Like every Mumbaikar, I had been praying for the monsoons to hit the city and provide some respite from the heat that was on a mission to burn us all. Now that the clouds had finally decided to fly in for their annual visit, they seemed to be as angry as the sun. This has been happening every year, leaving us with only two choices, to either drown in our own sweat or to let the ruthless downpour do its job.
As the metro approached Andheri station, people started lining up at the door. With the coach nearly empty, I shifted to the corner seat next to the door. I was just two stops and 4 min away from my destination but that didn't stop me from grabbing my favorite seat the minute it got empty. That's how we have become, always running after something better and not appreciating what we already have.
It was almost 9 PM. I climbed down the stairs of D N Nagar metro station, clutching my umbrella and feeling tempted to use it to push away the crowd. It didn't take long for me to notice that there weren't any autorickshaws, and at least 50 people stood along the pavement waiting for one. I joined the crowd and began begging every autorickshaw driver who drove by to take me home, which was hardly 2 km away.
After almost 10 minutes, an autorickshaw driver nodded in affirmation when he heard the name Infiniti mall and I climbed in feeling victorious. Just when the driver was about to kick-start the auto, I remembered that the young man standing a few steps away was also trying to get a rickshaw to the mall. I turned around and waved at him. "Do you want me to drop you to the mall? I am headed that way," I asked him when he came closer. He smiled and said, "Please, if you don't mind."
"Hi, I am Sahil," he introduced himself. And we started talking as the auto crawled through the heavy traffic. As far as talking to strangers is concerned, I have my days when I become too chatty or choose to act deaf. That day had not turned out great but somehow I didn't mind this guy asking me questions like how long had I been in the city, where did I study, and what did I do for a living. "Oh! You are a scholar, Shazia. It's people like you who make me nervous," he said. "Come on, please don't embarrass me. We still have some time before we reach our destination. So tell me what do you do," I insisted.
Sahil started to talk. He told me that he had recently started assisting his father in his business. He spoke further, "I used to be a pilot before I met with an accident that nearly killed me. I survived but a brain injury left me in a coma for 5 months." He pointed towards a dent in his skull that I had not noticed earlier. I sat there listening to him as he told me about the long recovery process, that he had gained 25 kg while he stayed bedridden, that he used to slur while speaking, and had major anger issues because of how his life had completely changed.
I wondered how many times had I allowed anger and frustration affect my mood on that day itself. This young man who sat next to me was telling his story with a smile on his face. He probably had more reasons to be angry and resent the situation that made him leave his dream career. And here I was, irritated because of the rains and the crowded train.
He shared some funny incidents from his life after the accident when he noticed that I had stopped speaking. We laughed as he joked about getting a tattoo saying "Mera baap chor hai" not because he hated his father but because he loved Deewar and Bachchan. We talked about movies, books, and people till the auto stopped in front of the mall. He didn't let me pay the rickshaw driver, saying, "Paagal hai kya...God knows how long I would have had to wait for a rickshaw if you had not offered to help." I am glad I did. I wished him good luck before we said our goodbyes and I saw him disappear in the crowd very similar to the one he was a part of when I had noticed him half an hour ago.
If it wasn't for that crowd, the incessant rains, and the dearth of autorickshaws, I wouldn't have traveled with a stranger and allowed him to unknowingly teach me a lesson on gratitude, patience, and pride. It has been two years since that night, and I still lose my temper when I am stuck at a crowded place or have to wait in a long queue. Sometimes, I remember Sahil and remind myself that a crowd is nothing but a bunch of stories waiting to intermingle with yours. Some stories may not end well but those offer lessons too. I will leave them for another day or may be I should skip talking about those.
picture source: https://thedailynoesis.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/naked-secrets/
As the metro approached Andheri station, people started lining up at the door. With the coach nearly empty, I shifted to the corner seat next to the door. I was just two stops and 4 min away from my destination but that didn't stop me from grabbing my favorite seat the minute it got empty. That's how we have become, always running after something better and not appreciating what we already have.
It was almost 9 PM. I climbed down the stairs of D N Nagar metro station, clutching my umbrella and feeling tempted to use it to push away the crowd. It didn't take long for me to notice that there weren't any autorickshaws, and at least 50 people stood along the pavement waiting for one. I joined the crowd and began begging every autorickshaw driver who drove by to take me home, which was hardly 2 km away.
After almost 10 minutes, an autorickshaw driver nodded in affirmation when he heard the name Infiniti mall and I climbed in feeling victorious. Just when the driver was about to kick-start the auto, I remembered that the young man standing a few steps away was also trying to get a rickshaw to the mall. I turned around and waved at him. "Do you want me to drop you to the mall? I am headed that way," I asked him when he came closer. He smiled and said, "Please, if you don't mind."
"Hi, I am Sahil," he introduced himself. And we started talking as the auto crawled through the heavy traffic. As far as talking to strangers is concerned, I have my days when I become too chatty or choose to act deaf. That day had not turned out great but somehow I didn't mind this guy asking me questions like how long had I been in the city, where did I study, and what did I do for a living. "Oh! You are a scholar, Shazia. It's people like you who make me nervous," he said. "Come on, please don't embarrass me. We still have some time before we reach our destination. So tell me what do you do," I insisted.
Sahil started to talk. He told me that he had recently started assisting his father in his business. He spoke further, "I used to be a pilot before I met with an accident that nearly killed me. I survived but a brain injury left me in a coma for 5 months." He pointed towards a dent in his skull that I had not noticed earlier. I sat there listening to him as he told me about the long recovery process, that he had gained 25 kg while he stayed bedridden, that he used to slur while speaking, and had major anger issues because of how his life had completely changed.
I wondered how many times had I allowed anger and frustration affect my mood on that day itself. This young man who sat next to me was telling his story with a smile on his face. He probably had more reasons to be angry and resent the situation that made him leave his dream career. And here I was, irritated because of the rains and the crowded train.
He shared some funny incidents from his life after the accident when he noticed that I had stopped speaking. We laughed as he joked about getting a tattoo saying "Mera baap chor hai" not because he hated his father but because he loved Deewar and Bachchan. We talked about movies, books, and people till the auto stopped in front of the mall. He didn't let me pay the rickshaw driver, saying, "Paagal hai kya...God knows how long I would have had to wait for a rickshaw if you had not offered to help." I am glad I did. I wished him good luck before we said our goodbyes and I saw him disappear in the crowd very similar to the one he was a part of when I had noticed him half an hour ago.
If it wasn't for that crowd, the incessant rains, and the dearth of autorickshaws, I wouldn't have traveled with a stranger and allowed him to unknowingly teach me a lesson on gratitude, patience, and pride. It has been two years since that night, and I still lose my temper when I am stuck at a crowded place or have to wait in a long queue. Sometimes, I remember Sahil and remind myself that a crowd is nothing but a bunch of stories waiting to intermingle with yours. Some stories may not end well but those offer lessons too. I will leave them for another day or may be I should skip talking about those.
picture source: https://thedailynoesis.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/naked-secrets/
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