It was a time when I used to chase my goal with full enthusiasm 24 x 7. That was an unforgettable summer afternoon on the platform of Andheri station on a crowded Sunday. All Railway stations in Mumbai are filled with shrill announcements, heavy crowd, people always in rush, Red spots of spitting, used tickets, watches not working, incorrect indicators, tobacho/gutkha packets, overwhelming dustbins, shoe shiners in between the platform with their wooden brush sound... tasteless food at the canteen, lots of hoardings…. Well it isn’t New, I found a bench and began reading a book…and a fat man sat beside me began looking into my book. The way he was looking into my book, to eat it. he began looking around when he satisfied with the book and me I guess... I always hate those people who just look into your book, your news-paper, in your note-book or in your life without your permission.
Several times I have faced those Gentlemen’s, It’s always embarrassing to read or to write while somebody is staring you. I usually travel by train and therefore I have faced several of these Gentlemen’s. Snatching newspaper without your consent is also remarkably silly thing I have suffered through these Gentlemen’s. So, I just turned a bit and continued reading… the time was passing and the crowd was gathering. Sunday is always crammed.
Suddenly a child sound interfered in my reading. The sound was different from the regular noise of the station. I looked up.. then looked down…a small tiny girl around 7 years, not higher than my knee. With an unclean frock and without a week's bath, she asked for 2 rupees.
She had a straight and patient look. I don’t have any money I said and drowned into the book…. She didn’t react for a while. I was waiting for her to leave but she didn’t. Her presence disturbed my concentration in reading and I kept turning the pages. Where was I? … I had lost my page!.. !Meanwhile she asked for 2 rupees more than twice. She also knocked on my knee once. Her voice wasn't disturbing, but not having any money was. When again she asked for money I genuinely told her that I was penniless. [Jhoot bolte ho]I am a liar she said and sat beside me and began staring at me. Her frock was dusty and stitched on many places..Her hair was open and she was without sandals. I said Sorry... I really don’t have any money. She said [kaam nahi kartein] Don’t you work ? [kabhi kabhi karta hoon] sometimes I work.. I said … she began laughing. She had a cheerful smile with glittering eyes. It was uneasy looking at her as she had an intense look. She had a small bag like a pocket fixed on her shoulder. She pulled out some change /loose coins and showed me. [Aapke paas to bahut paise hai] you have enough money I said. She smiled and Said Let's count!. And again laughed… she had a huge gap between her teeth, I kept my book beside and began helping her to calculate. My Neighbour? How could he leave this moment? ... he was constantly looking toward us.. When we completed counting, I realized along with my neighbour, another 4-5 people have gathered around and were looking at us. I told her its seventy rupees. She replied … [sau ko tis kam hai..] 'needed thirty to hundred'. I told her to hide the money. But she didn’t bother and began playing with the coins.. She showed me some coins and asked who the people on them are… I told some names. Sardar Patel, Gnyaneshwar… She asked 'why there isn't salman khan on the coin'?. I didn’t answer. I only insisted that she put the money into her pocket and leave….she said [tis rupai de do fir jaaungi..] give me thirty bucks and I will leave.
People were constantly looking at me. I could give you hundred if I could have. But I don’t have money to eat. I am really penniless. I said…
She looked at me and said…. [To main de du tumhe paise.. kitne chahiye bolo]… may I give you the money...? How much do you want...? and she began showing me all her coins.. I was shocked. I was scared. I was embarrassed. I said Please hide your money and go… She came closer to me and began insisting me that i take the money. She also put some of the coins in my pocket… I was Horrified… [tum kya kar rahi ho..mujhe nahi chahiye…par tumhare paas to kuch bhi paise nahiye…] I was embarrassed because people were looking at me, what will happen if some one will misunderstand? I don’t want your money I said… and I put all her money in her pocket. I didn’t understand how to react to her innocence…
Well, she left after sometime… …I entered the train, the crowd crumpled me, I closed my eyes... I was thinking about the girl… but another child-like noise distracted me... I looked towards the sound, crossing the crowd the 8-9 year old boy reached me and asked for money. Of course, I was without money. But I don’t know what came to my mind and I put my hand in my pocket... I found a 1 rupee coin... No doubt It was that girls... I felt embarrassed. But the boy was tagging to my knee... I gave him the coin.. He smiled... even he had a small gap between his teeth.. he left and very soon he disappeared in the crowd.
Yes, everyone disappears in the crowd but
We don’t know why some incidents happen in our life and leave an impression forever…
