Dear readers,
This is my 50th post. Thank you for your support!!
Sriram
The bus ride along the country side is always a pleasure. The green pastures, laboured urgency of the people and a silence that defies the logic for a city dweller. The beauty of the country side can never be overstated. But I am sure I cannot survive more than a couple of days in this environ. Circumstances forced me to take a non Air Conditioned bus after a long time. It has been nothing but pleasurable. Luckily I got a window seat and I was in no rush to reach my destination. The bus was almost full, but not overcrowded. Sitting next to me was a father and his very young son. They were talking in a cherubic tone about buying something. The light banter was keeping the milieu cheerful.
The railway crossing just closed. This particular one was next to a eucalyptus groove. The aroma was mesmerising. There was one other truck in front of our bus. It could well be a 10 minute halt as the train was no where in sight. Couple of people used this opportunity to stretch their limbs getting down. Slowly one could see more vehicles piling up on either side of the crossing. I just closed my eyes to enjoy the moment of solitude.
Suddenly there was a commotion which forced me out of my minute long nap with a startle. The entire crowd was shouting pointing at something. I started to hear the sound of the train approaching in the background. For a moment I started to wonder if there was celebrity travelling in the train! But it was a shout of concern, desperation and horror. As I gazed in that direction I was taken aback. On the railway track, holding her stick with her trembling hand was a old lady walking slowly unaware of the gargantuan train coming behind her. She was happy chewing her beetle leaves with pan and walking slowly. All our shouts had no effect on her. Even i joined the crowd shouting vehemently " get off the track" many times. For the next 30 seconds we kept on shouting with no success. And the train was fast approaching behind her. Not knowing what to do we all started shouting even more. But even a glaring horn from train did not bother her.
Thankfully a courageous guy went upto the track and pulled her off it just in time. It was a sigh of relief all around. A large group gathered around the lady. For almost a couple of minutes I was not sure what just happened. I was looking around thankfully. I just smiled at the father and son sitting next to me. "That lady must be easily 80+. Why the hell was she walking in a track unattended!" i told the father. "Thank god she is fine now." "Good that someone pulled her off the track" "There were almost three bus full of people and still no one went to her aid earlier". The young boy who was listening to all this asked us a question "Appa!! why did you not get down to help the old woman?? ". The answer for which I dont know still.
This is my 50th post. Thank you for your support!!
Sriram
The bus ride along the country side is always a pleasure. The green pastures, laboured urgency of the people and a silence that defies the logic for a city dweller. The beauty of the country side can never be overstated. But I am sure I cannot survive more than a couple of days in this environ. Circumstances forced me to take a non Air Conditioned bus after a long time. It has been nothing but pleasurable. Luckily I got a window seat and I was in no rush to reach my destination. The bus was almost full, but not overcrowded. Sitting next to me was a father and his very young son. They were talking in a cherubic tone about buying something. The light banter was keeping the milieu cheerful.
The railway crossing just closed. This particular one was next to a eucalyptus groove. The aroma was mesmerising. There was one other truck in front of our bus. It could well be a 10 minute halt as the train was no where in sight. Couple of people used this opportunity to stretch their limbs getting down. Slowly one could see more vehicles piling up on either side of the crossing. I just closed my eyes to enjoy the moment of solitude.
Suddenly there was a commotion which forced me out of my minute long nap with a startle. The entire crowd was shouting pointing at something. I started to hear the sound of the train approaching in the background. For a moment I started to wonder if there was celebrity travelling in the train! But it was a shout of concern, desperation and horror. As I gazed in that direction I was taken aback. On the railway track, holding her stick with her trembling hand was a old lady walking slowly unaware of the gargantuan train coming behind her. She was happy chewing her beetle leaves with pan and walking slowly. All our shouts had no effect on her. Even i joined the crowd shouting vehemently " get off the track" many times. For the next 30 seconds we kept on shouting with no success. And the train was fast approaching behind her. Not knowing what to do we all started shouting even more. But even a glaring horn from train did not bother her.
Thankfully a courageous guy went upto the track and pulled her off it just in time. It was a sigh of relief all around. A large group gathered around the lady. For almost a couple of minutes I was not sure what just happened. I was looking around thankfully. I just smiled at the father and son sitting next to me. "That lady must be easily 80+. Why the hell was she walking in a track unattended!" i told the father. "Thank god she is fine now." "Good that someone pulled her off the track" "There were almost three bus full of people and still no one went to her aid earlier". The young boy who was listening to all this asked us a question "Appa!! why did you not get down to help the old woman?? ". The answer for which I dont know still.
7 comments:
This question i have asked myself many times.
Ambi!! :P
Very true...... recently came across a similar type of incident...An old gentlemen fell down on the street and even the same countrymen are not giving a thought to give him a hand...Thank god someone was with me so that we both jointly helped....
@ githa!! haha I am not writing abt one of the noble souls like you!! Its abt the rest!! Though we all know what good is, we still cant always do it!!
6 months back my point of view would've been different. I kind of know why he didnt get down to help. Its a very opportunistic world out there. And frankly speaking , no harm in that too. At the end of the day you venture alone. Awesome theme for the 50the post:)
Hi Sir, I am in Need of your help Urgently, Kindly give me your mail id
UDF Fluent
Saksham.pachar@gmail.com
9467704656
I think i know y ppl dont generally go for help. its human nature. see most of us are are selfish. no doubt abt it. we are tied to something, which creates fear of losing those things. Even if u are brave enuf to do stuff . u think abt ur family and other stuff before taking the risk.
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