An incessant stream of ‘whys’ ran in my head throughout the day. When it was time to go home in the evening, I was mentally more exhausted than any other day. My only repentance was that I should have been more careful.
I boarded the train and found myself a comfortable window seat. Not amongst the ones to sleep in a train, I leaned back in the seat and shut my eyes – a natural outcome of thinking too much since morning! Two or three stations must have passed when a faint, shaky voice made its way to my ears. Though my eyes were still shut, I tried to concentrate on the trembling words thrown into the air. Someone was making a sales pitch! My surprise turned into sheer shock as I opened my eyes to see a terribly wrinkled hand holding some artificial jewellery and trying to spell out the price. The elderly lady looked enthusiastic, although she found it difficult to hold her stance in the running train. Her voice was quivery, her resolve firm. It took me time to come to terms with the fact that a lady of her age was out in a crowded local train to perhaps, earn a respectful living! I couldn’t imagine the circumstances that compelled her to take such a step! While I was still in awe of her, others around me were faster to respond and welcome her ware. Within minutes, most of her stock was sold. A young girl offered her water. Being visibly elated for selling almost everything, she exchanged lively greetings with the ladies in the compartment. As the next station approached, I rummaged into my bag once again looking for loose change; only to be struck by the reality of having lost all of it in the morning. I hunted even more desperately this time; I wanted to buy something from her. That was the only possible way to show respect to her indomitable spirit! I didn’t find any change in my bag. The train reached the next station, she alighted at the platform and the train moved on. For the rest of the journey, she was the only person in my thoughts. She left an indelible impression on me.
Still pre-occupied with the varied emotions that day brought along, I readied to sleep. My only repentance of the day had now changed – I couldn’t buy anything from her! If only I had some change…
– ToI
