Backlashes From Past.

It's a quiet & chilly morning; I am not keeping well from past few days so at home taking rest remembering old days I spent with my friends and loved one, not to mention family is a league apart and no one can backfill for them, there I saw one of unturned page not read from long which I intentionally didn’t turn but today I had no option but to read it and take the plunge.

It was a bad day, result of fifth semester was to be announced tomorrow and with papers not going well I was little nervous about the outcome of it. I was in haste rushing to catch my train back home when I unintentionally pushed this old man who came in my way, he almost fell but I didn’t even look back and was rushing when one of my friend asked me to stop and help the old man. I wasn’t in good mood so I gave him a bad look but he was right; it wasn’t ethical and with no option I had to help the old chap. I went back to the man and first said sorry for my behavior and asked him how can I help? he looked at me; I feared him saying something to me but with lot of efforts he uttered “Son, it’s not possible for me to take the over bridge with my luggage and get on to another platform to catch the train, if possible can you help me getting onto other platform?”, I wondered how such a person can be left alone who can’t help himself; I had to catch my train and I wasn’t in any mood of doing such brainstorming until my results so I took his luggage and asked him to follow me but I got frustrated when I saw him taking baby steps, I checked my watch only 5 minutes for my train to leave and I didn’t want to miss it; I asked him to hurry but he said he is doing his best. I asked him to hold my hand and then I started moving fast but then I realize that he was fumbling in his move, for the first time in life I realized what is to be in such a situation, life doesn’t move the way you want it to move.

I saw my friends screaming train is going to leave in minutes come fast but by now I decided to help the old man first and then only catch the train. I thought of talking something with him and I asked him where is he going? I was shocked with his reply when he said he has no place to go……. I thought I didn’t hear it correct, I asked him again and got the same reply. I didn’t speak a word as I knew something was wrong here and I was apprehensive in getting deeper into the matter then suddenly he asked me a question which moved me all the way “Do you love your parents?” what to reply for such a question? Who wouldn’t in whole world? I said yes of course I love my family, He said “Bless you my boy, may you achieve all the success and may your love for you parents remain the same forever”. I saw tears coming out behind those thick glasses which were so thick that I couldn’t see those old eyes but I could see the tears, there were plenty of them. I understood his reason of asking me that question, my heart was heavy now and I was almost chocked. Today I faced the real world for the first time. I was under my parents all these days and never saw this phase of life which was ugly, thanks to my parents who made my life so beautiful. I couldn’t speak anything now but still I followed to the platform. I saw my train leaving other platform and friends shouting but I wasn’t looking and listening anything now, I was just thinking of this old man as to what he is going to do? I was in college and hardly had money other than pocket money, I checked my valet, I had only 120 Rs, I offered him all of them; he looked at me again with tears in his eyes and said “just pray that I get a shelter where I am going and that will be all my son”. I broke into tears, I never felt so bad in my entire life. Today I was seeing the real world, I waited until his train started moving; he from his window was seeing at me waving in reply, I was for him his family for farewell, may be last time from this town.

I realized, today morning what I said to my mom when she got late in getting my stuff which I as usual kept somewhere and wasn’t able to find. I sat on the platform for long time just thinking what will happen to that old man, after sometime I took another train back home. When I reached home it was very late of my usual time; my mom asked me why I came so late today? I said sorry mom but I love you. She was surprised to hear such a mild reply from my side……..