It was a usual weekday morning and Thane station was bustling with activity. Crowd was swelling and everybody was rushing to get into the trains so that they can reach their workplace in time. Amidst crowd were those curious and frightened eyes, looking at the maddening crowd trying to get out and get in the train. With every train arriving, loads of people were coming out like a swarm of bees from the hive and at the next moment almost the double of those alighted made their way inside pushing and punching. Those feeble eyes were finding this scenario unusual and amazing at same time, although this was a normal morning in the life of a Mumbaikar.
As I went close to him, he sensed that I am coming to ask if I can help him. So before I could ask, he said "I want to go to Mulund, how can I go if I can't even get in the train." Standing in front of me was a 5'4" frail guy in 70s something wearing a cream colour kurta and sparkling white 'lungi' with chandan applied on forehead. He was carrying a cotton zhola type bag just like those carried by struggling writers. With his fluent english speaking tone, I concluded he must be from the southern part of India and most probably he was new to Mumbai.
"Sir, Mulund station is the immediate station after Thane, you can catch a train from platform no. 1, where trains start from Thane and have less crowd. Trains on this platform come from far distance and are very crowded, even if you get in, there is less possibility you will be able to get down at next station" I said to the old man.
"Platform no. 1???" old man asked.
"Yes, the one there" I pointed towards the direction of platform no. 1
"But someone there told me that trains to Mulund come on platform no. 4, so I came here" the old man showed a little disgust in his voice
"Yes, that is true but you can see the trains are crowded, getting into the train from Platform no. 1 will be easy for you" I explained after analysing that the old man was weak and couldn't push and punch.
I could see him thinking now, with the sweat dripping from his forehead mixing with the chandan and flowing down to the tip of nose. Hot and Humid climate of Mumbai added to the arduous journey he had taken from platform no. 1 to 4 via the overhead bridge.
"Ok, I will go to platform no. 1" he said after mentally preparing to climb the steep stairs and he started
Seeing his back, I thought may be I should help him to get into the right train or there's a probability that he may get misguided again. I was suppose to visit a client in Kalyan in opposite direction and I was already running behind time. I could see him walking upstairs and he had only managed to clear half of them slowly and steadily taking support of the railing. I quickly made some calculations and rushed towards the old man.
"Sir, I will accompany you to platform no. 1, indicator says there is a train leaving from there in 10 mins" I said as I reached him.
He smiled and said "OK"
As we started climbing the remaining stairs, I quickly messaged my client that I would be late by 15-20 mins. As I saw the old man slowly walking besides me, it was clear that climbing stairs was a backbreaking task for him. We reached on the overhead bridge and my curiosity broke in,
"Sir, are you new to Mumbai?"
"Yes, I am from Kerala, all my life till now I haven't traveled to any other part of India, this is my first time" he said while slightly panting by the climbing effort.
"So what brings you here now?" I asked
"There is an Ashram of our Guru near Mulund and today there is a big function, followers from all over India are attending same" he said as we started to walk downstairs towards platform no. 1.
"Ohh I see" I exclaimed and asked "Are you alone?? I mean no one is accompanying you? Your family?"
"No, there is no one in my family, my wife passed away 5 years ago and we didn't have kids, one of my friend stays here in Thane, I am staying there for two days" he said calmly
"Ok !!" I said with an expression of dismay
As we reached on platform no. 1, train was already standing and ready to go within 2 minutes.
Hurriedly I signed the old man to get into the train. Before getting into the train he asks "You stay in Thane?"
"Yes Sir, I have been born and brought up in Thane" I said.
"You doing a job or business?" he asked looking at the bag I was carrying on my back
"Ohh Yes, I am working in an automobile company" I said wondering if he knew Mahindra & Mahindra which was well engraved on my shirt, maybe he didn't.
"God Bless You" he smiled and got onto the footboard of the train. I told him not to seat as Mulund was the next station and get down only when the train has fully stopped. I asked a co-passenger to help him to get down which he readily agreed. As train made its move, I can see him smiling and bidding a good bye to me, his eyes still curious and frightened.
Minutes after I was on my way to Kalyan, still wondering if the old man had got down at Mulund safely and had he found the ashram he was suppose to go. Most probably he will find his destination, Mumbai is not such a bad place for strangers, thousands of people pour in daily from various parts of India.
