That Hundred Rupees Note

I caught Rajdhani Express from Cuttack towards Delhi. I booked my e-ticket from IRCTC so I have the message of both berth and seat number, by looking the message I sat on my reserved seat. Train was at right time and left the station. After the train left, I put my luggage under my seat. I was feeling somehow relaxed. I took my mobile phone and started scrolling. In the mean time, a 30 to 32 year old young man came wearing IRCTC uniform holding some bed sheets, blankets, pillows etc. He told me politely “Sir! please stand up, let me clean and arrange your seat”. I stood up by holding my mobile and I was still busy in doing some chat on Whatsapp with my wife. After cleaning the seat suddenly, that boy touched my feet and asked me “Sir Did you recognize me?” I saw him surprisingly for some time, then I recalled him, he was Raju from Berhampur. He told me “Sir You are my living God. Because of you only my life has been changed and I got this job three years back. The 200 rupees you gave me that day changed my life forever. You please be seated here, I will come to you and give you time to time tea, snacks, meals etc. whatever you need.You need not have to worry throughout your journey since I am in charge of this bogie. Since the time was for his duty, he left and told me I shall come to you after my duty hour is over. Delhi will take 24 to 26 hour, so definitely I shall come to you to talk for a while”. I kept mobile inside my pocket by joining the earphone to my ear and turned on some Kishore Kumar’s old melodies and started thinking about Raju’s first meeting with me.

Ten years back it was the time of Dussehra. The whole city of Berhampur was glittering with different colors of lights. The arrival of Maa Durga gave one Mida’s touch to the city. Everyone was busy in marketing, roaming. Due to some official work, I had to go to Rourkela. My train was in the evening at 7 p.m. I reached at the Berhampur Railway station one hour before and waiting for the train. Suddenly I heard some noise of mobs coming towards from the outside of the platform, since I came early I thought let me see what was going on outside? I saw some people are surrounding a 13 to 14 year old boy and beating very mercilessly, .Some people are scolding him that he is the son of a thief that is why he is also a thief. I rushed into the mob, held the boy tightly, and rescued him from the mob. One of the people said he stole two hide and seek biscuit packets from my stall. I asked the person how much is the cost of your biscuit before he told me something I gave a hundred rupees note to that person and brought that boy with me. After the mobs had dispersed, I took the boy with me and asked what happened actually? Why these people are behind you? He cried just like a baby in front of me and told me that he had not eaten anything since last three days. I asked him Why? he told me my name is Raju ; my mother died last year and my father was arrested by Police in a case of Robbery. I was studying in 9^th class but after my father’s arrest I am not able to pay the fees of my school, so I left school forever. I started stealing some coconuts, fruits, chocolates from the shops. Today due to hunger, I stole two biscuit packets but I am unfortunate that today I got caught. He again started crying. I was thinking and complaining to Maa Durga why she did like this with this boy. My eyes were somehow wet with tears. Anyhow, I managed myself and I gave some food from a nearby Tiffin stall and gave two hundred rupees notes to that boy and told him that there are so many other works by which he can earn. You should not steal things from the shops. If you did like this, one day will come when you also will caught by the Police like your father and you really will become a thief. Do you want people to call you a Thief? You prove yourself you can become a good human being and be an example for others who are abandoned like you. Without giving much more advice to him, I stood in front of him. The boy ate the Tiffin and I can saw a glory on his face, the yellow streetlights falling on his face, which makes his face more dazzling. He greeted me, touched that money over his forehead, and left by giving me a smile on his face. I heard the announcement of arrival of my train. I rushed inside the platform and caught the train to Rourkela.

 

Raju continuously coming to me and asking me for tea. Coffee or snacks. It was night 10’O Clock. Rajdhani express has limited stoppages. So continuously, the train was running on the track. Raju came to my berth with a full plate of veg biryani, chili mushroom, curd raita and one bisleri water bottle. He came near to me and told me “Sir this is for you”. I held his hand, told him to sit near me, and first tell me how you transformed yourself like this. He politely took my hand and told me, Sir, first you start eating; during your meal, I shall tell you my entire story. I opened the biryani box it was specially prepared for me, the aroma of the biryani was so strong that the passengers sitting next to my berth felt it. I opened the chilly mushroom and raita packet and started eating. Raju opened the water bottle and gave it to me. I asked Raju now you can start then Raju started. Sir, I cannot understand from where I should start. On that day after you left by giving me two hundred rupees notes, first, I could not decide What I shall do with this money, I went to Station bazaar Puja Pendal, and started crying by looking towards Maa Durga’s idol. Then suddenly one idea has came to my mind. I saw one groundnut wholesaler was selling groundnuts. I purchased those groundnuts of hundred rupees from him and started selling in front of the puja pendal. At the end of the night, I collected 150 rupees from that. I was so happy and greeted you and Maa Durga for this. Then next day it was Mahaastami I started selling groundnut full day and at the end of the day I earned 500 rupees. Now I had 600 rupees with me. Durga Puja was over. Now there was no such demand for the groundnuts. So I started selling bananas inside the platform. That was not that much profitable because bananas are spoiled on the same day. One day while I was selling banana, I saw a old man of about 70 years an old man is mending and polishing shoes I joined with him. He taught me everything about shoe mending and polishing. I came to know that his son and daughter-in-law also abandoned him like me. So he gave me shelter with him and treated me like his son. Like this we both earned some money at the end of the day. One day at railway station while one train was standing suddenly a thief came and grabbed one suitcase from the stationmaster, where he kept his money and some railway documents. When I saw that the thief grabbed his suitcase I started running before him and nabbed him. I fought with him and during the fighting, he pulled a knife into my chest, my chest was pierced with that sharp knife but still, I caught the thief and handed over the suitcase to our stationmaster. Our stationmaster was a very kindhearted person due to my bravery he spent all the money for my treatment and assured me to arrange a job in railway. Raju shows me the mark of his chest operation. After I discharged from hospital,  I met to Stationmaster he arranged me this job for me in adhoc basis after completion of six year I became the permanent employee of IRCTC. I also opened one of my small shoe shop at station bazaar road where my Baba is sitting. Now I am happy with this sir. Now my baba is searching a girl for me for my marriage. I saw at the corner of Raju’s eye, drops of tears are coming out. My dinner was over but still I sat in front of Raju without going to wash my hands. My hands are dried. All the passengers in my berth have been slept except us. Raju hugged me tightly and started crying and telling me that it is possible only for you Sir. If you, that day did not give me two hundred rupees notes and your inspirational advice I might be a thief like my father. Then I asked Raju what about your father? Where is he now? Raju told me he is still in Chowdwar jail. Now It was night 12 O’Clock Raju again touched my feet and told me, Sir, I have to leave the train at Allahabad Station because my next shift will be from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express which will be coming to Allahabad station at 2a.m. Before he left my berth, he showed me that hundred rupees note which I gave him ten years back and he kept that note very carefully in his wallet.