AN ANGEL

It was a late winter afternoon of 30 years back. I was awaiting a bus with my wife and my little son hardly for 3 years. I was to reach Delhi station within at best two and half hours. I thought enough and safe time because the bus which I was expecting was very popular for Delhi bound passengers for its frequent and speedy service. It used to take nearly forty minutes to reach Delhi Railway Station.  My mother in law accompanied us up to the bus stop. She was touching the long hairs of her daughter again and again. Both of them became very much emotional. Off and on tears rolling down from their eyes as the next meeting might be two or three years later as my brother in law couldn’t make time before that to arrive in Kolkata for his tight job schedule.

Time was passing by, but the bus had no sign to arrive. I was watching my wrist watch being tensed and expecting the bus at any moment. Suddenly a man came out from the main gate of the same housing complex where my in law’s residing. He informed that the bus service was withdrawn for the day from noon. The better option to go to Delhi Railway Station was to go to the nearest bus terminus by an auto rickshaw as early as possible as Delhi Railway station far from here. That was the first time I visited my brother in laws house and that too at the time of coming I was accompanied by him. So I became perplexed. I missed the hassle-free way to reach Delhi Railway Station and that was my first visit to the place of my brother-in-laws latest posting. I took an auto rickshaw and start for another bus terminus. Those time no mobile service to contact my brother in law so that he could guide me either in person or any way from his office.

I reached the terminus and asked about the bus for Delhi station.  I boarded a bus with my luggage and a bit nervous wife and my little son.  I did not know it was a hopping route service which usually took much time to reach Delhi station. As I my train schedule was nearing quickly I got a bit tensed and watching my wrist watch again and again. I was asking fellow passengers when could it reach Delhi station so that I didn’t miss the train. Further, the ticket was of one of the costly trains and was not having much money with me. It was the fact of that period when Mobile Phone, ATM, Debit or Credit Card was beyond a dream.  Suddenly a tall middle-aged man whom I did not notice but who watched me and could feel my tension, came forward and said

– “ Are you going to Kolkata?   As I was talking with my wife in our language. He darted.

– Yes, I replied.

– On which train?

-By 4.43 pm train.

-But the damn bus will take much time to reach the station and that is in no way reach within the time of your scheduled train.

He noticed my long face full of anxiety, and drops of sweating gradually gathering on my forehead.

-You need not be worried. Just after a few minutes, the bus is arriving a stop, where you will get auto rickshaws and that will take only ten to fifteen minutes to reach the station.

I again noticed my watch again and totally nervous because there were every possibility to miss the train if any local person does not accompany me. The auto rickshaws of Delhi are nightmares for the newcomers. I requested the man –”Could you please accompany me! Otherwise, I may miss the train because I have to blindly depend on the mercy of the

Autorickshaw driver.” The man realized my situation and said to me –”Don’t be tensed. I’m with you. I assure you at least 2-3 minutes before the train roll on, you are entering the platform.”

I got some relief. But again I started thinking should it be proper to depend on the man? The area the bus is going through was full of other communities whom we never accepted from the time of our ancestors. Could the man snatch my briefcase where there were gold ornaments of my wife! The man, from the clothes he put on revealed that he was from the very low-income group, square face, bristles of unshaved untrimmed beards as if highlighting his cunnings. I became very much puzzled. “Should I go with him? Is the man helping me to rob me? Can he do anything wrong with my young wife or my little son ?”

The man was watching his wristwatch and looking at me. Whenever we met each other’s eye he tried to smile and sending the message- not to worry. Suddenly he called –”Sir please get up. We are nearing the bus stop.”He tried to grab the briefcase of mine. But I almost crying out with panic but trying to maintain normalcy thanked him but grabbed the briefcase firmly. The man smiled but told nothing. Did he smile as he got his prey! But we got down from the bus and followed him. He waved his hand to an auto driver. The driver came and grinned at him with delight. An associate of the man! I tried to guess. But again I followed him. The man was talking with the driver by a language which I did not follow. Were they framing the plan of the finishing moment! My wife’s face I noticed was pale. Though I was talking with my wife and was prattling with my son to show that nothing was wrong, my heart was bouncing with fear, anxiety, and tension.  The driver was running his auto at a  top speed through the overcrowded and narrow street.

At last, I reached the outskirt of the station. The man grabbed my luggage. This time I did not get a chance to prohibit him. He asked me to follow him as fast as we can. I took my son and the rest baggies on my wife’s hand followed the man. We were almost running after him. He took the shortcut and placed me in the entry gate. He smiled and showed me that the train was still standing still on the platform. He said –“I am not allowed to go further and help you to board in. Make a hurry, you have to cross the over the bridge to reach the train. I turned back to thank him. He said –“no necessity to thank me. Please don’t waste time only a few minutes you will have. Please allow me to me say goodbye and wish a happy and safe journey.” The man turned back and disappeared into the crowd.

When I got on the train within a few seconds the train blew the horn and started to roll on. I sat on a seat with a thud. I brought out my handkerchief to wipe the sweating. I felt sorry to doubt such a man who is genuinely a good citizen, who feels for others and never hesitates to help others. I don’t know even the name of the man who appeared in as an angel in my crucial situation. I feel ashamed for my doubts and suspicion a true man-an angel whom I misjudged.