This unexpected meeting with the old man made me remember how one fine day my grandfather suffered a stroke while climbing the stairs of railway station. Before he was taken to hospital, he passed away in the ambulance. All alone he went away, no one from our family was besides him as he took his last breath. Corners of my eyes were suddenly moist and I hoped the Lonely Old Man was able to find his destination safely.
As I went close to him, he sensed that I am coming to ask if I can help him. So before I could ask, he said "I want to go to Mulund, how can I go if I can't even get in the train." Standing in front of me was a 5'4" frail guy in 70s something wearing a cream colour kurta and sparkling white 'lungi' with chandan applied on forehead. He was carrying a cotton zhola type bag just like those carried by struggling writers. With his fluent english speaking tone, I concluded he must be from the southern part of India and most probably he was new to Mumbai.
"Sir, Mulund station is the immediate station after Thane, you can catch a train from platform no. 1, where trains start from Thane and have less crowd. Trains on this platform come from far distance and are very crowded, even if you get in, there is less possibility you will be able to get down at next station" I said to the old man.
"Platform no. 1???" old man asked.
"Yes, the one there" I pointed towards the direction of platform no. 1
"But someone there told me that trains to Mulund come on platform no. 4, so I came here" the old man showed a little disgust in his voice
"Yes, that is true but you can see the trains are crowded, getting into the train from Platform no. 1 will be easy for you" I explained after analysing that the old man was weak and couldn't push and punch.
I could see him thinking now, with the sweat dripping from his forehead mixing with the chandan and flowing down to the tip of nose. Hot and Humid climate of Mumbai added to the arduous journey he had taken from platform no. 1 to 4 via the overhead bridge.
"Ok, I will go to platform no. 1" he said after mentally preparing to climb the steep stairs and he started
Seeing his back, I thought may be I should help him to get into the right train or there's a probability that he may get misguided again. I was suppose to visit a client in Kalyan in opposite direction and I was already running behind time. I could see him walking upstairs and he had only managed to clear half of them slowly and steadily taking support of the railing. I quickly made some calculations and rushed towards the old man.
"Sir, I will accompany you to platform no. 1, indicator says there is a train leaving from there in 10 mins" I said as I reached him.
He smiled and said "OK"
As we started climbing the remaining stairs, I quickly messaged my client that I would be late by 15-20 mins. As I saw the old man slowly walking besides me, it was clear that climbing stairs was a backbreaking task for him. We reached on the overhead bridge and my curiosity broke in,
"Sir, are you new to Mumbai?"
"Yes, I am from Kerala, all my life till now I haven't traveled to any other part of India, this is my first time" he said while slightly panting by the climbing effort.
"So what brings you here now?" I asked
"There is an Ashram of our Guru near Mulund and today there is a big function, followers from all over India are attending same" he said as we started to walk downstairs towards platform no. 1.
"Ohh I see" I exclaimed and asked "Are you alone?? I mean no one is accompanying you? Your family?"
"No, there is no one in my family, my wife passed away 5 years ago and we didn't have kids, one of my friend stays here in Thane, I am staying there for two days" he said calmly
"Ok !!" I said with an expression of dismay
As we reached on platform no. 1, train was already standing and ready to go within 2 minutes.
Hurriedly I signed the old man to get into the train. Before getting into the train he asks "You stay in Thane?"
"Yes Sir, I have been born and brought up in Thane" I said.
"You doing a job or business?" he asked looking at the bag I was carrying on my back
"Ohh Yes, I am working in an automobile company" I said wondering if he knew Mahindra & Mahindra which was well engraved on my shirt, maybe he didn't.
"God Bless You" he smiled and got onto the footboard of the train. I told him not to seat as Mulund was the next station and get down only when the train has fully stopped. I asked a co-passenger to help him to get down which he readily agreed. As train made its move, I can see him smiling and bidding a good bye to me, his eyes still curious and frightened.
Minutes after I was on my way to Kalyan, still wondering if the old man had got down at Mulund safely and had he found the ashram he was suppose to go. Most probably he will find his destination, Mumbai is not such a bad place for strangers, thousands of people pour in daily from various parts of India.
This unexpected meeting with the old man made me remember how one fine day my grandfather suffered a stroke while climbing the stairs of railway station. Before he was taken to hospital, he passed away in the ambulance. All alone he went away, no one from our family was besides him as he took his last breath. Corners of my eyes were suddenly moist and I hoped the Lonely Old Man was able to find his destination safely.
