Unforgettable

With a screech, the train had stopped in its tracks. We had arrived at the station. I could hear the voices of the coolies asking the people around if they could help them with their luggage. Just then, a man selling snacks came in. He had a big bag hung on his shoulders. He stopped in our cabin, looked around and when there wasn’t anyone buying his snacks, he left.

It felt like hours… The train was taking so long to leave the station. I was getting bored of seeing the same blue pillar next to our cabin and the same stalls lined up. From the window, I looked around and my eyes stopped on the board displaying the name of the station.

I remember once my dad had brought me here, when I was very young. We had visited a temple here. My dad and I had always been very close. After my mother passed away when I was four, it was he who had bought me up. He took full care of me and made sure I was happy. He made sure I never missed my mum. When I was not feeling well, he would stay up late in the night attending to my needs. Whenever there was shortage of food, he would force me to eat up his share. When I was in school, he would work hard all day, toil under the sun working in the fields.

He was not educated but he only hoped that I would study hard and I wouldn't have to face any difficulties in the future. My father not only shouldered the responsibilities of a mother and father but he was like my best friend as well. I shared all my thoughts with him. He was the one person who I completely trusted and believed in. I was really dependent on him and he was the world for me. He would smile and help me solve every problem. There were times when I felt like giving up but he always stood by me as an inspiration and constantly motivated me to never give up. He always taught me that the best way to solve any problem is to face it.

Even if at times, money was scarce, he always tried to get me everything I wanted. ....I always dreamt of being rich and successful....

Today I am, but everything feels incomplete without my father... he was such a good person and yet god snatched him from me..If he was here today he would be so proud of me. I did manage to work hard and become successful. Today I am a chartered accountant with quite a few people working under me. All this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for him. Even today, at times, I feel his absence and feel rather incomplete and lonely without him. I truly miss him.. I wish I could get him back, but of course that isn't possible.

The train had just taken off when I suddenly heard a baby scream. The bogey had become so crowded but that is pretty normal since it was a general bogey. Right in the corner I saw an old man struggling to make way for himself. He looked like he was hunting around for a seat and in our compartment, the only empty space was right in front of me as a young man had got up upon seeing the old man. His eyes stopped on the seat in front of me. He quickly made his way and dropped down on the seat. He looked relieved. But, the only thing that was very unusual about him was that he had covered the upper part of his face as though it was very cold even though it was pretty hot and humid. Probably, he had searched around a lot for a seat. He looked at me and gave a warm friendly smile and I returned him with one.. there was something about the smile.. . not wicked, but something familiar. I had seen that smile before somewhere ......I didn't recollect where I had seen it, but it really was familiar.

The train was now at full speed and it had left the city paving way for lush green farms. I remember how every day after returning from school, I used to help my father in the fields. We used to sow the seeds together. My father used to prepare the soil and I used to place the seed. We worked together like that for years, until one day I had to leave the village and go to the city for further studies. My father has chosen to remain behind as he didn't like the city.

I was in the city when my father passed away. He had a sudden illness. And a day later I came to know that he had chosen to leave me. I had rushed home to the village to see him. It was terrible...

Once again, with a screeching noise the train stopped. The old man who was sitting opposite to me had got up to stretch his legs. He walked to the corridor and inspected both the sides....

He suddenly turned behind and looked at me.

"The ticket conductor is coming. Get your ticket ready!" He advised me.

 I grabbed my handbag, and searched for my ticket. it wasn't there! I opened every single zip in my bag and searched... It wasn't there anywhere! I began to look around frantically for any sign of paper resembling the ticket! But it was in vain. Beads of sweat now lined my forehead.

"What happened?" The man had seen me looking around for the ticket. 

"I can't find my ticket!"                   

"Did you check properly?"

"Yes... I searched everywhere!"

"Where are you heading?"

"To Bangalore."

"You can take my ticket. Even I was heading to Bangalore but for an emergency I need to get down and I have bought a general ticket so it shouldn't be a problem. "

"No, how can I do that?"

I looked down at the ticket in his hand. I was half wanting to reach forward and agree to his offer but half of me remained puzzled about why would a stranger offer me a ticket.

"No I need to get down this station. Here I have my ticket." He shoved the ticket in to my hands. I was still very perplexed and shocked," It's alright. I am not going to Bangalore anyways.

Just when I was about to thank him, the ticket conductor came and asked for the ticket.

"Yes Maam, please show me your ticket." he said.

I gave him the ticket that the man had so generously given to me. He asked me several questions and I answered. The ticket conductor informed me that the train was going to be in this very station for another twenty minutes and he left.

I looked around for the man but unfortunately he had taken his bag and left. I hadn't even got chance to thank him. If I wouldn't get the opportunity to thank him I wouldn't be in peace. Now I really had to find him.

I got out of the train trying to visualise how the man looked to make it easier for me to recognise him. I looked around, there were people everywhere. I felt that it was impossible to find him in the crowd. At first, I went around searching but later I became exhausted and dropped the idea for searching for him in the crowd.

I looked at both the ends of the platform. The middle was completely crowded but the ends were quite empty. That was in a way very peculiar. I just decided to go to one end of the platform. I didn't know what drove me there .... It must have been my instincts.... But whatever it was I had a strong feeling that I had to go there.

I quickened my pace towards one end of the platform and the crowd was getting thinner and thinner. Then suddenly I spotted him! The same plump figure and the same formal shirt and trousers...

I called after him but he didn't even look behind once. I began to yell after him thanking him,

"Thank you so much sir...."

I stopped .... I couldn't believe my eyes.... The man glanced behind.

His face broke into a smile ...... The very same smile my father used to give me. It wasn't just the smile that belonged to my father it was also the face... Then I realised why the man's smile was so familiar to me. I closed my eyes and legs were rooted to the ground but when I opened my eyes, he was no longer there....

I reached to my pocket to take out my wallet and I felt a piece of paper. I pulled it out and stared at it. It was my ticket! I smiled ..If I hadn't lost it this wouldn't have ever happened. The weight of loneliness seemed to fade away and I suddenly felt a bit lighter.

This incident not only lit up my mood but also changed my perspective forever. Now I truly believe that the ones who we truly love dearly are never really gone. They are always there with us, guiding and protecting us at each and every step.