The Train
The old man who had got into the local was very tired and sick. The passenger train was overflowing with people there was hardly any place to sit. He kept glancing at people around him but in vain. There were groups of people all around some playing cards, some music group humming a sound. All busy with themselves hardly any thought spent at the people around them.
The old man was standing between people who were only inching closer, there wasn’t any space to move he just went on feeling sick. At the far corner near the window there was a lady with a small child who was observing the old man’s plight. She wanted to ask him to sit, but in between there was a group of people playing cards. They had spread sheet over their legs, getting them to move would be difficult. Thoroughly engrossed in their game they would once in a while just spare a glance towards the lady, she somehow appeared different, educated, well dressed. That difference in itself was inviting attention.
As she noticed the old man growing further sick, she asked him to come hither. “Where does she want him to sit on our heads?”, “Cant she just notice how dingy his appearance is??smelly too” The old man nodded his head ,with growing desperation he asked the party to make space. “Ek Haath to ho jaane do!” Ek huye phir do, quarreling over the pack of cards. Somehow the lady had undermined their authority (masculine superiority) and they weren’t willing to accommodate her.So the game went on and on,with the old man standing helplessly at the side.
The lady stood up-“Rasta Chodiye Baba aap idhar aaiye” “Madam zara ruk jao”.Kaafi time ho gaya na, aap hataiye warna…” “ Warna Kya?? ” In response she flung the sheet at a side “ Saali pata nahin apne aap ko kya samajhti hai”. One of the players held her arm. She very calmly kept her baby at a side. Releasing her hand from his grasp she went forward towards the old man and brought him in.
Peace settled in the compartment, the enraged players continued the game. “ Aurat hai bacche ke saath” samajh kar chod diya. The small baby in her lap was playing with her, looking at the old man trying to mouth the words “Da—Da” the old man smiled a weak smile.
All of a sudden he collapsed his breathing was very heavy, the lady checked his pulse. Spilled out medicines from her purse trying to find some which would suffice. She noticed her water bottle was empty, what now? One of the players had a bottle she asked him for water, he gruffly refused. A young boy offered her some. “Madam ye lijiye” Smiling and thank you, she turned her attention back to the old man. It was probably because of some stomach problem.
The station was approaching,the old man was by now better. He blessed the lady—“Beti tune jaan bacha li, tu nurse hai??” nahin Baba main doctor hun, “tumahra pati? Aaya nahin tu akele chal rahi hai bacche ke saath” . Woh Captain the Baba, dedh saal pehle Kargil main guzar gaye..”.”Guzare nahin beta woh shahid huye”
The silence in the compartment was growing. Suddenly the game wasn’t as interesting as before something had taken it all away. The train stopped at the station and hands went out to reach for the lady’s luggage even before she could get up. She stopped amazed it was the playing party. “Madam aap bata do hum aapka saaman chod dete hain”.
They waved to the child as they left her , half-ashamed things were now in a changing light.
PN-This story was published in Gyanodaya the only decent Hindi publication remaining. It was written by Gyan Prakash Vivek .It shows the various facets of people, their nature their reactions to situations. Initially aggressive they are suddenly humbled in front of the lady and how they try to make amends. And the many times we are so engrossed with ourself we forget to respond with humanity and kindness, at the end of the day its there ,some more some less.I translated it because it was an interesting read.
